Lightning Bolt: the official album thread

[harmless]

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TLDR; early Eddie 'sounds' better but present day Eddie does much more with his voice. One of the reasons I'm liking the new songs is that Eddie sounds particularly good, thought none of these is as technically demanding as something like LROM.

I can't help but wonder though, whether if he stopped doing so much with his voice he'd start 'sounding' better to me again.

Yup. There's no point trying stuff that doesn't sound good.

[Release_Me]

You see, that's the point. No live version of Release from now can match the ones from 92 as far as 'sounding good' is concerned. Ed had that natural boom in his voice and it was silken smooth when he stuck to his comfort zone. Now, his voice is rougher and it sounds different tonally. He can't sound the same even if he wanted to. If he just sticks to singing in his comfort zone, there wouldn't be much to listen to. Sounding good is fairly subjective anyway; Axl Rose sounds like shit to me and always did but there are many, many people who enjoy his vocal style. Vocal skill is more objective and I can say for certain that skill wise, Ed's singing in LROM is better than anything he ever did in his early years, and he sounds damn good to me.

For me, the most impressive Ed vocal moment from the early years is an effortless D5 in the studio version of Dissident on the last line 'Escape is never the sa-fest path'. Notice how he always skipped this note in live performances. I only remember him replicating it in a live performance from 2003. Shows he was much more in control of his voice later on.

[Thenews15]

All I know is that we are sitting home on our computers and the guys in Pearl Jam just sold out Wrigley Field, so what the hell do we know? haha. I figure it's not easy to write a great song 20+ years into a band when you got 5 guys with 5 different ideas. I'm happy with what they've given me so far. Certainly, they have their faults and missteps. Songs that just aren't good but overall I'd say they had a solid career.

[Dr. Van Nostrand]

Every time I hear something new, I think to myself 'Please let it be better than Supersonic'. Everything has passed that test so far.

that is true, all 3 songs are better then supersonic

[evenslow]

All I know is that we are sitting home on our computers and the guys in Pearl Jam just sold out Wrigley Field, so what the hell do we know? haha. I figure it's not easy to write a great song 20+ years into a band when you got 5 guys with 5 different ideas. I'm happy with what they've given me so far. Certainly, they have their faults and missteps. Songs that just aren't good but overall I'd say they had a solid career.

Grounded. Mature. Reasonable.

You're not for RM.

[harmless]

Every time I hear something new, I think to myself 'Please let it be better than Supersonic'. Everything has passed that test so far.

that is true, all 3 songs are better then supersonic

Which is why this next album will be a true return to form.

[Dr. Van Nostrand]

Every time I hear something new, I think to myself 'Please let it be better than Supersonic'. Everything has passed that test so far.

that is true, all 3 songs are better then supersonic

Which is why this next album will be a true return to form.

Some may think that is a silly way to judge, but it is my least favorite on backspacer, so all 3 being better then it is a good sign. Im not ready to get my hopes up for the album to be their best, but its silly to be expecting it to be their worst based off of what we have heard

[BurtReynolds]

What does Spenno and Durden think of these two new ones? I feel our fragile alliance is already breaking.

[Thenews15]

All I know is that we are sitting home on our computers and the guys in Pearl Jam just sold out Wrigley Field, so what the hell do we know? haha. I figure it's not easy to write a great song 20+ years into a band when you got 5 guys with 5 different ideas. I'm happy with what they've given me so far. Certainly, they have their faults and missteps. Songs that just aren't good but overall I'd say they had a solid career.

Grounded. Mature. Reasonable.

You're not for RM.

Thanks, that's what I'm going for. PJ ain't perfect by a long shot, just like we all are. I'm not expecting the greatest album of all time. Proof is in the history of rock bands, not just PJ. They have primes like athletes, if they were golfers they were major winners a few times over but now they are on the Senior tour and still damn good, put on a good round(concert) and still better then all of us at golf. They are their to remind us of our combined past. How's that for a metaphor? Haha

[Sgt. Crackpot]

All I know is that we are sitting home on our computers and the guys in Pearl Jam just sold out Wrigley Field, so what the hell do we know? haha. I figure it's not easy to write a great song 20+ years into a band when you got 5 guys with 5 different ideas. I'm happy with what they've given me so far. Certainly, they have their faults and missteps. Songs that just aren't good but overall I'd say they had a solid career.

