Dark Matter: Official Album Thread

[Strat]

strat, what have you heard so far?

Just the clips twice, and the two singles of course. Thats it!

[DDWJMUVW]

The album is great and I want to note an note observation I made, and it's that a big improvement on this over Gigaton is Ed's use of single and 2 syllable words, vs the word salad 3-4 syllable words he was using on Gigaton (words like Dissertations, Conjecture, Despondency, and more)


Just look how powerful and singable the line from Waiting For Stevie is, " You can be loved, by every one, and not feel loved "

Again on Scared of Fear "we use to laugh, we used to sing, we used to dance, we used to believe "


Almost entirely single syllable words. So much better.

Good observation.

And, no mention of bed sores or sponge baths right?

[Tj]

What a great album! I am blown away. Phone recording or not . Wreckage, Won't Tell, Upper Hand and Waiting for Stevie are all 5 stars I can imagine otherwise. Setting Sun and React Respond need better quality listens they could be 5. Got to Give and SOF I'm expecting 4 but would not be surprised if they end up higher. Running I have always been a fan but coming at the end of all the weight of the middle of the album and having that coda thing at the end of WFS really does it alot of favors.
Dark Matter I like alot but it may be the weakest it's 4 stars. How can it be the weakest? What about something special. Something Special is not asking for anything it's really just little song to share with his daughters. . Dark Mattee being the title track and first single is asking alot.

[Homeboyd]

Other than Setting Sun I don't think the new clips do a very good job of capturing these songs...

[BoltofLightning]

Other than Setting Sun I don't think the new clips do a very good job of capturing these songs...

I think the Won’t Tell clip is a good representation with that amazing chorus.

[daft twat]

Other than Setting Sun I don't think the new clips do a very good job of capturing these songs...

Where are the clips? I’ve only heard the crying baby leak.

Edit. Page 1 por supuesto

[Homeboyd]

Other than Setting Sun I don't think the new clips do a very good job of capturing these songs...

I think the Won’t Tell clip is a good representation with that amazing chorus.

Yeah I can buy that...I just really love the verses in that tune, and the outro, and basically all of it lol. My early favorite on the album but I have a hunch that may change.

[Got Some]

Has anyone done a re-edit of these leaks like they did with the metal door leaks to clean them up ??

I wouldnt have a clue to do it myself, but the door leaks sounded 100 times better on that vocaroo thingy.

[daft twat]

Other than Setting Sun I don't think the new clips do a very good job of capturing these songs...

I think the Won’t Tell clip is a good representation with that amazing chorus.

Yeah I can buy that...I just really love the verses in that tune, and the outro, and basically all of it lol. My early favorite on the album but I have a hunch that will change.

It was my favorite after my one listen to the leak.

[allhookedup]

For all the raving reviews on Matt and Mike, I dont think any review did Ed justice…I mean, the guy gets praise on LB and Backspacer from the critics, and nobody gives a note on how much he soars on the album.

Loooonnnnngggg time lurker, but the new album inspired me to create an account and get in on the fun!

I totally agree with this comment. Ed’s voice has changed for sure but he is still a great singer with very good range. And other than one part on React, Respond and maybe WFS, if I’m remembering correctly, he doesn’t seem to push his voice. His voice is right in a safe pocket. Imagine this was considered during the recording process- making sure they were in the best key for him. Can’t wait to hear these songs live, should be interesting. Hopefully the band rehearses a little.

I dont think he is not pushing it, he is pushing his voice in alot of places, WFS, Dark Matter, Setting Sun (second part), most outros of the songs, he is belting some screams here and there.

My point was more the way he was pushing it, someone else talked about the monosyllabic lyrics making it easier, I agree, but also, hes pushing notes within his range, accepting the more raspier voice, instead of going “Got Some” on it (which for me is one of his worst vocals on an album.

He made great choices in this I think, but showing more power than in any of the 3 albums before.

Also a long time lurker, first time poster...

To me, Ed is not shredding his voice anymore like he did on Do the Evolution for example. That vocal style has apparently been abandoned most likely to ensure he can keep at this longer. I've come to terms with this.

That being said, that howl he does coming out of the Dark Matter solo is amazing and spine tingling.

I love everything he's doing on DM, yes, even SS.

[RockPusher]

Won't Tell is the Dance of the Clairvoyants of this album. It takes us new places with this band, and it shows off influences that they haven't really indulged in on past records.

[evenslow]

Yeah to those wondering the 30 second snippets do pretty much nothing to represent most of the songs.

[DDWJMUVW]

Yeah to those wondering the 30 second snippets do pretty much nothing to represent most of the songs.

Haven’t hear much beyond those snippets.

