Dark Matter: Official Album Thread

[DDWJMUVW]

Catching up on the last few pages. A couple things:

I love whoever said. But…I actually think SoF is more concise and the entire track is quality while WES has a few moments I don’t love. To me WES is only great between “home is where…” until the end. Before that it’s actually somewhat mediocre in terms of vocal melodies. And….no solo. Maybe it’s recency bias but SoF end to end contains better quality throughout. The verses and bridge in WES are its finest moments. I think each constituent part of SoF is complete quality.

I’d be shocked if this was their last record. Stone’s comments to Kyle Meredith complexly contradict any notion of this being it (yes it’s just one member’s remarks but I think it’s a relatively valuable data point coming from SG). They’re going to see the overwhelmingly positive reaction to this record relative to the last few efforts and I think it’s going to make them think they can reach even higher. Maybe they can’t in reality, but I believe they will try ESPECIALLY if they can make a record in mere weeks when it suits them. Maybe we have something in 26/27.

On Ed’s lyrics: I once read an interview w Chris Conley of saves the day (yeah I grew up listening to a ton of east coast emo and pop punk alongside my grunge obsession) and I was shocked to learn this: the lyrics and stories in every single song on their most widely beloved record - Through Being Cool - were completely made up. He was taking a creative writing class when they were recording that album and he simply made up stories. They’re fantastic lyrics, but we came to learn years later they were also fantasies. Bottom line - why do we assume everything Ed writes is egocentric? He could be writing about another’s experience of even reflecting something hypothetical as a way of emoting in general. Lyrics are probably stories more often than you know.

[stip]

React Respond - also good visualizer.

This is almost certainly at least partially a political song, and the drawback to writing song by song album reviews in the first 24 hours. thoughts are always evolving but with some songs they are still forming

energy and music on this is great. I am really thinking about gigaton this AM (and how DM stacks against it. And again Gigaton is a top tier PJ album for me - no qualifiers) and there will probably be arbitrariy track by track compairsons.

Both SBWM and RR are playful, deceptively introspective songs. I think once SBWM gets going it is exceptional (another 5 star song for me). it has a few lyrics and moments that are all time catalog highlights for me. It took a while. SBWM was a journey of liking a song just a little bit more until i woke up one morning and realized ‘oh shit, is Superbloof Wolfmoon a five star song. I think it is. Would I rather hear it then almost anything else in the catalog? I think I would). RR feels more exciting. more unexpected. more immediate. But the SBWM bridge and outro gets me more than anything here. And overall (but not uniformly) SBWM has better lyrics. With a handful of exceptions (you know what!) i like the writing on gigaton more. it is more ornate, maybe even more try-hard in places, but it has really rewarded deep and persistent reflection - at least eddie’s lyrics

RR may make it to that elite tier. I have no notes. Great song. This may take time to fully arrive. i cannot sing along with the whole song and thats really when i know how i am going to feel about a song long term

[stip]

Dark Matter —> Won’t Tell - the first four songs serve together as a table setter of the themes the band is getting at here: the struggle itself. It’s at this point the band then sets its hopeful message. The music in the next three songs are anthemic massive builds, each song in this Act II individually rising up and taking Pearl Jam to new places. Won’t Tell begins by breaking into poppier territory, almost teasing you that we are getting a break on the intensity through the first half until the U2-like riff and climax of this song bringing you right back to the emotional heaviness, only this serves a feeling of exuberance than what came before.

Won’t Tell —> Upper Hand - knowing now that this breaks side one and side two brings a whole new appreciation for this both being part 2 of a 3 part anthemic journey. It contextualizes the long intro, honestly one of my favorite moments of this album, as a slow return to anthem territory after intermission. That intro makes a promise to us that big things are ahead, and I admit I was a little nervous when Eddie finally chimed in because he bears a huge responsibility of making good on that intro. Smoky blues from McCready and Vedder begin to deliver on that promise, but the beyond epic finish achieve that promise of absolute victory.

Upper Hand —> Waiting For Stevie - absolutely no letting up. I could never describe the emotional response to this song as well as stip, whose description to me is the absolute definitive reaction I also get from it. It also takes the album up yet another notch after Upper Hand blows the place open. Is this even possible. The amount of height the album has hit is so ridiculously high that you can’t help but feel exhausted. And that aside, these songs are such a powerful statement that there just can’t be a next after it.

