Gigaton Album doesn’t Sound like Pearl Jam

hedonist

New album + Corona = the best and worst of some. Or is the latter even a factor?

Last I checked, it’s possible to disagree without being an asshole. 

As for myself, I kinda dig a few songs and others not so much. Plenty of time for re-listening. 

SVRDhand13

I honestly feel bad for those who are not enjoying this album. Wtf did you expect 30 years into their career? Oh well, I think it’s brilliant.  

bootlegger10

SVRDhand13 said:

I honestly feel bad for those who are not enjoying this album. Wtf did you expect 30 years into their career? Oh well, I think it’s brilliant.  

Agreed.  No one has to like it but too bad for them.   Really enjoy this album.  I love the layering and the little effects.  It is called evolving and changing.   My tastes have changed and I have been hoping PJ would make something closer to what I like now and they did.  

Jimmydean55

JF116983 said:

Jimmydean55 said:

PJammin' said:

Jimmydean55 said:

I think Gigaton is decent. I REALLY like the first half of the album. The second half is sort of meh. 

But more than anything, I really wish Ed would enunciate a little more. I haven’t been able to understand the lyrics without reading them in a long, long time. I know he’s kind of always been like that, but it’s getting worse. He changed the way he sings starting with Riot Act, and sometimes it’s just not good. 

You are correct, he has changed the way he sings and sometimes it isn’t good. I was listening to Yield the other day and it was so evident. He also does this thing with his jaw now which I really dislike. He needs to drop the smoking like Cornell did. It really improved his voice. 

Agreed. I wonder if the jaw thing is why some of the words sound weird. I keep hearing “Mush to be done” on Seven O’clock. I don’t really understand why he changed the way he sings. I wish he could quit smoking if he still hasn’t. That’s a tough battle.

Both of you make interesting points thank you what’s the jaw thing you are noting above? I did notice voice less powerful @ Riot Act too but really didn’t think about it since reading this here.

All Or None is a perfect example of how he purposefully changed his singing. The first half of it, he’s singing in his new style. Then after the first solo, starting with “To myself...” BAM. It’s back to the way he sounded on every other album. Unfortunately, he’s kept the new style for a long time now. 

It sounds like he puts marbles in his mouth before he records his vocals now. He pronounces words differently after the S/T album too. I think this is in part because of the “jaw thing” PJammin’ referenced. “Open” sounds like whoa-pen. “Or” sounds like horror. “For” and “forced” sounds like foah and foawced. His s’s are mush. “The” is da. (I know, it’s the Chicago in him, haha) 

I was so pissed when I bought the new album and listened to it on my way home. (I only got midway through Seven O’clock) I couldn’t understand a damn word he was saying! The vinyl arrived today, and I sat down and listened to it while reading the lyrics, and it helped. Like I said, I just really wish Ed would just enunciate a little better. 

Having said all that, I still love Ed and the band and I do think this is a pretty decent album. I wish the back half was a little more rockin, but I’m happy with it. The guitars and drums sound much better on Gigaton than Backspacer and Lightning Bolt. 

NEweather

SVRDhand13 said:

I honestly feel bad for those who are not enjoying this album. Wtf did you expect 30 years into their career? Oh well, I think it’s brilliant.  

And here's to 20 more years of a career, if they want! 

NEweather

We're freakin' lucky they Play Live for us! 

EarlWelsh

TN49724 said:

All these reviews are fascinating - not so much the reviews, but the responses to the reviews.  Like, what fans are allowed to think or should think.  

Chances are if you’re on this chat you’re a pretty big fan.  Then the critiques evolve into the validity of an opinion in relation to factors like musical knowledge, can u play an instrument, etc.

I tried to think what my 13 year old self would have thought of this album, similar to my age when I heard Ten.  Impossible to know. 

I have spent so much time and money on this band.  And I wouldn’t change a second of it.  This album is ok, just ok, and that’s alright.  

Lose the damn Kalimba, cut out the damn layering.  Give me guitars, drums and Eddie being pissed writing quick, sharp, poignant lyrics.  

This album needed one thing - restraint.  Restraint on kalimba, restraint on the production, and  fewer damn words.  Yes, I agree w others on that. 

The 1 thing it seems everyone agrees on is this - Lightning Bolt was not good.  Like really not good.  

Gigaton is better than that.  We got 4 or 5 really strong songs.  That’s 4 or 5 more than we had this time last year.  

Is kalimba even on more than 2 tracks? Alright and River Cross, right? Am I missing something? Seems a strange thing to make mention of.

JF116983

Thanks to all that gave constructiva comments, I was looking up reviews of the album outside this website and saw that I am not the only one disappointed with the last 12 years it’s also nice to know I’m not the only one here. 

For the haters, I hope you are able to learn how to accept differences of opinion as that emphatic response will serve you well instead of attacking others for their differences. I truly hope you all change and become constructive rather than spit venom at people here. There are some that are lonely and looking for an escape here, I hope you don’t hurt those ones (I have thick skin and your attacked meant nothing to me) - this community is better than that.

Stay Safe

 

Vitalogensia

JF116983 said:

side question for those who like this album and have kids, what you think of boys want to grow lyric - will u play that song for your kids? 

Kid-friendly rock would likely be lame as fuck, but with Pearl Jam, is this the first lyric you've come across that made you wonder this?

JPPJ84

JF116983 said:

Thanks to all that gave constructiva comments, I was looking up reviews of the album outside this website and saw that I am not the only one disappointed with the last 12 years it’s also nice to know I’m not the only one here. 

