Lightning Bolt: The Official Album Thread

[harmless]

I wouldn't have the first clue how to rank these. It was easy enough with a four-song leak.

[Lament]

I bet Jewel would have had a more humane reaction if some dude was flashing his junk at her during a show.

Someone go test out my theory.

[Waverider]

I wonder if you guys would be willing to redo the track rankings in a couple of weeks, then show the previous one along with it just to see how perceptions have changed in that period of time.

People can edit their votes

OK. Once again I'm totally out of touch around here. Thanks......I hope people will. I find myself not being able to nail down a sure winner. There's some real strong songs on this record, I'm actually shocked at how much I'm enjoying it.

[darth_vedder]

I was at that Hershey show, it was a good time. Ed was pissed that night. When they started Last Exit, after opening with Can't Keep, Ed said "Let's go, fuck this fucking chocolate factory". If I recall, they played some good Vitalogy songs that night.

[darth_vedder]

Given this one 3 proper listens and I'm really liking it. Waiting to listen to the whole thing again until I get it in lossless. Pendulum was the best on first listen, and I still feel that way after three. Infallible really improved from 1st to 3rd listens. Still not sure about Yellow Moon, and I don't like Swallowed Whole. LB the song is cool, a little sloppy, but cool, and Getaway is a fun, groovy opener. Overall, I'm just really pleased with this album. Looking forward to dissecting it more over the next few days.

[numbers]

I was at that Hershey show, it was a good time. Ed was pissed that night. When they started Last Exit, after opening with Can't Keep, Ed said "Let's go, fuck this fucking chocolate factory". If I recall, they played some good Vitalogy songs that night.

Awesome SOLAT w/ harmonica at that show.

[LostDog1079]

Easily their best album since Binaural... without a doubt.

[PHATJ]

Ed was hilariously assholish in 2003. More rants than any other year i think. There was that whole shitting on girls heads thing, and theres a boot somewhere where after a song he screams "Too much time betweens songs and can i get some fucking lights please" into the mike, which sounded beautifully diva-ish.

That was the tour where he made fun of that girl's boobs, right?

What was this all about? I only remember it vaguely. Do we have a transcript?!

Even better!



In true 2003 ed fashion it turns into a rant about voting too.

Holy fuck. And this was in their "cool" era...

Holy fuckin fuck. That shit is fucked up. I laughed.

[darthvedder81]

Singling out and berating an individual in a massive crowd for doing something as inconsequential (and ultimately pretty normal for a big ampitheatre show) as flashing her breasts is an unbelievably cruel thing to do.

I'm sure Gloria Steinem was proud of him.

[Kalevi]

Does anyone know why Best Buy is charging $16 fot LB and target only $10? Does BB have something extra?

Target should include a copy of backspacer w it to get rid of that inventory.

[darthvedder81]

This album is pretty great. This makes Backspacer look like a singular misstep. The problems with Backspacer (not enough experimentation to balance the pop, songs not thought/worked out enough) are absolutely remedied. You can tell that every part (bridges, outros, transitions, etc) were given a ton of thought. In addition, it is absolutely amazing to have such variety, of all enormous quality, within 12 songs. The only song that should have been left out is Let the Records Play, which, although great to see the band try something absolutely different, just doesn't "work". As others have said, it is probably because the only way it could work would be if it were much more raw.

Also, the production and mixing on this is phenomenal. Any aspects that are too much (the keyboard swirl in Lightning bolt) are absolutely overwhelmed by all the other touches that enhance the choruses and dynamics. I think this puts to rest that O'Brien was responsible for the bland songs on Backspacer...clearly, the band picks which songs to work on and to include, because how else do you get "Pendulum" or "Father's Son" on here? And of course, production means squat if the songs suck, and these are all quality.

This are definitely a lot of aspects here that the band has never done before, as well as aspects that the band experimented with before but here perfect (Push me Pull Me-> Father's Son, Unthought Known-> Lightning Bolt). Above all, it is a grower, one for which my interest goes up with each successive listen (beside for LTRP).

