Lightning Bolt: the official album thread

[harmless]

Why has only one reviewer (or two) mentioned the 'overproduction'? I guess that someone who loved Backspacer wouldn't really be listening for that. But I'm still curious about what that means. 'Even more than Backspacer.'

If the instruments all sound pronounced and defined to a degree of Yield or (oh I'm so getting hated for this) Audioslave's debut album, I'll be one happy fan

Audioslave's first album is good. Yeah, if 'overproduced' means defined and clear, that's fine by me. Nobody has mentioned a Fixer yet.

[WtOB?]

also "echoey" to me implies a slap-back style echo like on unthought known. not drenched in reverb like ten.

[harmless]

Ten had echoey vocals.

they had a lot less control over the production for ten and eventually remixed it to remove the reverb.

This is one thing I don't get, that I was thinking about this morning. BO'B did this. BO'B recorded the redux and got rid of echoey vocals. And yet on his own records, he loves that shit?

[harmless]

Anyway, the vocal effects on MYM really enhance the song. The overdubbed vocals on 'And all along they're saying...' are really nice. I'd be pleased for more of that, it adds to texture in a good way.

[WtOB?]

Ten had echoey vocals.

they had a lot less control over the production for ten and eventually remixed it to remove the reverb.

This is one thing I don't get, that I was thinking about this morning. BO'B did this. BO'B recorded the redux and got rid of echoey vocals. And yet on his own records, he loves that shit?

well, he did that because the band told him to. it was bo'b that wanted to include the original mix remastered so people could have the reverb too, because he liked it.

[harmless]

also "echoey" to me implies a slap-back style echo like on unthought known. not drenched in reverb like ten.

What am I listening for on UK? Which part(s)?

[harmless]

Ten had echoey vocals.

they had a lot less control over the production for ten and eventually remixed it to remove the reverb.

This is one thing I don't get, that I was thinking about this morning. BO'B did this. BO'B recorded the redux and got rid of echoey vocals. And yet on his own records, he loves that shit?

well, he did that because the band told him to. it was bo'b that wanted to include the original mix remastered so people could have the reverb too, because he liked it.

Ah, wow. OK that makes sense.

[WtOB?]

Anyway, the vocal effects on MYM really enhance the song. The overdubbed vocals on 'And all along they're saying...' are really nice. I'd be pleased for more of that, it adds to texture in a good way.

the production on mind your manners is a lot better than backspacer's. i'd be really surprised if lightning bolt ended up having worse production.

[harmless]

Were they echoey? I can't remember. I think echoey vocals was only mentioned on FD, right? To be honest, if the rest of the album does what I'm thinking it's supposed to, maybe FD can ramp up the cheese to 11 and it'll work.

Ending the album with that happy cheesy love keyboard would be kind of funny after an album full of songs about all the shit thats going wrong in this world.

Exactly. Like an Asian horror / sci-fi film ending in a cheesy pop song. If the rest of the album has enough eclectic experimentation, that could really work.

[harmless]

Anyway, the vocal effects on MYM really enhance the song. The overdubbed vocals on 'And all along they're saying...' are really nice. I'd be pleased for more of that, it adds to texture in a good way.

the production on mind your manners is a lot better than backspacer's. i'd be really surprised if lightning bolt ended up having worse production.

I probably couldn't be more excited about it, given that it's not great.

[Mike]

Were they echoey? I can't remember. I think echoey vocals was only mentioned on FD, right? To be honest, if the rest of the album does what I'm thinking it's supposed to, maybe FD can ramp up the cheese to 11 and it'll work.

Ending the album with that happy cheesy love keyboard would be kind of funny after an album full of songs about all the shit thats going wrong in this world.

Exactly. Like an Asian horror / sci-fi film ending in a cheesy pop song. If the rest of the album has enough eclectic experimentation, that could really work.

Even if that wasn't Pearl Jam's intention I'm just gonna pretend it was.

[WtOB?]

also "echoey" to me implies a slap-back style echo like on unthought known. not drenched in reverb like ten.

What am I listening for on UK? Which part(s)?

FIIIILLL the sKYYYY blanket CHOOOO

[Release_Me]

Ten has the most echoey sound of any PJ album. That still irks some people but I think it actually added a haunting atmosphere to songs which were meant to be dark and depressing anyway. Oceans comes to mind immediately as benefitting greatly from the production.

For being able to hear the instruments clearly, the remixes are better. Of course, the Ten production wouldn't go with the sound of the rest of the Rearviewmirror Greatest Hits compilation so it made sense to put the remixes on it.

I wouldn't mind that sort of production on some LB songs if it can add to the mood. But I don't think the whole album will be echoey.

[Wendy Carlos's Twin]

• No Matt Cameron Songs on LB

Ugh. This is gonna suck.

[harmless]

Were they echoey? I can't remember. I think echoey vocals was only mentioned on FD, right? To be honest, if the rest of the album does what I'm thinking it's supposed to, maybe FD can ramp up the cheese to 11 and it'll work.

Ending the album with that happy cheesy love keyboard would be kind of funny after an album full of songs about all the shit thats going wrong in this world.

Exactly. Like an Asian horror / sci-fi film ending in a cheesy pop song. If the rest of the album has enough eclectic experimentation, that could really work.

