Dark Matter: Official Album Thread

[mattyv1908]

After spending a day buried in the individual tracks for John Evans's mix of Scared of Fear, I'm ready to put like 98% of the blame with the sound on Serban Ghanea and not on Wotman.

Just got done with the festivities of the holiday for vinyl snobs and collectors that is Record Store Day. Had the owner of one of the stores I frequent regularly hold a copy of the PNW variant to keep sealed and got the RSD variant as well for my copy to spin.

Upon opening up the liner notes I must inform that there is not a specific vinyl mix or mastering credit in the liner notes. The RIAA equalization curve standard that all vinyl is cut to due to the technology at hand should help round this out somewhat, but I’m saddened by this and yes this Serban character needs to kept out of any subsequent Pearl Jam recordings.

I know vinyl is experiencing a renaissance so to speak, and this is not a comparison between Gigaton and Dark Matter and the content contained within the albums but consider this. Gigaton’s vinyl master was cut by Chris Bellman and pressed at the audiophile plant Quality Record Pressings with one of the most deluxe gatefold jackets ever seen. Sold for $35 then and absolutely justified. This is a bad sounding,GZ generic pressing running $50.

I’m not suggesting PJ is ripping anyone off with their pricing, just that the people involved in the process of mixing, mastering and distributing the physical product for Gigaton seemed to care more about how the product (songs) sounded.

I really really connected with this new album. It’s a fantastic collection of material from the band. I just think it deserves the same level of care provided Gigaton (and the 45 rpm remastered Vs and Yield pressings).

Josh Evans Atmos mix of this record is an improvement and he should be utilized moving forward as he really did a fantastic job on their last one.

Trag takes a lot of heat on this board from what I can see, but he’s not wrong. If you a/b’d Gigaton and Dark Matter back to back on reference grade speakers using a quality moving coil cartridge and tube phono preamp Gigaton is going to “sound” way more pleasant - even if you think Dark Matter is a better collection of songs.

Cheers sir! Much obliged.

Here’s my gripe. With everything being what it is (Serban Ghanea mix, compression, etc.), the least the band could do is make this three sides like Gigaton. Side B is nearly 28 minutes long, which means Setting Sun (arguably the best track on the record) suffers the most from sibilance and tracking distortion. Now some may argue that they intended side b to start with the intro of Upper Hand, or essentially being the opening song for side B for people who still listen in this format. Ok that’s fair, but at minimal cost expense your looking at the side breaks looking like:

Scared of Fear
React Respond
Wreckage
Dark Matter

Won’t Tell
Upper Hand
Waiting for Stevie - interlude
Running

Something Special
Got to Give
Setting Sun

I think that works just as well and you’re not cheaping out by stuffing too much music into side B when it’s already over compressed.

Where have you been all my life

LOL

For real though, and not to start a discussion about consumerism and what not, I just wish this band would realize it’s good enough to do the upselling in a better manner.

Now I say this as an avid vinyl collector and with Pearl Jam as my favorite band. I just bought two variants of the new LP today at $45 a pop, but there’s ZERO reason for them to have to market themselves in the same way Taylor Swift, Lana Del Rey, etc. are doing multiple variants, multiple album covers and what not. Most of their fans will never play the vinyl and if they do it will be on some Crosley purchased at Walmart which will chew through them in real time.

Pearl Jam needs to recognize its core audience. Rather than 12 variants (I can understand one for RSD to continue supporting brick and mortar record stores), how about producing an audiophile pressing, half speed mastered, 45 rpm, master cut with care and pressed by either MOFI or QRP and sell it for $150. Offer it with the Blu-ray Dolby Atmos mix packaged together and they could probably get a guy like me (and others) to spend $200. Of course that would mean ensuring the signal recordings weren’t redlining the limiters and the mix wasn’t too dynamically smushed. They’ve done it in the past, as recently as their last album.

You could still have your mass production vinyl for the $35-45 price tag that less particular music listeners who still want the physical format to either collect or occasionally spin.

I guess I just feel that Pearl Jam is one of those bands who’ve earned their place as one of the top rock bands in history. Their fan base is mostly comprised of Gen X and early millennials at their peak earning periods of their lives. They can shell out $200-600 for concert tickets to see the band. They would appreciate the audiophile treatment of the bands music.

