Lets Actually Listen to the Album: Lightning Bolt

[VinylGuy]

Guys i love the first 4 on this one.

Sirens is still fucking great.

[stip]

I just heard pendulum for the first time in a while. It's not a top tier song, but it's a strong mood piece, and I love the ah ah ah ah ah part that fills the final third of the song. It's those kind of wordless vocalizations that I really miss.

[VinylGuy]

And live is great. Its a very cool opener, and a very strong one, Ed really shines while Mike is channeling his inner Lee Ranaldo right there.

Really cool song.

[PHATJ]

And live is great. Its a very cool opener, and a very strong one, Ed really shines while Mike is channeling his inner Lee Ranaldo right there.

Really cool song.

Following it up with Release is a great way to start a show.

[WaitingForBluey]

Pendulum > Wash > Nothingman in Brooklyn 2013 was freakin' great!

Until they did the same thing a few days later in Philly.

[Got Some]

I only skip SBM when listening to this one.

[ABNorman]

I LAL'd this the other night and had a whale of a time. The first 5 songs are all at least good, and though there's the seemingly usual drop in quality in the back half, I even enjoyed Swallowed Whole and Yellow Moon this listen, because I haven't heard them in ages.

LTRP is a dud though. And I'd be a lot happier with Future Days sans ridiculous piano.

[VinylGuy]

I LAL'd this the other night and had a whale of a time. The first 5 songs are all at least good, and though there's the seemingly usual drop in quality in the back half, I even enjoyed Swallowed Whole and Yellow Moon this listen, because I haven't heard them in ages.

LTRP is a dud though. And I'd be a lot happier with Future Days sans ridiculous piano.

I dont care that much for the second half. True. I love Yellow Moon and SBM but SW and LTRP are just meh for me.

And future days is the worst pearl jam song ever.

[epilogue]

Pendulum > Wash > Nothingman in Brooklyn 2013 was freakin' great!

[epilogue]

Getaway has aged nicely. Way better than I expected. It's grown on me more than any other song on the record.

[Leatherhead]

Getaway has aged nicely. Way better than I expected. It's grown on me more than any other song on the record.

I just listened to all of LB after quite a while and might just agree with this statement.

[PHATJ]

Getaway has aged nicely. Way better than I expected. It's grown on me more than any other song on the record.

I just listened to all of LB after quite a while and might just agree with this statement.

It's had the opposite affect on me.

[tragabigzanda]

pearl jam sucks now

[LoathedVermin72]

I gave the album a fresh listen to day and wrote down my thoughts as it played.

Getaway - I really like this song a lot. Killer bassline, compelling composition, genuine energy. I actually dig most of the lyrics too. Unlike a lot of the stuff on LB (and BS), this one doesn't feel strained to me. The only lyric I'm not crazy about is "Mine is mine and yours won't take its place," which comes off a little close-minded.

Mind Your Manners - I really dislike these lyrics, first and foremost. However, I think there's potential in the music. It has an anxious punk energy...which is unfortunately neutered by the canned production. This song does not have the thump, the BLOOD, it needs. It's limp, drained of all vitality.

My Father's Son - You know what? I like this song. I'm kind of surprised it doesn't have more affection on RM, considering it's probably the most off-kilter composition on the album. It's not as out there as "Evacuation", but it's cut from the same cloth. I love Jeff's bassline.

Sirens - I totally get why people hate this song. It's not unfair to call it ballad-rock cheese. But I think it's pleasant enough. The chorus has nice melody and arrangement (the way that bent guitar swoops in behind Eddie's voice is a great touch). The solo is a little hair metal ballad-y, but it's nothing egregious.

Lightning Bolt - "Haveyougot yourself some sand" is such an awfully delivered line. Super awkward. I find nothing interesting or memorable about this song at all. Utterly dull and forgettable. It's trying really hard to reach that soaring "Given to Fly" or "In My Tree" catharsis, but it doesn't even get close. That subtle synth in the background is a little Smash Mouth-y.

