Dark Matter (song)

[warehouse]

I’m surprised so many people are complimenting Ed’s work on this. Yes, it’s not word salad — that’s great. And yes, his track is situated comfortably in the mix — also great. But his actual voice is sounding pretty rough.

I disagree; he sounds his age, definitely not "rough"

Anthony Kiedis and Thom Yorke are of a similar age and they both sound fantastic.

They don't do remotely the same thing that EV does.

they don't do the same thing as each other. this is like comparing jeff buckley and the guy from korn to EV.

[Bi_3]

Honestly, I'm not that enthusiastic about it. Better lead single than DotC for sure. From the snippets, I had hoped it went actually somewhere. It's a little same-y for my taste. Eddie's vox are the low point for sure. The solo is cool, tho. For this whole "return to form" talk, PJ never really sounded like this before. So, it's a little weird to me. If this was some other band and not PJ, I might laugh at it. Ah, well. Still interested in the album as a whole.

After a couple listens, it gives me the same vibes that the demos on the random Dave A tapes have. Raw and heavy but lyrically rough. That isolated vocal definitely shows Ed's age.

[Ms Harmless]

Brother the cloud or The Dark are way better than DM.

And DotC is too, of course.

if we're back at the point of comparing individual songs and saying "I prefer both X and Y to Z", instead of "I'm really worried this album will be very bad", I consider this new song a success

[RAG319]

Honestly, I'm not that enthusiastic about it. Better lead single than DotC for sure. From the snippets, I had hoped it went actually somewhere. It's a little same-y for my taste. Eddie's vox are the low point for sure. The solo is cool, tho. For this whole "return to form" talk, PJ never really sounded like this before. So, it's a little weird to me. If this was some other band and not PJ, I might laugh at it. Ah, well. Still interested in the album as a whole.

you think this is better than DOTC but you don't like it

what were you wanting?

(whispers) "Attention"

quite

I was not a fan of DOTC, that is correct. Oddly though, I liked a lot of Gigaton. But that song was not among my favorites. Attention? I'm just stating my thoughts. Sorry they don't align to yours.

[Ms Harmless]

Honestly, I'm not that enthusiastic about it. Better lead single than DotC for sure. From the snippets, I had hoped it went actually somewhere. It's a little same-y for my taste. Eddie's vox are the low point for sure. The solo is cool, tho. For this whole "return to form" talk, PJ never really sounded like this before. So, it's a little weird to me. If this was some other band and not PJ, I might laugh at it. Ah, well. Still interested in the album as a whole.

After a couple listens, it gives me the same vibes that the demos on the random Dave A tapes have. Raw and heavy but lyrically rough. That isolated vocal definitely shows Ed's age.

Dirty Frank

[Ms Harmless]

Just A Girl

I hate that song but that's this Pearl Jam

[DeeDee]

Brother the cloud or The Dark are way better than DM.

And DotC is too, of course.

if we're back at the point of comparing individual songs and saying "I prefer both X and Y to Z", instead of "I'm really worried this album will be very bad", I consider this new song a success

I feel pretty optimistic about the new record, and I think the single is Ok. I'm not worried about the album being bad, not at all.

That's about it.

[Coach]

I'm headed out of the office for a coffee break. Gonna blare this tune again in my car.

I'm grateful for new PJ.

[Jaeti]

Brother the cloud or The Dark are way better than DM.

And DotC is too, of course.

if we're back at the point of comparing individual songs and saying "I prefer both X and Y to Z", instead of "I'm really worried this album will be very bad", I consider this new song a success

Pretty true.

[tragabigzanda]

pearl jam sucks now

[warehouse]

Just A Girl

I hate that song but that's this Pearl Jam

that's an interesting call considering how big of a fan watt is. he's probably one of us nerds who knows that song inside and out.

[Val]

I was not a fan of DOTC, that is correct. Oddly though, I liked a lot of Gigaton. But that song was not among my favorites. Attention? I'm just stating my thoughts. Sorry they don't align to yours.

I was joking! Everything's great.

