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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Chris_H_2
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Re: Dark Matter (song)

Post by Chris_H_2 »

it's really strange to me that for a band that is so steeped in tradition and wedded to authenticity in the way that their forbearers made music (even being one of the first bands I can remember coming out of the CD age that romanticized and promoted the vinyl era), they elected for so much polish and sheen in their production that it sounds too manufactured and the antithesis to how their heroes' music sounded.
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Strat
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Re: Dark Matter (song)

Post by Strat »

I listened to Gigaton the other day and kind of thought the band sounds stiff throughout each of their performances.

I love the album as a whole but I think even the uptempo sounds feel rather stiff.

What I like about DM, production aside, Is the band sounds as if they are playing odd eachother. Loose.
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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 7:53 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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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 7:52 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Leatherhead
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Re: Dark Matter (song)

Post by Leatherhead »

tragabigzanda wrote:Ok who are the Porch castoffs that showed up to rank this at five stars? Reveal yourselves
I ranked it 5 stars because I fuckin wanted to.
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stip
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Re: Dark Matter (song)

Post by stip »

I think I would need to hear a version with better production to fully understand/appreciate the impact compression may have had, but I do wish, in the version we have, that Jeff was more prominent in the mix. He's hard to hear, but when I do hear him I love what's going on
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Re: Dark Matter (song)

Post by Rangi Guy »

tragabigzanda wrote:Ok who are the Porch castoffs that showed up to rank this at five stars? Reveal yourselves
I gave it a 2 to balance things out some
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Re: Dark Matter (song)

Post by 96583UP »

Chris_H_2 wrote:it's really strange to me that for a band that is so steeped in tradition and wedded to authenticity in the way that their forbearers made music (even being one of the first bands I can remember coming out of the CD age that romanticized and promoted the vinyl era), they elected for so much polish and sheen in their production that it sounds too manufactured and the antithesis to how their heroes' music sounded.
this is why I love Vs.

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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 7:52 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Leatherhead
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Re: Dark Matter (song)

Post by Leatherhead »

I listened to this in the car on the way home from Target. Small Town came on afterwards and I was kinda annoyed by Eddie's vocals in that song, but I've never been a big fan of Small Town anyway.
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Jaeti
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Re: Dark Matter (song)

Post by Jaeti »

This song could've used a little jammy section between the second chorus and the bridge. A little hasty for my tasty.
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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 7:52 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Monkey_Driven
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Re: Dark Matter (song)

Post by Monkey_Driven »

I have a feeling this song is going to be excellent live.
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Re: Dark Matter (song)

Post by Fattie_Vedder »

“The performance captures the experience of living in a world not designed for living well. This is not presented as a revelation. It plays instead like a confirmation of known grievances that must nevertheless be named. The central ‘dark matter’ image makes sense in this context – the hidden substance that makes up our world is injustice. The source of our profound alienation from each other. Oppositional and totalizing, but only so long as it remains invisible.

Dark Matter is not a youthful song. It’s not trying to recapture that energy. That’s why it’s successful. As we get older we learn that context and compromise define what it means to live in the world. Gray mutes the bright, sharp colors we saw with younger eyes, and life inevitably forces us into choices that are no choice at all. This is both true and terrible, and to pretend the world is otherwise would be dishonest. It’s why mid and late life attempts to capture the energy and worldview of our younger selves so often rings inauthentic and insincere.

Instead, Dark Matter redefines what it means to age, and understands that, fire is not the sole possession of youth. We never stop needing light, heat, and potential. We just burn a different fuel to get it. Dark Matter owns what we’ve learned, and refuses to surrender to the dark, not in spite of the gray but because of it”

God damn Stip that’s beautiful.
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LetMeSleep
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Re: Dark Matter (song)

Post by LetMeSleep »

It's been said before but it continues to strike with me that this song doesn't feel like it was fully written before the guys jammed it out for the first time. That excites me.

also the performance feels fresh like it wasn't slaved over.
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RockPusher
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Re: Dark Matter (song)

Post by RockPusher »

tragabigzanda wrote:Ok who are the Porch castoffs that showed up to rank this at five stars? Reveal yourselves
That's a shit thing to say, man. I gave it a 5 because I fucking love it.
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E.H. Ruddock
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Re: Dark Matter (song)

Post by E.H. Ruddock »

RockPusher wrote:
tragabigzanda wrote:Ok who are the Porch castoffs that showed up to rank this at five stars? Reveal yourselves
That's a shit thing to say, man. I gave it a 5 because I fucking love it.
What he wants to know is, do you love it because it’s good or because it’s Pearl Jam?
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stip
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Re: Dark Matter (song)

Post by stip »

Fattie_Vedder wrote:“The performance captures the experience of living in a world not designed for living well. This is not presented as a revelation. It plays instead like a confirmation of known grievances that must nevertheless be named. The central ‘dark matter’ image makes sense in this context – the hidden substance that makes up our world is injustice. The source of our profound alienation from each other. Oppositional and totalizing, but only so long as it remains invisible.

Dark Matter is not a youthful song. It’s not trying to recapture that energy. That’s why it’s successful. As we get older we learn that context and compromise define what it means to live in the world. Gray mutes the bright, sharp colors we saw with younger eyes, and life inevitably forces us into choices that are no choice at all. This is both true and terrible, and to pretend the world is otherwise would be dishonest. It’s why mid and late life attempts to capture the energy and worldview of our younger selves so often rings inauthentic and insincere.

Instead, Dark Matter redefines what it means to age, and understands that, fire is not the sole possession of youth. We never stop needing light, heat, and potential. We just burn a different fuel to get it. Dark Matter owns what we’ve learned, and refuses to surrender to the dark, not in spite of the gray but because of it”

God damn Stip that’s beautiful.
thank you :)
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E.H. Ruddock
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Re: Dark Matter (song)

Post by E.H. Ruddock »

I’d give it a 3.5 so i rounded up to 4 on the poll. But 5 is reserved for top tier PJ songs that marinate and take time to get there. In my personal record book i probably only have 10-15 five star songs
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RockPusher
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Re: Dark Matter (song)

Post by RockPusher »

E.H. Ruddock wrote:
RockPusher wrote:
tragabigzanda wrote:Ok who are the Porch castoffs that showed up to rank this at five stars? Reveal yourselves
That's a shit thing to say, man. I gave it a 5 because I fucking love it.
What he wants to know is, do you love it because it’s good or because it’s Pearl Jam?
What the fuck do you think you condescending punk? Because it's good. Sorry if that doesn't fit some idiot's narrative. This is why people around here get all pissy at certain posters. Damn.
Last edited by RockPusher on Wed February 14, 2024 3:38 am, edited 2 times in total.
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