The album still feels fresher and more relevant than the world at large might expect at this point—this classic-rock band still has at least a few classics left in it.
Years on, Lightning Bolt is sure to rank among one of the high points of the group’s discography, standing as an example of their ability to burrow down and hone all of their strengths to a fever pitch.
On Lightning Bolt, they've grown into that classic rock mantle, accentuating the big riffs and bigger emotions, crafting songs without a worry as to whether they're hip or not and, most importantly, enjoying the deep-rooted, nervy arena rock that is uniquely their own.
There’s no inherently bad songwriting here, but most of it isn’t particularly interesting, either.
If you’re gonna continue making music, at some point you gotta look at what it is and sever the ties a little from history. If I try not to weigh it against the classics, on its own merit, it’s a solid three stars.
It's far from an implosion, far from spectacular.
Lightning Bolt’s 12 tracks are far less an agonising ordeal than they are just muted, a protracted sapping of energy from opening roar to final weary sigh.
Pearl Jam on record have essentially been reduced to the rock ‘n’ roll version of wearing sweatpants: they’ve given up trying to impress anyone, so they may as well be comfortable.
Worst of all, it’s dull – which, against all the odds, makes us look back at Vedder’s 2011 solo album ‘Ukulele Songs’ – tracks played on the tiny Hawaiian instrument – with fond memories.
Discography Diaries #10: Pearl Jam
Album #10: Lightning Bolt
Genre: Alternative Rock
Date: 25/05/2022
Time: 4:40 PM
We're nearly ready to conclude this edition of the discog diaries with the final two Pearl Jam albums, and the one we're tackling now is the band's 10th album, 2013's 'Lightning Bolt'. I never really asked too much from Pearl Jam's output given how shakey their post-early discography is, there my have a been a solid record or two but they haven't really managed to make an album ... read more
Now we're talking. See Pearl Jam? All you had to do was add a lil flava flave and your songs sound way more interesting. The back half falls off, but this is a solid return to form.
Mientras hay canciones más que destacables como "Sirens" o "Infallible", la banda cae en el vicio de las canciones acústicas insípidas. Un disco que hace que Pearl Jam vuelva a la mediocridad con la que estaban acostumbrados antes del Backspacer.
DENSO 6/10
Great album from start to finish. The songs just kinda blend in and the production isn't that great.
1 | Getaway 3:26 | 80 |
2 | Mind Your Manners 2:38 | 81 |
3 | My Father’s Son 3:07 | 69 |
4 | Sirens 5:41 | 85 |
5 | Lightning Bolt 4:13 | 78 |
6 | Infallible 5:22 | 76 |
7 | Pendulum 3:44 | 70 |
8 | Swallowed Whole 3:51 | 70 |
9 | Let the Records Play 3:46 | 67 |
10 | Sleeping By Myself 3:04 | 66 |
11 | Yellow Moon 3:52 | 73 |
12 | Future Days 4:22 | 82 |
#7 | / | CraveOnline |
#40 | / | Rolling Stone |
#44 | / | Q Magazine |
#71 | / | Amazon |