But…I’d argue the running snippet (the song’s bridge) is the very best the track has to offer. Hopefully the exception and not rule with the rest of them.

[brisk]

For all the raving reviews on Matt and Mike, I dont think any review did Ed justice…I mean, the guy gets praise on LB and Backspacer from the critics, and nobody gives a note on how much he soars on the album.

Loooonnnnngggg time lurker, but the new album inspired me to create an account and get in on the fun!

I totally agree with this comment. Ed’s voice has changed for sure but he is still a great singer with very good range. And other than one part on React, Respond and maybe WFS, if I’m remembering correctly, he doesn’t seem to push his voice. His voice is right in a safe pocket. Imagine this was considered during the recording process- making sure they were in the best key for him. Can’t wait to hear these songs live, should be interesting. Hopefully the band rehearses a little.

I dont think he is not pushing it, he is pushing his voice in alot of places, WFS, Dark Matter, Setting Sun (second part), most outros of the songs, he is belting some screams here and there.

My point was more the way he was pushing it, someone else talked about the monosyllabic lyrics making it easier, I agree, but also, hes pushing notes within his range, accepting the more raspier voice, instead of going “Got Some” on it (which for me is one of his worst vocals on an album.

He made great choices in this I think, but showing more power than in any of the 3 albums before.

Also a long time lurker, first time poster...

To me, Ed is not shredding his voice anymore like he did on Do the Evolution for example. That vocal style has apparently been abandoned most likely to ensure he can keep at this longer. I've come to terms with this.

That being said, that howl he does coming out of the Dark Matter solo is amazing and spine tingling.

I love everything he's doing on DM, yes, even SS.

Imagine if he actually stopped smoking.

[Mike]

Only two more days until I can listen to this with a New Zealand VPN, nice!

[Ms Harmless]

Lol. Trag snark: denied.

[ABNorman]

I've only listened to the phone recording once, and each of the snippets once, and WFS is an absolute earworm. It didn't grab me immediately on the initial listen, but it's definitely sticking with me.

[stip]

Going to the movie theater tomorrow, but caved in and listened to the 30 seconds previews. Not that excited based on them, but I have a history of initially hating some of my favorite records based on samples, so not too bothered. Just happy seeing everyone absolutely hyped! Lurker since the Gigaton rollout before the pandemic hit (was the record playing on the car the last time I drove around before lockdown in my city) and really happy being a part of this once more.

welcome back to the board

[stip]

For all the raving reviews on Matt and Mike, I dont think any review did Ed justice…I mean, the guy gets praise on LB and Backspacer from the critics, and nobody gives a note on how much he soars on the album.

Loooonnnnngggg time lurker, but the new album inspired me to create an account and get in on the fun!

I totally agree with this comment. Ed’s voice has changed for sure but he is still a great singer with very good range. And other than one part on React, Respond and maybe WFS, if I’m remembering correctly, he doesn’t seem to push his voice. His voice is right in a safe pocket. Imagine this was considered during the recording process- making sure they were in the best key for him. Can’t wait to hear these songs live, should be interesting. Hopefully the band rehearses a little.

I dont think he is not pushing it, he is pushing his voice in alot of places, WFS, Dark Matter, Setting Sun (second part), most outros of the songs, he is belting some screams here and there.

My point was more the way he was pushing it, someone else talked about the monosyllabic lyrics making it easier, I agree, but also, hes pushing notes within his range, accepting the more raspier voice, instead of going “Got Some” on it (which for me is one of his worst vocals on an album.

He made great choices in this I think, but showing more power than in any of the 3 albums before.

Also a long time lurker, first time poster...

To me, Ed is not shredding his voice anymore like he did on Do the Evolution for example. That vocal style has apparently been abandoned most likely to ensure he can keep at this longer. I've come to terms with this.

That being said, that howl he does coming out of the Dark Matter solo is amazing and spine tingling.

I love everything he's doing on DM, yes, even SS.

welcome to the board

[Release_Me]

As others have mentioned, Ed does push himself in several songs but he sounds great doing it. The soaring vocals that most love (think the outro of Jeremy or the chorus of In Hiding) are scattered throughout the album. He has great tone in that mid to upper fourth octave. It's impossible to not feel good when you hear that, as a PJ fan. My favourite examples of those soaring vocals on this album are the outro/second half of Setting Sun, WFS, Upper Hand. There's a moment right near the end of Scared of Fear too that I love.

The screamy vocals are more divisive which is understandable. There is no example of him screaming through a full song in this album, but there are a few great screams interspersed here and there that elevate the songs. My favourites are in the outro of Got to Give and a few moments on WFS. I'm probably forgetting some, but these are what immediately come to mind.