Dark Matter: Official Album Thread

[RockPusher]

After a few listens through - Setting Sun is the one that's hitting the hardest for me right now.

It made my friend cry. It's so good.

[Rangi Guy]

At this point, let's just rent a room for Spenno and Trag. I'll pitch in a few bucks, any other takers?

IDGAF about someone else's opinion at this point in my life BUT Spenno and Trag seem predisposed to hate the album no matter what. That to me is, umm, inauthentic, which ironically is one of the things they seem to be railing against in the first place. But, whatever, counterpoints are fun or this would be an echo chamber and nobody wants that.

Yeah. I'm just glad the album is such that I love it. I'm happy AF.

After they released Dark Matter, Running and a few of those clips, I was like 'Yeah, it's pretty good all up I guess', but my excitement of having the album was pretty dull. After listening to these rips - poor quality and all - my excitement for this album is at an all time high

[Walker Bait]

Scared of Fear

I like the upbeat shiny feel from this song. It’s clearly rooted in grunge (thanks Stone) and has the nice propulsive quality you want from an opener. By the time Mike starts shredding you can tell that they are reaching back into their bag on this one, and that makes me smile. The back end is desperate and beautiful.

React, Respond

This rhythm section reminds me of Rage Against the Machine and Soundgarden. That little twinkly picking melody that comes in after a little bit is so cool. Once this really gets going it has so much Soundgarden DNA in it. Bass is meat on meat. Chorus is my favorite kind of fast PJ. More shredding. Mike is killing it on this record. You can really tell what they gain from being all in the same room together when creating this.

Wreckage

Very pretty and with its similarities to Daughter this album really starts reminding me of Vs at this point. The harmonies are perfect. This is Yellow Moon and Swallowed Whole style PJ done way better. They just sound so connected and instantly accessible in a way that they didn’t on Gigaton. So fun to sing along with the chorus. This is the first hint on this album that they are really gonna let songs stretch out and breathe.

Dark Matter

So electric and aggressive- I can see why this was a single. I’ve talked a lot about this one already but it still hits with me and is super fun to sing along with. That bass roll before the “arrested the press” part is so choice. And of course every time after the first time hearing this, I’m always just waiting for the Mike solo the way you wait for the roller coaster to head down at the top of the hill.

Won’t Tell

Very pop opening. Then gets kind of like Infallible but way better. Chorus is so epic I already love singing along. Mike is doing the soaring thing but without it being so on-the-nose as on Lightning Bolt. After the bridge the way it goes Cure/U2 is so wonderful and organic. This is fresh and powerful. I could listen to this outro all day.

Upper Hand

Absolutely an early favorite. What a beautiful mysterious cathedral opening. If they opened a concert with this it could be so magical! Give me these long, drawn out musical interludes, PJ! Mike’s lead is so classic in that Jimi-inspired vein. This feels like an entire Pearl Jam concert experience in one song, the way it builds and changes and gets more urgent as it goes. From Jimi to Gilmour and somehow it all makes sense. The raucous ending feels well-earned and I can almost hear the crowd singing along and see him holding the mic out. Speaking of Mike, get it, get it you fearless bastard! The speeding up at the end is so cathartic and I have to move my body to this every time!

Waiting for Stevie

How can you follow Upper Hand? With this monster of classic Pearl Jam grunge sound. This song makes me feel like a teenager again and the lyrics sound awesome I really need to know them so I can sing along. The band is in perfect sync on this one and making it all feel effortless. Sheer perfection, top tier Pearl Jam. This slots so nicely with I Got Id, In Hiding, Breath, etc. The bridge is just chef’s kiss into massive riff. I need this. This is the band I am in deep, deep love with. How they can summon this after over 30 years, where they’re all around 60, blows my mind. This song alone elevates this album, which was already doing just fine without it. There isn’t a second of this song I don’t adore. I have to whoop after a song like this. Or maybe smoke a cigarette.

Running

The musical interlude before it is so pretty. Somehow everything works about this, and its placement. We need a little less serious punker following all that intensive rock in the previous two numbers. Kind of a palate cleanser.

