Gigaton: Official album thread

[evenslow]

As for producer, they first off would need someone who would have the balls to tell them "No" or "Do it this way" or "Mike shove those lyrics up your ass."

They also should get someone that would make them rethink how they see/hear themselves, this far into their career. This someone would need a proven track record and ability in spades. This would help PJ to better accept a different sound, and not go crying to BOB to make it all better.

This someone should also fit where the band is at in their lives, i.e., a bunch of 50 year olds. Paul Epworth and Mark Ronson need not apply.

This someone is not Butch Vig. This someone is not Jimmy Iovine. This someone is not Rick Rubin. This someone is not Steve Albini.

This someone is Daniel Lanois.

Or if he's too busy, throw a pot of coffee on for Glyn Johns.

If he's too old and tired, fuck it, hire Max Martin, I quit.

[Strat]

God I hate business as usual pearl jam.

RIP strat

[Kevin Davis]

I would be all over a Danny Lanois produced PJ album. The thought of him coercing a "Time Out of Mind" out of them is pretty exciting to me.

[Strat]

They also should get someone that would make them rethink how they see/hear themselves, this far into their career.

This is the biggest fucking thing. Geezes, they evolved more in their first 5 years then they have int he past 15.

[EJ]

They also should get someone that would make them rethink how they see/hear themselves, this far into their career.

This is the biggest fucking thing. Geezes, they evolved more in their first 5 years then they have int he past 15.

True. But, they were actually more resistant to outside involvement in their music. Now, its almost like they come in with some ideas and BoB finishes them off. "We've got other stuff to do, let's wrap this up already."

[LoathedVermin72]

They also should get someone that would make them rethink how they see/hear themselves, this far into their career.

This is the biggest fucking thing. Geezes, they evolved more in their first 5 years then they have int he past 15.

*past 9

[E.H. Ruddock]

They also should get someone that would make them rethink how they see/hear themselves, this far into their career.

This is the biggest fucking thing. Geezes, they evolved more in their first 5 years then they have int he past 15.

*past 9

where's stip?

[LoathedVermin72]

I'd say RA to S/T is a pretty huge (d)evolution.

[Norah]

Are they human?

[Jorge]

Pearl Jam's new album ELEVEN produced by Danger Mouse and Greg? Kurstin

[bodysnatcher]

Are they human?

Or are they dancers?

[tragabigzanda]

pearl jam sucks now

[bodysnatcher]

They also should get someone that would make them rethink how they see/hear themselves, this far into their career.

This is the biggest fucking thing. Geezes, they evolved more in their first 5 years then they have int he past 15.

What's so frustrating is that they are not being MORE creative. Someone like Louis CK toiled for years in anonymity, and now he makes whatever he wants. Surely PJ recognizes their ability to take a similar approach, yet they continue to do things as expected.

That's what kills me too (along with what Strat said). Remember those wide-eyed claims they made back in the day when they ended their Sony contract? Yeah, that came to fruition *eye roll*

[stip]

Remember that Backspacer, like it or not, was not an insignificant change to their sound/types of songs they were writing. And there are a number of moments on L-Bolt that are somewhat new/unusual for the band, although BoB flattened out some of what may have made them interesting (MFS, Infallible, Pendulum, and Sleeping By Myself come to mind).

I don't know that Pearl Jam is going to do a 'weird' album just because, as they've made very clear, they want songs that will translate well to what is still a killer live experience. Big sweeping songs with big dramatic gestures that are fun for 15k people to sing along to. If they rethink of themselves as a studio band (which would be nice) that would probably change.

[Norah]

Are they human?

Or are they dancers?

They are devo!

[bodysnatcher]

I stumbled across the previous 10c DEEP book a few weeks ago. I don't have it in front of me, and can't remember who it was that Mike was interviewing, but he mentioned how the band used to jam out in the studio but now they just work separately and bring in song ideas... whoever he was interviewing asked him what changed, and he said he doesn't know, but wishes they would go back to the collaborative jamming songwriting style.

Made me sad to read. Because you know Mike doesn't have any pull with the band so nothing will change unless it comes from elsewhere.

[evenslow]

Surely PJ recognizes their ability to take a similar approach, yet they continue to do things as expected.

See, this is the thing. They're not idiots. They've studied music history in every which way, as fans and as musicians. They know how career arcs work and that the most celebrated artists challenge themselves as much as possible (e.g. Neil Young, someone they're exceedingly familiar with).

I'm left with the idea of "path of least resistance." In other words, it has become so difficult to get all five guys into the studio for an extended period of time, so when they do, it's just about putting together enough songs to complete a record. To further "experiment" would be looked upon as twice the work.

I don't mean to sound overly harsh about this - it's certainly not easy for a band of five dudes to keep that spirit going over two decades in. A lot easier for someone like Neil Young to follow the muse.

And, unlike some here, I don't look upon their last few records as travesties. I'd just like to see them take a real left turn.

[bodysnatcher]

Good point. A lot easier for someone like NY too, bc essentially, he's only dealing with himself.

I think they get a lot of their creative juices flowing with side projects for things that tend to get whittled out of a PJ record.

[evenslow]

Yeah, the side projects once served a real purpose. It allowed them to vent in a way that actually kept the band together.

Now there's less of a need for that. They need all the creativity the can get and should deliver it to the group, first and foremost.

[McParadigm]

There was an interview a while back where Ed spoke fondly of Neil's individualist musical bent, but basically said "I can't be that guy because I look out at all those people from the stage and I want to give them what will make them happy." Not his words, but that was the sentiment of it.

So I guess he went Bono-level "I'm the guy who doesn't get the appeal of my own music" with it instead.

Sometimes I think the press's insistence on only praising the band as a live act was the worst thing that ever happened to them. Cos they sure listened.