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Lightning Bolt vs Unthought Known

iamrockmusiciamrockmusic Orlando, FL Posts: 443
in The Porch
IMO, Pearl Jam should be banned from playing both Lightning Bolt and Unthought Known at the same show. Basically the same song. And I could do without both. 
My opinion. Agree, disagree, ignore, whatever. But don’t throw insults. It’s just an opinion about a couple of songs. We’re not curing cancer here, people.  
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    RiddledWithMetaphorsRiddledWithMetaphors Posts: 143
    I agree that they're very similar songs. In my opinion, Unthought Known is a much, much better song. 

    I feel like when they started playing Backspacer songs, they realized how powerful Unthought Known is. Eddie's really good at palm-muting to build energy. They had some video at the time and Matt Cameron said he thinks that Unthought Known is the song that most embodies the Pearl Jam Live experience. Then when I heard Lightning Bolt, I kind of immediately felt like they were trying to recreate it. Also, there's those cringeworthy moments in LB when Eddie always strains to deliver those lines about "she's a lightning bolt." 
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    StuffnJunkStuffnJunk Posts: 896
    edited July 2018
    Love Boat Captain is also the same song

    Wishlist kind of is too, to a lesser degree
    Post edited by StuffnJunk on
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    Kearn5yKearn5y Ireland Posts: 2,692
    I love both songs, so if both are played, it would make me very happy. 
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    on2legson2legs Standing in the Jersey rain… Posts: 14,420
    Dissimilar songs.  And I much prefer unthought  known. 
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    mcgruff10mcgruff10 New Jersey Posts: 27,844
    They seem very different to me.  I would enjoy both of them at wrigley 2 this year because they are amazing live.
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    SpinTheLastExitSpinTheLastExit Edinburgh, Scotland Posts: 398
    I'd happily let them drop Lightning Bolt. I like Unthought Known.
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    InBetweenIsMneInBetweenIsMne Posts: 423
    I’m having a little Lightning Bolt fatigue and wouldn’t mind them dropping it for a bit. 

    I really love the build up of Unthought Know and really like the song, as a whole. 

    Back to the OP’s comment, i didn’t really think of them as the same song. But I’m gonna do a little comparison of music and lyrics. 
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    iamrockmusiciamrockmusic Orlando, FL Posts: 443
    When I say similar, I mean the quarter notes on kick drum, ed chugging along, band slowly building in. So I don’t mean lyrically or thematically, more like the overall feel. If forced to choose, I would take unthought known, but not in my top 35 song list so wouldnt make an ordinary set if I were drawing one up. Good discussion, appreciate everyone’s opinion. To the poster talking about LBC and Wishlist, I see what you’re saying with the palm muting, but definitely not the same build and feel as LB and UK. 
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    igotid88igotid88 Posts: 27,317
    both different both great
    I miss igotid88
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    TJ25487TJ25487 Posts: 1,455
    igotid88 said:
    both different both great
    Agreed. C'mon, it's not like they turned into AC/DC or something! 
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    BrainofBGABrainofBGA Australia Posts: 3,909
    Love both! They can play them anytime they want! 
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    THEBIBLEISTENTHEBIBLEISTEN Posts: 1,674
    Both good songs,can play them every show and I would be happy
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    lolobugglolobugg BLUE RDGE MTNS Posts: 8,189
    agree with OP. very similar live. I would prefer Unknown Thought over Lightning Bolt but they shouldn't be played at the same show. too similar.

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    RS65573RS65573 Posts: 2,366
    lolobugg said:
    agree with OP. very similar live. I would prefer Unknown Thought over Lightning Bolt but they shouldn't be played at the same show. too similar.
    Agree.
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    lastexitlondonlastexitlondon Posts: 11,892
    Dislike both . So I'm happy to never hear them again. Just my honest opinion
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    NamiNami Newfoundland Posts: 5,989

    I could careless what they play as long as I get to see them again....come to Atlantic Canada PJ!


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    PJ_SoulPJ_Soul Vancouver, BC Posts: 49,515
    edited July 2018
    I don't like Unthought Known- it's just a big pot of fondue IMO. The gems and rhinestones line makes me die a little bit inside, lol. But I like Lightning Bolt okay. I like the meaning behind the lyrics, and it's catchy.... I don't hope it's in a setlist, but I don't mind if it is.
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    Gern BlanstenGern Blansten Your Mom's Posts: 17,954
    I don't care much for LB.  I think Unthought is probably the best song off Backspacer but it isn't really that similar to LB.
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    Happy JulioHappy Julio Posts: 161
    Unthought Known >>>
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    ConorKavanaghConorKavanagh Ireland Posts: 1,148
    I like both of the songs, but if I had to choose I'd like to hear Lightning Bolt at the show I'm going to because I already heard Unthought Known.
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    PJ_SoulPJ_Soul Vancouver, BC Posts: 49,515
    ConorKavanagh said:
    I like both of the songs, but if I had to choose I'd like to hear Lightning Bolt at the show I'm going to because I already heard Unthought Known.
     I would never listen to Lightning Bolt (the album or song) at home (nor Unthough Known or Backspacer), but the song LB is really good live IMO.
    With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata
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    ConorKavanaghConorKavanagh Ireland Posts: 1,148
    I listened to Backspacer a couple of times recently when I was driving and it was really good. I hadn't listened to it since it was released properly.
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    PJ_SoulPJ_Soul Vancouver, BC Posts: 49,515
    ConorKavanagh said:
    I listened to Backspacer a couple of times recently when I was driving and it was really good. I hadn't listened to it since it was released properly.
    I give it a digital listen maybe once a year to see if this will happen to me.... No luck yet. :lol:
    With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata
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    HesCalledDyerHesCalledDyer Maryland Posts: 16,418
    Both great songs.  Don't really see the familiarity that others are claiming.  I'll take both in a setlist any day.
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    helplessdancerhelplessdancer Posts: 5,262
    unthought not even close to LB. imo
    unthought is an amazing song. imo
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    pjhawkspjhawks Posts: 12,192
    like em both live but had to choose I'd go with Lightning Bolt mostly because they jam the sit out of the ending of the song live. the end live kicks ass.
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    Red MosquitoRed Mosquito Charlotte, NC Posts: 68
    I also prefer Unthought Known. It gives me chills when they play it live.
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    facepollutionfacepollution Posts: 6,834
    Aside from the build ups in each song, which I guess are vaguely similar, I don't hear much similarity at all.  I much prefer Unthought Known, it's possibly my favourite latter day PJ song.
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    gettingrightgettingright Posts: 550
    Unthought known for me. The one song I think just sounds too quintessential and bland is amongst the waves. 
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    SaravaSarava Naperville, IL Posts: 1,998
    I see the similarities between the 2 songs, but they each feel like their own song to me. Lightning Bolt is by far my favorite song off LB, so I'll always hope they play it.  And Unthought Known - the backspacer version I dont care much for, but it's an awesome live song. To me UK is probably the song in the PJ catalog that improves the most from studio to live.
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