Dark Matter: Official Album Thread

[Homeboyd]

Is this their most 80s album?

I mean I'm hearing a bunch of 80's Springsteen and U2, some Fleetwood Mac, nothing overt but they are definitely swimming in that pond.

I’m getting power ballad vibes at times.

Yeah I was in high school in the late 80's so I was basically raised on power ballads. And yes, while not the same structure, these songs do kinda have that feel which is probably why I'm liking them so much.

[WtOB?]

Hey all. I'll have more complete and coherent thoughts tomorrow.

I'll just say the overall impression that this is more Yield than anything else in the last 26 years is pretty valid. The first listen in my theater was really left-front-centric. Meaning, you didn't hear the other speakers much except for layered vocal melodies and such. When you heard them, wow it was spectacular. Also, a much different sound if you turned around and looked towards the back... anyhow, just noticing that producing for a movie theater is a whole different bag. (Also, I think I have a bit of hearing loss on the right side, so it could be less left-centric than I thought). But, honestly, if it were my home stereo (or my theater) I would do everything I could to turn those front speakers up UP UP!

Don't know if anyone made this comment, but Ed seems a bit louder in the mix with the visualizers. I think it's a mental thing, however. When you've heard the words once and then see them on the screen, it jumps out more. I think putting him lower in the mix is a smart strategic move... we all know the albums where he was lower and we all know all those lyrics by heart today, don't we?

So, I made an audio recording... it starts with Jeff coming in and giving an intro that sounds crazy... I promise this is what it sounded like from my seat, precisely in the middle of the theater.

Sorry that the file is so large. I'm by no means an audiophile, but I tried my best to not "lose" anything to excessive compression. Sounds pretty representative of what I heard from my seat. Really nice. (But probably unnecessarily large).

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LObzpd ... drive_link

I'll go ahead and make a call that seems to go against what I've read so far... you may or may not love DM the song, but I understand quite clearly why it was the lead single. It is the most obvious choice for "radio friendly" and air play, in my opinion. I may like other songs more, but if I were listening for the first time (which I 82% was), this would be the song I said had the best chance on radio. Who knows, maybe it will open the door for others (Wreckage would be my next pick, I think).

I have some short videos from the visualizers I'll put on my youtube if anyone wants to see any of that. Sorry about the cringe-worthy clapping between songs LOL.

This is just for you all, my RM friends/fam. I'm sorry there were no babies during any interludes in this recording.

-O$

thanks for this, listening now. still bummed i missed the cinema playing because of spicy cough.

dark matter (song) sounds like a very different mix to what was released. pretty excited to compare the watt and evans versions when my deluxe version comes.

[Arthur Morgan]

For everyone who was there... was Jeff's intro super loaded in reverb for you too? That part was pretty weird

Haha, yes! I was like why the hell do they have these effects on his voice. There was like absolutely no reason for it.

[Superblood Wolfmoon]

Just listened to the clips I took and I gotta say this is sounding like top tier Pearl Jam to me. Can’t wait for a proper listen in a couple days.

[Arthur Morgan]

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.

This. It was weird. I’m accustomed to happy Ed and angry Ed. But this was something very different.

Yes I was surprised by the Upper hand lyrics. Pretty dark

[Oversize]

So, just finished a list of BlueState's iPhone recording....

Honestly, I don't know how much can be gained from my recording.

What I can say without a doubt is that it's really interesting to not be listening to a gnat's ass of a kilobyte of sound. Things we heard in the 90s that we loved really stick out in the iphone recording.

Those who said it's like 90's hand-held bootleg, yes, but like... REALLY clean with dirty guitars and the singer is on point (haha). I can't believe I just heard that guy's keys fall and yet I can hear the quite a dynamic range in Running..

[RockPusher]

The plinky guitars of react Respond were inaudible.

I noticed that too

[injuddstree]

Is this their most 80s album?

Certainly their most Americana record. As I said on instant reactions, I'm hearing Springsteen, Fleetwood Mac and The Eagles pop up frequently.

Meshed in is classic British rock/pop too - The Who, Elton, The Verve, Pink Floyd.

[Mike]

Question for the audio people: Can you use an Atmos mix to remix the album yourself? Is it a bit like having Stems available as the instruments are more separated across different speakers?

[Homeboyd]

Won't Tell was my favorite on first listen and I figured it would fade...but if anything I like it more on repeated listens. I can't articulate why but I absolutely love this tune.

[RockPusher]

For everyone who was there... was Jeff's intro super loaded in reverb for you too? That part was pretty weird

Yeah

[Oversize]

11 videos of visualizer snippets for those interested.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/ ... sp=sharing

[RockPusher]

Wow I had the exact opposite reaction to some folks here. Sound was excellent at my theater, it was in IMAX Dolby Atmos and I could hear MORE than previously on songs like Dark Matter/Running. I am completely blown away by how this band sounds on this record.

Same here, there was an identifiable separation of the different tracks that could be heard in different directions. Only one complaint ….way too low volume but I had a couple beers before I went.

There was a channel behind us that was maybe active for one song. I definitely think this should have been fine tuned somehow. I am absolutely expecting it to sound better on my home stereo.

[WtOB?]

11 videos of visualizer snippets for those interested.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/ ... sp=sharing

legend

[igotworms]

Is this their most 80s album?

I'm liking this take.

[Mike]

one more sleep until dark matter - we're almost there

[Ms Harmless]

Is this their most 80s album?

I'm liking this take.

yes, definitely definitely; 70's too

[Tj]

Is this their most 80s album?

I'm liking this take.

yes, definitely definitely; 70's too

1978-1983

[spike]

70s turf is nothing new for this band.

[Higgs]

Song names don't matter.

No doubt...Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town

Case in point:

Spoiler: show