Dark Matter (song)

[Walker Bait]

Fuck all this noise.

This is ten era pj. It’s Alone. It’s dirty Frank. it’s deep. It’s even flow. But grown up.

the closest pj have gotten to that energy in a while. I know they’re not trying to but closest to themselves at that point.

Absolutely, I was saying that yesterday. To me it's got that urgency and rage from like the Ten & VS era, but more mature. There's this desperation and aggression in Ed's voice and Mike's solos that has been missing for a VERY long time. There's a sincerity in the aggression that hits deep for me.

[Walker Bait]

I love the way Ed sings "it's... strange... these days... well", some of that old nasality in his voice is back, and the way "well" comes down to a lower note again and is pushed just in front of the next snare note instead of falling with it; it's those little subtleties that I love about Pearl Jam and that kind of syncopated funky singing really does remind me of a song like "Go"

I love the way he delivers that part too. And also the line, "No one knows what's happening next!". It's aggressive but not in a forced way, it's organic, it's sincere. There's almost a sense of panic behind it, and I identify with that. It's relatable and relevant.

[guitar_davey]

I love the way Ed sings "it's... strange... these days... well", some of that old nasality in his voice is back, and the way "well" comes down to a lower note again and is pushed just in front of the next snare note instead of falling with it; it's those little subtleties that I love about Pearl Jam and that kind of syncopated funky singing really does remind me of a song like "Go"

I love the way he delivers that part too. And also the line, "No one knows what's happening next!". It's aggressive but not in a forced way, it's organic, it's sincere. There's almost a sense of panic behind it, and I identify with that. It's relatable and relevant.

Similarly, I love the low key menace in his low register when he sings "No sorrow for the unaccountable"

[Jaeti]

This song is pretty good, but I can't stop wanting the Ed vocal intro that someone tacked on at the beginning here to be the official album version. It welcomes me into the song in a way the more generic rawk start does not.

[mikejasond]

S/T was the last album where I really felt like the live versions were transformative in any meaningful way.

I also struggled to find bootlegs that sounded good after 2006 but that might be just me

I think 2010 was about my limit for bootlegs. For better or worse many songs require Ed to do things he can no longer do. Doesn’t affect the live experience all that much but it’s very noticeable on bootlegs.

2006 was honestly a peak in bootlegs, they sounded great that year, Eddie was at one of his best years vocally, clean but powerful, they were playing great together, the songs had amazing energy, and the S/T songs really really popped live.

Anything after 2006 is never quite as good to me. They've had some decent times (I feel like 2014 or so was pretty good?) but never the same after 06.

[stip]

its a different energy but the two times i saw them in 22 and 23 were both excellent shows with everyone in fine form. almost twenty years older than 06 but still really good and adapting to the age and time

[mikejasond]

Wife Raz agrees with me and thinks the band sounds great. And sadly, Ed should retire. Just imagine say, Jack White in his place here. Could be quite great. I won't start saying "fire".

Eddie Vedder IS Pearl Jam. Like, they are not the legendary band they are today without him. Is he at his peak as a vocalist? No. The younger Eddie's voice gives me chills and is maybe the greatest rock voice I've ever heard. He's not omg amazing anymore like he was once. And sometimes its frustrating to me too because I so want to hear that old voice. But you know, today, you stack Eddie against other singers as if you were hearing him for the first time and he's still really good. And Pearl Jam won't have Eddie retire because they know 90% of their appeal goes away when that happens. They are a good band but it's Eddie that makes them truly special, that has ALWAYS been the case.

[guitar_davey]

Wife Raz agrees with me and thinks the band sounds great. And sadly, Ed should retire. Just imagine say, Jack White in his place here. Could be quite great. I won't start saying "fire".

Eddie Vedder IS Pearl Jam. Like, they are not the legendary band they are today without him. Is he at his peak as a vocalist? No. The younger Eddie's voice gives me chills and is maybe the greatest rock voice I've ever heard. He's not omg amazing anymore like he was once. And sometimes its frustrating to me too because I so want to hear that old voice. But you know, today, you stack Eddie against other singers as if you were hearing him for the first time and he's still really good. And Pearl Jam won't have Eddie retire because they know 90% of their appeal goes away when that happens. They are a good band but it's Eddie that makes them truly special, that has ALWAYS been the case.

MJD talking all the sense on this page. Master class in how to critique the boys' age (and even the decline) without being a dick about it.

[Ms Harmless]

this song fucks

it does

[Walker Bait]

This song is pretty good, but I can't stop wanting the Ed vocal intro that someone tacked on at the beginning here to be the official album version. It welcomes me into the song in a way the more generic rawk start does not.

Where did that vocal part come from? I heard the tacked on one you're talking about, but I don't know what it's from. Maybe it's at the end of Wreckage and will be at the beginning of Dark Matter?

[Jaeti]

Wife Raz agrees with me and thinks the band sounds great. And sadly, Ed should retire. Just imagine say, Jack White in his place here. Could be quite great. I won't start saying "fire".

Eddie Vedder IS Pearl Jam. Like, they are not the legendary band they are today without him. Is he at his peak as a vocalist? No. The younger Eddie's voice gives me chills and is maybe the greatest rock voice I've ever heard. He's not omg amazing anymore like he was once. And sometimes its frustrating to me too because I so want to hear that old voice. But you know, today, you stack Eddie against other singers as if you were hearing him for the first time and he's still really good. And Pearl Jam won't have Eddie retire because they know 90% of their appeal goes away when that happens. They are a good band but it's Eddie that makes them truly special, that has ALWAYS been the case.

