ITT: Your Fandom Before and After Lightning Bolt

[evenslow]

I'm going with Rearviewmirror (nostalgic, but in tact). The Ten through Binaural run not only soundtracked my junior high through grad school years, but had a higher success rate - song for song - than any one band should have realistically had. Everything since has been much more hit or miss. At this point, I look at any new studio music that I like as icing on the cake. As a touring band, although they're not the emotional tour de force they were in the early to mid 90's or the tight live musicians they were in (take your pick of 1998/2000/2003 and the numerous other threads devoted to that topic), I'll take being a fan of 2013 Pearl Jam that I can still see live over a band that only exists in my memory.

Sometimes I like to think about what the odds are of any talented band staying together 20+ years...especially one that's gone through what this one has. And of the very few bands that can say that, that it would be a band that has given me this many great musical memories...I feel like I've more than gotten my money's worth. So for now I am much more fascinated in what keeps the band going, in what motivates the various decisions that go into keeping the machine up and running.

well said.

[harmless]

I guess, if PJ want to 'go POP', they need to throw their all into it and be Icona Pop. But they won't, because they're Springsteen-wannabe cowards. Pop is not in their bones, it's just a method. When have PJ ever touched dance beats? Trent Reznor showed a lot of intelligence by writing 'Everything', because it shows that euphoric, cheesy dance music was always just bubbling under the surface, and why not let it out for a bit of fun on occasion? PJ are too reserved and lacking in self-mockery.

[Norah]

Also they haven't been a consistently good live band in about 7 years.

and this point has been exaggerated to death here

Every point is exaggerated to death here!

not like this one though

They haven't been good live nearl 100% of the time since the 2000 tour. In 2003 and 2006 they were great most of the time, but both of those tours have stretches of subpar performances. Post-2006 it's been a crapshoot.

[harmless]

Also they haven't been a consistently good live band in about 7 years.

and this point has been exaggerated to death here

Every point is exaggerated to death here!

not like this one though

Well, it's also under-recognised by the people who disagree with it. There's very little middle-ground.

[BurtReynolds]

thing about live shows is that every new album you don't like kinda dilutes the experience.

i dont really agree with this. for me, some of the songs i dont like on an album i enjoy in a live setting (UK).

YMMV. I was really disappointed by BS live. Songs on flawed albums like riot act and avocado came alive at a show. Songs like Half Full, You Are, and Severed Hand were infused with energy and embellishment . BS songs sounded essentially the same as they did on the cd to me. I was bored. the only consolation was that they were short.

[harmless]

The Riot Act songs sounded good live because it isn't flawed.

[Dr. Van Nostrand]

thing about live shows is that every new album you don't like kinda dilutes the experience.

i dont really agree with this. for me, some of the songs i dont like on an album i enjoy in a live setting (UK).

YMMV. I was really disappointed by BS live. Songs on flawed albums like riot act and avocado came alive at a show. Songs like Half Full, You Are, and Severed Hand were infused with energy and embellishment . BS songs sounded essentially the same as they did on the cd to me. I was bored. the only consolation was that they were short.

Avocado is the perfect album for the songs being so much better live

[philpritchard]

I like both Backspacer and S/T. The reason I didn't vote for the top category is because everything from Ten-Riot Act just blew my mind, so the latest two have been a bit of a let down in that way. At different times, in different situations, I'll have urges for one of the first seven albums and I'll play one for a week straight and love every second of it. It's not the same way with Backspacer and S/T. They each have their high points for me, but they're not as consistently good. Right now I have an urge to listen to S/T, but it's not because I'm excited to hear it again, it's out of curiosity. Maybe a light will go on some day and I'll realize something I've been missing, but I'm not so sure because everything else has hit me right away with this band.

Having said that, most of what we know about Lightning Bolt has me thinking this one may be more in line with my feelings for the earlier stuff. I'm trying to temper my expectations, but I have high hopes.

[Dr. Van Nostrand]

I like both Backspacer and S/T. The reason I didn't vote for the top category is because everything from Ten-Riot Act just blew my mind, so the latest two have been a bit of a let down in that way. At different times, in different situations, I'll have urges for one of the first seven albums and I'll play one for a week straight and love every second of it. It's not the same way with Backspacer and S/T. They each have their high points for me, but they're not as consistently good. Right now I have an urge to listen to S/T, but it's not because I'm excited to hear it again, it's out of curiosity. Maybe a light will go on some day and I'll realize something I've been missing, but I'm not so sure because everything else has hit me right away with this band.

Having said that, most of what we know about Lightning Bolt has me thinking this one may be more in line with my feelings for the earlier stuff. I'm trying to temper my expectations, but I have high hopes.

I've been pretty optimistic on the board about how good LB will be, but i am also trying to temper it because i don't want to end up disappointed in a great album because I've made myself think it will be amazing. And though i seem to be one of the few that like it, FD is definitely not what i was hoping for on the new album, so that is already one small knock on the album

[digster]

When it comes specifically to Lightning Bolt (the album), I think I'd be more excited about it if I hadn't heard Lightning Bolt and Future Days. I like Mind Your Manners, I like the overall aesthetic of the art, I like most of what I've read about it. But knowing that 2 of the 3 songs we've heard landed with a relative thud for me tempers my expectations quite a bit.

[philpritchard]

And though i seem to be one of the few that like it, FD is definitely not what i was hoping for on the new album, so that is already one small knock on the album

I think what I want the most is for the album to be interesting. There was very little on the last two albums that drew me in. This may not make a whole lot of sense, but I feel like there were enough interesting songs that captured my attention on most of their albums that it elevated my initial enjoyment of some of the more standard, less exciting songs.

