Red Mosquito

I listened to this today and really enjoyed Dance of the Clairvoyants, Alright, Never Destination, Buckle Up and Take the Long Way. I guess that's my Gigaton Redux tracklisting.

That descending, reverberated note that follows "listen for a heartbeat, it's your own" in Alright is probably my favourite musical moment on the record.

I found both Seven O'Clock and Comes Then Goes very boring.

I've been listening a lot lately.

I really like most of this album. It really is one of their strongest.

I think the weak spot of the album is definitely never destination and take the long way. Im not sure how they could improve this. I think Take the long way is hurt by coming after never destination. It is a little more interesting but in the context of the album I like never destination better. Its a bit of a down spot after everything that came before but it fits where it is as a fillery little rock track. Take the long way coming next makes me feel bogged down. I might have left take the long way off the album honestly.

Alright I think is a weak track standalone but fits well where it is on the album.

My highlights would probably be Who Ever Said, Dance of the Clairvoyants, Seven O Clock, and Comes Then Goes as the strongest songs. SBWM and Quick Escape fit really well where they are...honestly so does Alright even though it's one of my least favorites but its nicely sequenced. Buckle Up is fun. Retrograde has grown on me. I don't love River Cross but do like the end.

I think it's very interesting that everybody has different 'favorite' songs on this album. Some people love Take the Long Way, some people love Quick Escape, I personally love Comes Then Goes.

I think it's because, as I've said before, there really are elements of every version of Pearl Jam on this album. There's a lot to like.

But ultimately what I think of more than anything is that this album adds nicely to their legacy. Lightning Bolt didn't need to exist but Gigaton does. And that sums it up for me more than anything else could.

mikejasond wrote:I think it's very interesting that everybody has different 'favorite' songs on this album. Some people love Take the Long Way, some people love Quick Escape, I personally love Comes Then Goes.

I think it's because, as I've said before, there really are elements of every version of Pearl Jam on this album. There's a lot to like.

But ultimately what I think of more than anything is that this album adds nicely to their legacy. Lightning Bolt didn't need to exist but Gigaton does. And that sums it up for me more than anything else could.

Man, we have finally found some common ground. It makes me happy that you are digging this album. Only thing I’d add is keep giving Never Destination and Take the Long Way a chance. They’re really great songs that seem to keep opening up with more familiarity. Otherwise I agree with most of your feelings about this album (and LB). It’s pretty amazing to get it now.

PHATJ wrote:

mikejasond wrote:I think it's very interesting that everybody has different 'favorite' songs on this album. Some people love Take the Long Way, some people love Quick Escape, I personally love Comes Then Goes.

I think it's because, as I've said before, there really are elements of every version of Pearl Jam on this album. There's a lot to like.

But ultimately what I think of more than anything is that this album adds nicely to their legacy. Lightning Bolt didn't need to exist but Gigaton does. And that sums it up for me more than anything else could.

Man, we have finally found some common ground. It makes me happy that you are digging this album. Only thing I’d add is keep giving Never Destination and Take the Long Way a chance. They’re really great songs that seem to keep opening up with more familiarity. Otherwise I agree with most of your feelings about this album (and LB). It’s pretty amazing to get it now.

What's funny is I wanted to compare to my Lightning Bolt reactions, only to search my post history and see that I never talked about it after it came out (at least not immediately). I was surprised by that. But I guess there wasn't that much to say. I enjoyed Sirens a lot and defended it when the single released...but the album just came and went and didn't leave much impression. And it's only gotten worse for me over time.

It's pretty shocking honestly that we got this album after Can't Deny Me released just a few years ago.

And, I don't know if I've just got used to his new voice or not, but it's crazy (and makes me very very happy) to see an album where Eddie is a strength and not a detriment. Eddie has aways been my favorite part of Pearl Jam and I...am just really happy to hear him again. Not sure if maybe it's just songs that suited his voice much better or his vibe or just....production magic. I don't know. But it's so nice to hear. Because I listen back to LB and hate how he sounds on most of it.

I think this album feels like a Pearl Jam album for the first time in a very long time - whatever that may mean. Artistically inspired. And a lot of moments of genuine beauty that they have not had in a long time that reminds me of the best parts of their middle years.

