Lightning Bolt!!
freshymad
Posts: 54
All of the songs on the new album are SO above powerful. It feels like a greatest hits album, only I missed all the quirky songs on the original album that give clues to the context.
For me, since I was young I have had the ritual of sitting with a new record, looking at the booklet or sleeve and listening to the music with headphones. The digital age has taken that away; I download from iTunes; I don't even have a CD drive in my new computer so to be portable it's necessary to download and listen to the crap sounding MP3 files. To listen with good headphones would lead to further frustration with the quality.
I looked forward to Lightning Bolt as one of the few new releases I would ritualize. I thought I may have tarnished that experience; I downloaded MP3s of Mind Your Manners and Sirens; I watched the videos. I fell in love with both songs and repeated with no restraint.
Now I hold the new CD and look at the booklet. The graphics are bold. Every lyric is there. I realize one of my favorite lines I got wrong. Never mind it. I read other lyrics that I heard wrong that are much better now, especially going from "money is mine" to "mine is mine." The intimacy I crave came with Sirens before the album release and I was worried the intimacy with the new album would be lost, but not a chance. I listen and the ritual is still fully functional! Next time though, I think I won't partake in the pre-releases so I don't lose the purity of experiencing the album for the first time.
Getaway: "Find a lighthouse in the dark stormy weather." The word lighthouse is so oddly expressive. "Now make your getaway, oah!" That line cracks me up the way the exit is not a deliverance but a running from, disguised as a fun trip. "Get yours off of my plate." The way the words are sung makes them sound sticky and clingy!
My Father's Son to Sirens: The transition from a deeply angry, tormented and sad song, to the quiet of Sirens is so emotional like after a storm blows through and the sun comes out, and life continues on. I love the hollow guitar in the background dipping from high to low like a bomb dropping or a car rushing by. I missed hearing that in the MP3 of Sirens.
Lightning Bolt: An ode to the creation and life of an immortal song?
Infallible: "Time we best begin, here at the ending." It reminds me of Kant's Categorical Imperative. I love the change in the melody as that line lifts the second time leading into the beautiful guitar solo. The triple beeping guitar notes throughout make me smile because they mock some kind of small, mechanical activity. The opening sounds like U2. Also, I hear Jack White, whose music I adore for it's in-your-face creative simplicity.
Pendulum: The triple notes are continuing in this song, but now they echo. Floors me when Ed sings, "easy left me a long time agoooo." What IS that sound his voice is making? I have never heard anything like it! On first listen, I don't give a shit what this song means because I can't get past the visceral sound. PLEASE play this live in Charlotte. "Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah," Jack White appears again.
I have to stop writing here. I'm thinking too much and I don't want ruin this ride. That last song got me high!
For me, since I was young I have had the ritual of sitting with a new record, looking at the booklet or sleeve and listening to the music with headphones. The digital age has taken that away; I download from iTunes; I don't even have a CD drive in my new computer so to be portable it's necessary to download and listen to the crap sounding MP3 files. To listen with good headphones would lead to further frustration with the quality.
I looked forward to Lightning Bolt as one of the few new releases I would ritualize. I thought I may have tarnished that experience; I downloaded MP3s of Mind Your Manners and Sirens; I watched the videos. I fell in love with both songs and repeated with no restraint.
Now I hold the new CD and look at the booklet. The graphics are bold. Every lyric is there. I realize one of my favorite lines I got wrong. Never mind it. I read other lyrics that I heard wrong that are much better now, especially going from "money is mine" to "mine is mine." The intimacy I crave came with Sirens before the album release and I was worried the intimacy with the new album would be lost, but not a chance. I listen and the ritual is still fully functional! Next time though, I think I won't partake in the pre-releases so I don't lose the purity of experiencing the album for the first time.
Getaway: "Find a lighthouse in the dark stormy weather." The word lighthouse is so oddly expressive. "Now make your getaway, oah!" That line cracks me up the way the exit is not a deliverance but a running from, disguised as a fun trip. "Get yours off of my plate." The way the words are sung makes them sound sticky and clingy!