Nothing Pearl Jam does will ever have the sentimental impact of Vs->Binaural. Those records came in a period of my life that color my perceptions to the extent that no album from anyone will probably ever even come close. But this record is an exceptionally good record for a band on their 10th album. They are clearly still passionate, still working hard, and still moving the chains. They've won me back. Now, I just have to see if they can win me back with their live show...I remain skeptical, but am excited to hear the official boots.

SBM was forced on here by BoB, and Yellow Moon had to be fought for by Mike. So yeah, I agree with you, strong songs, but BoB is the reason a few of them might not have been included.

If there's anything Lost Dogs has taught us is that PJ has a tendency to leave great songs off records in favor of less than great songs. They've been doing it for years.

[harmless]

This album is pretty great. This makes Backspacer look like a singular misstep. The problems with Backspacer (not enough experimentation to balance the pop, songs not thought/worked out enough) are absolutely remedied. You can tell that every part (bridges, outros, transitions, etc) were given a ton of thought. In addition, it is absolutely amazing to have such variety, of all enormous quality, within 12 songs. The only song that should have been left out is Let the Records Play, which, although great to see the band try something absolutely different, just doesn't "work". As others have said, it is probably because the only way it could work would be if it were much more raw.

Also, the production and mixing on this is phenomenal. Any aspects that are too much (the keyboard swirl in Lightning bolt) are absolutely overwhelmed by all the other touches that enhance the choruses and dynamics. I think this puts to rest that O'Brien was responsible for the bland songs on Backspacer...clearly, the band picks which songs to work on and to include, because how else do you get "Pendulum" or "Father's Son" on here? And of course, production means squat if the songs suck, and these are all quality.

This are definitely a lot of aspects here that the band has never done before, as well as aspects that the band experimented with before but here perfect (Push me Pull Me-> Father's Son, Unthought Known-> Lightning Bolt). Above all, it is a grower, one for which my interest goes up with each successive listen (beside for LTRP).

Nothing Pearl Jam does will ever have the sentimental impact of Vs->Binaural. Those records came in a period of my life that color my perceptions to the extent that no album from anyone will probably ever even come close. But this record is an exceptionally good record for a band on their 10th album. They are clearly still passionate, still working hard, and still moving the chains. They've won me back. Now, I just have to see if they can win me back with their live show...I remain skeptical, but am excited to hear the official boots.

SBM was forced on here by BoB, and Yellow Moon had to be fought for by Mike. So yeah, I agree with you, strong songs, but BoB is the reason a few of them might not have been included.

If there's anything Lost Dogs has taught us is that PJ has a tendency to leave great songs off records in favor of less than great songs. They've been doing it for years.

This is true!

[PHATJ]

I think the run of the first seven songs on this album are maybe as good as anything PJ has ever done.

[McParadigm]

Singling out and berating an individual in a massive crowd for doing something as inconsequential (and ultimately pretty normal for a big ampitheatre show) as flashing her breasts is an unbelievably cruel thing to do.

It's even better, coming from a guy who literally had a big onstage sulk because his half-cooked effort to mock the sitting president wasn't met with universal adoration.

[WaitingForBluey]

I think the run of the first seven songs on this album are maybe as good as anything PJ has ever done.

well that's quite a statement

I'll take that down a notch and say the 7 song stretch from 3 to 9 is easily PJ's best moment since the 2nd half of Binaural (Insignificance to Parting Ways)

[PHATJ]

As of now, and obviously this has new album euphoria attached to it:

01. Vitalogy
02. Yield
03. Ten
04. No Code
05. Lightning Bolt
06. Vs.
07. Binaural
08. Pearl Jam
09. Riot Act
10. Backspacer

[PHATJ]

I could have gone as high as 4 and as low as 6. But the point is that it really is damn good.

[WaitingForBluey]

Easily their best album since Binaural... without a doubt.

[WaitingForBluey]

I could have gone as high as 4 and as low as 6. But the point is that it really is damn good.

Yeah certainly... I wouldn't be surprised if it ends up in the top half for me but maybe too early to tell....

[PHATJ]

I could have gone as high as 4 and as low as 6. But the point is that it really is damn good.

Yeah certainly... I wouldn't be surprised if it ends up in the top half for me but maybe too early to tell....

Word to the big bird.