Grounded. Mature. Reasonable.

You're not for RM.

[harmless]

All I know is that we are sitting home on our computers and the guys in Pearl Jam just sold out Wrigley Field, so what the hell do we know? haha. I figure it's not easy to write a great song 20+ years into a band when you got 5 guys with 5 different ideas. I'm happy with what they've given me so far. Certainly, they have their faults and missteps. Songs that just aren't good but overall I'd say they had a solid career.

Grounded. Mature. Reasonable.

You're not for RM.

Thanks, that's what I'm going for. PJ ain't perfect by a long shot, just like we all are. I'm not expecting the greatest album of all time. Proof is in the history of rock bands, not just PJ. They have primes like athletes, if they were golfers they were major winners a few times over but now they are on the Senior tour and still damn good, put on a good round(concert) and still better then all of us at golf. They are their to remind us of our combined past. How's that for a metaphor? Haha

Thing is, no, PJ are not perfect just like all of us. But PJ are not all of us. They're filthy rich, and get richer for being mediocre. Which is a shame.

[EJ]

Besides MYM and Sirens, what were the names of the other 2 songs that guy (the hot fire shit guy) reportedly said he heard?

[Thenews15]

All I know is that we are sitting home on our computers and the guys in Pearl Jam just sold out Wrigley Field, so what the hell do we know? haha. I figure it's not easy to write a great song 20+ years into a band when you got 5 guys with 5 different ideas. I'm happy with what they've given me so far. Certainly, they have their faults and missteps. Songs that just aren't good but overall I'd say they had a solid career.

Grounded. Mature. Reasonable.

You're not for RM.

Thanks, that's what I'm going for. PJ ain't perfect by a long shot, just like we all are. I'm not expecting the greatest album of all time. Proof is in the history of rock bands, not just PJ. They have primes like athletes, if they were golfers they were major winners a few times over but now they are on the Senior tour and still damn good, put on a good round(concert) and still better then all of us at golf. They are their to remind us of our combined past. How's that for a metaphor? Haha

Thing is, no, PJ are not perfect just like all of us. But PJ are not all of us. They're filthy rich, and get richer for being mediocre. Which is a shame.

Jealous Much? Lol, j/k...Seems like your problem then isn't with PJ it's with America and capitolism. Think about, people have gotten rich for not even being mediocre such as Kim Kardashian, Duck Dynasty, Honey Boo boo or whatever reality star therein. People have gotten rich, see..I could care less. They don't effect my day to day life. PJ's checkbook has no effect on me, I live my life. Maybe they've always been mediocre they just happened to ride the coatails of Nirvana and the "grunge" movement thing. Just a thought.

[harmless]

All I know is that we are sitting home on our computers and the guys in Pearl Jam just sold out Wrigley Field, so what the hell do we know? haha. I figure it's not easy to write a great song 20+ years into a band when you got 5 guys with 5 different ideas. I'm happy with what they've given me so far. Certainly, they have their faults and missteps. Songs that just aren't good but overall I'd say they had a solid career.

Grounded. Mature. Reasonable.

You're not for RM.

Thanks, that's what I'm going for. PJ ain't perfect by a long shot, just like we all are. I'm not expecting the greatest album of all time. Proof is in the history of rock bands, not just PJ. They have primes like athletes, if they were golfers they were major winners a few times over but now they are on the Senior tour and still damn good, put on a good round(concert) and still better then all of us at golf. They are their to remind us of our combined past. How's that for a metaphor? Haha

Thing is, no, PJ are not perfect just like all of us. But PJ are not all of us. They're filthy rich, and get richer for being mediocre. Which is a shame.

Jealous Much? Lol, j/k...Seems like your problem then isn't with PJ it's with America and capitolism. Think about, people have gotten rich for not even being mediocre such as Kim Kardashian, Duck Dynasty, Honey Boo boo or whatever reality star therein. People have gotten rich, see..I could care less. They don't effect my day to day life. PJ's checkbook has no effect on me, I live my life. Maybe they've always been mediocre they just happened to ride the coatails of Nirvana and the "grunge" movement thing. Just a thought.