Even if that wasn't Pearl Jam's intention I'm just gonna pretend it was.

Well, that's art, isn't it? It's possible that PJ didn't have much of an intention at all. If it's a happy accident, I'll still take it. This time, we have a stated intention from Ed about 'bad shit in the world' plus really trippy artwork not subtly alluding to religious end-times / apocalypse. I wanted Backspacer to be this concept record, but so much of it didn't match up and I was stretching too far. If I'm not going to break my back, I don't mind a little grasping with the arm. What if this is the party / slow dance album at the suicide cult's last social disco?

[WtOB?]

also "echoey" to me implies a slap-back style echo like on unthought known. not drenched in reverb like ten.

What am I listening for on UK? Which part(s)?

FIIIILLL the sKYYYY blanket CHOOOO

also, the dream the dreams bit.

[harmless]

also "echoey" to me implies a slap-back style echo like on unthought known. not drenched in reverb like ten.

What am I listening for on UK? Which part(s)?

FIIIILLL the sKYYYY blanket CHOOOO

Ah OK, yeah it sounds like he's in a big room.

[Mike]

Were they echoey? I can't remember. I think echoey vocals was only mentioned on FD, right? To be honest, if the rest of the album does what I'm thinking it's supposed to, maybe FD can ramp up the cheese to 11 and it'll work.

Ending the album with that happy cheesy love keyboard would be kind of funny after an album full of songs about all the shit thats going wrong in this world.

Exactly. Like an Asian horror / sci-fi film ending in a cheesy pop song. If the rest of the album has enough eclectic experimentation, that could really work.

Even if that wasn't Pearl Jam's intention I'm just gonna pretend it was.

Well, that's art, isn't it? It's possible that PJ didn't have much of an intention at all. If it's a happy accident, I'll still take it. This time, we have a stated intention from Ed about 'bad shit in the world' plus really trippy artwork not subtly alluding to religious end-times / apocalypse. I wanted Backspacer to be this concept record, but so much of it didn't match up and I was stretching too far. If I'm not going to break my back, I don't mind a little grasping with the arm. What if this is the party / slow dance album at the suicide cult's last social disco?

I wish the people at the listening party would have asked more about the songs instead of stuff like touring for Mirror Ball and his birthday. Maybe someone in Amsterdam will do that.

[harmless]

Were they echoey? I can't remember. I think echoey vocals was only mentioned on FD, right? To be honest, if the rest of the album does what I'm thinking it's supposed to, maybe FD can ramp up the cheese to 11 and it'll work.

Ending the album with that happy cheesy love keyboard would be kind of funny after an album full of songs about all the shit thats going wrong in this world.

Exactly. Like an Asian horror / sci-fi film ending in a cheesy pop song. If the rest of the album has enough eclectic experimentation, that could really work.

Even if that wasn't Pearl Jam's intention I'm just gonna pretend it was.

Well, that's art, isn't it? It's possible that PJ didn't have much of an intention at all. If it's a happy accident, I'll still take it. This time, we have a stated intention from Ed about 'bad shit in the world' plus really trippy artwork not subtly alluding to religious end-times / apocalypse. I wanted Backspacer to be this concept record, but so much of it didn't match up and I was stretching too far. If I'm not going to break my back, I don't mind a little grasping with the arm. What if this is the party / slow dance album at the suicide cult's last social disco?

I wish the people at the listening party would have asked more about the songs instead of stuff like touring for Mirror Ball and his birthday. Maybe someone in Amsterdam will do that.

Yeah, I hope so. Although I don't think I care to hear BO'B's answer about concepts. He says he doesn't begin with concepts at all; apparently the only fixed concept in his mind is cheese.

[harmless]

Were they echoey? I can't remember. I think echoey vocals was only mentioned on FD, right? To be honest, if the rest of the album does what I'm thinking it's supposed to, maybe FD can ramp up the cheese to 11 and it'll work.

Ending the album with that happy cheesy love keyboard would be kind of funny after an album full of songs about all the shit thats going wrong in this world.

Exactly. Like an Asian horror / sci-fi film ending in a cheesy pop song. If the rest of the album has enough eclectic experimentation, that could really work.

Even if that wasn't Pearl Jam's intention I'm just gonna pretend it was.

Well, that's art, isn't it? It's possible that PJ didn't have much of an intention at all. If it's a happy accident, I'll still take it. This time, we have a stated intention from Ed about 'bad shit in the world' plus really trippy artwork not subtly alluding to religious end-times / apocalypse. I wanted Backspacer to be this concept record, but so much of it didn't match up and I was stretching too far. If I'm not going to break my back, I don't mind a little grasping with the arm. What if this is the party / slow dance album at the suicide cult's last social disco?

I wish the people at the listening party would have asked more about the songs instead of stuff like touring for Mirror Ball and his birthday. Maybe someone in Amsterdam will do that.

Yeah, I hope so. Although I don't think I care to hear BO'B's answer about concepts. He says he doesn't begin with concepts at all; apparently the only fixed concept in his mind is cheese.

Wait: are you in the no leak club or not? If so, maybe you can tell me whether you think they achieved what we were talking about to do with concept.