Dark Matter: Official Album Thread

[WaitingForBluey]

A dissident is here...

some of Ed's best lyrical work in a long, long time

[darthvedder81]

Overall - with only a few exceptions - the lyrics on this record are a total bummer.

My buddy said the same. He’s a huge Pearl Jam fan but otherwise a pretty conventional white dad music fan — Wilco, KoL, etc. Said Ed’s lyrics are the worst part.

I don't mean that the lyrics are bad. They are melancholy and mournful, and they made me legitimately feel bad for Eddie if these are the emotions he's feeling.

I feel completely the opposite. I thought Ed's lyrics sounded more hopeful here and in a kind of inspirational/spiritual way that's different from how he's written in the past. Some melancholy in there for sure but hope shining through. Watching the lyrics the 2nd time through lots of things stuck out to me that I've now forgotten but will re-visit on the liner notes.

[zeb]

Something Special is a fine song. The band plays great on it and it's heartfelt—just doesn't belong on this album. It's very odd.

Especially as Ed wrote it with Josh, rather than an actual band member, it feels like something that should’ve been held over for a future solo record (or standalone single).

Couldn't be more true, Spen.

[Homeboyd]

Just got back from the theater showing, hit up the White Marsh AMC theater north of Baltimore, way more people there than I expected and shockingly zero cargo shorts. Too much to take in after one listen but will share my early impressions. Most positive, I left the theater excited for Friday...excited to hear a quality copy over quality headphones or speakers. The theater sounded flat and a bit distorted which was a bit of a let down. I digress....my thoughts in no particular order

--Album was much more uplifting/positive than I expected; DM and Running are by far the 'hardest' more abrasive songs on the album
--Mid Tempo mania (not a bad thing for this band)
--Far too early to tell whether I like better than Gigaton, which has aged well; however, DM ends on a MUCH stronger note than Gig
--Ed sounded great given the shit speakers in the theater; DM seems to be a bit of an outlier for him being buried in the mix
--Mike plays his fucking ass off, Stone as well, but god damn Mike
--Theater sounds was too flat and distorted to make out Jeff and Matt well
--Scared of Fear, was distracted at first by the shit speaker sound, but I remember loving the riff and loving it more when the second playthrough started
--Upper Hand was not what I was expected. Taken back by it but could grow. I was expecting something a little darker given the feedback on here, but def has potential to grow
--React, Respond was solid, especially the blistering second half, but I need more listens to appreciate the first half. I can't stress enough how bad the sound was in the theater so I don't feel my thoughts are really justified yet
--Who says Wreckage doesn't really go anywhere is WRONG. This was a massive highlight for me; I might be most excited to hear this again on Friday. The second half of just about every song on the album takes on a new life and really catches you off guard. The prolonged 'combing through the wreckage' ending with the background vocals and jangly Petty-esque guitars was GLORIOUS. We need more songs like this, more songs where they let the material breathe for Christ's sake.
--Won't Tell another big highlight again stolen away by a very 80s second half. Loved it.
--Upper Hand, again, stalled for me a bit. Wasn't what I expected from all the NAIS comparisons. Need more listens
--WFS was awesome but I think a bit oversold; I may change my mind when hearing again through better speakers. AGAIN, second half of the song soars. Thank you Mike
--Something Special a little better/sweeter hearing all the way through, but easily the weakest song on DM. Ed actually sounds great, but lyrics not so much. Can't help but think there was something better on the cutting room floor (or b-side)
--Got to Give, I really dug it, but for some reason having trouble remembering it. Definitely heard the Who and Springsteen comparisons. I'm sure I'll love more after repeated listens
--Album ends on a high note, the praise for Setting Sun is justified. Unlike Upper Hand I felt this went somewhere. Ed's vocals reminded me a bit of On My Way (far and away the best song on Earthling, Ed sounds amazing on it). Loved it and much like Wreckage excited to hear again properly on Friday.

I'm too tired to proofread this shit so deal with it. Hope everyone else had a blast!

Nice review...thanks for sharing.

[darthvedder81]

A dissident is here...

some of Ed's best lyrical work in a long, long time

I agree! He's writing in a different way now. I like the direction he's headed in the final act of PJ.

[WaitingForBluey]

Happy Ed = lyrics suck, mostly cringe

Angry Ed = some lyrics great, some lyrics cringe (if you don't prefer political Ed)

This Ed = muy bueno

[mikejasond]

Overall - with only a few exceptions - the lyrics on this record are a total bummer.

My buddy said the same. He’s a huge Pearl Jam fan but otherwise a pretty conventional white dad music fan — Wilco, KoL, etc. Said Ed’s lyrics are the worst part.

I don't mean that the lyrics are bad. They are melancholy and mournful, and they made me legitimately feel bad for Eddie if these are the emotions he's feeling.