Something Special

With the palate cleansed, we got super shiny alt country pop. The intro really adds to the song and there’s just enough going on here that I’m enjoying the journey. Also, the bass is front and center and I like that. While it’s in the same universe, this feels miles ahead of a song like Sleeping By Myself. My friend likened the intro to Nirvana and the solo and other elements to Crowded House and I agree.

Got to Give

Another really nice intro. So nice that this album isn’t all drum intros. This is some super John Mellencamp stuff at first, but it quickly moves into The Who territory for me, which is one of my Pearl Jam sweet spots. A lot of that is due to Jeff’s wandering bass. A lot of building up in this one, with that outro’s jangly drive being one of those Pearl Jam moments that you never want to end- imagine it live!

Setting Sun

My friend Denise came with me to the listening party, and this was her favorite song, bringing her to tears. It really goes places, and it’s nice to hear a closer with more meat on the bone than River Cross or the several that preceded it. Full of atmosphere, this song is constantly promising you that it won’t let you down, and it never does. The ending reminds me a bit of Retrograde’s back half, but is so much more perfectly built up to. This song’s structure also reminds of the best Black Crowes songs. Lettin’ all the jangle out of the bag. Something to savor before the album is over (and I listen again, and again, lol).

Such a great review. Very well said, thank you!

[Walker Bait]

Haha, I have no idea what this baby shit is about, that's not the version I shared... that must've been the Lmd recording

Any chance I could give your version a listen? I've got the crying baby one.

[The Town]

Trag i love when you come in with criticism about various aspects of production, song writing, song selection, vocal ticks, business practices....
But to come in and shit on someone whos just enjoying a pseudo leak today.... just says more about you that you are just being a dick on the internet to be a dick. Which isnt who you are.....

its lame.

Love you.

Well it obviously is who I am since I’m doing it

Seriously though…We all bring our biases and preconceived notions. Most seem to start from a position of “it’s pearl jam so I’ll probably love it.” I think it’s limiting, and it also enables the commercial relationship the band has formed with their audience in which they can coast in six weeks a year…

Come to think of it, maybe they were trying to warn us with Army Reserve.

To your first point, isn’t that just fandom? Most of the time the new listener luster wears off and those biases and preconceived notion’s are challenged more. For many, these first impressions and experiences will be the high water mark, and that’s ok. Swinging for the opposite fence out of the gates is perfectly valid but I don’t see how it is less limiting, or even superior, as you seem to be projecting it to be.

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed this board today.The handwritten reports, shitty leaks and engaging conversation has enriched this release, regardless of how the music will eventually hold up. No one here should feel less than for enjoying it and being excited.

Nice post, and I appreciate your taking me seriously and not just calling me a troll or some such…

I agree no one should feel “less than.” But these guys only have a couple albums left probably, and (without actually hearing the leaks) I assume they will continue to squander the creative freedoms they built for themselves by the rinse-repeat approach that so many seem to be salivating for.

We already have a Foo Fighters.

I'm new around here but I've been around long enough to appreciate your technical critique of the recording process and how that translates into the sound of a studio album ... it's a topic that interests me greatly but which I know very little about. I assume that your technical expertise influences, or maybe even controls, how much enjoyment you're able to get out of these new songs. that's the burden you bear for your technical intelligence. but I don't understand the bolded, above. characterizing an album you haven't heard as the product of squandered creative freedoms, is bizarre to me. you're just imputing your feelings, which are undoubtedly and unavoidably tethered to the emotional connection you have to their earlier work from 30 years ago, when you, the band, the world, were entirely different, onto the band as a collective, and onto the individual band members. what's left is the fairly obvious conclusion, which I'm sure you recognize, that your opinion has literally nothing to do with anything, let alone the perspective from which the album was written/recording, etc. I guess what I'm trying to say is that the album could both be a triumphant album, for a lot of reasons, and also constitute squandered creative freedoms from your perspective. beyond this, making such a statement belies your other sentiment about people rushing to judgment regarding how good the album may be based on an iPhone recording ... which feels hypocritical. you're just doing the inverse, aren't you?

