Lightning Bolt- Most Well Organized Album?

DewieCox · October 2013

Gmoney wrote:

I like everyones suggestions for track lists, they all make sense. I also think the actual track list works too although sirens and yellow moon feel out of place to me... For me, vitalogy-riot act are perfectly sequenced. Yield is hands down the best.

I think both Vitalogy and No Code kinda peter out at the end, but are kinda saved by a few really great songs in Present Tense and Immortality.

JonnyPistachio · October 2013

DewieCox wrote:

Gmoney wrote:

I like everyones suggestions for track lists, they all make sense. I also think the actual track list works too although sirens and yellow moon feel out of place to me... For me, vitalogy-riot act are perfectly sequenced. Yield is hands down the best.

I think both Vitalogy and No Code kinda peter out at the end, but are kinda saved by a few really great songs in Present Tense and Immortality.

"peter out"

grazman · October 2013

First 7 songs have perfect sequence, from Swallowed Whole onwards it feels like it loses its way abit - Personally i think it needed a big old heavy rocker between Pendulum and Swallowed Whole, and maybe ditch Future Days as final track replaced with Yellow Moon - I like Future Days but its for an Ed Ved solo record not a PJ record. I think the main gripe for me is the slowness of the second half of the LP. Still a great album tho.

SVRDhand13 · October 2013

shadowcast wrote:

SVRDhand13 wrote:

I like the way it is but also think this would work:

Side A
Getaway
Mind Your Manners
Lightning Bolt
Let The Records Play
Sirens
Future Days

Side B
Pendulum
Infallible
Swallowed Whole
My Father's Son
Sleeping By Myself
Yellow Moon

Btw I think the harsh transition from MFS into Sirens was intentional to show the difference between the love EV has for his wife compared to the despair he feels for his father.

I don't think Ed is singing about his real dad in MFS. I think of that of a more of character Ed created by reading something or seeing something.

He must have at least been influenced by his own life. Either way, I think that odd transition from angry song to love song was meant to cause a little uneasiness.

TJ25487 · October 2013

I'm good with the sequencing till the very end. Thats why I changed it up a little. Also some very good suggestions here. It's 2013 people. Make your own CD. Vinyl guys are screwed though. Does vinyl really sound that much better?

Better Dan · October 2013

grazman wrote:

First 7 songs have perfect sequence, from Swallowed Whole onwards it feels like it loses its way abit

I notice that too, but in my opinion it's because the songs after Pendulum aren't as strong as the others on the album. With that said, I like the track listing the way it is. This is such a great album to me!

thefixer9 · October 2013

Better Dan wrote:

grazman wrote:

First 7 songs have perfect sequence, from Swallowed Whole onwards it feels like it loses its way abit

I notice that too, but in my opinion it's because the songs after Pendulum aren't as strong as the others on the album. With that said, I like the track listing the way it is. This is such a great album to me!

Agreed. To me Swallowed Whole after Pendulum is kinda weird..plus you're right, I tend to like the first half of the album better.

Neil Bruce · October 2013

pleatherman wrote:

I've read some criticisms about LB sounding schizophrenic or not cohesive enough. As far as tempo is concerned, pretty much every album has run the gamut. Pearl Jam's strength certainly lies in continuing to push the music in a multitude of directions.

Sequencing on the new album is probably the most obvious example of that. Lightning Bolt is bookended by a trio of songs on either side. The first three are fast, brooding, enveloped in a spitfire guitar attack that provides a direct line to the adrenal gland. The final three are formed by acoustic rumination, coupled with campfire takeaway. In between, three focused back-to-back sets emerge. 'Sirens' and 'Lightning Bolt' (the song) represent PJ at perhaps their most natural, anthemic state. The next two, 'Infallible' and 'Pendulum', are experimental, in the sense of exploring territory with no reference point in their back catalog. And 'Swallowed Whole' and 'Let the Records Play' aim for an upbeat pronouncement, bordering on levity.

Lightning Bolt's track listing contains five sections of music placed side by side. I don't think a librarian could have filed it better. Agree/Disagree?

You make some really good points actually! From a logical point of view (i.e. it being book ended etc.) it is well sequenced...However from a listening point of view it just doesn't 'flow' right at all for me! I know people have already mentioned this, but my mine gripe with the flow of the album is having 'Sirens' after 'My Father's Son' and, the last 3 songs bring the pace down too much imo! I also think that Sirens appears too early in the album too!

pleatherman · November 2013

Neil Bruce wrote:

pleatherman wrote:

I've read some criticisms about LB sounding schizophrenic or not cohesive enough. As far as tempo is concerned, pretty much every album has run the gamut. Pearl Jam's strength certainly lies in continuing to push the music in a multitude of directions.

Sequencing on the new album is probably the most obvious example of that. Lightning Bolt is bookended by a trio of songs on either side. The first three are fast, brooding, enveloped in a spitfire guitar attack that provides a direct line to the adrenal gland. The final three are formed by acoustic rumination, coupled with campfire takeaway. In between, three focused back-to-back sets emerge. 'Sirens' and 'Lightning Bolt' (the song) represent PJ at perhaps their most natural, anthemic state. The next two, 'Infallible' and 'Pendulum', are experimental, in the sense of exploring territory with no reference point in their back catalog. And 'Swallowed Whole' and 'Let the Records Play' aim for an upbeat pronouncement, bordering on levity.

Lightning Bolt's track listing contains five sections of music placed side by side. I don't think a librarian could have filed it better. Agree/Disagree?

You make some really good points actually! From a logical point of view (i.e. it being book ended etc.) it is well sequenced...However from a listening point of view it just doesn't 'flow' right at all for me! I know people have already mentioned this, but my mine gripe with the flow of the album is having 'Sirens' after 'My Father's Son' and, the last 3 songs bring the pace down too much imo! I also think that Sirens appears too early in the album too!

Deliberately placing 3 songs together at the end can possibly mean two things. One, McCready's insistence on including 'Yellow Moon' tipped the scale towards a softer landing as the record winds down. Or two, it reflects the mini-acoustic sets that now have a permanent spot in the set lists. Although some of their best songs are the slower ones, on previous albums they became more of a respite in between rock numbers. It made for a nice flow, but these days equal emphasis is given to the quieter moments as much as the powerhouse ones. If that's the case, then probably the best spot to put a concentrated amount of mellow tunes would be at the tail end.

Lightning Bolt- Most Well Organized Album?

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