Dark Matter: Official Album Thread

[Fattie_Vedder]

Had a feeling this would be my least favorite and it sounds like it will be.

Anyways, caved and bought tickets to that Theatre experience. I don’t know how many more albums this band has in them so just going to enjoy the ride while it lasts.

I appreciate the attitude. Going in with the same.

[stip]

Listening again, Peal Jam really targeting the quinceañera and bar mitzvah set with this one

Yeah, this is their entry into the great pantheon of graduation photo montage songs, alongside “Forever Young” and “I Hope You Dance.” Songs like this are extremely easy while at the same time impossible to criticize — the father, the human, and the sentimental fool in me all hope that this song speaks life and truth into the hearts of Ed’s daughters, and if it does that then I won’t pretend that a fan’s views on artistic integrity should influence its right to exist. But personally I have no use for it, think some of the lyrics feel clunky and self-congratulatory, and am right there with whoever said that having kids of your own not only doesn’t endear me to this but might actually make it feel more patronizing. And man alive, does it ever sound bad.

This is where I am right now. Well, mostly. I only listened once on crappy phone speakers (no headphones) and there was nothing super exciting in what I heard that makes me desperate to redigest a twenty second clip. But I'm going to withhold judgement until I get the full song.

Thus far Dark Matter was MUCH better for me than the initial clip (4 star song)
Running was probably not as good as the initial clip (3 or 3.5 depending on how it slots into the album. Fun for what it is but a definite ceiling)

I LIKE schmaltzy ed, for the most part. I think the Haves is a weak song and the low point on Earthlings (it's a shuffle skip but I can just let it wash past me on an album listen). But I love Future Days. I love Sirens. I love Last Kiss. I like Just Breath. I love Parachutes and The Fixer which are somewhere on this continuum.

Having said that, those songs all have either moments of darkness to juxtapose against their happiness, or speak to a history of struggle that justifies celebrating the peace and comfort of now. And it's not clear that this song will. And maybe it won't need it - it could coast by on melody, good will, charm, etc. But I don't think any of the reviewers have highlighted this as a standout.

On the other hand, many of the reviewers were pearl jam die hards, and I don't know that they/we are necessarily the target audience for a song like this. This seems either sentimental dads or, more likely, women who want to fantasize about being married to sentimental dads.

I'm sure the single choices were made long before early reviews, but it remains kind of surprising that none of the initial singles were flagged as highlights in the reviews we've gotten.

[liebzz]

Ed’s not the weak link. It’s just that he insists unfortunately on taking ideas he’s had on solo albums and then shoe-horning them into Pearl Jam for a song or two on the subsequent album. Everything was fine on Gigaton when there was no preceding solo album.

while i agree, he did this in a very prominent way on LB so we are kinda tired by now. Keep those songs for yourself goddam

I wont include Just Breathe on this because at the time it felt something kinda new, but jesus this thing seems pretty awful.

Well, I would include Just Breathe, even if I am ultimately fine with the song. I agree 100% that Ed should keep these songs to himself, in large part because they are nearly always outliers on these albums and typically are among the weakest songs on the respective albums. I will reserve judgment until I actually hear the full song, but it stands to reason for me, based on all we’ve read, that will not need that kind of break barreling through this album. Wreckage sounds like it provides a respite from relentless hard rock, and a few others have a more anthemic sound from the words stated on page, so there’s no need for utter schmaltz. Those things usually stick out as the bitter aftertastes of otherwise decent albums (Future Days, The Haves are recent examples). Conversely, Comes Then Goes and Buckle Up are both example of softer or quirkier songs that work in the context of Gigaton. I hope the full song leans the latter, but you are all making it pretty clear it’s definitely the former.

[RockPusher]

Calling one of the greatest singers and front men in rock and roll history the weak link for two thirds of the bands existence is a hilarious take.

[tragabigzanda]

pearl jam sucks now

[VinylGuy]

I like that the band give us the full palette on the three singles

- First one: oh cool! i like this! oh there is a hint of You Are!! oh damn the single

-Second one: well, yeah not a fan of these, but that bridge is great! the ending mm yes.