I mean man...I like The End but comparing The End and Future Days to Comes Then Goes - Comes Then Goes blows them away. It's not even close. It's hard to specify what the quality is. Raw? Authentic? It's not like it sounds particularly like any of their other songs that I can think of and yet it just seems so much more real to me. It somehow sounds like 'Pearl Jam' in a way they don't and I don't know why. Maybe BOB just stripped out so much of their soul.

I hear this album and I think it's just so Eddie Vedder, for better or worse you can really feel where his heart is right now. Can't say that for Backspacer or LB. Even when it's cheesy you know it's real.

It's kind of ironic because I feel like the albums that most have this quality otherwise are those middle years like Riot Act which is one of my least favorite albums. I guess I think that this album took that quality and combined it with much stronger songwriting.

It's kind of crazy to me that there were some reviews saying it's not that different than lightning bolt because to me it really is different.

mikejasond wrote:

PHATJ wrote:

mikejasond wrote:I think it's very interesting that everybody has different 'favorite' songs on this album. Some people love Take the Long Way, some people love Quick Escape, I personally love Comes Then Goes.

I think it's because, as I've said before, there really are elements of every version of Pearl Jam on this album. There's a lot to like.

But ultimately what I think of more than anything is that this album adds nicely to their legacy. Lightning Bolt didn't need to exist but Gigaton does. And that sums it up for me more than anything else could.

Man, we have finally found some common ground. It makes me happy that you are digging this album. Only thing I’d add is keep giving Never Destination and Take the Long Way a chance. They’re really great songs that seem to keep opening up with more familiarity. Otherwise I agree with most of your feelings about this album (and LB). It’s pretty amazing to get it now.

What's funny is I wanted to compare to my Lightning Bolt reactions, only to search my post history and see that I never talked about it after it came out (at least not immediately). I was surprised by that. But I guess there wasn't that much to say. I enjoyed Sirens a lot and defended it when the single released...but the album just came and went and didn't leave much impression. And it's only gotten worse for me over time.

It's pretty shocking honestly that we got this album after Can't Deny Me released just a few years ago.

And, I don't know if I've just got used to his new voice or not, but it's crazy (and makes me very very happy) to see an album where Eddie is a strength and not a detriment. Eddie has aways been my favorite part of Pearl Jam and I...am just really happy to hear him again. Not sure if maybe it's just songs that suited his voice much better or his vibe or just....production magic. I don't know. But it's so nice to hear. Because I listen back to LB and hate how he sounds on most of it.

I think this album feels like a Pearl Jam album for the first time in a very long time - whatever that may mean. Artistically inspired. And a lot of moments of genuine beauty that they have not had in a long time that reminds me of the best parts of their middle years.

I mean man...I like The End but comparing The End and Future Days to Comes Then Goes - Comes Then Goes blows them away. It's not even close. It's hard to specify what the quality is. Raw? Authentic? It's not like it sounds particularly like any of their other songs that I can think of and yet it just seems so much more real to me. It somehow sounds like 'Pearl Jam' in a way they don't and I don't know why. Maybe BOB just stripped out so much of their soul.

I hear this album and I think it's just so Eddie Vedder, for better or worse you can really feel where his heart is right now. Can't say that for Backspacer or LB. Even when it's cheesy you know it's real.

It's kind of ironic because I feel like the albums that most have this quality otherwise are those middle years like Riot Act which is one of my least favorite albums. I guess I think that this album took that quality and combined it with much stronger songwriting.

It's kind of crazy to me that there were some reviews saying it's not that different than lightning bolt because to me it really is different.

I agree with this almost word for word. And I feel exactly what you are describing.

Gigaton is everything that is wonderful about Pearl Jam coming alive again in a exciting and new, yet wonderfully familiar way.

I had absolutely zero of those feelings at anytime with the last two or three albums. I never expected to feel it again. Actually, I had completely forgotten what it felt like to just absolutely love Pearl Jam and connect immediately and deeply with an entire album. I honestly might not have felt so immediately connected and passionate about a PJ album since Yield.

