Gigaton: Official album thread

[stip]

Excellent post. I haven't sat down to put this all together yet, but this is right where I'm at.

[stip]

I might add to this tomorrow, or just wish I never wrote it instead. One or the other. Or neither. But this is something I like about the record.

This is an album about surviving past the end. It’s an unexpectedly appropriate subject for this day and age, and Pearl Jam is a uniquely authentic musical voice for it. They are capable of capturing, without fetishistic assumption or romanticism, the real experience of survival. They know what it means to live with losses that you can’t outlive. They know it’s not always going to feel like it was worth it.

So save your predictions, and burn your assumptions. But the band also wants you to feel the natural jubilance of the phrase “there’s much to be done.” Its reaction to the bitter end isn’t trademark fury, but just the same I’m still alive, different day.

The inspirations were clearly (primarily) Trump and climate change, but the band’s empathetic fixation on surviving hardships (both physically and spiritually) make this the ideal album to carry into uncertain quarantine. It’s an album that wants you to feel less alone. First, do no harm. Then: buckle up.

Even the president, lazily disparaged, is then immediately sympathized with in terms the band cannot help but understand. “His best days gone, hard to admit,” and here the smugly-strutting song becomes a mother’s hug. “Angry punches, with nothing to hit.” It’s like a Riot Act song all grown up...still furious for all of the denied and powerless, but now able to find its own reflection in the failures of the powerful.

Pearl Jam used to make albums about surviving the moment. Then, for a while there, they sort of made albums about remembering what it was like to be surviving the moment. Now, they’re finally ready to talk about you do next. Which in its way is just another kind of promise to survive. Whoever said it’s all been said gave up on satisfaction.

I could very well end up humiliated by how much I like this. I’ll live with it. Because whether or not this is a great record, it hits me right now because I’m pretty scared but hoping, and a hope dies last.

That's the McParadigm in the aforementioned post

[Thejambi]

Ok, so I've read so many thing being said while I was at work. I have not heard anything, as I have not asked for a link. That's a first for me. With my other account I had, and then this latest one, I always came here at new album time, and got an early listen. I told myself that wasn't going to do that again, and I won't. I really am enjoying reading everything people are saying, it's great, and I feel all your enthusiasm etc.

I would like to ask a few questions.....

Although very, very early, If you would give "Yield" a 10 let's say, where would this record place out of ....you know.....10 for you, and where did you rank the last 3 albums as well? I'm not interested in pre Yield, because that's just in a different galaxy then we are now.

Also, I know the leak quality apparantly isn't the best, but vocally, how does Ed sound opposed to the last 3 records in your opinion?

Thank you for any feedback, seriously.

I think this album’s floor is a 5 with a ceiling of 8. Ranking it on day one isn’t going to yield a fair number.

Ed has good and bad moments but the overall production is extremely impressive compared to the last three albums.

[dad]

I might add to this tomorrow, or just wish I never wrote it instead. One or the other. Or neither. But this is something I like about the record.

This is an album about surviving past the end. It’s an unexpectedly appropriate subject for this day and age, and Pearl Jam is a uniquely authentic musical voice for it. They are capable of capturing, without fetishistic assumption or romanticism, the real experience of survival. They know what it means to live with losses that you can’t outlive. They know it’s not always going to feel like it was worth it.

So save your predictions, and burn your assumptions. But the band also wants you to feel the natural jubilance of the phrase “there’s much to be done.” Its reaction to the bitter end isn’t trademark fury, but just the same I’m still alive, different day.

The inspirations were clearly (primarily) Trump and climate change, but the band’s empathetic fixation on surviving hardships (both physically and spiritually) make this the ideal album to carry into uncertain quarantine. It’s an album that wants you to feel less alone. First, do no harm. Then: buckle up.

Even the president, lazily disparaged, is then immediately sympathized with in terms the band cannot help but understand. “His best days gone, hard to admit,” and here the smugly-strutting song becomes a mother’s hug. “Angry punches, with nothing to hit.” It’s like a Riot Act song all grown up...still furious for all of the denied and powerless, but now able to find its own reflection in the failures of the powerful.

Pearl Jam used to make albums about surviving the moment. Then, for a while there, they sort of made albums about remembering what it was like to be surviving the moment. Now, they’re finally ready to talk about you do next. Which in its way is just another kind of promise to survive. Whoever said it’s all been said gave up on satisfaction.

I could very well end up humiliated by how much I like this. I’ll live with it. Because whether or not this is a great record, it hits me right now because I’m pretty scared but hoping, and a hope dies last.

So very well said.