[WaitingForBluey]

I haven't seen all the visualizers yet, but I've found most are just images on the screen. This one works really well. The images capture the feel of the song, and the lyric captioning feels like part of the experience

WFS and Setting Sun were the most memorable... Wreckage was literally Microsoft Windows screen saver... lol

[stip]

i recall someone (harmless? ) enjoying something special. may do a visualizer listen tomorrow

[ElonDusk]

Hot Take: Won’t Tell is the “cringe” song on the album, not Something Special.

[Tj]

Hot Take: Won’t Tell is the “cringe” song on the album, not Something Special.

That take is a hot pile for sure.

[ElonDusk]

Hot Take: Won’t Tell is the “cringe” song on the album, not Something Special.

That take is a hot pile for sure.

The chorus though?

[Tj]

Hot Take: Won’t Tell is the “cringe” song on the album, not Something Special.

That take is a hot pile for sure.

Sorry that was rude this is a 5 star song. I might expect the intro to trigger some of the more hipster Rmers. As It has a bit of Coldplay Melodramatic cheese. I like it though.

[stip]

Hot Take: Won’t Tell is the “cringe” song on the album, not Something Special.

That take is a hot pile for sure.

The chorus though?

its pop romance - but it sounds great. this album embraces everything

[Ensign9]

After spending a day buried in the individual tracks for John Evans's mix of Scared of Fear, I'm ready to put like 98% of the blame with the sound on Serban Ghanea and not on Wotman.

Just got done with the festivities of the holiday for vinyl snobs and collectors that is Record Store Day. Had the owner of one of the stores I frequent regularly hold a copy of the PNW variant to keep sealed and got the RSD variant as well for my copy to spin.

Upon opening up the liner notes I must inform that there is not a specific vinyl mix or mastering credit in the liner notes. The RIAA equalization curve standard that all vinyl is cut to due to the technology at hand should help round this out somewhat, but I’m saddened by this and yes this Serban character needs to kept out of any subsequent Pearl Jam recordings.

I know vinyl is experiencing a renaissance so to speak, and this is not a comparison between Gigaton and Dark Matter and the content contained within the albums but consider this. Gigaton’s vinyl master was cut by Chris Bellman and pressed at the audiophile plant Quality Record Pressings with one of the most deluxe gatefold jackets ever seen. Sold for $35 then and absolutely justified. This is a bad sounding,GZ generic pressing running $50.

I’m not suggesting PJ is ripping anyone off with their pricing, just that the people involved in the process of mixing, mastering and distributing the physical product for Gigaton seemed to care more about how the product (songs) sounded.

I really really connected with this new album. It’s a fantastic collection of material from the band. I just think it deserves the same level of care provided Gigaton (and the 45 rpm remastered Vs and Yield pressings).

Josh Evans Atmos mix of this record is an improvement and he should be utilized moving forward as he really did a fantastic job on their last one.

Trag takes a lot of heat on this board from what I can see, but he’s not wrong. If you a/b’d Gigaton and Dark Matter back to back on reference grade speakers using a quality moving coil cartridge and tube phono preamp Gigaton is going to “sound” way more pleasant - even if you think Dark Matter is a better collection of songs.

Cheers sir! Much obliged.

Here’s my gripe. With everything being what it is (Serban Ghanea mix, compression, etc.), the least the band could do is make this three sides like Gigaton. Side B is nearly 28 minutes long, which means Setting Sun (arguably the best track on the record) suffers the most from sibilance and tracking distortion. Now some may argue that they intended side b to start with the intro of Upper Hand, or essentially being the opening song for side B for people who still listen in this format. Ok that’s fair, but at minimal cost expense your looking at the side breaks looking like:

Scared of Fear
React Respond
Wreckage
Dark Matter

Won’t Tell
Upper Hand
Waiting for Stevie - interlude
Running

Something Special
Got to Give
Setting Sun

I think that works just as well and you’re not cheaping out by stuffing too much music into side B when it’s already over compressed.

Where have you been all my life

LOL

For real though, and not to start a discussion about consumerism and what not, I just wish this band would realize it’s good enough to do the upselling in a better manner.

Now I say this as an avid vinyl collector and with Pearl Jam as my favorite band. I just bought two variants of the new LP today at $45 a pop, but there’s ZERO reason for them to have to market themselves in the same way Taylor Swift, Lana Del Rey, etc. are doing multiple variants, multiple album covers and what not. Most of their fans will never play the vinyl and if they do it will be on some Crosley purchased at Walmart which will chew through them in real time.

Pearl Jam needs to recognize its core audience. Rather than 12 variants (I can understand one for RSD to continue supporting brick and mortar record stores), how about producing an audiophile pressing, half speed mastered, 45 rpm, master cut with care and pressed by either MOFI or QRP and sell it for $150. Offer it with the Blu-ray Dolby Atmos mix packaged together and they could probably get a guy like me (and others) to spend $200. Of course that would mean ensuring the signal recordings weren’t redlining the limiters and the mix wasn’t too dynamically smushed. They’ve done it in the past, as recently as their last album.

You could still have your mass production vinyl for the $35-45 price tag that less particular music listeners who still want the physical format to either collect or occasionally spin.

I guess I just feel that Pearl Jam is one of those bands who’ve earned their place as one of the top rock bands in history. Their fan base is mostly comprised of Gen X and early millennials at their peak earning periods of their lives. They can shell out $200-600 for concert tickets to see the band. They would appreciate the audiophile treatment of the bands music.

I am a vinyl noob with an untrained ear. I blasted DM earlier and it was great. Then I threw on Binaural and its sound blew DM out of the water.

[WaitingForBluey]

BTW RM... I propose a message we all group bomb to the Ten Club in mass numbers...

Fine sirs and non-capitalist, anti-PRAMG brethren, may I suggest one minor improvement to future album release cycles? It appears to me that every Tom, Dick and Harry that has an internet connection receives an advanced copy of each new PJ album so they can drivel on about some incoherent ramblings that no one wants to read. Yet, the G.O.A.T. of PJ reviews gets locked out time and time again?

Exhibit A:
http://www.theskyiscrape.com/2024/04/da ... w.html?m=1

(More exhibits than you are willing to invest the time in are available upon request)

Stop getting your panties in a bunch about leaks. We have all spent more money supporting this band than we will ever spend to put our own children through college.

Thank you for considering our request.

p.s. WWED
p.s.s potato

[Strat]

Hot Take: Won’t Tell is the “cringe” song on the album, not Something Special.

That take is a hot pile for sure.

The chorus though?

its pop romance - but it sounds great. this album embraces everything

Wont Tell is total pop of sorts. LIke Kings of Leon territory .

But its not the verses, its not the chorus, its the guitar lead line. Instead of Mike Wailing away ...he...or stone...are doing this repetitive lead line in the outro that is very catchy and pop oriented.

The song is fucking great.

[ElonDusk]

Maybe what Won’t Tell is missing is a burner of a McCready solo and that’s what it throwing me off. The other songs have those.

[basically_infirmed]

Hot Take: Won’t Tell is the “cringe” song on the album, not Something Special.

That take is a hot pile for sure.

The chorus though?

its pop romance - but it sounds great. this album embraces everything

Wont Tell is total pop of sorts. LIke Kings of Leon territory .

But its not the verses, its not the chorus, its the guitar lead line. Instead of Mike Wailing away ...he...or stone...are doing this repetitive lead line in the outro that is very catchy and pop oriented.

The song is fucking great.

Ed's delivery of "my heart" is so so good

[VinylGuy]

Won't Tell hadn't hit me properly yet. But just had to pull the car over during the outtro. Jesus H Christ.

yeah, i really love it now and yesterday i was still on the fence

[mattyv1908]

I am a vinyl noob with an untrained ear. I blasted DM earlier and it was great. Then I threw on Binaural and its sound blew DM out of the water.

Congrats on picking up the only habit more expensive than golf lol.

In all seriousness it’s a great hobby. I made the decision in 2020 to make an investment and move beyond the casual vinyl collecting. I work the majority of the week away from the family so when I am home for those 2-4 nights a week I wanted something to do rather than have the television numbingly on. The family hardly watches any TV any more. Instead the teenage daughters are taking turns picking albums while we engage in actual human interaction. It’s been a blessing, and despite the tens of thousands of dollars I’ve sunk amassing a collection of albums, speakers, turntables, cartridges, etc. it’s been worth every penny from a galvanization of our family unit.

And your “noob” ear is on the right track. Once you can decipher the distinction you can’t unhear it. I would recommend you get your hands on the Vs and Yield remastered 45 rpm pressings released last year before the costs get too outrageous on the secondary market. Both can be had on Discogs between $70-90 currently and they will result in the absolute best possible listen of either album you’ve ever had.

Binaural trades places with Yield as my top PJ album and it’s been that way for several years. I hope they do the same thing for Binaural they did for Yield. If any of their albums deserves the proper vinyl treatment it’s Binaural.

[Strat]

Binaural is the Ultimate Pearl Jam. SO thankful for that.

[Ensign9]

I am a vinyl noob with an untrained ear. I blasted DM earlier and it was great. Then I threw on Binaural and its sound blew DM out of the water.

