i like all the songs gob said he didn't (even sweet lew). But I respect his taste in albums!

Well sure I respect what he's saying about the middle albums. And he' probably not wrong in the sense that there is a shift in energy and focus and tone on those middle records. They don't have the same thrust that Ten, Vs and Vitalogy share. But they're still some damn great records. And I think had they made one more album with that same energy, it would have been a misstep by the band.

Backspacer has a different energy though, too.

Listening to the catalog as I wrote today, I'm gonna go ahead and say that Vitalogy has a very different energy as well. So it's really only two albums that I'd say have the same certain level of energy to them, though those records sound fantastically different, too. So....

Even after thinking about it for a few minutes I can't even figure out which albums you're talking about that have the same energy to them. If we're talking about Binaural and RA, I don't see a comparison. That's what makes this band so great... something different every time out.

I agree with the original comment that it would've been bad to make another grunge-y album after Vitalogy... they could've cornered themselves into a niche and probably imploded. It's a major reason why Dave A had to go... or maybe just because he broke Eddie's guitar

I was initially responding to a post that said the first three albums shared an energy that has been absent ever since (though Backspacer is the closest thing). I disagree with that idea. But I do see how Ten and Vs share a certain kind of energy eventhough they sound different. We can call it "grungy." I'm fine with that.

Would No Code be an experimental energy or schizophrenic?

i'd throw S/T in there as well. This is oversimplifying but Ten, Vs, S/T, and Backspacer are very external albums--the energy on them is projected outward. They are confrontational and immediate. No Code, Yield, Binaural and Riot Act are interior albums. The energy on those records is turned inward. Even then anthems have a quiet, self-directed quality to them that is much less prominent on those other records.

Vitalogy splits the difference, which is probably why everyone loves it so much. If I had to put it in one of those categories I think it is more internal than external.

If that's how we're defining energy, then I won't argue.

well, it is A way to define it, at any rate

I like this post alot stip.

Indeed and you defended that definition with aplomb.

Well articulated. I might suggest that Yield is also on the fence with Vitalogy, but it's your theory so I'll leave my opinions out of it.

So based on what we've heard and know, is LB going to be inward or external? And what is preferred?

I don't know if I have a preference. But I'm leaning toward inward for LB.

I seem to be incapable of growing tired of these two, CC and LIR. Playing them over and over day by day

i would guess external since that seems to be the writing cycle they are in.

But the three we've heard so far are pretty internal.

you think MYM is not confrontational and immediate?