[liebzz]

I still need to hear it a second time, but my initial thoughts beyond it sounded cool was that the Rees a lot to like. The guitars have a great groove and the effect is one I like when they employ it (You Are is probably the most classic example of this and there are more I am sure, it if I am making that comparison it is a big compliment). The drums are fine but they do have the same sort of natural over a machine vibe that DotC had. Not a complaint if it’s an outlier on the album. It does also capture a bit of the Quick Escape aggression. All those things are the positives and even if I prefer those songs to this, if I am placing that comparison then that’s a good thing.

I did think that Ed was the weakest spot here, but he is not up front in the mix so any complaint is very minor. He sounds okay, but the power you typically find in his voice is muted and he doesn’t screech but I am not sure he gets where he needs to go comfortably and that is not an age comparison thing because he did do that on Gigaton.

This is a good start, but if my name was Andrew Watt I would have been looking to double the solo and finish the back end of the instrumental end. When the band is playing with these really cool dynamics, it’s just better to have them play it out than just have the thing end. For me, perhaps if I had the greatest bit of frustration with this band, it is that they almost don’t know how good they are anymore. Vitalogy and No Code were full of moments where the band gave itself space to play. Even the self-titled and Gigaton had moments where the band went on their own expedition without Ed and it was some of the best stuff on those albums. The band drives this thing. Ed’s a legendary singer, but they are good enough that he doesn’t have to carry the load. Let the band do it!

So I give it 4 stars. All the pieces are mostly working quite well on this, but one more minute with the band just hammering on this without vocals would have pushed this to a 5.

[pnjguy]

It's a good, catchy single, Ed is not breathing on me, and he didn't try to fit in 9,000 words in a sentence. This is a win at this point in all of our lives.

I've been asking them to move Ed back in the mix for 20 years. Hope the single isn't an outlier.

[warehouse]

It's a good, catchy single, Ed is not breathing on me, and he didn't try to fit in 9,000 words in a sentence. This is a win at this point in all of our lives.

I've been asking them to move Ed back in the mix for 20 years. Hope the single isn't an outlier.

holy shit that is funny

[oneway23]

I'm open to all opinions and interpretations...I welcome it all.

That said, for those who aren't impressed...I'm not sure what anyone expects at this point.

A time machine?
A copy of my Maxell cassette of Atlanta '94 that I taped from my ghetto blaster?

Do we prefer they retire? Help me out here. I genuinely want to understand what you want to hear.

[RAG319]

Honestly, I'm not that enthusiastic about it. Better lead single than DotC for sure. From the snippets, I had hoped it went actually somewhere. It's a little same-y for my taste. Eddie's vox are the low point for sure. The solo is cool, tho. For this whole "return to form" talk, PJ never really sounded like this before. So, it's a little weird to me. If this was some other band and not PJ, I might laugh at it. Ah, well. Still interested in the album as a whole.

you think this is better than DOTC but you don't like it

what were you wanting?

(whispers) "Attention"

quite

I was not a fan of DOTC, that is correct. Oddly though, I liked a lot of Gigaton. But that song was not among my favorites. Attention? I'm just stating my thoughts. Sorry they don't align to yours.

I will also add, when I talk about it being a better single than DOTC, I'm not even talking about the quality of the song. I'm talking about a lead single that will get people excited. I know a lot of non-PJ hardcores that thought DOTC was a little whack. It also didn't really represent Gigaton as a whole. If they're really publicizing this one as their "dark & heavy" record, then this was a really smart first single.

[washing machine]

Honestly can't decide the more impactful delivery -- this album cut or the plaintive, whispery acoustic rarity "light matter" that's floating out there, somewhere.

[Hatfield]

i don't understand why ed can't or doesn't care to enunciate any better than this

You sound like my dad circa 1993

This song is fantastic and I am so relieved with the production. I REALLY enjoyed what Watt got out of Eddie for Earthlings, but didn't love the way it sounded.

He gets what makes Pearl Jam work. After hearing Dark Matter, I am MORE excited about what the rest of this album will deliver!

[Val]

I will also add, when I talk about it being a better single than DOTC, I'm not even talking about the quality of the song. I'm talking about a lead single that will get people excited. I know a lot of non-PJ hardcores that thought DOTC was a little whack. It also didn't really represent Gigaton as a whole. If they're really publicizing this one as their "dark & heavy" record, then this was a really smart first single.

I want an album full of DOTC's siblings.