Lightning Bolt: the official album thread

[VinylGuy]

I think Matt Cameron is an OK drummer, who's style is not well suited for PJ.

As for a songwriter, just my opinion, but I think he's absolute garbage. By far the worst in the band. That said, he came up with one great tune: Cropduster. I'll give him credit for that.

The songs he's written (solo) outside of that all blow - Evacuation, You Are, Get Right and In the Moonlight.

I'll give him a bit of credit for his parts in Unemployable, Save You, and Johnny Guitar.... and even The Fixer is also mediocre (musically, lyrics suck). But, who knows how involved he was in each. To me, I feel like I know exactly what he contributed. I can hear it.

You can tell immediately when it's a Matt Cameron song (or if he was involved in writing) because it's schizophrenic rhythmically on guitar. In my opinion Evacuation describes his writing style. It's all over the place. I kinda wish he never joined PJ. I think they'd be a better band.

This made me sick to my stomach. Go away.

Get some Pepto.

He's a terrible songwriter - it's a fact. The band's worse, since he's joined.

Your 'facts' are pretty much my favourite thing about this board.

What I find funny is all of these experts on judging songwriting who probably blow at writing music. How exactly do you measure a good song?

To me, his music is typically off-beat, schizophrenic, shit. He's 100% a drummer trying to write music on a guitar. And, if you didn't know, that's very... unpleasant to normal human ears.

Once again, one exception - Crop Duster. For some reason, that one works.

'Normal human ears?' WTF? Because drummers aren't normal humans? Ridiculous. Matt's my favourite songwriter in the band atm, I play drums and your 'expert judgements' aren't any truer than anyone else's. And Evacuation is brilliant.

His output outside PJ is also really good...Try Wellwater Conspiracy, Soundgarden, Hater..

[Jorge]

Matt's songs are a thing of beauty. I love "Evacuation" to death. "In the Moonlight" is one of the most wonderful things this band has recorded. If there's anyone consistently pushing the band upwards and away from tepid estuary of generic modern rock from a songwriting standpoint, it's him. I'm disappointed to hear that there won't be any Matt songs in the new album. Hopefully that doesn't mean it'll all be lifeless dreck.

[Strat]

I think Matt Cameron is an OK drummer, who's style is not well suited for PJ.

As for a songwriter, just my opinion, but I think he's absolute garbage. By far the worst in the band. That said, he came up with one great tune: Cropduster. I'll give him credit for that.

The songs he's written (solo) outside of that all blow - Evacuation, You Are, Get Right and In the Moonlight.

I'll give him a bit of credit for his parts in Unemployable, Save You, and Johnny Guitar.... and even The Fixer is also mediocre (musically, lyrics suck). But, who knows how involved he was in each. To me, I feel like I know exactly what he contributed. I can hear it.

You can tell immediately when it's a Matt Cameron song (or if he was involved in writing) because it's schizophrenic rhythmically on guitar. In my opinion Evacuation describes his writing style. It's all over the place. I kinda wish he never joined PJ. I think they'd be a better band.

This made me sick to my stomach. Go away.

Get some Pepto.

He's a terrible songwriter - it's a fact. The band's worse, since he's joined.

Your 'facts' are pretty much my favourite thing about this board.

What I find funny is all of these experts on judging songwriting who probably blow at writing music. How exactly do you measure a good song?

To me, his music is typically off-beat, schizophrenic, shit. He's 100% a drummer trying to write music on a guitar. And, if you didn't know, that's very... unpleasant to normal human ears.

Once again, one exception - Crop Duster. For some reason, that one works.

'Normal human ears?' WTF? Because drummers aren't normal humans? Ridiculous. Matt's my favourite songwriter in the band atm, I play drums and your 'expert judgements' aren't any truer than anyone else's. And Evacuation is brilliant.

Yes, drummers learn music in a different way - via beats. They aren't note or melody inclined. That shows up in Matt's writing. If you're a drummer, I'm not surprised you like it. You probably like a lot of music most people would consider trash. And if you like it more because other people hate it (like Riot Act or Binaural), well, then gosh... that's very hipster of you.

Lol. Wut?

[Strat]

Matt's songs are a thing of beauty. I love "Evacuation" to death. "In the Moonlight" is one of the most wonderful things this band has recorded. If there's anyone consistently pushing the band upwards and away from tepid estuary of generic modern rock from a songwriting standpoint, it's him. I'm disappointed to hear that there won't be any Matt songs in the new album. Hopefully that doesn't mean it'll all be lifeless dreck.

Bothers me when i agree so completely with such a dick.

[IlluminEddie]

The band isn't worse since Matt joined, the band's worse since Dave A and Jack left. And if anyone quotes me and puts a strike-through over Dave A, I'll be really pissed off.

This is a retarded statement because it means the same thing.

No it doesn't. Any drummer could join Pearl Jam and they'd still be missing Dave A and Jack's presence. It's not uniquely Matt's fault. Dave and Jack had real directive personalities and took the band to some very interesting rhythmic places. Matt, in my opinion, is a follower. He does what suits the song in his mind, and he's happy to blend as part of a band rather than a prominent 'fuel', which can sometimes work very well, but sometimes not.