[Waverider]

Ok, so I've read so many thing being said while I was at work. I have not heard anything, as I have not asked for a link. That's a first for me. With my other account I had, and then this latest one, I always came here at new album time, and got an early listen. I told myself that wasn't going to do that again, and I won't. I really am enjoying reading everything people are saying, it's great, and I feel all your enthusiasm etc.

I would like to ask a few questions.....

Although very, very early, If you would give "Yield" a 10 let's say, where would this record place out of ....you know.....10 for you, and where did you rank the last 3 albums as well? I'm not interested in pre Yield, because that's just in a different galaxy then we are now.

Also, I know the leak quality apparantly isn't the best, but vocally, how does Ed sound opposed to the last 3 records in your opinion?

Thank you for any feedback, seriously.

if Yield is a 10

Gigaton is a 8.5

S/T is a 6
Backspacer is a 5
Lightning Bolt is a 5

Thank you

[stip]

I think Ed sounds great throughout - he works with his voice rather than against it. There aren't that many frothy moments. The most intense he regularly gets are the growls in SBWM

[Ms Harmless]

I might add to this tomorrow, or just wish I never wrote it instead. One or the other. Or neither. But this is something I like about the record.

This is an album about surviving past the end. It’s an unexpectedly appropriate subject for this day and age, and Pearl Jam is a uniquely authentic musical voice for it. They are capable of capturing, without fetishistic assumption or romanticism, the real experience of survival. They know what it means to live with losses that you can’t outlive. They know it’s not always going to feel like it was worth it.

So save your predictions, and burn your assumptions. But the band also wants you to feel the natural jubilance of the phrase “there’s much to be done.” Its reaction to the bitter end isn’t trademark fury, but just the same I’m still alive, different day.

The inspirations were clearly (primarily) Trump and climate change, but the band’s empathetic fixation on surviving hardships (both physically and spiritually) make this the ideal album to carry into uncertain quarantine. It’s an album that wants you to feel less alone. First, do no harm. Then: buckle up.

Even the president, lazily disparaged, is then immediately sympathized with in terms the band cannot help but understand. “His best days gone, hard to admit,” and here the smugly-strutting song becomes a mother’s hug. “Angry punches, with nothing to hit.” It’s like a Riot Act song all grown up...still furious for all of the denied and powerless, but now able to find its own reflection in the failures of the powerful.

Pearl Jam used to make albums about surviving the moment. Then, for a while there, they sort of made albums about remembering what it was like to be surviving the moment. Now, they’re finally ready to talk about you do next. Which in its way is just another kind of promise to survive. Whoever said it’s all been said gave up on satisfaction.

I could very well end up humiliated by how much I like this. I’ll live with it. Because whether or not this is a great record, it hits me right now because I’m pretty scared but hoping, and a hope dies last.

That's the McParadigm in the aforementioned post

it's a great post

[Waverider]

Ok, so I've read so many thing being said while I was at work. I have not heard anything, as I have not asked for a link. That's a first for me. With my other account I had, and then this latest one, I always came here at new album time, and got an early listen. I told myself that wasn't going to do that again, and I won't. I really am enjoying reading everything people are saying, it's great, and I feel all your enthusiasm etc.

I would like to ask a few questions.....

Although very, very early, If you would give "Yield" a 10 let's say, where would this record place out of ....you know.....10 for you, and where did you rank the last 3 albums as well? I'm not interested in pre Yield, because that's just in a different galaxy then we are now.

Also, I know the leak quality apparantly isn't the best, but vocally, how does Ed sound opposed to the last 3 records in your opinion?

Thank you for any feedback, seriously.

I think this album’s floor is a 5 with a ceiling of 8. Ranking it on day one isn’t going to yield a fair number.

Ed has good and bad moments but the overall production is extremely impressive compared to the last three albums.

[Ms Harmless]

I'm still awake and emotional about this whole thing

[7 Years and Maybe Longer]

Just finished my first listen through and I have to say it brought me back to my first time listening to Yield. Thrilled with the album and excited that there is a lot to dig into and discover.

If this is the last one, it was worth the wait.

[Homeboyd]

Ok, so I've read so many thing being said while I was at work. I have not heard anything, as I have not asked for a link. That's a first for me. With my other account I had, and then this latest one, I always came here at new album time, and got an early listen. I told myself that wasn't going to do that again, and I won't. I really am enjoying reading everything people are saying, it's great, and I feel all your enthusiasm etc.

I would like to ask a few questions.....

Although very, very early, If you would give "Yield" a 10 let's say, where would this record place out of ....you know.....10 for you, and where did you rank the last 3 albums as well? I'm not interested in pre Yield, because that's just in a different galaxy then we are now.