I’m not sure I’m going to ever feel comfortable with Wotman sitting in the room with the band, playing guitar and co-writing the songs; add one song written by Josh K and it really doesn’t feel like the cohesive, band-driven effort they’re pushing in interviews.

Wotman writing the main riff of Waiting for Stevie just feels like the band engaging in a form of Pearl Jam pastiche, it’s very weird.

It’s as though they don’t have a clear idea of their own band identity and are happy to outsource that part to someone else.

Even if the songs turned out great, it feels a little hollow.

I don't understand how I could possibly care about any of that. That feels so superficial. It's like when the preppy girl in high school tells you she's interested in listening to the Misfits and you cringe and dump her instead.

I don’t think it’s anything like that but I do appreciate that many won’t be bothered by the above (or can set aside any concerns providing the songs sound good enough).

I'm going to respond to these together since they touch on similar ideas for me...

What is authenticity in art? Is it less authentic for Pearl Jam to say "We want to spend most of our time with our families, so we make records fast, and use whatever technologies and personalities that allow us to do that"? No, of course not; probably it's the most authentic for them to just do that.

I worry about things like legacy, and the downstream effects of legacy acts normalizing certain behaviors. Rock music can be incredibly powerful, and it happens that the kind of rock music I've always gravitated towards has held a decidedly "band in a room / individual personalities" bent: Jimi Hendrix, Fugazi, Minutemen, Shellac, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, and on and on, bands that would immediately feel and sound different the moment you swap out one musician for another.

Like most of you, I've witnessed the introduction of various technologies (roughly in order) -- vocal harmonizers, drum triggers, samplers, ProTools drum quantization, instrument plug-ins, drum replacement software, Antares Auto-Tune, and now AI -- slowly chip away at the most human elements of recorded music. I've probably thought about these tools, and certainly used them, more than others here, but I don't actually this makes me uniquely qualified to hold Pearl Jam to a higher standard. Just use your ears.

Which gets to headsinspeakers suggestion that I am rushing to judgment to invalidate this album. I'd argue no, not really. We've heard a couple official releases, we can hear how the lack of dynamics obliterates certain aspects of the musicians' performances (because rock instruments are plectrum responsive, right? The harder they hit it, the louder it should sound); we've heard the drums that don't sound like any real drum I've ever heard in my life.

Someone posted about how there are some parts where Ed sounds like he's trying to hold notes longer than he can anymore, and I'm curious to hear how this comes across, if it sounds like he's running out of breath, or if it sound inhuman. For a great example of this, listen to Foo Fighters' Monkeywrench, during the "One last thing before I quit..." Crazy how he can pull that off without sounding like he's ever taking a breath, right?

The less human rock music becomes, the more toothless it sounds to me. And while I'm perfectly fine throwing on the latest Foo Fighters record and giving it a whirl because I hold no emotional connection to the band, it's a much taller ask for Pearl Jam, who has meant so much to me.

Monkey_Driven said at one point that he wished Pearl Jam just settled into the Wrecker song style as they aged, and I tend to agree. The moment this band starts sounding like a bunch of guys trying to act younger than their age, that's the moment they've ceased to mean anything of importance to me. They're just some dudes editing waveforms to maximize the listener's wow factor. Rarely have I been wowed by technology in rock music (there are some notable exceptions, like NIN or Radiohead). But perhaps the greatest value proposition this band ever had was the unique alchemy that came from getting their personalities to create music in the same room, and from everything I've heard and read so far, it sounds like they're increasingly willing to commodify certain formulas to maintain a commercial presence.

My prediction is that there will be 3-4 songs I'll admit are great compositions, yet I won't be able to enjoy them because the technical hallmarks -- and the underlying machinations of their commodification -- will be so readily apparent that I'll never get past them.