Yeh, I would have preferred to take my chances with "any drummer". That's my point. I think Matt is the worst drummer in the band's history. Sales support this theory.

[EJ]

Whether you like his style or not of music or not, he's probably the most gifted musician in the band. He's not simply "just a drummer." Nonsense.

[---]

i just RSVPed to the IlluminEddie account's "Pearl Jam, Hipsters, and Beats: Towards a Metronomic Synthesis" seminar

[Jorge]

Sales support this theory.

Credibility: dead.

[harmless]

The band isn't worse since Matt joined, the band's worse since Dave A and Jack left. And if anyone quotes me and puts a strike-through over Dave A, I'll be really pissed off.

I think the Binaural sessions produced better music than Yield or at least i wouldn't say they were a worst band by Binaural. Otherwise i agree with the general idea of your post.

I was totally happy with Binaural/Riot Act-era Matt. His style was a minor adjustment even then but watching Live in the Garden wasn't a chore at all

I think, completely speculative, that those albums resonate more because it was challenging to work himself into the old songs, to try to write songs with a new group, to ingratiate himself into the dynamic. It may be one of those things where Cameron is such a good drummer that it backfires a bit live. I don't really feel like a PJ concert is much of a challenge to him, which may lead him to mail it in sometimes.

I'm not a huge sports fan but I guess it's like sport. You need the opposition to play at their absolute best, for you to play at your own absolute best. There needs to be that friction and difficulty, I guess, or you'll just lean on what you know and coast through. There needs to be the feeling that you'll lose if you don't bring your A-game. So in that sense, yeah, maybe the rest of the band not being particularly challenging is part of that. Ed's songs would really fit this theory; Matt has a relatively large number of songs he has to play very little on, or even sit out completely.

[Mine]

I think Matt Cameron is an OK drummer, who's style is not well suited for PJ.

As for a songwriter, just my opinion, but I think he's absolute garbage. By far the worst in the band. That said, he came up with one great tune: Cropduster. I'll give him credit for that.

The songs he's written (solo) outside of that all blow - Evacuation, You Are, Get Right and In the Moonlight.

I'll give him a bit of credit for his parts in Unemployable, Save You, and Johnny Guitar.... and even The Fixer is also mediocre (musically, lyrics suck). But, who knows how involved he was in each. To me, I feel like I know exactly what he contributed. I can hear it.

You can tell immediately when it's a Matt Cameron song (or if he was involved in writing) because it's schizophrenic rhythmically on guitar. In my opinion Evacuation describes his writing style. It's all over the place. I kinda wish he never joined PJ. I think they'd be a better band.

This made me sick to my stomach. Go away.

Get some Pepto.

He's a terrible songwriter - it's a fact. The band's worse, since he's joined.

Your 'facts' are pretty much my favourite thing about this board.

What I find funny is all of these experts on judging songwriting who probably blow at writing music. How exactly do you measure a good song?

To me, his music is typically off-beat, schizophrenic, shit. He's 100% a drummer trying to write music on a guitar. And, if you didn't know, that's very... unpleasant to normal human ears.

Once again, one exception - Crop Duster. For some reason, that one works.

'Normal human ears?' WTF? Because drummers aren't normal humans? Ridiculous. Matt's my favourite songwriter in the band atm, I play drums and your 'expert judgements' aren't any truer than anyone else's. And Evacuation is brilliant.

Yes, drummers learn music in a different way - via beats. They aren't note or melody inclined. That shows up in Matt's writing. If you're a drummer, I'm not surprised you like it. You probably like a lot of music most people would consider trash. And if you like it more because other people hate it (like Riot Act or Binaural), well, then gosh... that's very hipster of you.

hell even writing lyrics is far more about rhythm than melody

[digster]

I think Matt Cameron is an OK drummer, who's style is not well suited for PJ.

As for a songwriter, just my opinion, but I think he's absolute garbage. By far the worst in the band. That said, he came up with one great tune: Cropduster. I'll give him credit for that.

The songs he's written (solo) outside of that all blow - Evacuation, You Are, Get Right and In the Moonlight.

I'll give him a bit of credit for his parts in Unemployable, Save You, and Johnny Guitar.... and even The Fixer is also mediocre (musically, lyrics suck). But, who knows how involved he was in each. To me, I feel like I know exactly what he contributed. I can hear it.

You can tell immediately when it's a Matt Cameron song (or if he was involved in writing) because it's schizophrenic rhythmically on guitar. In my opinion Evacuation describes his writing style. It's all over the place. I kinda wish he never joined PJ. I think they'd be a better band.

This made me sick to my stomach. Go away.

Get some Pepto.

He's a terrible songwriter - it's a fact. The band's worse, since he's joined.

Your 'facts' are pretty much my favourite thing about this board.

What I find funny is all of these experts on judging songwriting who probably blow at writing music. How exactly do you measure a good song?