-Third one: fuck you

Serious Lightning Bolt vibes with this approach too.

i loved both Mym and Sirens...which was the third single? so, no its not closer to me

[tragabigzanda]

pearl jam sucks now

[chadisme417]

Do you think Ed watched Moneyball and was so moved by Brad’s performance that he thought to himself what if i freaky fridayed the situation?

This is a nice melody that could have sounded great if it weren’t for bad production and the fact that it’s pseudo stolen. And the lovely sentiment is marred by the fact that it seems taken from an original song in a movie. Can we agree that Ed is the weak link of this band now and shouldn’t be the leader anymore? What is happening right now? Am I overreacting?

Could not possibly agree more. Ed has been the weak link for decades. He's also been the one holding the band way, way, way back.

Decades seems a bit strong.

Then we disagree. I love the guy. But this band had much more potential if led by Stone or even Jeff.

Calling one of the greatest singers and front men in rock and roll history the weak link for two thirds of the bands existence is a hilarious take.

Definitely one of the greatest singers and front men in rock history. No denying that.

[stip]

Do you think Ed watched Moneyball and was so moved by Brad’s performance that he thought to himself what if i freaky fridayed the situation?

This is a nice melody that could have sounded great if it weren’t for bad production and the fact that it’s pseudo stolen. And the lovely sentiment is marred by the fact that it seems taken from an original song in a movie. Can we agree that Ed is the weak link of this band now and shouldn’t be the leader anymore? What is happening right now? Am I overreacting?

yes, that is an overreaction

Say more please. Is it the stolen part or the ed being a weak link part?

Both. Most melodies can find their origins in some other song at some point. Sometimes it's a coincidence. Maybe something was subconsciously sticky. But it feels reductive. At least wait for a full song within the album.

And the Ed stuff is just typically RM catastrophizing, especially because you don't seem to mind the sentiment or melody.. You heard a twenty second clip. On the most recent record Eddie was the driving force behind Who Ever Said, wrote Comes than Goes, and its his vocals that push Dance into the stratosphere.

[scrub12]

It’s fascinating that the reviews seem to hype up the songs that aren’t singles, but that could be by design.

I’m at the point in my life where if I get 5-6 songs I really enjoy, I’m happy. Dark Matter is one.

[VinylGuy]

I like that the band give us the full palette on the three singles

- First one: oh cool! i like this! oh there is a hint of You Are!! oh damn the single

-Second one: well, yeah not a fan of these, but that bridge is great! the ending mm yes.

-Third one: fuck you

Serious Lightning Bolt vibes with this approach too.

i loved both Mym and Sirens...which was the third single? so, no its not closer to me

I just mean in the sense that they seem to be signaling that they'll cover a variety of styles on this album, albeit without any subtlety. LB very much felt like genre-hopping, as did Earthlings.

I see. After the initial run and Yellow Moon all i remember is a very loud fart noise actually. And very poorly produced. Drums sucked hard on that one.

Ey guys im the Trag of LB!!

[lecherouslittlestump]

Their biggest hits of the past 15/20 years are the ballads, so it makes sense they toss one of them out as a single.

Sirens did way better than MYM. Just Breathe is their biggest selling single ever. Etc

[tragabigzanda]

pearl jam sucks now

[stip]

Ed’s not the weak link. It’s just that he insists unfortunately on taking ideas he’s had on solo albums and then shoe-horning them into Pearl Jam for a song or two on the subsequent album. Everything was fine on Gigaton when there was no preceding solo album.

while i agree, he did this in a very prominent way on LB so we are kinda tired by now. Keep those songs for yourself goddam

I wont include Just Breathe on this because at the time it felt something kinda new, but jesus this thing seems pretty awful.

Well, I would include Just Breathe, even if I am ultimately fine with the song. I agree 100% that Ed should keep these songs to himself, in large part because they are nearly always outliers on these albums and typically are among the weakest songs on the respective albums. I will reserve judgment until I actually hear the full song, but it stands to reason for me, based on all we’ve read, that will not need that kind of break barreling through this album. Wreckage sounds like it provides a respite from relentless hard rock, and a few others have a more anthemic sound from the words stated on page, so there’s no need for utter schmaltz. Those things usually stick out as the bitter aftertastes of otherwise decent albums (Future Days, The Haves are recent examples). Conversely, Comes Then Goes and Buckle Up are both example of softer or quirkier songs that work in the context of Gigaton. I hope the full song leans the latter, but you are all making it pretty clear it’s definitely the former.