And I can now feel those exact same feelings that eventually escaped me all those years ago. But this isn’t just excitement in reminiscing, it’s also the thrill that they’ve made something to truly be proud of. A beautiful record with shapes, and colors, and dynamics, and intelligence, and beauty.

Hopefully the response they are getting excites them about being more active with writing and recording new music. But I’ll be happy with this album for a loooong time. And LB and BS can disappear for a looooong time.

Gigaton has made me completely change my perspective on the future of PJ and my fandom. It’s wildly fun and I’m enjoying the ride.

PHATJ wrote:

mikejasond wrote:

PHATJ wrote:

mikejasond wrote:I think it's very interesting that everybody has different 'favorite' songs on this album. Some people love Take the Long Way, some people love Quick Escape, I personally love Comes Then Goes.

I think it's because, as I've said before, there really are elements of every version of Pearl Jam on this album. There's a lot to like.

But ultimately what I think of more than anything is that this album adds nicely to their legacy. Lightning Bolt didn't need to exist but Gigaton does. And that sums it up for me more than anything else could.

Man, we have finally found some common ground. It makes me happy that you are digging this album. Only thing I’d add is keep giving Never Destination and Take the Long Way a chance. They’re really great songs that seem to keep opening up with more familiarity. Otherwise I agree with most of your feelings about this album (and LB). It’s pretty amazing to get it now.

What's funny is I wanted to compare to my Lightning Bolt reactions, only to search my post history and see that I never talked about it after it came out (at least not immediately). I was surprised by that. But I guess there wasn't that much to say. I enjoyed Sirens a lot and defended it when the single released...but the album just came and went and didn't leave much impression. And it's only gotten worse for me over time.

It's pretty shocking honestly that we got this album after Can't Deny Me released just a few years ago.

And, I don't know if I've just got used to his new voice or not, but it's crazy (and makes me very very happy) to see an album where Eddie is a strength and not a detriment. Eddie has aways been my favorite part of Pearl Jam and I...am just really happy to hear him again. Not sure if maybe it's just songs that suited his voice much better or his vibe or just....production magic. I don't know. But it's so nice to hear. Because I listen back to LB and hate how he sounds on most of it.

I think this album feels like a Pearl Jam album for the first time in a very long time - whatever that may mean. Artistically inspired. And a lot of moments of genuine beauty that they have not had in a long time that reminds me of the best parts of their middle years.

I mean man...I like The End but comparing The End and Future Days to Comes Then Goes - Comes Then Goes blows them away. It's not even close. It's hard to specify what the quality is. Raw? Authentic? It's not like it sounds particularly like any of their other songs that I can think of and yet it just seems so much more real to me. It somehow sounds like 'Pearl Jam' in a way they don't and I don't know why. Maybe BOB just stripped out so much of their soul.

I hear this album and I think it's just so Eddie Vedder, for better or worse you can really feel where his heart is right now. Can't say that for Backspacer or LB. Even when it's cheesy you know it's real.

It's kind of ironic because I feel like the albums that most have this quality otherwise are those middle years like Riot Act which is one of my least favorite albums. I guess I think that this album took that quality and combined it with much stronger songwriting.

It's kind of crazy to me that there were some reviews saying it's not that different than lightning bolt because to me it really is different.

I agree with this almost word for word. And I feel exactly what you are describing. Gigaton is everything that is wonderful about Pearl Jam coming alive again in a exciting and new yet wonderfully familiar way. I had absolutely zero of those feelings at anytime with the last two or three albums. I never expected to feel it again. Actually, I had completely forgotten what it felt like to just absolutely love Pearl Jam and connect immediately and deeply with an entire album. I honestly might not have felt so immediately connected and passionate about a PJ album since Yield. And I can now feel those exact same feeling that eventually escaped me all those years ago. But this isn’t just excitement in reminiscing, it’s also the thrill that they’ve made something to truly be proud of. And hopefully the response they are getting excites them about being more active with writing and recording new music. Gigaton has made me completely change my perspective on the future of PJ and my fandom. It’s wildly fun and I’m enjoying the ride.

Totally agree. It says something that the board is almost totally unified on this one!