Waiting For Stevie —> Running - in that vein, they wisely don’t even try. Using the interlude as a chance to bring it down a bit, they course change just at the right moment to give us a song that fits thematically in its frenetic energy, but feels just as much as Pearl Jam reminding you that we can just have fun and rock the hell out rather than be weighted down by our struggle.

Running —> Something Special - Running nearly falls off the rails into its bridge, and so to regain a sense of musical control they simplify things here, and I think even if slightly mournfully or with hesitancy let us know the struggle continues but for our own personal next generations. Yes the song has its cheese, but they wisely lean into it instead of winking, and take the weight off the proceedings just for a moment.

Something Special —> Got to Give - other albums would have ended with Something Special, and left us wanting. This album refuses to end on that note, and brings us a song that starts in an intro that suggests more of the latter that then builds to a Who like defiance. It ain’t over yet!

Got to Give —> Setting Sun - the album ends here in such dramatic fashion there’s fear Got to Give will be a forgotten tune amongst all of this, and that may be true. Setting Sun encapsulates everything that’s happened and been accomplished in the entirety of the album, takes all that weight and expectation, and in its second half topples over even all of that. It’s so emotional and powerful in its place as the album closer that the band, and you in response, have completed this album with nothing left. But in its closing, Eddie reminds us let us not fade, because even after all of that, there’s still work to do. And so we push on.

didnt want this bottom paged. great posts. love your closing thoughts. And it reminds me (and I am excited for/by) that i still have a lot of discovery to do with wont tell and upper hand

[mikejasond]

Jesus christ, people on facebook are speculating about Ed having a divorce soon and hope he will be happier soon and how it's sad that this is happening after 20 years

It was a fleeting conversation, but, even this place wasn't above that for about half a day...that discussion was had.

I still say it’s hard not to think about the possibility when the man who rarely sings breakup songs and most songs addressing such things are about his contentment and love with his family (like Sirens) suddenly released an album where over half the songs seem to be melancholy breakup songs. Including the first three and last two songs.

I know people are saying they aren’t breakup songs but they all certainly seem to be….

I don’t necessarily think it’s true he has relationship troubles but I still claim it’s hard not to speculate about it reading the dark and specific sounding lyrics. I still think it’s strange.

(It kinda feels like people jump through hoops to explain why the clear breakup songs are not actually breakup songs but maybe I am being too literal >_>)

[jdopj]

Someone mentioned about emotional responses and I felt compelled to share one I had on my last listen to Setting Sun. Long story short my father passed away young in the early 90s and Release was a big connecting point for me with Pearl Jam and dealing with that loss.

Fast forward to Setting Sun and I have a daughter getting ready to leave for college this Fall--our only kid-- and she is a wonderful person, and thinking of my Dad because he never met her and I just had this emotion with that lyric "if you could see what I see now, you'd find a way to stay somehow" and it just was this moment Pearl Jam or much of anything has not caused in a very long time.

I don't relish this thought, but Setting Sun is a song I will reach for in order to let it destroy me whenever my parents die.

Fuck, man.

Binaural was coming out as my father’s life was coming to an end. That record, and specifically Light Years, wrecked me. I needed that record. I’m connected it to it in a big way. My brother and I traveled for some shows it helped us.
Nothing has come close to touching those emotions until this. Those emotions have come back and I’m a 53 year old father so it adds multiple layers.
I can totally feel where you are coming from.

[stip]

Jesus christ, people on facebook are speculating about Ed having a divorce soon and hope he will be happier soon and how it's sad that this is happening after 20 years

It was a fleeting conversation, but, even this place wasn't above that for about half a day...that discussion was had.

I still say it’s hard not to think about the possibility when the man who rarely sings breakup songs and most songs addressing such things are about his contentment and love with his family (like Sirens) suddenly released an album where over half the songs seem to be melancholy breakup songs. Including the first three and last two songs.

I know people are saying they aren’t breakup songs but they all certainly seem to be….

I don’t necessarily think it’s true he has relationship troubles but I still claim it’s hard not to speculate about it reading the dark and specific sounding lyrics. I still think it’s strange.

