Lightning Bolt: The Official Album Thread

[Jorge]

Since he's gone into hiding, I'm gonna go ahead and paste Kevin Davis's post on Pitchfork here.

Despite Pitchfork's reputation I think they've had a really solid stable of writers for the last few years, writers who crank out not only consistently well-written reviews but also consistently stimulating think pieces. The snark doesn't overpower the substance nearly as often as it used to, and that kind of generalized, judgmental "elitism" they're so often blamed for is more or less absent in the actual writing. I wonder how often it ever was there, honestly--I mean, I definitely have read some nasty, very tactlessly construed reviews there (no more than elsewhere, mind you), but more often than not I think the prevailing impression of Pitchfork has a lot more to do with how Pitchfork functions as a cultural phenomenon than it does with how it functions as a music magazine. This from someone who has historically had no shortage of nasty criticisms of the magazine.

Also, reviews aside, they have pretty fucking great articles. Their cover piece on Bats For Lashes from a while ago stands out as particularly awesome.

[pnjguy]

Positive or negative, pitchfork reviews are usually pretty well written and have at least some thoughtful take on the subject. I look forward to them.

There's no way I could ever agree with this. Pitchfork's writing is just awful. I can barely get through half of any of them. So much is just nonsensical gibberish that can't hold my attention at all. On top of that, there's so much fluff in the form of like 3 intro paragraph's of "context" before they even go into the album.

It just sounds like you have a short attention span. Three paragraphs is not many paragraphs.

Not when it's three paragraphs of crap-ola. It is alot of paragraphs when it's bias dressed up as "context". I want to know what images and feelings the music evokes from the listener. I don't like to read "context" injected snarkily into the actual analysis of the songs themselves, much less in such an uneloquent and sloppy way. The hate Pitchfork gets is well deserved.

I don't get that from their reviews.

[Strat]

are we still talking about pitchfork?

[bodysnatcher]

Sorry guys, this is un-Pitchfork related, but...

Has anyone opened up the vinyl? It's a pretty thick/heavy packaging for just one record. I haven't opened it up

[Juvenal]

Christ almighty this Pitchfork talk is boring.

[Fuzzcharger]

I really enjoyed getting in my car this morning and cranking Getaway first thing as I left for work.

[Heathen]

Positive or negative, pitchfork reviews are usually pretty well written and have at least some thoughtful take on the subject. I look forward to them.

There's no way I could ever agree with this. Pitchfork's writing is just awful. I can barely get through half of any of them. So much is just nonsensical gibberish that can't hold my attention at all. On top of that, there's so much fluff in the form of like 3 intro paragraph's of "context" before they even go into the album.

It just sounds like you have a short attention span. Three paragraphs is not many paragraphs.

Not when it's three paragraphs of crap-ola. It is alot of paragraphs when it's bias dressed up as "context". I want to know what images and feelings the music evokes from the listener. I don't like to read "context" injected snarkily into the actual analysis of the songs themselves, much less in such an uneloquent and sloppy way. The hate Pitchfork gets is well deserved.

Images and feelings again? We've already done that. Name me a single writer of any review who doesn't write with a bias. Everything has a bias. You'd be OK with a writer who has the same biases as you, I'm guessing. In the context of Pearl Jam, they don't. But it's your own bias preventing you from being OK with that.

Yup. For some reason these things don't matter when the album gets a good rating.

[Juvenal]

I really enjoyed getting in my car this morning and cranking Getaway first thing as I left for work.

Shush, we're talking about Pitchfork now.

[Heathen]

For what it's worth I really enjoyed getting in my car this morning too.

[BurtReynolds]

Seems like any band that puts out more than three albums gets the "more of the same" complaint from Pitchfork. Its my biggest complaint about them. The last Mogwai and Pinback albums had similar remarks, and I'm sure I could think of others.

I'd say Pitchfork is better at new stuff, but I don't seem to like most of the new stuff they review, even if their review is spot on.

[Strat]

For what its worth, it was worth all the while.

[Fuzzcharger]

For what it's worth I really enjoyed getting in my car this morning too.

Sometimes it's the little things in life isn't it.

[Lostdog]

wtf is Pitchfork??

[BurtReynolds]

CAn you believe I still haven't given this album the ole car test!?

[Fuzzcharger]

CAn you believe I still haven't given this album the ole car test!?

Don't put that off any longer!

[Strat]

For what it's worth I really enjoyed getting in my car this morning too.

Sometimes it's the little things in life isn't it.

its the little little little little little little little things!

[harmless]

Absolutely.

[ABNorman]

[stupidmop]

CAn you believe I still haven't given this album the ole car test!?

The sound is greatly improved when you listen to the shattered remains if the cd shoved into your cd player after reversing over it in your car a couple of times.

All these little nuances you miss out otherwise.

[Juvenal]

CAn you believe I still haven't given this album the ole car test!?

The sound is greatly improved when you listen to the shattered remains if the cd shoved into your cd player after reversing over it in your car a couple of times.

All these little nuances you miss out otherwise.

Mop, I'd like to put your hoo-hah dilly in my cha-cha.