Infallible - This song immediately stands out sonically, but I think it's only because of that train whistle sound behind the chugging guitar in the verses (I'm not sure what it actually is?). Compositionally, melodically, and lyrically, I don't think it's ultimately very unique or interesting, which explains why I find myself getting bored with it quickly after the first 30 seconds. The chorus is so disappointing coming after the more interesting verses. It seems like they had some good musical ideas but it didn't know what to do with them in the end. The song winds up being a bit of a slog. In this form, it should have been a minute or two shorter.

Pendulum - This is a cool song, but another that I think is hurt significantly by the production. It doesn't have the space and depth it desperately needs. This would have flourished on Binaural. However, I do love the vocal effect when Eddie sings "easy left me a long time agooooooo." God, the drums sound so bad on this album.

Swallowed Whole - This is an enjoyable song. The verses have a sunny, upbeat energy that feels genuine, and the chorus has some solid melody and arrangement (I love the plucking, ricocheting guitar). Not sure what to make of the weird "what lies beyond the grave might be welcome change" lyrics. Seems cynical and off-putting, but I'm not listening very closely. The solo is really bad. Gross. This song didn't need that at all. I like how he ends with the lyric "turn the page..."

Let the Records Play - Jesus Christ, this is the most embarrassing garbage I've ever heard. This is very likely the worst PJ song ever. My god. This is horrendous. I know people take issue with the term "dad rock," but this is the most dad rock thing ever created. They couldn't sound lamer or more out of touch if they tried. Man alive. And that title! And Eddie actually sings that terrible title in the song! This song is like the moment in South Park when Randy tries to impress a group of Guitar Hero-playing kids by playing Kansas on a real guitar.

Sleeping by Myself - I like this one. I love the interplay between acoustic and electric guitars. Really pleasant melodies throughout. Very poppy and pretty. This sounds like a band that's enjoying what they're doing.

Yellow Moon - This might be the most boring song in PJ's discography. If this came up by a random artist on YouTube or something, I would skip it after 20 seconds. Is it possible for something to be aggressively unremarkable? Yuck. Next.

Future Days - The hate for song is overblown. It's a perfectly enjoyable bit of Bruce Springsteen emulation, which I don't find egregious at all. Good melody, nice instrumentation. Eddie's voice sounds solid. There are much, much worse songs on this album alone.

[evenslow]

Infallible - This song immediately stands out sonically, but I think it's only because of that train whistle sound behind the chugging guitar in the verses (I'm not sure what it actually is?). Compositionally, melodically, and lyrically, I don't think it's ultimately very unique or interesting, which explains why I find myself getting bored with it quickly after the first 30 seconds. The chorus is so disappointing coming after the more interesting verses. It seems like they had some good musical ideas but it didn't know what to do with them in the end. The song winds up being a bit of a slog. In this form, it should have been a minute or two shorter.

Yes - you nailed why I just have never been able to get into this song, even though it feels like I should.

[Birds in Hell]

My Father's Son - You know what? I like this song. I'm kind of surprised it doesn't have more affection on RM, considering it's probably the most off-kilter composition on the album. It's not as out there as "Evacuation", but it's cut from the same cloth. I love Jeff's bassline.

Lightning Bolt - "Haveyougot yourself some sand" is such an awfully delivered line. Super awkward. I find nothing interesting or memorable about this song at all. Utterly dull and forgettable. It's trying really hard to reach that soaring "Given to Fly" or "In My Tree" catharsis, but it doesn't even get close. That subtle synth in the background is a little Smash Mouth-y.

Something's always bugged me about that boopy synth and you've nailed it.

[dimejinky99]

Pendulum > Wash > Nothingman in Brooklyn 2013 was freakin' great!

Yeah that was awesome.

[stip]

sirens came on shuffle this morning and it made me put on L-bolt for the first time in a while. a few thoughts:

jeff really shines on this album
mind your manners is an amazing song and it saddens me that Mr. Kevin Davis misreads it.
im not sure i really noticed how much of this album thematically revolves around the idea of personal responsibility (though not surprising for an album defined by aging)
the lyrics to MFS arw some of eddies worst

[stip]

also mike's leads are pretty disappointing on this record, bracketing excellent moments in MYM and L-bolt

[knee tunes]

also mike's leads are pretty disappointing on this record, bracketing excellent moments in MYM and L-bolt

{{swallowed whole}} ♡