I'm gonna give Lightning Bolt a listen today, but I don't think Eddie sounds that much different on Gigaton. He is just recorded in a much more flattering way (and the writing/melodies are stronger on Gigaton, which is just a better record. Then again, it is better than the majority of their records). But I'm going to listen to them back to back to see.

He does stay away from the higher register more on gigaton (maybe Superblood Wolfmoon and Never Destination are the exceptions. He sounds particularly good on SBWM), which is general a smarter choice for him. So there are fewer songs in the range of Infallible's chorus, LTRP, Getaway, and MFS.

But Eddie still sounds great on songs like Sirens, Yellow Moon, Mind Your Manners, Sleeping by Myself, etc.

stip wrote:I'm gonna give Lightning Bolt a listen today, but I don't think Eddie sounds that much different on Gigaton. He is just recorded in a much more flattering way (and the writing/melodies are stronger on Gigaton, which is just a better record). But I'm going to listen to them back to back to see.

He does stay away from the higher register more on gigaton (maybe Superblood Wolfmoon and Never Destination are the exceptions. He sounds particularly good on SBWM), which is general a smarter choice for him. So there are fewer songs in the range of Infallible's chorus, LTRP, Getaway, and MFS.

But Eddie still sounds great on songs like Sirens, Yellow Moon, Mind Your Manners, Sleeping by Myself, etc.

I think, and we wont know for certain until we hear the songs live, that more than just better production choices, ed is singing in registers that he will be able to recreate live. Sirens, while I love the song, Ed has never been able to sing live. Its so overproduced on the record that i wonder if he was ever to sing it front to back in key and nailing the parts.

on Gigaton, he seems to have made the absolute best decisions from beginning to end of the process.

agreed. But he does sound great on the record. That one, MYM, and Yellow Moon in particular are standouts.

mikejasond wrote:

PHATJ wrote:

mikejasond wrote:I think it's very interesting that everybody has different 'favorite' songs on this album. Some people love Take the Long Way, some people love Quick Escape, I personally love Comes Then Goes.

I think it's because, as I've said before, there really are elements of every version of Pearl Jam on this album. There's a lot to like.

But ultimately what I think of more than anything is that this album adds nicely to their legacy. Lightning Bolt didn't need to exist but Gigaton does. And that sums it up for me more than anything else could.

Man, we have finally found some common ground. It makes me happy that you are digging this album. Only thing I’d add is keep giving Never Destination and Take the Long Way a chance. They’re really great songs that seem to keep opening up with more familiarity. Otherwise I agree with most of your feelings about this album (and LB). It’s pretty amazing to get it now.

What's funny is I wanted to compare to my Lightning Bolt reactions, only to search my post history and see that I never talked about it after it came out (at least not immediately). I was surprised by that. But I guess there wasn't that much to say. I enjoyed Sirens a lot and defended it when the single released...but the album just came and went and didn't leave much impression. And it's only gotten worse for me over time.

It's pretty shocking honestly that we got this album after Can't Deny Me released just a few years ago.

And, I don't know if I've just got used to his new voice or not, but it's crazy (and makes me very very happy) to see an album where Eddie is a strength and not a detriment. Eddie has aways been my favorite part of Pearl Jam and I...am just really happy to hear him again. Not sure if maybe it's just songs that suited his voice much better or his vibe or just....production magic. I don't know. But it's so nice to hear. Because I listen back to LB and hate how he sounds on most of it.

I think this album feels like a Pearl Jam album for the first time in a very long time - whatever that may mean. Artistically inspired. And a lot of moments of genuine beauty that they have not had in a long time that reminds me of the best parts of their middle years.

I mean man...I like The End but comparing The End and Future Days to Comes Then Goes - Comes Then Goes blows them away. It's not even close. It's hard to specify what the quality is. Raw? Authentic? It's not like it sounds particularly like any of their other songs that I can think of and yet it just seems so much more real to me. It somehow sounds like 'Pearl Jam' in a way they don't and I don't know why. Maybe BOB just stripped out so much of their soul.

I hear this album and I think it's just so Eddie Vedder, for better or worse you can really feel where his heart is right now. Can't say that for Backspacer or LB. Even when it's cheesy you know it's real.