Just Breathe, Sirens, and Future Days were the three most successful songs outside of the fandom on those two albums, in terms of reach. It is possible that we are just not the target audience for some of these songs. Which is okay

[digster]

Future Days was a successful song outside of the fanbase? I mean, I'm not even sure Sirens permeated that heavily.

[VinylGuy]

Future Days succesfull?

[Fattie_Vedder]

Calling one of the greatest singers and front men in rock and roll history the weak link for two thirds of the bands existence is a hilarious take.

No one can take away his accomplishments over his career and how amazing of a singer and even songwriter he was. But he’s not the same singer he used to be (understandably in part due to age, but also in part due to poor vocal and lyrical choices), and his creative direction and choices are often mediocre, or worse, they sometimes hold back the other band members.

I will always have love for the man for all that he’s done, and for his endearing earnest nature. But his creative choices and musical preferences don’t align with mine. Yes, that’s a personal preference and to each their own. He is still the face of this band and I can’t imagine Pearl Jam without him; there is no such thing. I want Eddie in the band doing what he does best, singing, and cede more creative control to others.

That may truly come true on this album. It seems there are plenty of stone and Jeff penned songs. If this is the only Ed ballad shoehorned in then I can live with that. It’s not that I don’t enjoy schmaltz, I have room for that. It’s just… why does this one feel wrong and forced?

[Huell]

I see a continuum from the young man who wrote Black to the 75 year old man singing this to his granddaughter. Oh wait Ed’s barely 60 and his heroes on their 70s and 80’s have more piss and vinegar in them than this tune. It’s fine, yawn. It’s more like Let The Records Play than people are giving it credit for.


Mental note: I hope they do eventually release a song called Grand Daughter and it becomes some sort of terrible medley at gigs in future

[Fattie_Vedder]

Do you think Ed watched Moneyball and was so moved by Brad’s performance that he thought to himself what if i freaky fridayed the situation?

This is a nice melody that could have sounded great if it weren’t for bad production and the fact that it’s pseudo stolen. And the lovely sentiment is marred by the fact that it seems taken from an original song in a movie. Can we agree that Ed is the weak link of this band now and shouldn’t be the leader anymore? What is happening right now? Am I overreacting?

yes, that is an overreaction

Say more please. Is it the stolen part or the ed being a weak link part?

Both. Most melodies can find their origins in some other song at some point. Sometimes it's a coincidence. Maybe something was subconsciously sticky. But it feels reductive. At least wait for a full song within the album.

And the Ed stuff is just typically RM catastrophizing, especially because you don't seem to mind the sentiment or melody.. You heard a twenty second clip. On the most recent record Eddie was the driving force behind Who Ever Said, wrote Comes than Goes, and its his vocals that push Dance into the stratosphere.

Fair enough. It is a bit pre-judgy without hearing the whole song particularly in the context of the album. I don’t mind the melody but that’s hardly a ringing endorsement. Although I did say it has potential to be a grower. To be clear, it’s not the melody or the schmaltz that’s problematic (I love me some GOOD schmaltz). It’s mostly the fact that it sounds like it was majorly lifted from another melody from a popular film that was unsettling and disappointing for me. Dialing down the reactionary responses now.

I won’t get into why and how I think Ed holds the band back (while simultaneously still bringing lots of great things). That thread has been treaded on many times…

[Bi_3]

Do you think Ed watched Moneyball and was so moved by Brad’s performance that he thought to himself what if i freaky fridayed the situation?

This is a nice melody that could have sounded great if it weren’t for bad production and the fact that it’s pseudo stolen. And the lovely sentiment is marred by the fact that it seems taken from an original song in a movie. Can we agree that Ed is the weak link of this band now and shouldn’t be the leader anymore? What is happening right now? Am I overreacting?

yes, that is an overreaction

Counterpoint: