Dark Matter: Official Album Thread

[stip]

The songs that originally hit (R/R, Upper Hand, Got to Give) are still top level for me. But it's the magnitude of growth from the lukewarm songs on initial listen (SOF, Wreckage, Won't Tell, Stevie, Setting Sun) that has me so shocked.

Further proof that trying to write reactions after first listen is a silly experiment. If I went back and read my original notes I would probably cringe at most of it.

I enjoy the process of seeing how my and others thoughts and impressions evolve. It’s an exercise in vulnerability.

same. and seeing how others react and change help me figure out what to pay attention to. this happened to me with hearing folks talk about wreckage

[Gigalogy84]

This might be the first Pearl Jam album where I like every song on first listen. I’m not meaning “oh yeah the first 8 songs are really good but the last couple meh.” Or “there are maybe two or three songs that are ok or not bad.” I mean every song on here is great.

[epilogue]

The vinyl just arrived!

Really looking forward to that first spin on the player.

[Revelator]

The songs that originally hit (R/R, Upper Hand, Got to Give) are still top level for me. But it's the magnitude of growth from the lukewarm songs on initial listen (SOF, Wreckage, Won't Tell, Stevie, Setting Sun) that has me so shocked.

Further proof that trying to write reactions after first listen is a silly experiment. If I went back and read my original notes I would probably cringe at most of it.

I enjoy the process of seeing how my and others thoughts and impressions evolve. It’s an exercise in vulnerability.

same. and seeing how others react and change help me figure out what to pay attention to. this happened to me with hearing folks talk about wreckage

I'll be the first to eat my words on Something Special. Hated the 30 second clip and presumptuously dogged it as probably the album's weakest track. While the latter may still be true from my perspective, using the term 'weak' incredibly short sighted. It's actually a pretty pleasant song on the ears; Eddie sounds fantastic and Mike's guitar licks are the highlight

[stip]

This might be the first Pearl Jam album where I like every song on first listen. I’m not meaning “oh yeah the first 8 songs are really good but the last couple meh.” Or “there are maybe two or three songs that are ok or not bad.” I mean every song on here is great.

this is just a really high level of consist goodness

[WaitingForBluey]

This might be the first Pearl Jam album where I like every song on first listen. I’m not meaning “oh yeah the first 8 songs are really good but the last couple meh.” Or “there are maybe two or three songs that are ok or not bad.” I mean every song on here is great.

this is just a really high level of consist goodness

The strong ending definitely closes the deal

[Thejambi]

The songs that originally hit (R/R, Upper Hand, Got to Give) are still top level for me. But it's the magnitude of growth from the lukewarm songs on initial listen (SOF, Wreckage, Won't Tell, Stevie, Setting Sun) that has me so shocked.

Further proof that trying to write reactions after first listen is a silly experiment. If I went back and read my original notes I would probably cringe at most of it.

I enjoy the process of seeing how my and others thoughts and impressions evolve. It’s an exercise in vulnerability.

same. and seeing how others react and change help me figure out what to pay attention to. this happened to me with hearing folks talk about wreckage

I'll be the first to eat my words on Something Special. Hated the 30 second clip and presumptuously dogged it as probably the album's weakest track. While the latter may still be true from my perspective, using the term 'weak' incredibly short sighted. It's actually a pretty pleasant song on the ears; Eddie sounds fantastic and Mike's guitar licks are the highlight

I’ll share some of that crow as well. While some of the lyrics and delivery are pretty poor in spots, the overall song is much more pleasing than I thought it would be. I doubt I’ll ever seek it out but I don’t think it would be a skipper if it came on.

[VinylGuy]

The vinyl just arrived!

Really looking forward to that first spin on the player.

booklet seems very cool for what i saw

[Tj]

I am noticing a phenomenon that we all want to compare song x to song y of a different album based on were it falls in sequence. I resist this notion and compare it to song of same rank on another album.

Example worst on Dark Matter vs worst on Gig LB Bs

Dark Matter vs Buckle Up
Vs Sleeping by My Self
Vs Got Some
Or Best vs Best

Given to Fly vs Corduroy
Or 3 Best vs 3rd best
Animal vs Upper Hand vs SBWM
Of course it is subjective and kind of ever evolving but interesting.

[epilogue]

The vinyl just arrived!

Really looking forward to that first spin on the player.

booklet seems very cool for what i saw

Yeah, I dig it.

The vinyl itself has some cool etchings on it too.

[VinylGuy]

The vinyl just arrived!

Really looking forward to that first spin on the player.

booklet seems very cool for what i saw

Yeah, I dig it.

The vinyl itself has some cool etchings on it too.

color variant? or black

[epilogue]

The vinyl just arrived!

Really looking forward to that first spin on the player.

booklet seems very cool for what i saw

Yeah, I dig it.

The vinyl itself has some cool etchings on it too.

color variant? or black

Black

[stip]

i ordered from republic records directly and it hasnt arrived yet (the deluxe cd)

[epilogue]

i ordered from republic records directly and it hasnt arrived yet (the deluxe cd)

I couldn't afford to order directly from PJ, so I did Amazon.

[WaitingForBluey]

Can any of the mods tell me how I can change my username? Or do it for me?

Thinking about how great it is that Ed wrote amazing lyrics and stayed away from political themes... also, there's a depressing Shipshewana coming later this year, we need to stayed unified

Anyways, I don't like the thought that people would assume my username is a political statement. It's time for a change.

Most likely will keep it in the color spectrum, something like "blackstate"

However, an album themed username could be fun...

NotScaredofBeer
WeactWespond
Wrexhamage
DarkWatter
WontSmell
UpperMichighand
HiImStevie
Punning
SomethingAwful
GotToWhiz
SettingPun

[Rangi Guy]

i ordered from republic records directly and it hasnt arrived yet (the deluxe cd)

I couldn't afford to order directly from PJ, so I did Amazon.

Possibly a wise choice. The one I ordered from PJ is still waiting to be picked up

[tyweed]

I'm listening to the album right now but I'm not really listening. Hearing it in spurts on my phone while doing chores. McCready's guitar stands out to me, and Ed's voice seems like it's better than that stylish shit he was doing in the 2010s. Initial assessment of this thing is "familiar in a good way."

This is a really good observation about Ed's voice. He's not trying to push it beyond his range (I say that acknowledging that Watt may have pitch-corrected some of his vocals) nor is he using those strange delivery quirks that do a poor job of covering his aging voice.

He sings within himself without trying to conjure up "Release" or "Nothingman"-type vocal performances.

[WaitingForBluey]

i ordered from republic records directly and it hasnt arrived yet (the deluxe cd)

I couldn't afford to order directly from PJ, so I did Amazon.

Possibly a wise choice. The one I ordered from PJ is still waiting to be picked up

When I went to my local record store the other day, they were completely stocked with anything PJ-related I could possibly need... then I thought, why the heck did I pay $80 for a Ten Club order?!
#NeverAgain

[Noaheb]

i ordered from republic records directly and it hasnt arrived yet (the deluxe cd)

I couldn't afford to order directly from PJ, so I did Amazon.

Possibly a wise choice. The one I ordered from PJ is still waiting to be picked up

mine was in an amazon warehouse 40 minutes away and was delayed friday...it sat there until today and now its saying it should be here in the next couple of hours. it should have been delivered yesterday no idea what the fuck amazons doing.

[vedder316]

Initially settled on a top 6 that didn’t include Upper Hand or Got to Give. Thinking that might have been pretty dumb.

This record is really, really strong.