Congrats on picking up the only habit more expensive than golf lol.

In all seriousness it’s a great hobby. I made the decision in 2020 to make an investment and move beyond the casual vinyl collecting. I work the majority of the week away from the family so when I am home for those 2-4 nights a week I wanted something to do rather than have the television numbingly on. The family hardly watches any TV any more. Instead the teenage daughters are taking turns picking albums while we engage in actual human interaction. It’s been a blessing, and despite the tens of thousands of dollars I’ve sunk amassing a collection of albums, speakers, turntables, cartridges, etc. it’s been worth every penny from a galvanization of our family unit.

And your “noob” ear is on the right track. Once you can decipher the distinction you can’t unhear it. I would recommend you get your hands on the Vs and Yield remastered 45 rpm pressings released last year before the costs get too outrageous on the secondary market. Both can be had on Discogs between $70-90 currently and they will result in the absolute best possible listen of either album you’ve ever had.

Binaural trades places with Yield as my top PJ album and it’s been that way for several years. I hope they do the same thing for Binaural they did for Yield. If any of their albums deserves the proper vinyl treatment it’s Binaural.

I’m less than 12 hours into my new turntable and am already a snob. I’ve already got that version of Yield. I need to get better versions of Ten and Vs.

[Strat]

I am a vinyl noob with an untrained ear. I blasted DM earlier and it was great. Then I threw on Binaural and its sound blew DM out of the water.

Congrats on picking up the only habit more expensive than golf lol.

In all seriousness it’s a great hobby. I made the decision in 2020 to make an investment and move beyond the casual vinyl collecting. I work the majority of the week away from the family so when I am home for those 2-4 nights a week I wanted something to do rather than have the television numbingly on. The family hardly watches any TV any more. Instead the teenage daughters are taking turns picking albums while we engage in actual human interaction. It’s been a blessing, and despite the tens of thousands of dollars I’ve sunk amassing a collection of albums, speakers, turntables, cartridges, etc. it’s been worth every penny from a galvanization of our family unit.

And your “noob” ear is on the right track. Once you can decipher the distinction you can’t unhear it. I would recommend you get your hands on the Vs and Yield remastered 45 rpm pressings released last year before the costs get too outrageous on the secondary market. Both can be had on Discogs between $70-90 currently and they will result in the absolute best possible listen of either album you’ve ever had.

Binaural trades places with Yield as my top PJ album and it’s been that way for several years. I hope they do the same thing for Binaural they did for Yield. If any of their albums deserves the proper vinyl treatment it’s Binaural.

I’m less than 12 hours into my new turntable and am already a snob. I’ve already got that version of Yield. I need to get better versions of Ten and Vs.

What table and needle you working with?

[Ensign9]

Fluance RT82 with the Ortofon OM10. I can’t quite convince myself I need to upgrade to the 2M Red or even Blue but my defenses are likely to wear down over the coming weeks.

[mattyv1908]

I am a vinyl noob with an untrained ear. I blasted DM earlier and it was great. Then I threw on Binaural and its sound blew DM out of the water.

Congrats on picking up the only habit more expensive than golf lol.

In all seriousness it’s a great hobby. I made the decision in 2020 to make an investment and move beyond the casual vinyl collecting. I work the majority of the week away from the family so when I am home for those 2-4 nights a week I wanted something to do rather than have the television numbingly on. The family hardly watches any TV any more. Instead the teenage daughters are taking turns picking albums while we engage in actual human interaction. It’s been a blessing, and despite the tens of thousands of dollars I’ve sunk amassing a collection of albums, speakers, turntables, cartridges, etc. it’s been worth every penny from a galvanization of our family unit.

And your “noob” ear is on the right track. Once you can decipher the distinction you can’t unhear it. I would recommend you get your hands on the Vs and Yield remastered 45 rpm pressings released last year before the costs get too outrageous on the secondary market. Both can be had on Discogs between $70-90 currently and they will result in the absolute best possible listen of either album you’ve ever had.

Binaural trades places with Yield as my top PJ album and it’s been that way for several years. I hope they do the same thing for Binaural they did for Yield. If any of their albums deserves the proper vinyl treatment it’s Binaural.

I’m less than 12 hours into my new turntable and am already a snob. I’ve already got that version of Yield. I need to get better versions of Ten and Vs.

Not sure what other music you are into, but the August and Everything After Quality Record Pressing release is worth whatever you have to pay for it. It’s like you’re in the room with them. No Hyperbole.