Dark Matter: Official Album Thread

[Aunt_Claire_Foy]

Remind me, what clip from the metal door video is Wreckage?

Pretty sure the second one, he literally sings "Combing through the wreckage". Can't miss it.

[Birds in Hell]

I think Ed's writing is one thing, but I think they'd benefit if he just didn't play guitar on some of the songs he brought in. Sometimes he brings in a song where all three guitars are utilized well (Insignificance, Grievance, I'd argue WWS), but on others he just takes up so much sonic space doing something that isn't as interesting. Unthought Known is a good example; if Ed wasn't just playing big, messy open chords as much as he could throughout the whole song, there might be some room for some cool sonics from the guitars. As it is, Stone or Mike may feel like they can't add much without it turning into mush. I do get if Ed wrote it, he wants to play on it, but it might open things up a bit more.

I completely agree with this; it anchors the song to a sort of lowest-common-denominator baseline that precludes other members from being able to build the composition around more interesting things. The idea of "Unthought Known" with Eddie's guitar removed, replaced with empty space for Mike, Stone, and Jeff to create some musical variation that doesn't exist in the vocal melody, is instantly more exciting to me in thought than what the song is now.

I'm not in love with Ed's guitar tone either; songs that feature it as the main attraction always feel sonically a bit thinner to me than songs where the primary rhythm is played by Mike or Stone.

I can't speak to the studio recordings but they did this surprisingly often with Ed's Gigaton material when played live, which feels like a new thing.

He doesn't play guitar at all on Who Ever Said or Superblood Wolfmooon:




And while he has a guitar strapped on for Never Destination, he only really plays it during the middle section and adds some E-Bow during the intro. Stone is holding down the primary rhythm during the song:

[Ms Harmless]

Remind me, what clip from the metal door video is Wreckage?

second one I believe

[E.H. Ruddock]

Man, Never Destination just works for me live. I love the energy. I hope they keep it in a rotation for the next tour.

[Ms Harmless]

I think Ed's writing is one thing, but I think they'd benefit if he just didn't play guitar on some of the songs he brought in. Sometimes he brings in a song where all three guitars are utilized well (Insignificance, Grievance, I'd argue WWS), but on others he just takes up so much sonic space doing something that isn't as interesting. Unthought Known is a good example; if Ed wasn't just playing big, messy open chords as much as he could throughout the whole song, there might be some room for some cool sonics from the guitars. As it is, Stone or Mike may feel like they can't add much without it turning into mush. I do get if Ed wrote it, he wants to play on it, but it might open things up a bit more.

I completely agree with this; it anchors the song to a sort of lowest-common-denominator baseline that precludes other members from being able to build the composition around more interesting things. The idea of "Unthought Known" with Eddie's guitar removed, replaced with empty space for Mike, Stone, and Jeff to create some musical variation that doesn't exist in the vocal melody, is instantly more exciting to me in thought than what the song is now.

I'm not in love with Ed's guitar tone either; songs that feature it as the main attraction always feel sonically a bit thinner to me than songs where the primary rhythm is played by Mike or Stone.

I can't speak to the studio recordings but they did this surprisingly often with Ed's Gigaton material when played live, which feels like a new thing.

He doesn't play guitar at all on Who Ever Said or Superblood Wolfmooon:




And while he has a guitar strapped on for Never Destination, he only really plays it during the middle section and adds some E-Bow during the intro. Stone is holding down the primary rhythm during the song:

I enjoyed these performances, flubbed lyrics and all

[guitar_davey]

Man, Never Destination just works for me live. I love the energy. I hope they keep it in a rotation for the next tour.

[guitar_davey]

I enjoyed these performances, flubbed lyrics and all

Modern Pearl Jam gets way too much flak for their live performances. They're still an outstanding band.

