Dark Matter: Official Album Thread

[Arthur Morgan]

It's a 3 star album after first listen. All that's missing from Setting Sun is a steelpan.

Just keep listening

[RockPusher]

did anyone have "Pearl Jam's best ever record about family" on their 2024 bingo card?

I didn't have ANY of this on my bingo card. I'm still speechless with tears streaming.

[mikejasond]

I think these are simultaneously some of the best and worst lyrics on a Pearl Jam album.

They are blunt, not that poetic, sometimes trite, straightforward, etc. Taken on an individual level they don’t often wow or come across as a bit weak. On some songs that I liked on first listen they weakened when reading the lyrics on second listen.

But they also come across as honest, raw, and personal. And cohesive across the album for whatever Eddie is trying to express. And in that way I think they are actually some of his strongest. It definitely gives you the feeling the album is about something.

I can see where you're coming from. It may not be the lyrical "3-D chess", as Ed called it, of Avocado, but...what I would say is this...The lyrical earnestness that has been a hallmark of his writing since day one has quite possibly never been better deployed than it has for this set of songs. They're well suited for that level of emotional vulnerability.

I was a little disappointed with some of these lyrics when I was at the cinema, but finding out that the themes feel apparently so raw and real, and they're stretched across the album, that approach starts to make sense (even Something Special is lifted by the album context); and poetry doesn't have to be a complex puzzle, there are plenty of very simple but beautiful lines here

"I think you're hurting yourself just to hurt me" hits all kinds of hard.

it's like we're a fly on the wall during some really awkward family moments lol

This lol. There is a discomfort about how raw these feelings are. “I think you’re hurting yourself just to hurt me” “something I never had was the upper hand” or the parts of setting sun about feeling like the only one trying. It’s like we’re reading his diary or something with no filter or censor. They are self-involved in a very personal way, the ways you feel but might not speak because they are clouded by emotion and your own perspective. It does feel like we are seeing things we shouldn’t.

[Ello Sailor]

This is so much better than Avocado, Poopspacer and Lighnin BOWL!

Upswing confirmed.

[stip]

Feels like there's more enthusiasm and positive reaction from DM the album vs. the last few records, specific to the RM community.

What do you guys think/remember?

even accounting for recency this is the most INITIALLY well received an album has been on RM

[Ms Harmless]

did anyone have "Pearl Jam's best ever record about family" on their 2024 bingo card?

I didn't have ANY of this on my bingo card. I'm still speechless with tears streaming.

it's wonderful I'm gonna still stay up for midnight even though I've heard it

[RockPusher]

I think these are simultaneously some of the best and worst lyrics on a Pearl Jam album.

They are blunt, not that poetic, sometimes trite, straightforward, etc. Taken on an individual level they don’t often wow or come across as a bit weak. On some songs that I liked on first listen they weakened when reading the lyrics on second listen.

But they also come across as honest, raw, and personal. And cohesive across the album for whatever Eddie is trying to express. And in that way I think they are actually some of his strongest. It definitely gives you the feeling the album is about something.

I can see where you're coming from. It may not be the lyrical "3-D chess", as Ed called it, of Avocado, but...what I would say is this...The lyrical earnestness that has been a hallmark of his writing since day one has quite possibly never been better deployed than it has for this set of songs. They're well suited for that level of emotional vulnerability.

I was a little disappointed with some of these lyrics when I was at the cinema, but finding out that the themes feel apparently so raw and real, and they're stretched across the album, that approach starts to make sense (even Something Special is lifted by the album context); and poetry doesn't have to be a complex puzzle, there are plenty of very simple but beautiful lines here

"I think you're hurting yourself just to hurt me" hits all kinds of hard.

it's like we're a fly on the wall during some really awkward family moments lol

This lol. There is a discomfort about how raw these feelings are. “I think you’re hurting yourself just to hurt me” “something that I’ve never had is the upper hand” or the parts of setting sun about feeling like the only one trying. It’s like we’re reading his diary or something with no filter or censor. They are self-involved in a very personal way, the ways you feel but might not speak because they are clouded by emotion and your own perspective. It does feel like we are seeing things we shouldn’t.