I don't have a problem with PJ. But no I'm not a capitalist. My issue is with people saying "PJ are only human", as if that excuses lacklustre music. It doesn't. It might if we were talking about a lacklustre band with less than 20+ experience, but we're not.

[Thenews15]

All I know is that we are sitting home on our computers and the guys in Pearl Jam just sold out Wrigley Field, so what the hell do we know? haha. I figure it's not easy to write a great song 20+ years into a band when you got 5 guys with 5 different ideas. I'm happy with what they've given me so far. Certainly, they have their faults and missteps. Songs that just aren't good but overall I'd say they had a solid career.

Grounded. Mature. Reasonable.

You're not for RM.

Thanks, that's what I'm going for. PJ ain't perfect by a long shot, just like we all are. I'm not expecting the greatest album of all time. Proof is in the history of rock bands, not just PJ. They have primes like athletes, if they were golfers they were major winners a few times over but now they are on the Senior tour and still damn good, put on a good round(concert) and still better then all of us at golf. They are their to remind us of our combined past. How's that for a metaphor? Haha

Thing is, no, PJ are not perfect just like all of us. But PJ are not all of us. They're filthy rich, and get richer for being mediocre. Which is a shame.

Jealous Much? Lol, j/k...Seems like your problem then isn't with PJ it's with America and capitolism. Think about, people have gotten rich for not even being mediocre such as Kim Kardashian, Duck Dynasty, Honey Boo boo or whatever reality star therein. People have gotten rich, see..I could care less. They don't effect my day to day life. PJ's checkbook has no effect on me, I live my life. Maybe they've always been mediocre they just happened to ride the coatails of Nirvana and the "grunge" movement thing. Just a thought.

I don't have a problem with PJ. But no I'm not a capitalist. My issue is with people saying "PJ are only human", as if that excuses lacklustre music. It doesn't. It might if we were talking about a lacklustre band with less than 20+ experience, but we're not.

They are only human...what band 20+ years sounds the same as they did in their prime? It doesn't happen, we are animals we have instincts. They are comfortable, natural reaction is to relax. Just like if you are in a union, you don't worry about being fired so you can relax and production slows down a bit. They are in the music BUSINESS, it's their career. They are no different then you and I when comfortable. They don't have to worry about being fired. I'm ok with mediocre. Again, they are still out there dong it. If you think their music is mediocre try writting songs, maybe you can come up with some better stuff. You're a drummer, right? I would be interested in hearing some of your songs, I mean that. I'm always looking for new music

[Jorge]

I'm ok with mediocre.

The state of PJ fandom in 2013, boiled down to four words.

Welcome to RM, Thenews15.

[harmless]

All I know is that we are sitting home on our computers and the guys in Pearl Jam just sold out Wrigley Field, so what the hell do we know? haha. I figure it's not easy to write a great song 20+ years into a band when you got 5 guys with 5 different ideas. I'm happy with what they've given me so far. Certainly, they have their faults and missteps. Songs that just aren't good but overall I'd say they had a solid career.

Grounded. Mature. Reasonable.

You're not for RM.

Thanks, that's what I'm going for. PJ ain't perfect by a long shot, just like we all are. I'm not expecting the greatest album of all time. Proof is in the history of rock bands, not just PJ. They have primes like athletes, if they were golfers they were major winners a few times over but now they are on the Senior tour and still damn good, put on a good round(concert) and still better then all of us at golf. They are their to remind us of our combined past. How's that for a metaphor? Haha

Thing is, no, PJ are not perfect just like all of us. But PJ are not all of us. They're filthy rich, and get richer for being mediocre. Which is a shame.

Jealous Much? Lol, j/k...Seems like your problem then isn't with PJ it's with America and capitolism. Think about, people have gotten rich for not even being mediocre such as Kim Kardashian, Duck Dynasty, Honey Boo boo or whatever reality star therein. People have gotten rich, see..I could care less. They don't effect my day to day life. PJ's checkbook has no effect on me, I live my life. Maybe they've always been mediocre they just happened to ride the coatails of Nirvana and the "grunge" movement thing. Just a thought.

I don't have a problem with PJ. But no I'm not a capitalist. My issue is with people saying "PJ are only human", as if that excuses lacklustre music. It doesn't. It might if we were talking about a lacklustre band with less than 20+ experience, but we're not.