It would be like seeing a stunningly beautiful woman in a restaurant whom I knew had a bunch of work done. It would feel like a transaction of my knowledge to admit her beauty, and as I get older, I find myself increasingly attracted to the woman at the next table who has just let herself age gracefully, yet naturally.

I don't know if this makes any sense but it's the best I could come up with right now.

I appreciate your post here, Trag, and hope that you're not dissuaded from writing a review of the album once you get your hands on a real copy.
Always enjoy your real thoughts and insights

[evenslow]

On first listen, I will say it's the first PJ album that doesn't sound like or isn't in reaction to a previous album. it's a new thing. That's the best hosannahs I can give Mr. Watttt..

[scrub12]

Baby adds character. At one point I thought it was McCready during Waiting For Stevie.

[Ms Harmless]

Did Watt or Stone mention who wrote the riff for Stevie on interviews? Don't remember reading about it anywhere, curious to know where everyone's getting that fron

Stone said Watt had more to do with its creation than any song on the record, but he wasn't much more specific than that.

[Walker Bait]

If anyone call tell me where I can easily do a free upload of a 48 min sound file from an Android phone I'll put this up for anyone still needing it. My recording sounds decent at a high volume. A little talking but I think most would still like the quality.

If you go to wetransfer.com you can upload it and get a link for download and share that.

[Anders]

Scared of Fear

I like the upbeat shiny feel from this song. It’s clearly rooted in grunge (thanks Stone) and has the nice propulsive quality you want from an opener. By the time Mike starts shredding you can tell that they are reaching back into their bag on this one, and that makes me smile. The back end is desperate and beautiful.

React, Respond

This rhythm section reminds me of Rage Against the Machine and Soundgarden. That little twinkly picking melody that comes in after a little bit is so cool. Once this really gets going it has so much Soundgarden DNA in it. Bass is meat on meat. Chorus is my favorite kind of fast PJ. More shredding. Mike is killing it on this record. You can really tell what they gain from being all in the same room together when creating this.

Wreckage

Very pretty and with its similarities to Daughter this album really starts reminding me of Vs at this point. The harmonies are perfect. This is Yellow Moon and Swallowed Whole style PJ done way better. They just sound so connected and instantly accessible in a way that they didn’t on Gigaton. So fun to sing along with the chorus. This is the first hint on this album that they are really gonna let songs stretch out and breathe.

Dark Matter

So electric and aggressive- I can see why this was a single. I’ve talked a lot about this one already but it still hits with me and is super fun to sing along with. That bass roll before the “arrested the press” part is so choice. And of course every time after the first time hearing this, I’m always just waiting for the Mike solo the way you wait for the roller coaster to head down at the top of the hill.

Won’t Tell

Very pop opening. Then gets kind of like Infallible but way better. Chorus is so epic I already love singing along. Mike is doing the soaring thing but without it being so on-the-nose as on Lightning Bolt. After the bridge the way it goes Cure/U2 is so wonderful and organic. This is fresh and powerful. I could listen to this outro all day.

Upper Hand

Absolutely an early favorite. What a beautiful mysterious cathedral opening. If they opened a concert with this it could be so magical! Give me these long, drawn out musical interludes, PJ! Mike’s lead is so classic in that Jimi-inspired vein. This feels like an entire Pearl Jam concert experience in one song, the way it builds and changes and gets more urgent as it goes. From Jimi to Gilmour and somehow it all makes sense. The raucous ending feels well-earned and I can almost hear the crowd singing along and see him holding the mic out. Speaking of Mike, get it, get it you fearless bastard! The speeding up at the end is so cathartic and I have to move my body to this every time!

Waiting for Stevie

How can you follow Upper Hand? With this monster of classic Pearl Jam grunge sound. This song makes me feel like a teenager again and the lyrics sound awesome I really need to know them so I can sing along. The band is in perfect sync on this one and making it all feel effortless. Sheer perfection, top tier Pearl Jam. This slots so nicely with I Got Id, In Hiding, Breath, etc. The bridge is just chef’s kiss into massive riff. I need this. This is the band I am in deep, deep love with. How they can summon this after over 30 years, where they’re all around 60, blows my mind. This song alone elevates this album, which was already doing just fine without it. There isn’t a second of this song I don’t adore. I have to whoop after a song like this. Or maybe smoke a cigarette.