My Father's Son to Sirens: The transition from a deeply angry, tormented and sad song, to the quiet of Sirens is so emotional like after a storm blows through and the sun comes out, and life continues on. I love the hollow guitar in the background dipping from high to low like a bomb dropping or a car rushing by. I missed hearing that in the MP3 of Sirens.
Lightning Bolt: An ode to the creation and life of an immortal song?
Infallible: "Time we best begin, here at the ending." It reminds me of Kant's Categorical Imperative. I love the change in the melody as that line lifts the second time leading into the beautiful guitar solo. The triple beeping guitar notes throughout make me smile because they mock some kind of small, mechanical activity. The opening sounds like U2. Also, I hear Jack White, whose music I adore for it's in-your-face creative simplicity.
Pendulum: The triple notes are continuing in this song, but now they echo. Floors me when Ed sings, "easy left me a long time agoooo." What IS that sound his voice is making? I have never heard anything like it! On first listen, I don't give a shit what this song means because I can't get past the visceral sound. PLEASE play this live in Charlotte. "Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah," Jack White appears again.
I have to stop writing here. I'm thinking too much and I don't want ruin this ride. That last song got me high!
Post edited by Unknown User on
0
Comments
For me, specifically, "Swallowed Whole" and "Yellow Moon" are the two songs that will be the cause of any sleep deprivation I experience over the next few days.
Can you imagine these songs live? Especially if they decide to send Mike long on "Swallowed Whole" and let him go for, instead of 32 measures on the solo, say, maybe 64...128...256...?
And "Yellow Moon?" Jeez, that 3/4, 3/4, 3/4, 3/2 time signature is killer for me. Mike can go long on that second solo, as far as I'm concerned. Great to hear Boom so audible in that song.
Going to a Pearl Jam concert is great, but it brings its disappointments. Yeah, I want to hear "Crown of Thorns," "Get Right," "Glorified G," "Animal ," "Supersonic," " I Got Id," "Arms Aloft" "State of Love and Trust," "Life Wasted" and so many other classics...but, man, if I don't hear "Swallowed Whole" and "Yellow Moon" on this next tour, I will truly be bummed.
What a great album! Keep building those sandcastles with your friends, PJ! My daughter and I can't wait to see you in Brooklyn on 10/19 and Philly on 10/22.
for the least they could possibly do
I was singing every word with Eddie, because they are just HIS BEST WORDS - ever. Best thing ever....
And the music makes them absolute visceral poetry. Pendulum hits me sp hard. Infallabile makes me feel and hate the state of the world. Lightning Bolt and Swallowed Whole save me. Yellow Moon puts me to bed in my mother's arms
Unbelievable how spot-on each song paints a picture of our world today.
There isn't much room today for this quality of art to touch so many people.
It's very special. Listen.
steer us towards the clear here
I know it's already been sung
but it can't be said enough
ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE
Cheers,
Dean.
Oct. 15, 2013 Worcester, MA
Oct. 15, 2013 - Worcester, Massachusetts
Here's my opinion on Lightning Bolt (in Indonesian): http://wustuk.com/?p=1974 (We got Google Translate for this, right?
After having time to digest this CD I find your assessment very accurate and impressive for having it for such a short time before posting this? Bravo!
I really dig the first three songs and LB, but I'm still having a hard time with a good chunk of the album - none of the ballads are really resonating with me, which is crazy, because I usually live for those things. I'm hoping when I see them next week in LA, they'll open up for me at bit more.
How I choose to feel is how I am.
Detroit, MI 10/16/14
Tampa, FL 4/11/16
Jacksonville, FL 4/13/16
Toronto, ON 5/12/16
Chicago, IL 8/22/16
Chicago, IL 8/18/18
Chicago, IL 8/20/18
Boston, MA 9/4/18
Ottawa, ON 9/3/22
Hamilton, ON 9/6/22
Toronto, ON 9/8/22
Just imagine then, what they could sound like in 10 years ... 20 years ...