Also, I know the leak quality apparantly isn't the best, but vocally, how does Ed sound opposed to the last 3 records in your opinion?

Thank you for any feedback, seriously.

Well, it's not as good as Yield. But for where there were/are it's pretty damn great. I liked S/T quite a bit and still do. I do not like the last two albums outside of a small handful of songs. For the most part Ed sounds really good and easily better than the last few albums but he also still has a serious case of verbal diarrhea at times. They layer his voice and use backing vocals effectively. And, for lack of a better term, there's a warmth to the album which also fits his current voice very well.

[Buby]

I might add to this tomorrow, or just wish I never wrote it instead. One or the other. Or neither. But this is something I like about the record.

This is an album about surviving past the end. It’s an unexpectedly appropriate subject for this day and age, and Pearl Jam is a uniquely authentic musical voice for it. They are capable of capturing, without fetishistic assumption or romanticism, the real experience of survival. They know what it means to live with losses that you can’t outlive. They know it’s not always going to feel like it was worth it.

So save your predictions, and burn your assumptions. But the band also wants you to feel the natural jubilance of the phrase “there’s much to be done.” Its reaction to the bitter end isn’t trademark fury, but just the same I’m still alive, different day.

The inspirations were clearly (primarily) Trump and climate change, but the band’s empathetic fixation on surviving hardships (both physically and spiritually) make this the ideal album to carry into uncertain quarantine. It’s an album that wants you to feel less alone. First, do no harm. Then: buckle up.

Even the president, lazily disparaged, is then immediately sympathized with in terms the band cannot help but understand. “His best days gone, hard to admit,” and here the smugly-strutting song becomes a mother’s hug. “Angry punches, with nothing to hit.” It’s like a Riot Act song all grown up...still furious for all of the denied and powerless, but now able to find its own reflection in the failures of the powerful.

Pearl Jam used to make albums about surviving the moment. Then, for a while there, they sort of made albums about remembering what it was like to be surviving the moment. Now, they’re finally ready to talk about you do next. Which in its way is just another kind of promise to survive. Whoever said it’s all been said gave up on satisfaction.

I could very well end up humiliated by how much I like this. I’ll live with it. Because whether or not this is a great record, it hits me right now because I’m pretty scared but hoping, and a hope dies last.

[Waverider]

I think Ed sounds great throughout - he works with his voice rather than against it. There aren't that many frothy moments. The most intense he regularly gets are the growls in SBWM

[Waverider]

Ok, so I've read so many thing being said while I was at work. I have not heard anything, as I have not asked for a link. That's a first for me. With my other account I had, and then this latest one, I always came here at new album time, and got an early listen. I told myself that wasn't going to do that again, and I won't. I really am enjoying reading everything people are saying, it's great, and I feel all your enthusiasm etc.

I would like to ask a few questions.....

Although very, very early, If you would give "Yield" a 10 let's say, where would this record place out of ....you know.....10 for you, and where did you rank the last 3 albums as well? I'm not interested in pre Yield, because that's just in a different galaxy then we are now.

Also, I know the leak quality apparantly isn't the best, but vocally, how does Ed sound opposed to the last 3 records in your opinion?

Thank you for any feedback, seriously.

Well, it's not as good as Yield. But for where there were/are it's pretty damn great. I liked S/T quite a bit and still do. I do not like the last two albums outside of a small handful of songs. For the most part Ed sounds really good and easily better than the last few albums but he also still has a serious case of verbal diarrhea at times. They layer his voice and use backing vocals effectively. And, for lack of a better term, there's a warmth to the album which also fits his current voice very well.

[evenslow]

god dammit, McP. i thought all my quick burst thoughts in myriad threads would have me as the MVP of tonight but here we are. perfectly said.

[stip]

Well I'm off to bed. I know what I'm spending time with this weekend though.

It's been great being able to enjoy pearl jam with you people again. Have a good night, RM

[evenslow]

McP makes an important point, which is this is a grown up album about what to do next. That's really important here. A new era.

[Jaeti]

Once this gets to the 'could be thunder, or a crowd' part - around 3:20, it turns into a totally different song. The final two minutes of this one are great.

Yeah, I think Retrograde is my low point on the album for the moment, which is too bad given its placement. But from this point on it does turn pretty great.

[Monkey_Driven]

McP makes an important point, which is this is a grown up album about what to do next. That's really important here. A new era.

I sure hope so.

[Tuolumne]

It also has a fan club single experimental vibe to it

That’s it

yes good call.

I agree. This is not them working harder in the studio, knowing they have to get their takes just right in a limited alotment of time. This is them just kicking some ideas around for fun, and then finishing them off properly.