Red Mosquito

He spent 10 minutes in that video talking about amps. He seemed to care about them

at the end of the day, if that's what they said, then cool, time to rock; I don't think he forced them by giving them a Whippiiiiiiing

which is all so much more complicated a speculation than "maybe he just recorded and mixed the album to sound like this and I don't like it"

NO, HE HATES THEM CMON

Do you think Andrew Watt looks so youthful because he sups on the stem cells of aborted fetuses? Because I do.

The guitars on what we’ve heard sound bad, bland and characterless. Either Wotman’s using plug-ins or he’s making great amps sound like plug-ins, neither is complimentary.

Yes, it’s almost entirely subjective. I’m sure he thinks it sounds great.

The guitars and drums also sounded pretty awful (in a different way) on Backspacer and Lightning Bolt, so this isn’t an isolated issue. I think it speaks to the approach more than anything else.

stip wrote:Do you think Andrew Watt looks so youthful because he sups on the stem cells of aborted fetuses? Because I do.

almost certainly, not even alive fetuses can speak back

Birds in Hell wrote:The guitars on what we’ve heard sound bad, bland and characterless. Either Wotman’s using plug-ins or he’s making great amps sound like plug-ins, neither is complimentary.

Yes, it’s almost entirely subjective. I’m sure he thinks it sounds great.

The guitars and drums also sounded pretty awful (in a different way) on Backspacer and Lightning Bolt, so this isn’t an isolated issue. I think it speaks to the approach more than anything else.

That’s a good point. Is this a hearing issue, or are they just not that interested?

tragabigzanda wrote:I think it’s more likely that Wotman said “come to my tiny studio where the vibes will be so tight and collaborative.”

Then they got there and were like “where are all your amps?” And Wotman said “don’t worry, it’ll sound great in the mix.” And the band just shrugged and said “cool, time to rock.”

That's not that far off from what I'm saying. FWIW, I can understand some of your disappointment. I would absolutely love it if Pearl Jam cared about high fidelity the way that some artists do. Have you ever listened to Fever Ray's debut album? That thing is so atmospheric it's just delicious. Once in a while, we get a hint of how Pearl Jam would sound if they cared that way (Thumbing My Way gets talked about a lot).

I really don’t care for how TMY sounds - why did you choose that as an example?

stip wrote:I really don’t care for how TMY sounds - why did you choose that as an example?

It's a very live take and you can hear it. That "space" that gets talked about a lot.

RockPusher wrote:

tragabigzanda wrote:I think it’s more likely that Wotman said “come to my tiny studio where the vibes will be so tight and collaborative.”

Then they got there and were like “where are all your amps?” And Wotman said “don’t worry, it’ll sound great in the mix.” And the band just shrugged and said “cool, time to rock.”

That's not that far off from what I'm saying. FWIW, I can understand some of your disappointment. I would absolutely love it if Pearl Jam cared about high fidelity the way that some artists do. Have you ever listened to Fever Ray's debut album? That thing is so atmospheric it's just delicious. Once in a while, we get a hint of how Pearl Jam would sound if they cared that way (Thumbing My Way gets talked about a lot).

total agreement here; this is why I listen to so much Riot Act

I'm just convinced at this point that they're moved to make music through the friends they make, and not through any principled commitment to any particular sounds; imo, the very thing that causes modern PJ to "producer hop" might be the same thing that made them stay with BO'B for so long (then apparently drop him when it wasn't working anymore): the connections, found and lost; they're more intuitive than theoretical, I'm over it

Ms Harmless wrote:

RockPusher wrote:

tragabigzanda wrote:I think it’s more likely that Wotman said “come to my tiny studio where the vibes will be so tight and collaborative.”

Then they got there and were like “where are all your amps?” And Wotman said “don’t worry, it’ll sound great in the mix.” And the band just shrugged and said “cool, time to rock.”

That's not that far off from what I'm saying. FWIW, I can understand some of your disappointment. I would absolutely love it if Pearl Jam cared about high fidelity the way that some artists do. Have you ever listened to Fever Ray's debut album? That thing is so atmospheric it's just delicious. Once in a while, we get a hint of how Pearl Jam would sound if they cared that way (Thumbing My Way gets talked about a lot).

total agreement here; this is why I listen to so much Riot Act

I'm just convinced at this point that they're moved to make music through the friends they make, and not through any principled commitment to any particular sounds; imo, the very thing that causes modern PJ to "producer hop" might be the same thing that made them stay with BO'B for so long (then apparently drop him when it wasn't working anymore): the connections, found and lost; they're more intuitive than theoretical, I'm over it

Yeah, what matters most to me is that they are making the music they want to make. Can't Deny Me was a low point for me- that sounded uninteresting and fairly uninspired. If that represents where they were going with BO'B, then I can't express how glad I am they dropped him.

RockPusher wrote:

Ms Harmless wrote:

RockPusher wrote:

tragabigzanda wrote:I think it’s more likely that Wotman said “come to my tiny studio where the vibes will be so tight and collaborative.”

Then they got there and were like “where are all your amps?” And Wotman said “don’t worry, it’ll sound great in the mix.” And the band just shrugged and said “cool, time to rock.”

That's not that far off from what I'm saying. FWIW, I can understand some of your disappointment. I would absolutely love it if Pearl Jam cared about high fidelity the way that some artists do. Have you ever listened to Fever Ray's debut album? That thing is so atmospheric it's just delicious. Once in a while, we get a hint of how Pearl Jam would sound if they cared that way (Thumbing My Way gets talked about a lot).

total agreement here; this is why I listen to so much Riot Act

I'm just convinced at this point that they're moved to make music through the friends they make, and not through any principled commitment to any particular sounds; imo, the very thing that causes modern PJ to "producer hop" might be the same thing that made them stay with BO'B for so long (then apparently drop him when it wasn't working anymore): the connections, found and lost; they're more intuitive than theoretical, I'm over it

Yeah, what matters most to me is that they are making the music they want to make. Can't Deny Me was a low point for me- that sounded uninteresting and fairly uninspired. If that represents where they were going with BO'B, then I can't express how glad I am they dropped him.

yeah - I tend to think they sound great when they really care for what they're doing

We need to get these guys into the studio with Josh Homme.

Nah

Jack White please

Birds in Hell wrote:The guitars on what we’ve heard sound bad, bland and characterless. Either Wotman’s using plug-ins or he’s making great amps sound like plug-ins, neither is complimentary.

Yes, it’s almost entirely subjective. I’m sure he thinks it sounds great.

The guitars and drums also sounded pretty awful (in a different way) on Backspacer and Lightning Bolt, so this isn’t an isolated issue. I think it speaks to the approach more than anything else.

This has to be hyperbole right?

For instance, the ringing massive C chord after the descending run in the pre chorus of DM is just full, warm, and lovely. Maybe you personally don’t love the guitars on these songs but, I feel like you’re exaggerating to make a point with this language. That said, I respect your right to hate these songs.

I think they are quite solid, and I think the guitars sound better than anything since ST.

if they really only have one or two records left, I hope they really make them count in terms of finding a producer, go out with a bang instead of a whimper