I feel completely the opposite. I thought Ed's lyrics sounded more hopeful here and in a kind of inspirational/spiritual way that's different from how he's written in the past. Some melancholy in there for sure but hope shining through. Watching the lyrics the 2nd time through lots of things stuck out to me that I've now forgotten but will re-visit on the liner notes.

Really? I was struck by how melancholy and sad Eddie sounded. Setting Sun is the closest song emotionally to Black and both the opening and ending songs seem bitter and lamenting which sure puts a tone on the album. Even more happier sounding songs like Wreckage had sad lyrics. And he almost sounds self-pitying throughout like in Upper Hand. I didn’t hear him as hopeful….setting sun to me sounded like somebody lamenting that somebody who he thought would be with him forever had left and desperately wishing she’d come back.

Even those like react/respond have sad lyrics.

[Homeboyd]

Happy Ed = lyrics suck, mostly cringe

Angry Ed = some lyrics great, some lyrics cringe (if you don't prefer political Ed)

This Ed = muy bueno

This kinda goes for concerts as well...not 100% mind you but angry Ed are some of my favorite shows I've been to and to listen to. Content Ed is fine, quiet Ed is fine. Happy chatty Kathy Ed can be a bit much lol - although this is obviously much more of recent trend.

[guitar_davey]

Just back from the theatre.

My 13-year-old leaned over a couple of songs in and whispered "the sound in this theatre is awful."

Fortunately, the singles also sounded bad, so I assume the album will sound better than it did in this theatre. It also seemed to sound better the second time.

[Ledbetterdays]

Got to Give Visualizer
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/k6q0p3w0 ... x87pz&dl=0

[darthvedder81]

Overall - with only a few exceptions - the lyrics on this record are a total bummer.

My buddy said the same. He’s a huge Pearl Jam fan but otherwise a pretty conventional white dad music fan — Wilco, KoL, etc. Said Ed’s lyrics are the worst part.

I don't mean that the lyrics are bad. They are melancholy and mournful, and they made me legitimately feel bad for Eddie if these are the emotions he's feeling.

I feel completely the opposite. I thought Ed's lyrics sounded more hopeful here and in a kind of inspirational/spiritual way that's different from how he's written in the past. Some melancholy in there for sure but hope shining through. Watching the lyrics the 2nd time through lots of things stuck out to me that I've now forgotten but will re-visit on the liner notes.

Really? I was struck by how melancholy and sad Eddie sounded. Setting Sun is the closest song emotionally to Black and both the opening and ending songs seem bitter and lamenting which sure puts a tone on the album. Even more happier sounding songs like Wreckage had sad lyrics. And he almost sounds self-pitying throughout like in Upper Hand. I didn’t hear him as hopeful….setting sun to me sounded like somebody lamenting that somebody who he thought would be with him forever had left and desperately wishing she’d come back.

Even those like react/respond have sad lyrics.

The line about waiting for "kingdom to come" sounded big and hopeful and cosmic.

Closing out WFS switching back and forth between "You can be loved" "You can love" I found incredibly moving in a way a PJ song has never hit me. I didn't detect any bitterness in the lyrics on the album—some disappointment yes but also a resolve and a hope that there's something above/out there to keep reaching for. I dunno. I need to look closer at the lyrics. I just found them real and moving.

[WaitingForBluey]

Overall - with only a few exceptions - the lyrics on this record are a total bummer.

My buddy said the same. He’s a huge Pearl Jam fan but otherwise a pretty conventional white dad music fan — Wilco, KoL, etc. Said Ed’s lyrics are the worst part.

I don't mean that the lyrics are bad. They are melancholy and mournful, and they made me legitimately feel bad for Eddie if these are the emotions he's feeling.

I feel completely the opposite. I thought Ed's lyrics sounded more hopeful here and in a kind of inspirational/spiritual way that's different from how he's written in the past. Some melancholy in there for sure but hope shining through. Watching the lyrics the 2nd time through lots of things stuck out to me that I've now forgotten but will re-visit on the liner notes.

Really? I was struck by how melancholy and sad Eddie sounded. Setting Sun is the closest song emotionally to Black and both the opening and ending songs seem bitter and lamenting which sure puts a tone on the album. Even more happier sounding songs like Wreckage had sad lyrics. And he almost sounds self-pitying throughout like in Upper Hand. I didn’t hear him as hopeful….setting sun to me sounded like somebody lamenting that somebody who he thought would be with him forever had left and desperately wishing she’d come back.

Even those like react/respond have sad lyrics.

I perceived it as more full of wisdom and honest reflection than his "share the light, won't hold us down" placating... I appreciated this perspective from Ed because that feels more like what someone his age should be taking away from this oddball existence.

[WaitingForBluey]

Got to Give Visualizer
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/k6q0p3w0 ... x87pz&dl=0

Nice grab ledbetter, I found it interesting that was the only song that didn't have all the lyrics

[mikejasond]

Overall - with only a few exceptions - the lyrics on this record are a total bummer.

