Dark Matter (song)

General Pearl Jam discussion.
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Dark Matter Initial Reactions

5 Stars
33
17%
4 Stars
92
48%
3 Stars
56
29%
2 Stars
8
4%
1 Star
3
2%
 
Total votes: 192

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dimejinky99
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Re: Dark Matter (song)

Post by dimejinky99 »

I was given to understand they were all written around the same sessions and time. These songs and gigatons
Calibrate your enthusiasm
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ABNorman
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Re: Dark Matter (song)

Post by ABNorman »

Anders wrote:Where would it rank on Gigaton?
I listened to Gigaton recently and was left a bit cold, so at the moment I'd say DM fits in after DotC, but I'm sure that'll change.

The secret sauce is that this is the first single in years and years which I've felt like I felt when I was listening to them in the 90s. DM is not necessarily a top tier song, but they've made choices that make it feel more (vague hand wave) Pearl Jam-my. I don't think there's anything on Gigaton which makes me think that.
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Val
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Re: Dark Matter (song)

Post by Val »

ABNorman wrote:
Anders wrote:Where would it rank on Gigaton?
I listened to Gigaton recently and was left a bit cold, so at the moment I'd say DM fits in after DotC, but I'm sure that'll change.

The secret sauce is that this is the first single in years and years which I've felt like I felt when I was listening to them in the 90s. DM is not necessarily a top tier song, but they've made choices that make it feel more (vague hand wave) Pearl Jam-my. I don't think there's anything on Gigaton which makes me think that.
I don’t know, I feel like QE was trying to be Pearl Jam-y but DM is a better song
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Re: Dark Matter (song)

Post by Sgt. Crackpot »

Alright, it's 8:30 PM here and I finally got to listen to the song today. I had a bit going on earlier, and may have been able to play it on my phone but I didn't want to waste it on shitty phone speakers. So I sat on my PC and listened to the Spotify version on my Cloud Revolver headphones.

15 seconds into the first play, I turned it up. This is one of those songs that are made to be played louder (e.g. in the car). Not in the forced way like MYM or CDM. But in a way to hear the full sonic landscape created within this song. EV's vocals are given so much room to breath, and the perceived sound space given to his voice is perfect. Like others have said, it's forgiving for his mumbles and incoherent words ala very early PJ. I think this is one of those elements that Andrew Watt was striving for when trying to invigorate the band to remember their roots.

There's more I could write but this will start to sound like a massive review on just this song. In short though, the production and sound of this song has made me a lot more excited for this album. It's a hell of a launch single. After 33 years these guys still have it in them to create something great.
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Mike
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Re: Dark Matter (song)

Post by Mike »

Anders wrote:Loving the song now. Finally got to sit down in peace and listen to it in good quality.
Somewhere in the middle or a bit higher I guess. It's a good song but not in any way more special than most Gigaton songs for me. Right now I'd say I like Who Ever Says, SBWF, DoTC, Buckle Up and Comes Then Goes more. I only listened to Dark Matter three times so far, though.
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lecherouslittlestump
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Re: Dark Matter (song)

Post by lecherouslittlestump »

I like it.

It reminds me of something from Ten or Vs - in that it's slow, heavy and has a groove. Their rockers from Vitalogy onwards were faster punkier songs.
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Re: Dark Matter (song)

Post by Revelator »

Wow so much positivity right now on this board, where the F am I? Can't wait to give it a first listen!
liebzz
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Re: Dark Matter (song)

Post by liebzz »

Heard it. Pearl Jam did this one right. Sounds really cool on the first listen. Glad to hear the music up front, but I do wish they let the song breathe a little more. Mike’s solo should have been doubled there. The “You Are” effect and groove is fabulous though. More of this please.
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Val
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Re: Dark Matter (song)

Post by Val »

dimejinky99 wrote:I was given to understand they were all written around the same sessions and time. These songs and gigatons
If so

Then the question is

How the F do you not give DM a spot on the album instead of a few stinkers I can name :shake:
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Val
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Re: Dark Matter (song)

Post by Val »

liebzz wrote:Heard it. Pearl Jam did this one right. Sounds really cool on the first listen. Glad to hear the music up front, but I do wish they let the song breathe a little more. Mike’s solo should have been doubled there. The “You Are” effect and groove is fabulous though. More of this please.
The only downside of DM is its abrupt end
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ridleybradout
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Re: Dark Matter (song)

Post by ridleybradout »

Solid 4 stars from me. As many have said, it's no DOTC but not far behind and certainly makes me excited about how the rest of the album might sound :D
Val wrote:The production is Audioslave-esque :heartbeat:
Spot on - their debut was a rare great sounding album from the loudness war era :thumbsup:
B wrote:buy the single and you get a download with the instrumental with a cool Ed on the Arc machine opening.
Very cool. My guess is this is the very end of the previous song (Wreckage) and leads into DM.
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Val
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Re: Dark Matter (song)

Post by Val »

stip wrote:
Anders wrote:
It sounds waaaaaay better on iTunes through my AKG's than on Youtube
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Val
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Re: Dark Matter (song)

Post by Val »

Revelator wrote:Wow so much positivity right now on this board, where the F am I? Can't wait to give it a first listen!
Yes, it's RM, but come on, you act like it didn't become a home for much more positivity since Gigaton dropped :)
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smallest_oceans
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Re: Dark Matter (song)

Post by smallest_oceans »

First listen and I get goosebumps.

Second listen an I'm crying as the bridge heads into the solo.

I can't believe they pulled this out so late in the game. I guess Watt somehow convinced them it was time.

My favorite of Gigaton was QE, so I love this. This is more immediate.

It's given me hope the upward trajectory of the last few albums continues.

The production is sweet, everything is clear, and this thing has LAYERS.
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Val
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Re: Dark Matter (song)

Post by Val »

Val wrote:
liebzz wrote:Heard it. Pearl Jam did this one right. Sounds really cool on the first listen. Glad to hear the music up front, but I do wish they let the song breathe a little more. Mike’s solo should have been doubled there. The “You Are” effect and groove is fabulous though. More of this please.
The only downside of DM is its abrupt end
No, I have another gripe.
The solo section should have just been Mike and Jeff. Or much more Jeff and less Stone. During the solo. You with me? That would have been mind-blowing.
Last edited by Val on Tue February 13, 2024 10:44 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Dark Matter (song)

Post by Release_Me »

So this sounds even better now that I gave it a bit of a break after several consecutive listens. I feel like there are new layers that reveal themselves over time.
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Re: Dark Matter (song)

Post by Sgt. Crackpot »

Rangi Guy wrote:So skating back to the train station after work today things went wrong.....now my skateboard is at the bottom of the harbour :(
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Val
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Re: Dark Matter (song)

Post by Val »

Sgt. Crackpot wrote:
i

oddly

enjoyed this?

:oops:
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coptheriotact
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Re: Dark Matter (song)

Post by coptheriotact »

Val wrote:
Sgt. Crackpot wrote:
i

oddly

enjoyed this?

:oops:
It’s the best part of the song
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tragabigzanda
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Re: Dark Matter (song)

Post by tragabigzanda »

pearl jam sucks now
Last edited by tragabigzanda on Thu January 01, 2026 7:57 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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