Where does PJ go with the next record?

fanch75 said:

They should do a Dokken-influenced, LA-style glam metal album.  That would rule!

\m/ Rokken with Dokken!! \m/

WindowPaine said:

i'm hoping they stop making new music. there's nothing i want to see/hear live from more or less the avocado album to lightning bolt

I might be tempted to think that, except for the fact that other people are actually enjoying their new music. I would never want to prevent others from getting new shit that they actually really like. If the positions were reversed, I know I would hate that.

PB11041 said:

Norman MF Skeeter III said:

PB11041 said:

It is a thing I simply do not understand.  But honestly it was something I learned big time a long while ago with Vitalogy and No Code, sometimes fans really do just want things to be version 2.0.   Not my cup of tea.  

Ed can be snarky about older material, let’s be honest about that. I do not necessarily believe fans want a version 2.0 of any album. It would be nice if they made a song or two in the same vein. My personal belief, they should go back, really listen to all the albums, and produce one song of each type. See where that takes them. Since we are on the subject of fandom, I don’t believe you have to love everything they do to be a fan. That is a bit ridiculous. That is like saying you have to love everything your partner does or, you really don’t love them. It makes me wonder how some people can consider themselves fans when, they skate the bands message by putting down others and their level of fandom. It is akin to the individuals who place their level of fandom upon how many shows they have attended, how many posters of a certain value they own, or how much merchandise they have purchased. Plain and simple, if you like the band or even one song, you are a fan. I hate the judgement that is heaped across this fanbase. I have never witnessed anything like it. Sometimes it makes people not want to participate.

Not really sure I follow how Ed is snarky about older material.  Everything is not a bold straight clear brush, but yes some fans absolutely have been waiting for Ten 2 from the first day they heard Ten.   

Not entirely sure anyone says you have to love everything, but one thing that I would say that is equally unbearable to that feeling is the notion that when somebody doesn't like a new song or a new record that they feel obligated to ring lead a crowd of cohorts into beating the topic to death.  

You are right, there are all sorts of fandom.  But if you have never witnessed anything like this, I can assure you that every band I am into has some place like this on the internet in which a group of fans loves one record, hates another, loves another, etc this happens with bands, sports teams, movies, TV shows.

Your comment gave me the chuckles. I can agree with some of what you say, some people don’t want any progression. I saw it when MetallicA changed their style up. Some people never move on. I feel like some bands never lose that initial flair either. I wish they still went on an album, the way they go live, at least for a song or two. Ten was driven by different emotions, experiences, and a general era. Again, some people never move on. Then again, I think Roskilde had a bigger impact on them than most people realize and, it drastically changed the bands direction. Some people never move on. Sometimes we can’t conquer certain things. I will wait and see what they do, I will buy it, listen to it, judge it, put it down, and go back to it later in life. Always gonna be a fan, for better or worse. As far as the less than nice fans, well, let’s say I never expected it from PJ fans and, it still amazes me. I realize their are assholes everywhere. I never expected to meet as many as I have been privileged to since I started listening to this band (a long time ago) It would be like  trying to imagine Dead Heads that would threaten your life. It is just hard to wrap my head around the idea.

never mind, i'll save it

Norman MF Skeeter III said:

PB11041 said:

HesCalledDyer said:

PB11041 said:

I am not big into reruns, and I am a bit of an outlier in that I liked Lightning Bolt a lot.  I have no interest in wanting to hear Pearl Jam try to repeat themselves, so whatever it is I prefer it is music that inspires them (which is generally what they have always done) than any attempt to reach back to some godforsaken glory day.  

  Thank you!  Some of these comments here make me wonder why some people are even still fans.  Always longing for the next No Code or Vitalogy, claiming the last 2-4 albums aren't good, or that the band lost their creativity or have become uninspired.  It's a good thing these guys aren't as snarky as Billy Corgan.  It's no wonder he gets pissed off at fans when they keep asking him to make Siamese & Mellon Collie 2.

It is a thing I simply do not understand.  But honestly it was something I learned big time a long while ago with Vitalogy and No Code, sometimes fans really do just want things to be version 2.0.   Not my cup of tea.  

