Red Mosquito

The thing about this record for me is that it doesn't sound bad as much as it is dull. Perhaps it's the production deficiencies; I can definitely hear songwriting moments that are inspired, and it rarely skims the low points found on their previous record (although at points it certainly does). Barring those inspired moments, the songs overall just feel workmanlike and devoid of spark.

I feel that way a bit about getaway, swallowed whole, and LTRP. For the later two I mostly blame some production/studio choices.

digster, did you hear ridley's LB live comp?

digster wrote: the songs overall just feel workmanlike and devoid of spark.

Yuh-huh

Yup

Nailed it

I wish they still gave a shit

hlniv wrote:

digster wrote: the songs overall just feel workmanlike and devoid of spark.

Yuh-huh

Yup

Nailed it

I wish they still gave a shit

hlniv wrote:I wish they still gave a shit

I don't hear a lack of shit-giving at all.

Oh they're giving shit.

LetMeSleep wrote:Oh they're giving shit.

*$elling

I listened to backspacer today on headphones for the first time in ages and I really think I enjoy it more as a whole than I do lightning bolt.
It's an easier listen. And at least has a flow I can go with.
Lightning bolt is terribly disjointed after LB onwards. It's a record of two halves.
The second half will probably grow on me further down the road but I don't enjoy it so much right now

A casual fan friend of mine (doesn't own all their albums, listened to Lightning Bolt because i burned it for him) told me today that Lightning Bolt is one of his favorite albums of the year

your friend has awful taste

cutuphalfdead wrote:your friend has awful taste

His favorite band is arcade fire.

so awful goes too far. There is room for improvement.

stip wrote:

cutuphalfdead wrote:your friend has awful taste

His favorite band is arcade fire.

Case in point

stip wrote:A casual fan friend of mine (doesn't own all their albums, listened to Lightning Bolt because i burned it for him) told me today that Lightning Bolt is one of his favorite albums of the year

I am 97% sure this friend is imaginary.

This guy must be pretty sad if he has to rely on stip to get his dose of new albums.

well, new pearl jam albums.

still sad

LB is still my favourite post-Vitalogy album by this band, followed by Backspacer. FD, LTRP and LB are the ones that haven't aged well (FD being the only one I didn't like and still don't like, the other two are enjoyable but not essential). Everything else is either great (Getaway, MFS, Infallible, Pendulum, Yellow Moon), very good (Sirens, MYM) or good (SW, SBM).

Backspacer is a solid album but the high points aren't as high and some of the songs I initially liked a lot, I like a bit less now. ATW, FON, GSMF and The End are still great though.

Note: I am not the friend Stip is talking about. I don't like Arcade Fire.