Running

The musical interlude before it is so pretty. Somehow everything works about this, and its placement. We need a little less serious punker following all that intensive rock in the previous two numbers. Kind of a palate cleanser.

Something Special

With the palate cleansed, we got super shiny alt country pop. The intro really adds to the song and there’s just enough going on here that I’m enjoying the journey. Also, the bass is front and center and I like that. While it’s in the same universe, this feels miles ahead of a song like Sleeping By Myself. My friend likened the intro to Nirvana and the solo and other elements to Crowded House and I agree.

Got to Give

Another really nice intro. So nice that this album isn’t all drum intros. This is some super John Mellencamp stuff at first, but it quickly moves into The Who territory for me, which is one of my Pearl Jam sweet spots. A lot of that is due to Jeff’s wandering bass. A lot of building up in this one, with that outro’s jangly drive being one of those Pearl Jam moments that you never want to end- imagine it live!

Setting Sun

My friend Denise came with me to the listening party, and this was her favorite song, bringing her to tears. It really goes places, and it’s nice to hear a closer with more meat on the bone than River Cross or the several that preceded it. Full of atmosphere, this song is constantly promising you that it won’t let you down, and it never does. The ending reminds me a bit of Retrograde’s back half, but is so much more perfectly built up to. This song’s structure also reminds of the best Black Crowes songs. Lettin’ all the jangle out of the bag. Something to savor before the album is over (and I listen again, and again, lol).

Such a great review. Very well said, thank you!

Yes, that was excellent. Really look forward to hearing the album.

[Ms Harmless]

11. Setting Sun - whoever said Christmas Time nailed it. Surprised Wott had the ability to do the production right on this one.

meeee!

[Homeboyd]

The interlude without the baby sucks lol. That kid just wants to know when the Taylor Swift album is gonna leak.

[RockPusher]

If anyone call tell me where I can easily do a free upload of a 48 min sound file from an Android phone I'll put this up for anyone still needing it. My recording sounds decent at a high volume. A little talking but I think most would still like the quality.

If you go to wetransfer.com you can upload it and get a link for download and share that.

Oh it's done: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-Zydks ... azX_-/view

[Ello Sailor]

There was a crying baby at one of these listening parties?

Amazing.

[Homeboyd]

Scared of Fear

I like the upbeat shiny feel from this song. It’s clearly rooted in grunge (thanks Stone) and has the nice propulsive quality you want from an opener. By the time Mike starts shredding you can tell that they are reaching back into their bag on this one, and that makes me smile. The back end is desperate and beautiful.

React, Respond

This rhythm section reminds me of Rage Against the Machine and Soundgarden. That little twinkly picking melody that comes in after a little bit is so cool. Once this really gets going it has so much Soundgarden DNA in it. Bass is meat on meat. Chorus is my favorite kind of fast PJ. More shredding. Mike is killing it on this record. You can really tell what they gain from being all in the same room together when creating this.

Wreckage

Very pretty and with its similarities to Daughter this album really starts reminding me of Vs at this point. The harmonies are perfect. This is Yellow Moon and Swallowed Whole style PJ done way better. They just sound so connected and instantly accessible in a way that they didn’t on Gigaton. So fun to sing along with the chorus. This is the first hint on this album that they are really gonna let songs stretch out and breathe.

Dark Matter

So electric and aggressive- I can see why this was a single. I’ve talked a lot about this one already but it still hits with me and is super fun to sing along with. That bass roll before the “arrested the press” part is so choice. And of course every time after the first time hearing this, I’m always just waiting for the Mike solo the way you wait for the roller coaster to head down at the top of the hill.