(It kinda feels like people jump through hoops to explain why the clear breakup songs are not actually breakup songs but maybe I am being too literal >_>)

I think they are certainly songs about loss, and relationships (though not necessarily just romantic love). I think the resistance is that it is about his actual marriage

[stip]

Catching up on the last few pages. A couple things:

I love whoever said. But…I actually think SoF is more concise and the entire track is quality while WES has a few moments I don’t love. To me WES is only great between “home is where…” until the end. Before that it’s actually somewhat mediocre in terms of vocal melodies. And….no solo. Maybe it’s recency bias but SoF end to end contains better quality throughout. The verses and bridge in WES are its finest moments. I think each constituent part of SoF is complete quality.

I’d be shocked if this was their last record. Stone’s comments to Kyle Meredith complexly contradict any notion of this being it (yes it’s just one member’s remarks but I think it’s a relatively valuable data point coming from SG). They’re going to see the overwhelmingly positive reaction to this record relative to the last few efforts and I think it’s going to make them think they can reach even higher. Maybe they can’t in reality, but I believe they will try ESPECIALLY if they can make a record in mere weeks when it suits them. Maybe we have something in 26/27.

On Ed’s lyrics: I once read an interview w Chris Conley of saves the day (yeah I grew up listening to a ton of east coast emo and pop punk alongside my grunge obsession) and I was shocked to learn this: the lyrics and stories in every single song on their most widely beloved record - Through Being Cool - were completely made up. He was taking a creative writing class when they were recording that album and he simply made up stories. They’re fantastic lyrics, but we came to learn years later they were also fantasies. Bottom line - why do we assume everything Ed writes is egocentric? He could be writing about another’s experience of even reflecting something hypothetical as a way of emoting in general. Lyrics are probably stories more often than you know.

I am at certainly guilty of this to a point - I do NOT think he is only writing about his direct experience. I do think his stories are devices to work through what he is thinking/feeling/pondering in the moment.

I actually don't think Eddie is that great a story teller, despite his incredible depths of empathy as a writer, when he is working purely in the realm of fiction. I think his talent is making a connection to a person, idea, moment, and pouring himself into it (not in an imperial, egoistic way) - to try to feel it as they would feel it so that he could understand (it's also why pearl jam's music is shockingly nonjudgmental for a band that certain has opinions). So it's not that songs are about him as much as he puts a piece of himself in them

Or at least that's what I like to imagine

[Ms Harmless]

Jesus christ, people on facebook are speculating about Ed having a divorce soon and hope he will be happier soon and how it's sad that this is happening after 20 years

It was a fleeting conversation, but, even this place wasn't above that for about half a day...that discussion was had.

I still say it’s hard not to think about the possibility when the man who rarely sings breakup songs and most songs addressing such things are about his contentment and love with his family (like Sirens) suddenly released an album where over half the songs seem to be melancholy breakup songs. Including the first three and last two songs.

I know people are saying they aren’t breakup songs but they all certainly seem to be….

I don’t necessarily think it’s true he has relationship troubles but I still claim it’s hard not to speculate about it reading the dark and specific sounding lyrics. I still think it’s strange.

(It kinda feels like people jump through hoops to explain why the clear breakup songs are not actually breakup songs but maybe I am being too literal >_>)

I agree, in the cinema it just all seemed uncharacteristically bitter, but it might just be new metaphors he's reaching for

[Arthur Morgan]

Stip ”One of the more interesting manifestations of this experience is found in the pop sensibilities encoded into the record in a way we’ve never heard before. Some this must be sourced to the fusion of Watt’s pop and rock producing background. Pearl Jam has always paid homage to their heroes and worn those influences on their sleeve. They are incredibly conscious of and informed by music history. It’s a fundamental part of their DNA. And the list of Pearl Jam’s major influences is full of rock artists whose music has significant pop elements. Yet Pearl Jam has always stopped short of fully embracing this side of their music, despite their effortless facility. Watt gave them permission to own that potential within their sound, and Dark Matter allows Pearl Jam to lean into their heroes more overtly in ways that enhance, rather than overpower, their core musical identity.”


Stip great write up!!

I especially love this part. Thanks for putting on paper what has been on my mind for a long time. I have always thought that PJ had way more pop roots than they allowed to show in their original music.

Many of their heroes like Bruce, Neil, The Who, KISS, The Beatles…..the list goes on and on. Those are pop groups. Yes they have had records or songs that were meant to challenge themselves and the listener, but they also had songs that were trying to be great and wanted to be timeless, catchy, accessible.