To me, his music is typically off-beat, schizophrenic, shit. He's 100% a drummer trying to write music on a guitar. And, if you didn't know, that's very... unpleasant to normal human ears.

Once again, one exception - Crop Duster. For some reason, that one works.

'Normal human ears?' WTF? Because drummers aren't normal humans? Ridiculous. Matt's my favourite songwriter in the band atm, I play drums and your 'expert judgements' aren't any truer than anyone else's. And Evacuation is brilliant.

Yes, drummers learn music in a different way - via beats. They aren't note or melody inclined. That shows up in Matt's writing. If you're a drummer, I'm not surprised you like it. You probably like a lot of music most people would consider trash. And if you like it more because other people hate it (like Riot Act or Binaural), well, then gosh... that's very hipster of you.

[IlluminEddie]

Whether you like his style or not of music or not, he's probably the most gifted musician in the band. He's not simply "just a drummer." Nonsense.

Well, he should stay just a drummer, because he sucks at writing songs.

[southp]

Whether you like his style or not of music or not, he's probably the most gifted musician in the band. He's not simply "just a drummer." Nonsense.

I wouldn't say "gifted". Just because you can write weird songs, doesn't mean you can write a decent melody.
Give me an Ed or Stone song any day.

[wilkins]

So...the people are listening in Amsterdam right now? I hope the EPK gets released soon!

[Dr. Van Nostrand]

Im listening to Binaural right now. It is excellent. Of The Girl is top shelf.

RIP PJ

This one will bring them back to life

[IlluminEddie]

I think Matt Cameron is an OK drummer, who's style is not well suited for PJ.

As for a songwriter, just my opinion, but I think he's absolute garbage. By far the worst in the band. That said, he came up with one great tune: Cropduster. I'll give him credit for that.

The songs he's written (solo) outside of that all blow - Evacuation, You Are, Get Right and In the Moonlight.

I'll give him a bit of credit for his parts in Unemployable, Save You, and Johnny Guitar.... and even The Fixer is also mediocre (musically, lyrics suck). But, who knows how involved he was in each. To me, I feel like I know exactly what he contributed. I can hear it.

You can tell immediately when it's a Matt Cameron song (or if he was involved in writing) because it's schizophrenic rhythmically on guitar. In my opinion Evacuation describes his writing style. It's all over the place. I kinda wish he never joined PJ. I think they'd be a better band.

This made me sick to my stomach. Go away.

Get some Pepto.

He's a terrible songwriter - it's a fact. The band's worse, since he's joined.

Your 'facts' are pretty much my favourite thing about this board.

What I find funny is all of these experts on judging songwriting who probably blow at writing music. How exactly do you measure a good song?

To me, his music is typically off-beat, schizophrenic, shit. He's 100% a drummer trying to write music on a guitar. And, if you didn't know, that's very... unpleasant to normal human ears.

Once again, one exception - Crop Duster. For some reason, that one works.

'Normal human ears?' WTF? Because drummers aren't normal humans? Ridiculous. Matt's my favourite songwriter in the band atm, I play drums and your 'expert judgements' aren't any truer than anyone else's. And Evacuation is brilliant.

Yes, drummers learn music in a different way - via beats. They aren't note or melody inclined. That shows up in Matt's writing. If you're a drummer, I'm not surprised you like it. You probably like a lot of music most people would consider trash. And if you like it more because other people hate it (like Riot Act or Binaural), well, then gosh... that's very hipster of you.

hell even writing lyrics is far more about rhythm than melody

Disagree.

[harmless]

The band isn't worse since Matt joined, the band's worse since Dave A and Jack left. And if anyone quotes me and puts a strike-through over Dave A, I'll be really pissed off.

This is a retarded statement because it means the same thing.

No it doesn't. Any drummer could join Pearl Jam and they'd still be missing Dave A and Jack's presence. It's not uniquely Matt's fault. Dave and Jack had real directive personalities and took the band to some very interesting rhythmic places. Matt, in my opinion, is a follower. He does what suits the song in his mind, and he's happy to blend as part of a band rather than a prominent 'fuel', which can sometimes work very well, but sometimes not.

Yeh, I would have preferred to take my chances with "any drummer". That's my point. I think Matt is the worst drummer in the band's history. Sales support this theory.

Declining sales also support the theory that PJ are shit.

[---]

Whether you like his style or not of music or not, he's probably the most gifted musician in the band. He's not simply "just a drummer." Nonsense.

Well, he should stay just a drummer, because he sucks at writing songs.

[warehouse]

To me, his music is typically off-beat, schizophrenic, shit. He's 100% a drummer trying to write music on a guitar. And, if you didn't know, that's very... unpleasant to normal human ears.

not to jump into u 2 idiots' argument, but wtf is this piece of shit sentence? i mean my god.......

[tacvbo]

Whether you like his style or not of music or not, he's probably the most gifted musician in the band. He's not simply "just a drummer." Nonsense.

I wouldn't say "gifted". Just because you can write weird songs, doesn't mean you can write a decent melody.
Give me an Ed or Stone song any day.

Yeah, I'll rather have "The Fixer" than "Need To Know"