Won’t Tell

Very pop opening. Then gets kind of like Infallible but way better. Chorus is so epic I already love singing along. Mike is doing the soaring thing but without it being so on-the-nose as on Lightning Bolt. After the bridge the way it goes Cure/U2 is so wonderful and organic. This is fresh and powerful. I could listen to this outro all day.

Upper Hand

Absolutely an early favorite. What a beautiful mysterious cathedral opening. If they opened a concert with this it could be so magical! Give me these long, drawn out musical interludes, PJ! Mike’s lead is so classic in that Jimi-inspired vein. This feels like an entire Pearl Jam concert experience in one song, the way it builds and changes and gets more urgent as it goes. From Jimi to Gilmour and somehow it all makes sense. The raucous ending feels well-earned and I can almost hear the crowd singing along and see him holding the mic out. Speaking of Mike, get it, get it you fearless bastard! The speeding up at the end is so cathartic and I have to move my body to this every time!

Waiting for Stevie

How can you follow Upper Hand? With this monster of classic Pearl Jam grunge sound. This song makes me feel like a teenager again and the lyrics sound awesome I really need to know them so I can sing along. The band is in perfect sync on this one and making it all feel effortless. Sheer perfection, top tier Pearl Jam. This slots so nicely with I Got Id, In Hiding, Breath, etc. The bridge is just chef’s kiss into massive riff. I need this. This is the band I am in deep, deep love with. How they can summon this after over 30 years, where they’re all around 60, blows my mind. This song alone elevates this album, which was already doing just fine without it. There isn’t a second of this song I don’t adore. I have to whoop after a song like this. Or maybe smoke a cigarette.

Running

The musical interlude before it is so pretty. Somehow everything works about this, and its placement. We need a little less serious punker following all that intensive rock in the previous two numbers. Kind of a palate cleanser.

Something Special

With the palate cleansed, we got super shiny alt country pop. The intro really adds to the song and there’s just enough going on here that I’m enjoying the journey. Also, the bass is front and center and I like that. While it’s in the same universe, this feels miles ahead of a song like Sleeping By Myself. My friend likened the intro to Nirvana and the solo and other elements to Crowded House and I agree.

Got to Give

Another really nice intro. So nice that this album isn’t all drum intros. This is some super John Mellencamp stuff at first, but it quickly moves into The Who territory for me, which is one of my Pearl Jam sweet spots. A lot of that is due to Jeff’s wandering bass. A lot of building up in this one, with that outro’s jangly drive being one of those Pearl Jam moments that you never want to end- imagine it live!

Setting Sun

My friend Denise came with me to the listening party, and this was her favorite song, bringing her to tears. It really goes places, and it’s nice to hear a closer with more meat on the bone than River Cross or the several that preceded it. Full of atmosphere, this song is constantly promising you that it won’t let you down, and it never does. The ending reminds me a bit of Retrograde’s back half, but is so much more perfectly built up to. This song’s structure also reminds of the best Black Crowes songs. Lettin’ all the jangle out of the bag. Something to savor before the album is over (and I listen again, and again, lol).

This is some good stuff...don't agree with all of it but good job capturing the feel of these songs.

[analogdreams]

i used to post here occasionally under an account whose name i long since forgot and couldn't seem to recover. i was more of a a.m.p-j person when i was more active on these things, but made a new account here because none of my friends really care and i feel the need to share some initial thoughts on the album and band...

pearl jam has always been 'my band' but starting with the immagine dvd i started to really lose interest or excitement. somewhere in this time period i also pretty much stopped listening to a lot of music in general due to work, other interests, politics, etc. politics def a big driver and something i still struggle with reconciling btwn my views and the views of the artists i tend to like.

backspacer was a listen once, put it on the shelf album for me. lightning bolt was 'ok' to me, but not what i wanted. gigaton came out when i was in an odd headspace and i listened to it once or twice but again, didn't do much for me. dance of the clairvoyants really turned me off. not what i needed/wanted from them.

i really struggled with how to process this. i quit a job as a result of this band (nothing as it seems made me see some things). for years they drove my vacation plans (tours), but it just wasn't hitting for me anymore.