[Jorge]

I don't know what it is, but "drowning in their dissertations" (pronounced "dessirtations") is such an Ed line

[VinylGuy]

they are amazing live. Their show from 2022 was fucking tight

[Ms Harmless]

I enjoyed these performances, flubbed lyrics and all

Modern Pearl Jam gets way too much flak for their live performances. They're still an outstanding band.

when it sounds like they've been rehearsing, they are; there was a period during the Backspacer / Lightning Bolt era when it really sounded to me like they were flying by the seat of their pants; I have to think it was because they had young families and didn't have time, but I don't wanna see PJ live unless they're super tight

[Monkey_Driven]

I enjoyed these performances, flubbed lyrics and all

Modern Pearl Jam gets way too much flak for their live performances. They're still an outstanding band.

when it sounds like they've been rehearsing, they are; there was a period during the Backspacer / Lightning Bolt era when it really sounded to me like they were flying by the seat of their pants; I have to think it was because they had young families and didn't have time, but I don't wanna see PJ live unless they're super tight

Yeah, I thought there was a bit of slippage on the 2010 and 2014 tours when I saw the band. They were super tight in 2022, however. I think the shorter sets helped.

[Ms Harmless]

they are amazing live. Their show from 2022 was fucking tight

it seems the Gigaton era put back a desire to sound tight, and I welcome it

[Ms Harmless]

I enjoyed these performances, flubbed lyrics and all

Modern Pearl Jam gets way too much flak for their live performances. They're still an outstanding band.

when it sounds like they've been rehearsing, they are; there was a period during the Backspacer / Lightning Bolt era when it really sounded to me like they were flying by the seat of their pants; I have to think it was because they had young families and didn't have time, but I don't wanna see PJ live unless they're super tight

Yeah, I thought there was a bit of slippage on the 2010 and 2014 tours when I saw the band. They were super tight in 2022, however. I think the shorter sets helped.

for sure

[Birds in Hell]

I recently listened to a bunch of 2021-2023 shows and I can tell you there's still plenty of slippage.

They haven't been a reliably tight live band since 2006. They've never been quite the same after.

Like a lot of things with these guys, when they get everything right, it almost feels like it happened by accident. The potential is always there but not often realised.

[VinylGuy]

they are amazing live. Their show from 2022 was fucking tight

it seems the Gigaton era put back a desire to sound tight, and I welcome it

yeah, and also the guitar tones live was great again.

[liebzz]

Overall live, I would say they were largely untouchable 1991-2006, 2008-2009 they were real good but had moments where they got a bit sloppy. I know a lot of folks complain about 2010, but given the only shows I saw that year were at MSG, those two were really incredible shows, the last of which is my favorite of all the shows I have seen. 2013 was enjoyable, but despite the longer sets it didn’t feel quite the same. 2016 I thought they were pretty damn good. I didn’t see them again until 2021 and 2022 but they were great both times.

I don’t listen to every show on bootleg, but from the sampling: Rome 2018, Seattle 1&2 2018, Wrigley 1&2 2016, Philly 2 2016, Moline 2014, that Toronto show where they played Binaural, the 2014 show where they played Yield, whatever show they did Vs., and maybe a smattering of others, they have their moments but I think they’ve mostly had a good run 2014-2022 (and presumably 2023). It’s really just that stretch from ‘08-‘13 where some of the shows seem like an excessive number of mistakes.

[Ms Harmless]

having that new album to listen to front to back sounds pretty good right now

[Monkey_Driven]

Any RMer going to the listening party at the end of the month? I feel like that will being the next wave of buzz.

[scrub12]

Any RMer going to the listening party at the end of the month? I feel like that will being the next wave of buzz.

There's almost certainly going to be another single...right? They did for Gigaton, and I can't imagine them just riding one single for two months.

[Monkey_Driven]

Any RMer going to the listening party at the end of the month? I feel like that will being the next wave of buzz.

There's almost certainly going to be another single...right? They did for Gigaton, and I can't imagine them just riding one single for two months.

I'm guessing it will be released right before or just after the listening party.