My buddy said the same. He’s a huge Pearl Jam fan but otherwise a pretty conventional white dad music fan — Wilco, KoL, etc. Said Ed’s lyrics are the worst part.

I don't mean that the lyrics are bad. They are melancholy and mournful, and they made me legitimately feel bad for Eddie if these are the emotions he's feeling.

I feel completely the opposite. I thought Ed's lyrics sounded more hopeful here and in a kind of inspirational/spiritual way that's different from how he's written in the past. Some melancholy in there for sure but hope shining through. Watching the lyrics the 2nd time through lots of things stuck out to me that I've now forgotten but will re-visit on the liner notes.

Really? I was struck by how melancholy and sad Eddie sounded. Setting Sun is the closest song emotionally to Black and both the opening and ending songs seem bitter and lamenting which sure puts a tone on the album. Even more happier sounding songs like Wreckage had sad lyrics. And he almost sounds self-pitying throughout like in Upper Hand. I didn’t hear him as hopeful….setting sun to me sounded like somebody lamenting that somebody who he thought would be with him forever had left and desperately wishing she’d come back.

Even those like react/respond have sad lyrics.

The line about waiting for "kingdom to come" sounded big and hopeful and cosmic.

Closing out WFS switching back and forth between "You can be loved" "You can love" I found incredibly moving in a way a PJ song has never hit me. I didn't detect any bitterness in the lyrics on the album—some disappointment yes but also a resolve and a hope that there's something above/out there to keep reaching for. I dunno. I need to look closer at the lyrics. I just found them real and moving.

Yes but in context the setting sun lyrics reminded me more of the “we belong together” at the end of black. The person Eddie is speaking of seems to have rejected him despite his insistence they would not leave him if they could only see what he saw. But they don’t. He talks about how he thought they’d be together until kingdom come. But they weren’t. And he feels like the only one who tried.

[WaitingForBluey]

During one of the songs (can't remember now), I said to my friend... "it sounds like Ed finally realized that marriage is not always sunshine and rainbows and I love that"...
(waiting for your message to arrive)

[WaitingForBluey]

Overall - with only a few exceptions - the lyrics on this record are a total bummer.

My buddy said the same. He’s a huge Pearl Jam fan but otherwise a pretty conventional white dad music fan — Wilco, KoL, etc. Said Ed’s lyrics are the worst part.

I don't mean that the lyrics are bad. They are melancholy and mournful, and they made me legitimately feel bad for Eddie if these are the emotions he's feeling.

I feel completely the opposite. I thought Ed's lyrics sounded more hopeful here and in a kind of inspirational/spiritual way that's different from how he's written in the past. Some melancholy in there for sure but hope shining through. Watching the lyrics the 2nd time through lots of things stuck out to me that I've now forgotten but will re-visit on the liner notes.

Really? I was struck by how melancholy and sad Eddie sounded. Setting Sun is the closest song emotionally to Black and both the opening and ending songs seem bitter and lamenting which sure puts a tone on the album. Even more happier sounding songs like Wreckage had sad lyrics. And he almost sounds self-pitying throughout like in Upper Hand. I didn’t hear him as hopeful….setting sun to me sounded like somebody lamenting that somebody who he thought would be with him forever had left and desperately wishing she’d come back.

Even those like react/respond have sad lyrics.

The line about waiting for "kingdom to come" sounded big and hopeful and cosmic.

Closing out WFS switching back and forth between "You can be loved" "You can love" I found incredibly moving in a way a PJ song has never hit me. I didn't detect any bitterness in the lyrics on the album—some disappointment yes but also a resolve and a hope that there's something above/out there to keep reaching for. I dunno. I need to look closer at the lyrics. I just found them real and moving.

Yes but in context the setting sun lyrics reminded me more of the “we belong together” at the end of black. The person Eddie is speaking of seems to have rejected him despite his insistence they would not leave him if they could only see what he saw. But they don’t. He talks about how he thought they’d be together until kingdom come. But they weren’t. And he feels like the only one who tried.

I really think a huge part of these lyrics is about Chris, Layne, Kurt... etc. the old "scene"... "am I the last one standing"

[Vindicator]

Funny thing, I posted a clip of Waiting For Stevie from the theater screening on my Instagram story, and this person who has no clue who Pearl Jam even is commented "damn this sounds amazing"

Lol, could have been a single. But how do I explain that the song is called "Waiting for Stevie"

[Higgs]

Song names don't matter.

[WaitingForBluey]

Funny thing, I posted a clip of Waiting For Stevie from the theater screening on my Instagram story, and this person who has no clue who Pearl Jam even is commented "damn this sounds amazing"

Lol, could have been a single. But how do I explain that the song is called "Waiting for Stevie"

There's no shame in either Stevie Wonder or Stevie Nicks...

[WaitingForBluey]

This is the album that Avocado desperately wanted and tried to be... but they couldn't reach it because they were trying too hard. It only took about 18 years for them to learn not to give such a fuck and just do what comes naturally to them