[harmless]

And though i seem to be one of the few that like it, FD is definitely not what i was hoping for on the new album, so that is already one small knock on the album

I think what I want the most is for the album to be interesting. There was very little on the last two albums that drew me in. This may not make a whole lot of sense, but I feel like there were enough interesting songs that captured my attention on most of their albums that it elevated my initial enjoyment of some of the more standard, less exciting songs.

Yeah, this is true. They always did plain old rock songs, but they were filler. Recently, it's a choice between good plain-old-rock-songs and mediocre ones. It doesn't feel like they're interested in challenging anyone.

[philpritchard]

And though i seem to be one of the few that like it, FD is definitely not what i was hoping for on the new album, so that is already one small knock on the album

I think what I want the most is for the album to be interesting. There was very little on the last two albums that drew me in. This may not make a whole lot of sense, but I feel like there were enough interesting songs that captured my attention on most of their albums that it elevated my initial enjoyment of some of the more standard, less exciting songs.

Yeah, this is true. They always did plain old rock songs, but they were filler. Recently, it's a choice between good plain-old-rock-songs and mediocre ones. It doesn't feel like they're interested in challenging anyone.

Exactly. This thought actually occurred to me last night when I decided to put on Riot Act for the first time in a long time. Can't Keep, You Are, All or None, Help Help... there are enough of what I consider unique songs that I find myself liking the more standard songs more.

[stupidmop]

When it comes specifically to Lightning Bolt (the album), I think I'd be more excited about it if I hadn't heard Lightning Bolt and Future Days. I like Mind Your Manners, I like the overall aesthetic of the art, I like most of what I've read about it. But knowing that 2 of the 3 songs we've heard landed with a relative thud for me tempers my expectations quite a bit.

Same.

I am excited enough however, to be excited about a listening party I'm not even going to. Which is a pretty sad level of excitement.


I hope we hear good things...

[Cleverman]

I voted 3, but here I am at a coffe shop using their wifi because I bout The Kids Are Twenty and can't download it on my phone and don't have internet at home.

I also don't have a laptop but my son does, so I downloaded iTunes to his computer, set it up, authorized his computer, etc. and it's now about 20% done and it says it's going to take another 65 minutes.

I even told the guy at the counter I would be here a while and he was cool with it.

After careful consideration, i gotta be a 2 or possibly a 1. Haha

[harmless]

When it comes specifically to Lightning Bolt (the album), I think I'd be more excited about it if I hadn't heard Lightning Bolt and Future Days. I like Mind Your Manners, I like the overall aesthetic of the art, I like most of what I've read about it. But knowing that 2 of the 3 songs we've heard landed with a relative thud for me tempers my expectations quite a bit.

Same.

I am excited enough however, to be excited about a listening party I'm not even going to. Which is a pretty sad level of excitement.


I hope we hear good things...

Berlin is just an hour ahead of me. What are the chances of having someone come on here and write a response that night? I might not sleep.

[Mike]

When it comes specifically to Lightning Bolt (the album), I think I'd be more excited about it if I hadn't heard Lightning Bolt and Future Days. I like Mind Your Manners, I like the overall aesthetic of the art, I like most of what I've read about it. But knowing that 2 of the 3 songs we've heard landed with a relative thud for me tempers my expectations quite a bit.

Same.

I am excited enough however, to be excited about a listening party I'm not even going to. Which is a pretty sad level of excitement.


I hope we hear good things...

Berlin is just an hour ahead of me. What are the chances of having someone come on here and write a response that night? I might not sleep.

One of my best friends lives in Berlin. I should tell her to sneak in there and report back to.

[harmless]

When it comes specifically to Lightning Bolt (the album), I think I'd be more excited about it if I hadn't heard Lightning Bolt and Future Days. I like Mind Your Manners, I like the overall aesthetic of the art, I like most of what I've read about it. But knowing that 2 of the 3 songs we've heard landed with a relative thud for me tempers my expectations quite a bit.

Same.

I am excited enough however, to be excited about a listening party I'm not even going to. Which is a pretty sad level of excitement.


I hope we hear good things...

Berlin is just an hour ahead of me. What are the chances of having someone come on here and write a response that night? I might not sleep.

One of my best friends lives in Berlin. I should tell her to sneak in there and report back to.

Do it.

You know, I just can't believe I can't find any interesting new info about the new album anywhere on the Internet. I was under the impression that the Internet was like globe-sized and the biggest source of information ever. But nope.

[Ledbetterdays]

Lightning Bolt will probably tip the scale one way or the other for me. I have been a fan since '94. This year will be my 20th show and it has really been a downhill slide since Binaural. I miss Pearl Jam the rock band. I miss riffs and solos and anthems and choruses. I have liked songs from all of the modern albums but few even crack my top 30. I love them live but as was said earlier weak albums dilute the live show and all you are there for is nostalgia. I want so much more for them than that but I am not sure they care enough to be anything more than that.

[harmless]

Lightning Bolt will probably tip the scale one way or the other for me. I have been a fan since '94. This year will be my 20th show and it has really been a downhill slide since Binaural. I miss Pearl Jam the rock band. I miss riffs and solos and anthems and choruses. I have liked songs from all of the modern albums but few even crack my top 30. I love them live but as was said earlier weak albums dilute the live show and all you are there for is nostalgia. I want so much more for them than that but I am not sure they care enough to be anything more than that.

I think they think they are being more than that. To me their last great album was Riot Act, but I agree otherwise.