Ed can be snarky about older material, let’s be honest about that. I do not necessarily believe fans want a version 2.0 of any album. It would be nice if they made a song or two in the same vein. My personal belief, they should go back, really listen to all the albums, and produce one song of each type. See where that takes them. Since we are on the subject of fandom, I don’t believe you have to love everything they do to be a fan. That is a bit ridiculous. That is like saying you have to love everything your partner does or, you really don’t love them. It makes me wonder how some people can consider themselves fans when, they skate the bands message by putting down others and their level of fandom. It is akin to the individuals who place their level of fandom upon how many shows they have attended, how many posters of a certain value they own, or how much merchandise they have purchased. Plain and simple, if you like the band or even one song, you are a fan. I hate the judgement that is heaped across this fanbase. I have never witnessed anything like it. Sometimes it makes people not want to participate.

Norman, you are spot on.
Sometimes you need to listen to a song several times before you ‘get’ it.
Also, a song that might not be your favorite, hits you like a freight train at certain times in your life.

Probably more likely that the new album is a greatest hits lp LOL

I will truly be happy with whatever we get out of a new PJ album-- if not instantly, then eventually.  I wasn't a huge fan of Backspacer when it came out, and even less so of Lightning Bolt, but recent listens have me appreciating those albums more than my first few listens.
If I could co-produce the 11th album with them, and speaking strictly in terms of their past work I would push for 
LESS:
1) Poppy production, effects, instrumentation and inserts in their songs that don't really seem to fit the song or the band's style traditionally speaking.  For instance those 3 or 4 seconds after the lyrics in "The Fixer"-- "When there's no love, I wanna try to love again"-- I don't know if that's a guitar or piano arpeggio with too much delay / reverb, but I don't understand its place, and just don't enjoy the sound of it.  I don't know any other way to put it other than it's too "soft" for them.  Another example-- Future Days, especially the intro and ending of that one.  I dig it when they're mellow, but would never consider PJ a soft band by any means, and they should not go in that direction.  
2) Rhyming lyrics.  I think a lot of Eddie's best lyrics do not rhyme at all, or rhyme less, and there's more poetry in a lot of those than a lot of the lyrics that rhyme.  Although the lyrics can tie together thematically and rhyme simultaneously, they aren't always necessarily the best phrasing or word choices because they are rhyming.
3)  Greater control of Eddie's voice when he's screaming.  I love a great Eddie scream, I truly do-- but there are times where it's just too wild / screechy / out of tune.  For instance I would try and limit the way he sounds on lines like "And in the MOooOOORnin' Light" from "Can't Deny Me"-- also from the same song, an example of 2) and 3) together, the line from the same song, "Where's your vocabulary?"  I understand the point, the intent, but it sounds like a forced rhyme and just doesn't need to be sung  / yelled the way it is.  I really like Bu$hleaguer-- it's even more political, pointed, and well executed, and without the need to do something really extreme vocally-- just the opposite.  
4)  Songs that are more or less Ed solo-- although I really love Soon Forget, in most other cases I really love hearing more musical input from more members of the band
5)  Punkier songs-- I would prefer more riff rockin, slow it down, get into some grooves if the guys want to go with a harder edge on a few tracks.

and MORE:
1)  Jams!  guitar solos, bass-heavy breakdowns, improvising, and instrumental space-- don't be afraid to take some really drastic turns in the composition either
2)  Collaborative effort-- someone above me said let them do a few songs on the spot in a room together, with less pre-conceived ideas.  Just let it flow, and the magic will happen-- especially with the chemistry they have after 28 years as a band
3)  Dark and moody.  I truly believe their best songs on the more recent albums fit this vibe more than their uptempo rockers
4)  Filfthy bridges and breakdowns-- I am not a fan of "Supersonic" as a whole, but that bridge / breakdown is just DIRTY and I love it.
5)  Longer songs-- most of my favorite PJ songs are over 4.5 minutes.  They are great composers and I really love the interplay between different parts of their songs, and of course, more instrumental!

In terms of stuff they've never done before-- 
1)  I think it be cool to hear them do something with a serious brass section for one song, or even orchestral-- really change it up for a track or 2.
2)  How about some really cool guests on this one?  Ben Haper?  Neil Young?  Would love to hear a collaboration with Warren Haynes on a song.

These guys are my favorite band, and I'm really excited for whatever they put out our way.  Can't wait!

  

Songs with some thought and musically interesting like  'Cold Confession' and 'Let it Ride.'  Why they release songs like Johnny Guitar, Let the Records Play, Future Days, and Sleeping by Myself instead is beyond me.

only 1 guitar per song.  no ed guitar.  stone and mike take turns figuring out what to do when they are not playing guitar.  will clean up the sound a lot.

brianlux said:

I'm thinking the next one should be all polka covers and call it "Accordion Songs".

This is feasible.  Weird Al would probably jump at the opportunity to produce it.  And of course, Ed is a master accordion player.