Yep.

[Jaeti]

This song is pretty good, but I can't stop wanting the Ed vocal intro that someone tacked on at the beginning here to be the official album version. It welcomes me into the song in a way the more generic rawk start does not.

Where did that vocal part come from? I heard the tacked on one you're talking about, but I don't know what it's from. Maybe it's at the end of Wreckage and will be at the beginning of Dark Matter?

I think it's from a "B-side" on the digital download? Just an instrumental version of Dark Matter, but with...extras? I'm not sure, since I haven't bought it.

[B]

Wife Raz agrees with me and thinks the band sounds great. And sadly, Ed should retire. Just imagine say, Jack White in his place here. Could be quite great. I won't start saying "fire".

Eddie Vedder IS Pearl Jam. Like, they are not the legendary band they are today without him. Is he at his peak as a vocalist? No. The younger Eddie's voice gives me chills and is maybe the greatest rock voice I've ever heard. He's not omg amazing anymore like he was once. And sometimes its frustrating to me too because I so want to hear that old voice. But you know, today, you stack Eddie against other singers as if you were hearing him for the first time and he's still really good. And Pearl Jam won't have Eddie retire because they know 90% of their appeal goes away when that happens. They are a good band but it's Eddie that makes them truly special, that has ALWAYS been the case.

Yep.

I think that sells short how much the band elevates Ed. Listen to Ukulele Songs and Earthlings. Neither of those albums hold up to even my least favorite Pearl Jam album. It's fair to say that Pearl Jam wouldn't exist without Ed, but I'm not sure Ed exists without Pearl Jam.

[warehouse]

Wife Raz agrees with me and thinks the band sounds great. And sadly, Ed should retire. Just imagine say, Jack White in his place here. Could be quite great. I won't start saying "fire".

Eddie Vedder IS Pearl Jam. Like, they are not the legendary band they are today without him. Is he at his peak as a vocalist? No. The younger Eddie's voice gives me chills and is maybe the greatest rock voice I've ever heard. He's not omg amazing anymore like he was once. And sometimes its frustrating to me too because I so want to hear that old voice. But you know, today, you stack Eddie against other singers as if you were hearing him for the first time and he's still really good. And Pearl Jam won't have Eddie retire because they know 90% of their appeal goes away when that happens. They are a good band but it's Eddie that makes them truly special, that has ALWAYS been the case.

Yep.

I think that sells short how much the band elevates Ed. Listen to Ukulele Songs and Earthlings. Neither of those albums hold up to even my least favorite Pearl Jam album. It's fair to say that Pearl Jam wouldn't exist without Ed, but I'm not sure Ed exists without Pearl Jam.

Listen to Unplugged or Atlanta 94, Eddie Vedder was one of the best rock singers ever. I'm sure he wouldn't have been on the cover of Time w/o Pearl Jam, but a voice that like is going to find a band.

[Walker Bait]

Wife Raz agrees with me and thinks the band sounds great. And sadly, Ed should retire. Just imagine say, Jack White in his place here. Could be quite great. I won't start saying "fire".

Eddie Vedder IS Pearl Jam. Like, they are not the legendary band they are today without him. Is he at his peak as a vocalist? No. The younger Eddie's voice gives me chills and is maybe the greatest rock voice I've ever heard. He's not omg amazing anymore like he was once. And sometimes its frustrating to me too because I so want to hear that old voice. But you know, today, you stack Eddie against other singers as if you were hearing him for the first time and he's still really good. And Pearl Jam won't have Eddie retire because they know 90% of their appeal goes away when that happens. They are a good band but it's Eddie that makes them truly special, that has ALWAYS been the case.

Yep.

I think that sells short how much the band elevates Ed. Listen to Ukulele Songs and Earthlings. Neither of those albums hold up to even my least favorite Pearl Jam album. It's fair to say that Pearl Jam wouldn't exist without Ed, but I'm not sure Ed exists without Pearl Jam.

I totally agree. I think the combination of Ed, Mike, Stone and Jeff are what make Pearl Jam, Pearl Jam. Remove any of those 4 from the equation, and none of this happens. It was just that perfect recipe. Sure I love Into The Wild. But Ed's other two?... They're good but not amazing. And while I like some of the other members side projects, they aren't anything I couldn't live without.

[tree_]

Yes, they were legendarily great. And the band still sounds pretty great. But Ed sounds laughably bad now, in mine and my wife's opinions, with all due respect to yours.

[warehouse]

its sounds like you and your wife have terrible taste, with all due respect lol

[guitar_davey]

Yes, they were legendarily great. And the band still sounds pretty great. But Ed sounds laughably bad now, in mine and my wife's opinions, with all due respect to yours.

To me, "laughably bad" is Vince Neil or Axl Rose. Eddie can still sing the hell out of plenty of PJ's catalogue.

[96583UP]

gonna put this at like a 3.47 today

song's a little dry

just sayin'

i like the tempo though

[guitar_davey]

gonna put this at like a 3.47 today

song's a little dry

just sayin'

i like the tempo though

We're into that second decimal place huh?