For the haters, I hope you are able to learn how to accept differences of opinion as that emphatic response will serve you well instead of attacking others for their differences. I truly hope you all change and become constructive rather than spit venom at people here. There are some that are lonely and looking for an escape here, I hope you don’t hurt those ones (I have thick skin and your attacked meant nothing to me) - this community is better than that.

Stay Safe

 

I for one wasn’t bothered by your bad review. I was bothered with you saying „the band knows it’s bad“ and basically saying it’s a fact it’s bad and the rest just hasn’t realized it. That to me is a ridiculous statement. (If I got you mixed up with someone else, sorry)

Whywhyzed

I've only listened twice, and my initial takeaway it that it's too wordy. The music is great but it doesn't seem to have any room to breathe.

But hey maybe that's the point of this album: a lot to say and not a lot of time to say it.

JF116983

I mentioned band knows it’s not a strong album (their best)

The process shows this they scrapped bunch of songs can’t deny me was supposed to be on the album and did not make it usually this is song does not fit you can interpret that as everything is perfect but you don’t spend lots of money on studio recordings and scrap them because you are happy with album. So they re-record what they end up accepting

Knowing the process of left out songs, time, and listening to this album confirms it’s an album of compromise and not their best output.

josevolution

JF116983 said:

Great that ppl like this.

side question for those who like this album and have kids, what you think of boys want to grow lyric - will u play that song for your kids? 

I think it’s Ed’s worst lyric of his career & removed song from album download (no more CDs for me) but just wondering what others think

here is a little tidbit for those who care, I have an old friend since high school that loved PJ as much as I did - we even played PJ cover songs in a band and had lots of fun doing that.

After BS and LB he said he was done with PJ and went to U2 instead. He spent 400 bucks on U2 Gen Admin tix right after I know he would have spent that (and more) to see PJ but the lackluster albums did it for him - I can’t help but think many are starting to lose their patience with the band as well (what are the odds of me knowing the only one?) but those type don’t post here given all the diehards. 

Really man your post is hilarious so now your friend is an authority as to why this band is done lol keep them post coming 

vedpunk

JF116983 said:

I mentioned band knows it’s not their best.

The process shows this they scrapped bunch of songs can’t deny me was supposed to be on the album and did not make it usually this is song does not fit you can interpret that as everything is perfect but you don’t spend lots of money on studio recordings and scrap them because you are happy with album. So they re-record what they end up accepting

Knowing the process of left out songs, time, and listening to this album confirms it’s an album of compromise and not their best output.

You gotta stop stating your opinions as facts. “...the band knows it’s not their best”. You don’t know shit.  Your just a troll, and a damn good one actually.

josevolution

I guess you weren’t around for the lottery drawings for MSG & Baltimore loosing interest lol 

drakeheuer14

vedpunk said:

JF116983 said:

I mentioned band knows it’s not their best.

The process shows this they scrapped bunch of songs can’t deny me was supposed to be on the album and did not make it usually this is song does not fit you can interpret that as everything is perfect but you don’t spend lots of money on studio recordings and scrap them because you are happy with album. So they re-record what they end up accepting

Knowing the process of left out songs, time, and listening to this album confirms it’s an album of compromise and not their best output.

You gotta stop stating your opinions as facts. “...the band knows it’s not their best”. You don’t know a damn thing.

But he met Stone one time. Don’t forget that. 

vedpunk

drakeheuer14 said:

vedpunk said:

JF116983 said:

I mentioned band knows it’s not their best.

The process shows this they scrapped bunch of songs can’t deny me was supposed to be on the album and did not make it usually this is song does not fit you can interpret that as everything is perfect but you don’t spend lots of money on studio recordings and scrap them because you are happy with album. So they re-record what they end up accepting

Knowing the process of left out songs, time, and listening to this album confirms it’s an album of compromise and not their best output.

You gotta stop stating your opinions as facts. “...the band knows it’s not their best”. You don’t know a damn thing.

But he met Stone one time. Don’t forget that. 

Lol Thanks for reminding me!  

JF116983

Actually I said:

I am sure the band realizes themselves this is not a strong album hence why they waited six years and multiple re-recordings.

I believe this if you don’t I don’t care it’s my opinion you can have your own and ignore the facts they had multiple recordings and songs that they ultimately didn’t want to put out. 

The fact is studio time costs money and I am sure PJ likes wasting time and money just as much as I do (I don’t like it).

here are some reviews out there that feel similar to me:

Review: Pearl Jam's Gigaton is their best album in 12 years, but that doesn't make it good

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.thenational.ae/arts-culture/music/review-pearl-jam-s-gigaton-is-their-best-album-in-12-years-but-that-doesn-t-make-it-good-1.998197

From the sounds of it, Pearl Jam pieced Gigatontogether from various sessions over several years, with Vedder adding vocals to the choice bits after the fact. It’s hard to imagine this process leading toward a unified statement from any band, let alone one that’s already been having trouble finding 
inspiration. 

https://www.google.com/amp/s/pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/pearl-jam-gigaton/amp/

JF116983

josevolution said:

I guess you weren’t around for the lottery drawings for MSG & Baltimore loosing interest lol 

Enlighten me I have been around since 2002 just don’t live posting here but quarantine has me bored.

mcgruff10

JF116983 said:

Those albums were stellar what made the Beatles the Beatles is they all could write songs even Ringo George had gems (Gently Weeps my fav Beatles song) and Paul and John were just at another level, I love how the Beatles stood the test of time and I want PJ to produce at that level cause they are all so talented and able!

What ringo songs were gems?   yellow submarine?  little help from my friends?