Lightning Bolt

Pearl Jam - Lightning Bolt
Critic Score
Based on 31 reviews
2013 Ratings: #738 / 1115
User Score
Based on 269 ratings
2013 Rank: #491
Liked by 10 people
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CRITIC REVIEWS

83
A.V. Club

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.

80
PopMatters

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.

80
AllMusic

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.

65
The Line of Best Fit

There’s no inherently bad songwriting here, but most of it isn’t particularly interesting, either. 

60
Consequence of Sound

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.

60
SPIN

It's far from an implosion, far from spectacular.

60
Drowned in Sound

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.

50
Pitchfork

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.

40
NME

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. 

MickyT
60

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

surlace
69

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.

oidosalvador
60

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

BaldsDeepNer
49

Does it get Eddie Worse than This?

Sukka
75

I came from Last Of Us II ( 🥲) and well this is some great stuff

Oreo_Trash
86

Great album from start to finish. The songs just kinda blend in and the production isn't that great.

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Track List

1Getaway
3:26
80
2Mind Your Manners
2:38
81
3My Father’s Son
3:07
69
4Sirens
5:41
85
5Lightning Bolt
4:13
78
6Infallible
5:22
76
7Pendulum
3:44
70
8Swallowed Whole
3:51
70
9Let the Records Play
3:46
67
10Sleeping By Myself
3:04
66
11Yellow Moon
3:52
73
12Future Days
4:22
82
Total Length: 47 minutes

Year End Lists

#7/CraveOnline
#40/Rolling Stone
#44/Q Magazine
#71/Amazon
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Added on: July 11, 2013