I think it’s one of the reason I love this album. It feels to me that they are letting go of their punk ethos for a minute and are embracing the other half of their identity.

And in some ways I feel this may be the most sincere record that they have made since Ten.

So thanks again!

[mikejasond]

Jesus christ, people on facebook are speculating about Ed having a divorce soon and hope he will be happier soon and how it's sad that this is happening after 20 years

It was a fleeting conversation, but, even this place wasn't above that for about half a day...that discussion was had.

I still say it’s hard not to think about the possibility when the man who rarely sings breakup songs and most songs addressing such things are about his contentment and love with his family (like Sirens) suddenly released an album where over half the songs seem to be melancholy breakup songs. Including the first three and last two songs.

I know people are saying they aren’t breakup songs but they all certainly seem to be….

I don’t necessarily think it’s true he has relationship troubles but I still claim it’s hard not to speculate about it reading the dark and specific sounding lyrics. I still think it’s strange.

(It kinda feels like people jump through hoops to explain why the clear breakup songs are not actually breakup songs but maybe I am being too literal >_>)

I think they are certainly songs about loss, and relationships (though not necessarily just romantic love). I think the resistance is that it is about his actual marriage

Yeah, its very possible that its NOT about his actual marriage, but when a guy so suddenly changes the way he writes about these topics, it is striking, especially when the lyrics FEEL so personal. And when a song-writer puts out an album and seems to be feeling strong feelings and putting out certain messages, of course people will speculate as to what caused them to feel and write these things. As Ms Harmless said above "uncharacteristically bitter" is also how I would describe it, so when you see that, you are struck and wonder why he is writing in such a way and what is on his mind.

I do think that a LOT of the lyrics suit the interpretation of a romantic relationship....when you read the lyrics through with that interpretation a lot of lines just make sense, and few lines contradict. For example, others talked about Setting Sun maybe being about someone like Cornell. But that does not explain lines like "There's no way to fix a love gone wrong" and "Had the dream you would stay with me till kingdom come" very strongly evokes "til death do us part". And while there are other possible interpretations for each individual song, when you put the whole together, it creates a larger picture.

[stip]

Okay, shit. I just had my first moment with Wreckage watching the Visualizer. Somewhere towards the 3rd or 4th verse (depending on how you count) I was just a little overpowered by how beautiful Eddie's performance is in this song. The vocal melodies, the things unfolding in the lyrics I'm just starting to grasp. This is an incredible performance that is so understand and wise and heartfelt without being showy, which just makes the small moments where he elevates hit that much harder. This just connected with me in a way that a sister song like Off He Goes never has. Not even once (not picking on that song. It's just a fan favorite that I've never really enjoyed). I am excited to have something I can slot into that space, and I'll definitely be coming back here in the weeks ahead to spend some time.

It's too soon for me to give this five stars. But it has now had that transition moment where it enters the consideration.

What a gift this record is

[stip]

Jesus christ, people on facebook are speculating about Ed having a divorce soon and hope he will be happier soon and how it's sad that this is happening after 20 years

It was a fleeting conversation, but, even this place wasn't above that for about half a day...that discussion was had.

I still say it’s hard not to think about the possibility when the man who rarely sings breakup songs and most songs addressing such things are about his contentment and love with his family (like Sirens) suddenly released an album where over half the songs seem to be melancholy breakup songs. Including the first three and last two songs.

I know people are saying they aren’t breakup songs but they all certainly seem to be….

I don’t necessarily think it’s true he has relationship troubles but I still claim it’s hard not to speculate about it reading the dark and specific sounding lyrics. I still think it’s strange.

(It kinda feels like people jump through hoops to explain why the clear breakup songs are not actually breakup songs but maybe I am being too literal >_>)

I think they are certainly songs about loss, and relationships (though not necessarily just romantic love). I think the resistance is that it is about his actual marriage

Yeah, its very possible that its NOT about his actual marriage, but when a guy so suddenly changes the way he writes about these topics, it is striking, especially when the lyrics FEEL so personal. And when a song-writer puts out an album and seems to be feeling strong feelings and putting out certain messages, of course people will speculate as to what caused them to feel and write these things. As Ms Harmless said above "uncharacteristically bitter" is also how I would describe it, so when you see that, you are struck and wonder why he is writing in such a way and what is on his mind.