They are only human...what band 20+ years sounds the same as they did in their prime? It doesn't happen, we are animals we have instincts. They are comfortable, natural reaction is to relax. Just like if you are in a union, you don't worry about being fired so you can relax and production slows down a bit. They are in the music BUSINESS, it's their career. They are no different then you and I when comfortable. They don't have to worry about being fired. I'm ok with mediocre. Again, they are still out there dong it. If you think their music is mediocre try writting songs, maybe you can come up with some better stuff. You're a drummer, right? I would be interested in hearing some of your songs, I mean that. I'm always looking for new music

They have every right to relax, even be mediocre, as human beings. You're right. But I don't have to love it. They've not lost me yet, but I've been teetering on the brink for ages. I'm not in a band anymore, haven't been for years. But in any case, I wouldn't expect to judge my own material over Pearl Jam's. That's the thing, I think that if anyone's saying 'You couldn't do that' as an excuse for PJ not trying their best, I think it's silly. If I was to get a new job as a lawyer tomorrow, I wouldn't expect to be as good as someone who'd been in the business for 20+ years. It's a curious thing that the same doesn't go for music.

[verb_to_trust]

All I know is that we are sitting home on our computers and the guys in Pearl Jam just sold out Wrigley Field, so what the hell do we know? haha. I figure it's not easy to write a great song 20+ years into a band when you got 5 guys with 5 different ideas. I'm happy with what they've given me so far. Certainly, they have their faults and missteps. Songs that just aren't good but overall I'd say they had a solid career.

Grounded. Mature. Reasonable.

You're not for RM.

Thanks, that's what I'm going for. PJ ain't perfect by a long shot, just like we all are. I'm not expecting the greatest album of all time. Proof is in the history of rock bands, not just PJ. They have primes like athletes, if they were golfers they were major winners a few times over but now they are on the Senior tour and still damn good, put on a good round(concert) and still better then all of us at golf. They are their to remind us of our combined past. How's that for a metaphor? Haha

Thing is, no, PJ are not perfect just like all of us. But PJ are not all of us. They're filthy rich, and get richer for being mediocre. Which is a shame.

Jealous Much? Lol, j/k...Seems like your problem then isn't with PJ it's with America and capitolism. Think about, people have gotten rich for not even being mediocre such as Kim Kardashian, Duck Dynasty, Honey Boo boo or whatever reality star therein. People have gotten rich, see..I could care less. They don't effect my day to day life. PJ's checkbook has no effect on me, I live my life. Maybe they've always been mediocre they just happened to ride the coatails of Nirvana and the "grunge" movement thing. Just a thought.

I don't have a problem with PJ. But no I'm not a capitalist. My issue is with people saying "PJ are only human", as if that excuses lacklustre music. It doesn't. It might if we were talking about a lacklustre band with less than 20+ experience, but we're not.

They are only human...what band 20+ years sounds the same as they did in their prime? It doesn't happen, we are animals we have instincts. They are comfortable, natural reaction is to relax. Just like if you are in a union, you don't worry about being fired so you can relax and production slows down a bit. They are in the music BUSINESS, it's their career. They are no different then you and I when comfortable. They don't have to worry about being fired. I'm ok with mediocre. Again, they are still out there dong it. If you think their music is mediocre try writting songs, maybe you can come up with some better stuff. You're a drummer, right? I would be interested in hearing some of your songs, I mean that. I'm always looking for new music

The old if it sucks so bad maybe you should try and do better argument eh?

[Thenews15]

I'm ok with mediocre.

The state of PJ fandom in 2013, boiled down to four words.

Welcome to RM, Thenews15.

True. i just except what they are. They still play well live, I'm good with that. I have my memories and they never change. If a person is not feeling them anymore or don't like what they turned into, that's fine. I'm cool with that. I've always recognized that PJ isn't for everyone, even in their hayday. The haven't exactly re-invented the wheel. Then why doesn't a person just drop them. I've stopped being fans of a band if I didn't like how they turned out. Smashing Pumpkins comes to mind for me. I don't buy their stuff anymore, I've moved on and wish them luck.

[harmless]

A lot of people on this forum who are in bands have written better songs than these ones.