i still went to a ton of concerts until the gigaton tour. love the live experience, but lost the passion on the last one. figured i was done, people change and that's fine.... on to other things and i'll keep the happy memories of the past that are anchored to pearl jam songs, 'eras', etc.

when i heard news of a new album i was excited. more excited than i've been in a long time about the band. i think partially because i came back to music in the last few years, but mostly stuff like the dead and ryan adams.

then the artwork came out. underwhelmed. i thought it was a joke at first. then dark matter the single. didn't do much for me. then running, thought it was pretty lame.

however, i still went out to a listening party this afternoon and i've been grinning ever since. this really strikes me as the album i was hoping they would make or something much closer to it for the last several album cycles. i've been grinning ever since. even going back and giving backspacer and beyond another chance in the background as i putter in my office.

i do feel like this is something of a 'return to form' (or at least the form that resonates with me) and can not believe how happy this album made me and how much excitement i'm filled with again. really glad i talked myself out and off the couch from watching the masters to head down to a record store and listen. even more happy to then see someone thought to record the thing so i could give it another listen prior to the official release.

lot of rambling here... don't really know what the point is, other than needing to get these thoughts and excitement out of my head. thanks...

[RockPusher]

good post, analogdreams

[RAG319]

If anyone call tell me where I can easily do a free upload of a 48 min sound file from an Android phone I'll put this up for anyone still needing it. My recording sounds decent at a high volume. A little talking but I think most would still like the quality.

If you go to wetransfer.com you can upload it and get a link for download and share that.

Oh it's done: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-Zydks ... azX_-/view

Needs more crying baby. J/King, very solid quality! Thanks!

[Monkey_Driven]

i used to post here occasionally under an account whose name i long since forgot and couldn't seem to recover. i was more of a a.m.p-j person when i was more active on these things, but made a new account here because none of my friends really care and i feel the need to share some initial thoughts on the album and band...

pearl jam has always been 'my band' but starting with the immagine dvd i started to really lose interest or excitement. somewhere in this time period i also pretty much stopped listening to a lot of music in general due to work, other interests, politics, etc. politics def a big driver and something i still struggle with reconciling btwn my views and the views of the artists i tend to like.

backspacer was a listen once, put it on the shelf album for me. lightning bolt was 'ok' to me, but not what i wanted. gigaton came out when i was in an odd headspace and i listened to it once or twice but again, didn't do much for me. dance of the clairvoyants really turned me off. not what i needed/wanted from them.

i really struggled with how to process this. i quit a job as a result of this band (nothing as it seems made me see some things). for years they drove my vacation plans (tours), but it just wasn't hitting for me anymore.

i still went to a ton of concerts until the gigaton tour. love the live experience, but lost the passion on the last one. figured i was done, people change and that's fine.... on to other things and i'll keep the happy memories of the past that are anchored to pearl jam songs, 'eras', etc.

when i heard news of a new album i was excited. more excited than i've been in a long time about the band. i think partially because i came back to music in the last few years, but mostly stuff like the dead and ryan adams.

then the artwork came out. underwhelmed. i thought it was a joke at first. then dark matter the single. didn't do much for me. then running, thought it was pretty lame.

however, i still went out to a listening party this afternoon and i've been grinning ever since. this really strikes me as the album i was hoping they would make or something much closer to it for the last several album cycles. i've been grinning ever since. even going back and giving backspacer and beyond another chance in the background as i putter in my office.

i do feel like this is something of a 'return to form' (or at least the form that resonates with me) and can not believe how happy this album made me and how much excitement i'm filled with again. really glad i talked myself out and off the couch from watching the masters to head down to a record store and listen. even more happy to then see someone thought to record the thing so i could give it another listen prior to the official release.

lot of rambling here... don't really know what the point is, other than needing to get these thoughts and excitement out of my head. thanks...

Welcome back, analogdreams. I hope you stay awhile.

[Ms Harmless]

There was a crying baby at one of these listening parties?

Amazing.

the surprise MVP of the album