I do think that a LOT of the lyrics suit the interpretation of a romantic relationship....when you read the lyrics through with that interpretation a lot of lines just make sense, and few lines contradict. For example, others talked about Setting Sun maybe being about someone like Cornell. But that does not explain lines like "There's no way to fix a love gone wrong" and "Had the dream you would stay with me till kingdom come" very strongly evokes "til death do us part". And while there are other possible interpretations for each individual song, when you put the whole together, it creates a larger picture.

That's not an unreasonable interpretation for sure. It's just not mine.

But the jump some people see here is (I think) a lot smaller than people realize. Starting on Backspacer (Speed of Sound and the End in particular) and running through Lightning Bolt and Gigaton in major ways (Lightning Bolt has a lot to say that gets lost because folks aren't drawn to the music) there are absolutely concerns about loss, about not having done enough, about running out of time. And Backspacer was over 15 years ago. LB was ten. Time is catching up. In the previous albums he fixated more on what he HAS to lose and so that turned some of the songs about loss into love (Sirens, for instance). And whenever Eddie has written about love he is usually pretty careful to be non-specific so people can read their own lives into the song. And (with some exceptions) we tend to draw away from the songs that he really clearly makes about a specific relationship. Yeah, we're glad you love your family, but what does that have to do with me?


Long Road is also about a gym teacher. Smile is about a work friend. Eddie has a life we just don't know about.

[stip]

Stip ”One of the more interesting manifestations of this experience is found in the pop sensibilities encoded into the record in a way we’ve never heard before. Some this must be sourced to the fusion of Watt’s pop and rock producing background. Pearl Jam has always paid homage to their heroes and worn those influences on their sleeve. They are incredibly conscious of and informed by music history. It’s a fundamental part of their DNA. And the list of Pearl Jam’s major influences is full of rock artists whose music has significant pop elements. Yet Pearl Jam has always stopped short of fully embracing this side of their music, despite their effortless facility. Watt gave them permission to own that potential within their sound, and Dark Matter allows Pearl Jam to lean into their heroes more overtly in ways that enhance, rather than overpower, their core musical identity.”


Stip great write up!!

I especially love this part. Thanks for putting on paper what has been on my mind for a long time. I have always thought that PJ had way more pop roots than they allowed to show in their original music.

Many of their heroes like Bruce, Neil, The Who, KISS, The Beatles…..the list goes on and on. Those are pop groups. Yes they have had records or songs that were meant to challenge themselves and the listener, but they also had songs that were trying to be great and wanted to be timeless, catchy, accessible.

I think it’s one of the reason I love this album. It feels to me that they are letting go of their punk ethos for a minute and are embracing the other half of their identity.

And in some ways I feel this may be the most sincere record that they have made since Ten.

So thanks again!

thanks for reading it! At least that part

[stip]

Got distracted. Continuining with my arbitrary Gigaton/Dark Matter comparison, I am not prepared to put Wreckage ahead of Dance, which remains such a singular, almost flawlessly (one lyric aside) exercise into a space they've never gone. I don't know that Dance is unequivocally the best song since at least S/T anymore, but it still remains a bar, if not the bar, set for recent work.


For score keeping

Who Ever Said vs. Scared of Fear (I'll give this a tie. SOF is the better overall listen. But WES has higher highs)
Superblood Wolfmoon vs. React/Respond - still giving this to Superblood
Dance of the Clarivoyants vs. Wreckage - it's Dance, but Wreckage is a song to watch

Onto Dark Matter

[FlatSideofaDog]

I haven't checked their social media etc but reading here that they are still together is not surprising. The lyrics were written a while ago and obviously there is fight in them. Some detours into resignation, but no sense of defeat.

[Arthur Morgan]

Stip ”One of the more interesting manifestations of this experience is found in the pop sensibilities encoded into the record in a way we’ve never heard before. Some this must be sourced to the fusion of Watt’s pop and rock producing background. Pearl Jam has always paid homage to their heroes and worn those influences on their sleeve. They are incredibly conscious of and informed by music history. It’s a fundamental part of their DNA. And the list of Pearl Jam’s major influences is full of rock artists whose music has significant pop elements. Yet Pearl Jam has always stopped short of fully embracing this side of their music, despite their effortless facility. Watt gave them permission to own that potential within their sound, and Dark Matter allows Pearl Jam to lean into their heroes more overtly in ways that enhance, rather than overpower, their core musical identity.”


Stip great write up!!

