Red Mosquito

Ms Harmless wrote:nah I agree; in a way I don't care how Ed solo sounds; I'm not about to dislike Soundgarden because Chris Cornell made Scream; I had low expectations going into this and it's a really fun listen with some great moments

Ms Harmless wrote:
my partner and I both said "Picture" sounded like a Disney song I like it enough, and I think that it helps that it's in a trifecta with a Beatles-esque piano-led song, and a lounge style reprise; I almost want a canned round of applause chucked in there somewhere

Ms Harmless wrote:I think my least favourite moment is the transition between Power of Right and Long Way; it's *really* jarring, and not just stylistically; the overall volume of LW is lower and the snare drum disappears

benton netty wrote:

Ms Harmless wrote:I think my least favourite moment is the transition between Power of Right and Long Way; it's *really* jarring, and not just stylistically; the overall volume of LW is lower and the snare drum disappears

This was driving me nuts, yesterday. The mastering engineer really didn't do their job, there.

tragabigzanda wrote:Welp, I’ve finally listened with headphones, and here’s where I’m at:

1. Creatively speaking, I find this album even more encouraging than Gigaton for what the future holds for Pearl Jam. The range of ideas is pretty great, and even the lesser tracks have some fun ideas and ear candy. I’m fully on board with an Andrew Wottman-produced Pearl Jam album.

2. The reliance on digital processing is variously encouraging and concerning. It’s great to hear some new guitar and bass sounds behind Ed’s voice, and the synth pads that we first got in DOTC continue to be the most surprisingly great addition to the pallet…but the sloppy vocal edit in Try (“hitting like the WITNESS in your eyes,” at 1:54), and some of the more Frankensteined song arrangements, give me less hope that PJ will ever make another Riot Act.

3. Ed continues to get away from the condenser mic breathiness of BS and LB, which is so great.

4. The compression and EQ are abysmal. I have serious ear fatigue after one listen, and had to turn the volume way down on the heavier songs. I’m firmly convinced that Ed’s going deaf, and has no idea or awareness of the results that’s having on his finished product. It is what it is, I guess.

Compositionally much stronger than I ever thought this would be, and more importantly, it never sounds tired; there’s nothing that smacks of a retread like SBWM.

Also, I really like The Haves. There I said it.

scrub12 wrote:I can’t get Try out of my brain.

Ms Harmless wrote:The Dark is joyous

McParadigm wrote:

Strat wrote:

McParadigm wrote:Man, Eddie Vedder is having a survivor’s creative renaissance, and I am here for it.

Go on....

Gigaton and then this. The sound or style of these records might not be for some, but it's hard to argue that any of it has that Getaway "(sigh) I guess they'll want a song like this..." stink of weary obligation to it.

I think the late 90's is the last time he was as casually playful with (and this unconcerned with adhering to the formula of) his music. Can't start a fire without a spark.