I mean, it's friggin' called DARK MATTER

[Arthur Morgan]

I think Ed is talented enough to write convincing lyrics about something seemingly personal but is not. He probably draws inspiration from many different avenues, personal being one but not entirely.

It’s is interesting to think about the inspiration of some of the lyrics on the album though

[Ms Harmless]

I think these are simultaneously some of the best and worst lyrics on a Pearl Jam album.

They are blunt, not that poetic, sometimes trite, straightforward, etc. Taken on an individual level they don’t often wow or come across as a bit weak. On some songs that I liked on first listen they weakened when reading the lyrics on second listen.

But they also come across as honest, raw, and personal. And cohesive across the album for whatever Eddie is trying to express. And in that way I think they are actually some of his strongest. It definitely gives you the feeling the album is about something.

I can see where you're coming from. It may not be the lyrical "3-D chess", as Ed called it, of Avocado, but...what I would say is this...The lyrical earnestness that has been a hallmark of his writing since day one has quite possibly never been better deployed than it has for this set of songs. They're well suited for that level of emotional vulnerability.

I was a little disappointed with some of these lyrics when I was at the cinema, but finding out that the themes feel apparently so raw and real, and they're stretched across the album, that approach starts to make sense (even Something Special is lifted by the album context); and poetry doesn't have to be a complex puzzle, there are plenty of very simple but beautiful lines here

"I think you're hurting yourself just to hurt me" hits all kinds of hard.

it's like we're a fly on the wall during some really awkward family moments lol

This lol. There is a discomfort about how raw these feelings are. “I think you’re hurting yourself just to hurt me” “something that I’ve never had is the upper hand” or the parts of setting sun about feeling like the only one trying. It’s like we’re reading his diary or something with no filter or censor. They are self-involved in a very personal way, the ways you feel but might not speak because they are clouded by emotion and your own perspective. It does feel like we are seeing things we shouldn’t.

the Confessional nature of it feels quite "spirit of grunge" honestly, even though the music has moved on, making it very representative of the band now

[Hatfield]

I think these are simultaneously some of the best and worst lyrics on a Pearl Jam album.

They are blunt, not that poetic, sometimes trite, straightforward, etc. Taken on an individual level they don’t often wow or come across as a bit weak. On some songs that I liked on first listen they weakened when reading the lyrics on second listen.

But they also come across as honest, raw, and personal. And cohesive across the album for whatever Eddie is trying to express. And in that way I think they are actually some of his strongest. It definitely gives you the feeling the album is about something.

I haven't delved into his words yet, but it's interesting to think about how this "quick", all together in the same room process not only affected the music, but also Ed's lyrics.

[Ms Harmless]

I think these are simultaneously some of the best and worst lyrics on a Pearl Jam album.

They are blunt, not that poetic, sometimes trite, straightforward, etc. Taken on an individual level they don’t often wow or come across as a bit weak. On some songs that I liked on first listen they weakened when reading the lyrics on second listen.

But they also come across as honest, raw, and personal. And cohesive across the album for whatever Eddie is trying to express. And in that way I think they are actually some of his strongest. It definitely gives you the feeling the album is about something.

I can see where you're coming from. It may not be the lyrical "3-D chess", as Ed called it, of Avocado, but...what I would say is this...The lyrical earnestness that has been a hallmark of his writing since day one has quite possibly never been better deployed than it has for this set of songs. They're well suited for that level of emotional vulnerability.

I was a little disappointed with some of these lyrics when I was at the cinema, but finding out that the themes feel apparently so raw and real, and they're stretched across the album, that approach starts to make sense (even Something Special is lifted by the album context); and poetry doesn't have to be a complex puzzle, there are plenty of very simple but beautiful lines here

"I think you're hurting yourself just to hurt me" hits all kinds of hard.

it's like we're a fly on the wall during some really awkward family moments lol

This lol. There is a discomfort about how raw these feelings are. “I think you’re hurting yourself just to hurt me” “something that I’ve never had is the upper hand” or the parts of setting sun about feeling like the only one trying. It’s like we’re reading his diary or something with no filter or censor. They are self-involved in a very personal way, the ways you feel but might not speak because they are clouded by emotion and your own perspective. It does feel like we are seeing things we shouldn’t.

