Red Mosquito

I Would Do Anything for Love is an emotional rock song, but it would still be a huge departure if it were a Pearl Jam song.

This song definitely contains qualities that are atypical of Pearl Jam's historical approach.

For all that the comparisons to the original 'Black' are tenuous, I do feel that this could be called 'Black 2013'. But the big question is, do I want one?

McParadigm wrote:I Would Do Anything for Love is an emotional rock song, but it would still be a huge departure if it were a Pearl Jam song.

Right, but "Sirens" isn't a huge departure. Certainly not one that "signals a massive change in direction". It's just a leaner, poppier version of something they've done before.

I'm really interested in hearing what the rest of the songs do to it. I would like "My Father's Son" to reduce a lot of the bombast from this song, if possible.

theplatypus wrote:

McParadigm wrote:I Would Do Anything for Love is an emotional rock song, but it would still be a huge departure if it were a Pearl Jam song.

Right, but "Sirens" isn't a huge departure. Certainly not one that "signals a massive change in direction". It's just a leaner, poppier version of something they've done before.

I'm with you Platy. I played Sirens into Light Years into Just Breathe and it's all the same band. Clearly. It's just different shades and approaches.

theplatypus wrote:

McParadigm wrote:I Would Do Anything for Love is an emotional rock song, but it would still be a huge departure if it were a Pearl Jam song.

Right, but "Sirens" isn't a huge departure. Certainly not one that "signals a massive change in direction". It's just a leaner, poppier version of something they've done before.

I didn't say it was. I said it had qualities that were atypical. Not that the song was atypical, or that the qualities were a huge departure. It has qualities to it that are atypical.

I just compared the keyboards at the end of LB to Springsteen's "Born in the USA". Then I remember that the shot of Ed against the flag for the MYM video was an homage to that album. Is it possible that Lightning Bolt is meant to be this big cheesy classic rock statement? Maybe the bombast of "Sirens" is expected if that's what this is.

McParadigm wrote:

theplatypus wrote:

McParadigm wrote:I Would Do Anything for Love is an emotional rock song, but it would still be a huge departure if it were a Pearl Jam song.

Right, but "Sirens" isn't a huge departure. Certainly not one that "signals a massive change in direction". It's just a leaner, poppier version of something they've done before.

I didn't say it was. I said it had qualities that were atypical. Not that the song was atypical, or that the qualities were a huge departure. It has qualities to it that are atypical.

I see. OK. Good chat

theplatypus wrote:

McParadigm wrote:

theplatypus wrote:

McParadigm wrote:I Would Do Anything for Love is an emotional rock song, but it would still be a huge departure if it were a Pearl Jam song.

Right, but "Sirens" isn't a huge departure. Certainly not one that "signals a massive change in direction". It's just a leaner, poppier version of something they've done before.

I didn't say it was. I said it had qualities that were atypical. Not that the song was atypical, or that the qualities were a huge departure. It has qualities to it that are atypical.

I see. OK. Good chat

harmless wrote:I just compared the keyboards at the end of LB to Springsteen's "Born in the USA". Then I remember that the shot of Ed against the flag for the MYM video was an homage to that album. Is it possible that Lightning Bolt is meant to be this big cheesy classic rock statement? Maybe the bombast of "Sirens" is expected if that's what this is.

Pretty sure they didn't put that much thought into it as a concept but if you're right it's because of BO'B and unbeknownst to the band until they read this post

Noaheb wrote:

harmless wrote:I just compared the keyboards at the end of LB to Springsteen's "Born in the USA". Then I remember that the shot of Ed against the flag for the MYM video was an homage to that album. Is it possible that Lightning Bolt is meant to be this big cheesy classic rock statement? Maybe the bombast of "Sirens" is expected if that's what this is.

Pretty sure they didn't put that much thought into it as a concept but if you're right it's because of BO'B and unbeknownst to the band until they read this post

LOL possibly. But BO'B had nothing to do with the Ed / flag shot...

harmless wrote:

Noaheb wrote:

harmless wrote:I just compared the keyboards at the end of LB to Springsteen's "Born in the USA". Then I remember that the shot of Ed against the flag for the MYM video was an homage to that album. Is it possible that Lightning Bolt is meant to be this big cheesy classic rock statement? Maybe the bombast of "Sirens" is expected if that's what this is.

Pretty sure they didn't put that much thought into it as a concept but if you're right it's because of BO'B and unbeknownst to the band until they read this post

LOL possibly. But BO'B had nothing to do with the Ed / flag shot...

Or...DID HE?

Noaheb wrote:

harmless wrote:

Noaheb wrote:

harmless wrote:I just compared the keyboards at the end of LB to Springsteen's "Born in the USA". Then I remember that the shot of Ed against the flag for the MYM video was an homage to that album. Is it possible that Lightning Bolt is meant to be this big cheesy classic rock statement? Maybe the bombast of "Sirens" is expected if that's what this is.

Pretty sure they didn't put that much thought into it as a concept but if you're right it's because of BO'B and unbeknownst to the band until they read this post

LOL possibly. But BO'B had nothing to do with the Ed / flag shot...

Or...DID HE?

He might be responsible for a thousand world atrocities, we'll never know.

I'm really starting to eat up the reverby slide-down guitar. That's a good overdub.

McParadigm wrote:I'm really starting to eat up the reverby slide-down guitar. That's a good overdub.

theplatypus wrote:

McParadigm wrote:I Would Do Anything for Love is an emotional rock song, but it would still be a huge departure if it were a Pearl Jam song.

Right, but "Sirens" isn't a huge departure. Certainly not one that "signals a massive change in direction". It's just a leaner, poppier version of something they've done before.

I think more and more people are starting to realize this (including me)....when you really break it down it isn't too far off of several other songs

harmless wrote:

McParadigm wrote:I'm really starting to eat up the reverby slide-down guitar. That's a good overdub.

yup - that's a nice addition that can't really be executed live. Stone still does a pretty good job at making the music tri-dimensional though.

I think the music aside from Eddies vocals is no huge departure but Eddie's vocal melody and the presentation of the song are. The chorus vocals are just totally off-putting at first and it's produced like a top 40 country rock song.

I don't care for the "I didn't care" section (I wish they had some crunchy guitar to cover up that piano!) but the surrounding sections are beautiful enough to make up for it.