I especially love this part. Thanks for putting on paper what has been on my mind for a long time. I have always thought that PJ had way more pop roots than they allowed to show in their original music.

Many of their heroes like Bruce, Neil, The Who, KISS, The Beatles…..the list goes on and on. Those are pop groups. Yes they have had records or songs that were meant to challenge themselves and the listener, but they also had songs that were trying to be great and wanted to be timeless, catchy, accessible.

I think it’s one of the reason I love this album. It feels to me that they are letting go of their punk ethos for a minute and are embracing the other half of their identity.

And in some ways I feel this may be the most sincere record that they have made since Ten.

So thanks again!

thanks for reading it! At least that part

Nah man, the whole write up is good

[Arthur Morgan]

Got distracted. Continuining with my arbitrary Gigaton/Dark Matter comparison, I am not prepared to put Wreckage ahead of Dance, which remains such a singular, almost flawlessly (one lyric aside) exercise into a space they've never gone. I don't know that Dance is unequivocally the best song since at least S/T anymore, but it still remains a bar, if not the bar, set for recent work.


For score keeping

Who Ever Said vs. Scared of Fear (I'll give this a tie. SOF is the better overall listen. But WES has higher highs)
Superblood Wolfmoon vs. React/Respond - still giving this to Superblood
Dance of the Clarivoyants vs. Wreckage - it's Dance, but Wreckage is a song to watch

Onto Dark Matter

Re Dotc what lyric are you referring to?

[RockPusher]

Got distracted. Continuining with my arbitrary Gigaton/Dark Matter comparison, I am not prepared to put Wreckage ahead of Dance, which remains such a singular, almost flawlessly (one lyric aside) exercise into a space they've never gone. I don't know that Dance is unequivocally the best song since at least S/T anymore, but it still remains a bar, if not the bar, set for recent work.


For score keeping

Who Ever Said vs. Scared of Fear (I'll give this a tie. SOF is the better overall listen. But WES has higher highs)
Superblood Wolfmoon vs. React/Respond - still giving this to Superblood
Dance of the Clarivoyants vs. Wreckage - it's Dance, but Wreckage is a song to watch

Onto Dark Matter

Re Dotc what lyric are you referring to?

Probably “Boys wanna grow their dicks”

[stip]

Dark matter - this is a fun, if repetitive visualizer.

I think I am undervaluing how much I love this song. I adored it as a single. It is maybe the only pre-release not enhanced by its placement in the album (for me) since I loved what it was doing already and it feels, if not like an outlier, at least a song that is slightly outside the conversation of the rest of the record (where a song like Running is absolutley enhanced by the fact that it is being asked to serve a very specific function, and nails it)

But I love pretty much everything about this

1. Music - check. The main riff is simple, perhaps, but they give it interesting character and it is just thunderous. What was the last moment this heavy? Even the aggressive songs on S/T didn't feel this tectonic.
2. Great Mike solo - check. All passion. It's like sawing a battlefield surgeon sawing a leg off to save a patient
3. Ed delivery - check. He makes great use of his range. He knows exactly when to turn it on and hold back. And it's a song that is designed for the current character in his voice - the mix of knowing, pleading, head shaking, and occasional outrage that fits in with this perfectly
4. Lyrics - check. The lines that need to hit, hit. His delivery enhances them. It's not perfect all the way through but this is a pretty unedited/first or second take approach to writing, and it's good

I mean it's not their most exciting bridge, but it is a breath before an explosive ending, and it's a short song that manages its internal dynamics just fine without it.

I am just going to go ahead and say that, for me, this is five star song.

[stip]

Got distracted. Continuining with my arbitrary Gigaton/Dark Matter comparison, I am not prepared to put Wreckage ahead of Dance, which remains such a singular, almost flawlessly (one lyric aside) exercise into a space they've never gone. I don't know that Dance is unequivocally the best song since at least S/T anymore, but it still remains a bar, if not the bar, set for recent work.


For score keeping

Who Ever Said vs. Scared of Fear (I'll give this a tie. SOF is the better overall listen. But WES has higher highs)
Superblood Wolfmoon vs. React/Respond - still giving this to Superblood
Dance of the Clarivoyants vs. Wreckage - it's Dance, but Wreckage is a song to watch

Onto Dark Matter

Re Dotc what lyric are you referring to?

Probably “Boys wanna grow their dicks”

That's the one