I mean, it's friggin' called DARK MATTER

how have I not made this connection yet?

[Noaheb]

Guys I really like this thing like a lot... I know it's still early but so far it feels like the Pearl jam album I didn't know I needed. I just keep smiling all the way through even something special isn't terrible
At 50 I'm like a fucking giddy 20 year old

[mikejasond]

I think Ed is talented enough to write convincing lyrics about something seemingly personal but is not. He probably draws inspiration from many different avenues, personal being one but not entirely.

It’s is interesting to think about the inspiration of some of the lyrics on the album though

Yeah. I think what makes it interesting to think about is how PREVALENT the themes are, which previously has only been the case when he's feeling political and usually in the form of righteous anger. This is obviously something different. When the first three tracks, and the final track are all hitting a similar out of the box (for Eddie) theme, it's surprising. That places the album in a thematic space that I feel we haven't seen since Vitalogy (Last Exit, and Immortality together, setting a very dark bookend). Scared of Fear and Setting Sun similarly bookend this, and Scared of Fear even mentions a 'setting sun'. But then React/Respond and Wreckage seem to be about the same thing so the bookends feel even bigger. And then there's songs like Upper Hand which play into that same theme, and Im not sure some of the others don't as well.

It makes you wonder what has made him focus in so heavily on those themes in this album (which I know some have mentioned Cornell, but to me seems very strongly to be about divorce or a break-up of a very long and serious relationship), what his intention was, and what emotional space he was in when writing it.

Maybe, as people said above, its because this album came together quickly, so maybe he was feeling something at the time, it bled into a bunch of songs at once, and that led to this album that comes off more like a concept album than anything I feel they've ever written perhaps.

[Ello Sailor]

Wreckage is growing on me. That can't be good.

[Strat]

Wreckage is growing on me. That can't be good.

Let it in

[WaitingForBluey]

Wreckage is growing on me. That can't be good.

You're like water now and water will find its way

[Ms Harmless]

I think Ed is talented enough to write convincing lyrics about something seemingly personal but is not. He probably draws inspiration from many different avenues, personal being one but not entirely.

It’s is interesting to think about the inspiration of some of the lyrics on the album though

Yeah. I think what makes it interesting to think about is how PREVALENT the themes are, which previously has only been the case when he's feeling political and usually in the form of righteous anger. This is obviously something different. When the first three tracks, and the final track are all hitting a similar out of the box (for Eddie) theme, it's surprising. That places the album in a thematic space that I feel we haven't seen since Vitalogy (Last Exit, and Immortality together, setting a very dark bookend). Scared of Fear and Setting Sun similarly bookend this, and Scared of Fear even mentions a 'setting sun'. But then React/Respond and Wreckage seem to be about the same thing so the bookends feel even bigger. And then there's songs like Upper Hand which play into that same theme, and Im not sure some of the others don't as well.

It makes you wonder what has made him focus in so heavily on those themes in this album (which I know some have mentioned Cornell, but to me seems very strongly to be about divorce or a break-up of a very long and serious relationship), what his intention was, and what emotional space he was in when writing it.

Maybe, as people said above, its because this album came together quickly, so maybe he was feeling something at the time, it bled into a bunch of songs at once, and that led to this album that comes off more like a concept album than anything I feel they've ever written perhaps.

even the "sewage in the plumbing" and the "leaving the fucking water running" is a domestic image, making me wonder if it's about a relationship conflict that has spiralled out of control

"she can f'goff" indeed

[tragabigzanda]

pearl jam sucks now

[RockPusher]

Guys I really like this thing like a lot... I know it's still early but so far it feels like the Pearl jam album I didn't know I needed. I just keep smiling all the way through even something special isn't terrible
At 50 I'm like a fucking giddy 20 year old

Listening to Setting Sun feels to me like hearing Black or Release for the first time. I could have never imagined having this experience 33 years into this band's career. Yes, it's crazy, but you are absolutely not alone in having this experience.

[Jaeti]

Listening in headphones and in all honesty, turning down the volume fixes a lot of the production problems.

Yeah, started to notice this last night when I gave it a listen in bed in the dark.