It's kind of ironic because I feel like the albums that most have this quality otherwise are those middle years like Riot Act which is one of my least favorite albums. I guess I think that this album took that quality and combined it with much stronger songwriting.

It's kind of crazy to me that there were some reviews saying it's not that different than lightning bolt because to me it really is different.

You, sir, get it

If you aren't listening with a fan's ear I totally see how this follows from Lightning Bolt. Similar ideas, and not all that dissimilar a sound. Just better execution.

I don't know; with the caveat of it being a PJ album and they all sound alike to a degree, this is as far apart from LB as pretty much any other record they've done, both in terms of songwriting and production. Could any song here be slotted into LB and it would sound of a piece with the songs on that record? Even the one people point to as being LB-esque (Retrograde) would stick out like a sore thumb.

Upon second thought, I'm not sure the production here is quite as different from LB as something like No Code through Riot Act, though it's far different, but I think it's more about the songwriting choices, and the choices they seem willing to let themselves make here they didn't on LB.

I wouldn't say I could easily see how this album follows LB. But I would say that I could easily see how this album follows Ten--->LB.

stip wrote:If you aren't listening with a fan's ear I totally see how this follows from Lightning Bolt. Similar ideas, and not all that dissimilar a sound. Just better execution.

dont agree. LB goes for the pop route so much it hurts the songs. Here, its all about what the songs needs. And jams like WES, DOTC, QE or the end of Retrograde wouldnt happened if they were on LB.

I do agree with ed's voice being fine on LB. He has a strong performance there.

a whole bunch of non-fans think every PJ record sounds the same; it's such a common, bonehead view that I'm surprised and disappointed when I read a review that doesn't work any harder to distinguish them

Ms Harmless wrote:a whole bunch of non-fans think every PJ record sounds the same; it's such a common, bonehead view that I'm surprised and disappointed when I read a review that doesn't work any harder to distinguish them

really? back in the day the main response with a pj album is that "it didnt sound like pj", not only ten or vs but whatever album came before.

i had a friend back in the day that hated Binaural for how it sounds. He called it punk. I was super shocked. He also said Dave Mathews Band was the natural progression of what PJ should have done.

I never talked to the guy again.

VinylGuy wrote:

stip wrote:If you aren't listening with a fan's ear I totally see how this follows from Lightning Bolt. Similar ideas, and not all that dissimilar a sound. Just better execution.

dont agree. LB goes for the pop route so much it hurts the songs. Here, its all about what the songs needs. And jams like WES, DOTC, QE or the end of Retrograde wouldnt happened if they were on LB.

I do agree with ed's voice being fine on LB. He has a strong performance there.

LB is certainly poppier, but Ed’s voice is the most readily discernible/identifiable characteristic of their music. And L-bolt and Gigaton are not that far off in terms of his performance. Gigaton captures it better (and writing is stronger) But I an sure if I played people songs from both they wouldnt see a huge difference in what he does.

I also dont have much of an issue imagining most of the lbolt songs being brought into the gigaton sessions. Getaway and who ever said arent that fall off in their beginning and ends. Of course who ever said has that amazing middle, but its a better song

i dont know....i dont think Ed has a performance like River Cross in LB. Or DOTC. And i dont mean that the songs are better, but there is a decision there of trying something else.

I think Ed was great on LB, better than Backspacer maybe, but his performance in Gigaton is better. He is choosing the range better...i mean Come Then Goes?? Quick Escape?

PHATJ wrote:Actually, I had completely forgotten what it felt like to just absolutely love Pearl Jam and connect immediately and deeply with an entire album. I honestly might not have felt so immediately connected and passionate about a PJ album since Yield.

I'm one who can put on any Pearl Jam song or album and find enjoyment in it, just because it's PJ. Even one-star and two-star songs, for a few minutes, it's still Pearl Jam in my ears.

But, yeah, the last time I put something on and no problem with any of it? Probably No Code.

Red Dot annoyed me, even though I loved Jack. God's Dice and Evacuation and Soon Forget kept Binaural from overwhelming me. I disliked Ghost for a long time (I'm now reformed), and Get Right is one of my least favorite PJ songs.

And then came the next three albums where there were only more shaky moments for me.

Gigaton avoids those moments entirely for me. It's crazy that it happened.