Dark Matter: Official Album Thread

[VinylGuy]

But its a weird dig, they could have hid the whole story if wanted to and they are still talking about how it happened

[E.H. Ruddock]

My liner notes on vinyl it says all songs written by all band members. So the riff is everybody’s

[Birds in Hell]

Maybe we're going to find out that what's different about this album is that Watt actually wrote the whole thing.

Hmm, I have my doubts...

[lecherouslittlestump]

Them being cagey on who wrote WFS is major suss and to be honest is making me think Watt (and other co writers?) has a large hand in writing this album. Honestly, it's lessening my enjoyment of the album

[Tj]

I am just starting to except my opinion of this album isn't miss guided. That it is as remarkable as I felt upon first listen. I can't really overstate it. I was on a long drive with what I would call a reluctant pearl jam fan . What I mean by that is . This isn't a die hard but this person knows the catalog pretty well. Isn't overly moved by them and only a few at most songs resonate with this individual. The person is also drawn to songs because of lyrics in general. The person isn't what I would call someone who is heavily into music the way I am.
It's also notable that while the individual has taste that I enjoy it is a very accessible music this person usually likes. I say all this to try to paint a picture of the listener.
She confided in me that the musical explosion in Setting Sun brought her to tears.

[RockPusher]

Maybe we're going to find out that what's different about this album is that Watt actually wrote the whole thing.

Hmm, I have my doubts...

That is reassuringly awful

[Kevin Davis]

Maybe we're going to find out that what's different about this album is that Watt actually wrote the whole thing.

Hmm, I have my doubts...

This video is quite a ride

[DDWJMUVW]

yeah guys, its kinda weird a few of you are still on the fence with Watt. He did great with the band, the new album is awesome, the band is really happy and ready to tour.

Happy times.

That about sums it up. Yet we have people nit picking the way Matt's snare sounds.

Guess what: you can actually HEAR all the instruments and all 5 guys (and presumably Wottman and Kling) seem to be at the top of their game with enthusiasm through the roof.

It's been a long time since we could say that...

[RockPusher]

I am just starting to except my opinion of this album isn't miss guided. That it is as remarkable as I felt upon first listen. I can't really overstate it. I was on a long drive with what I would call a reluctant pearl jam fan . What I mean by that is . This isn't a die hard but this person knows the catalog pretty well. Isn't overly moved by them and only a few at most songs resonate with this individual. The person is also drawn to songs because of lyrics in general. The person isn't what I would call someone who is heavily into music the way I am.
It's also notable that while the individual has taste that I enjoy it is a very accessible music this person usually likes. I say all this to try to paint a picture of the listener.
She confided in me that the musical explosion in Setting Sun brought her to tears.

This is beautiful.

[RockPusher]

Them being cagey on who wrote WFS is major suss and to be honest is making me think Watt (and other co writers?) has a large hand in writing this album. Honestly, it's lessening my enjoyment of the album

Too bad so sad

[Birds in Hell]

Maybe we're going to find out that what's different about this album is that Watt actually wrote the whole thing.

Hmm, I have my doubts...

This video is quite a ride

The stage-dive into what looks like about twenty people felt a bit over the top, not to mention dangerous to all concerned.

[Ms Harmless]

lol that Watt song really does exactly the same thing for 3.30

[tragabigzanda]

pearl jam sucks now

[stip]

Maybe we're going to find out that what's different about this album is that Watt actually wrote the whole thing.

Hmm, I have my doubts...

This video is quite a ride

The stage-dive into what looks like about twenty people felt a bit over the top, not to mention dangerous to all concerned.

Is there a visualizer? that's the only way I am consuming music going forward

[FlatSideofaDog]

lots of people overthinking this, there's no reason Ed would lie

Unless you dislike Ed and are disgusted by the idea of pursued collaborates. Perfect thing to jump on for validation!

Much love

I think a lot of people are taking things personally and aren't able to be neutral as a result. I love DM and have nothing against Ed. But at some point, DM is going to be included in your pj album rankings. So, before you put DM above Yield (or whatever), don't you care who wrote WFS and some of the other brightest parts of DM? To be honest, because of the collaborations, I'm in the process of trying to figure out whether I'll ever include DM in my pj rankings. and part of that process is figurin out exactly how much Watt contributed. I considered maybe O'Brien contributed a little here and there back in the day, too. But on sirius, stone said WFS is 'as much of a collaboration as we've ever done.' So whatever O'Brien did was not the same as what Watt did. As things stand, I think DM would be Gigaton 2.0 without Watt and I love Gigaton but it's not as good as DM.

[Ms Harmless]

I don’t think Spenno is out of bounds here. I admit I’m liking the album more and more, and could see 5-6 of these songs sticking around in my brain as catalog highlights, which is so surprising and so great. But I’m simultaneously identifying a lot of aspects that feel like retreads, and this album basically feels like the album Lightning Bolt wanted to me.

The execution is obviously WAY better, and I already like it more than Gigaton. But there is a bit of disappointment in what appears to be a gradual by the band of acceptance of certain formulas, and a reliance on outside help to generate song ideas.

Also, I only listened to the two new songs on Stern but Ed sounded rough. Also did Stone play the SoF riff a bit differently? I couldn’t play shit at 6am, but I think it probably speaks somewhat to the way these songs were made and the way they operate: generate ideas quickly, cut them while the idea is hot, then scramble to remember how to play it before you broadcast live on a nationally broadcast show.

They’re not so young anymore; neither am I. My knees hurt all the time.

The end.

I'm really happy with the Pearl Jam album but that Watt song is garbage, can we have a remix of that?

[FlatSideofaDog]

lots of people overthinking this, there's no reason Ed would lie

Unless you dislike Ed and are disgusted by the idea of pursued collaborates. Perfect thing to jump on for validation!

Much love

I think a lot of people are taking things personally and aren't able to be neutral as a result. I love DM and have nothing against Ed. But at some point, DM is going to be included in your pj album rankings. So, before you put DM above Yield (or whatever), don't you care who wrote WFS and some of the other brightest parts of DM? To be honest, because of the collaborations, I'm in the process of trying to figure out whether I'll ever include DM in my pj rankings. and part of that process is figurin out exactly how much Watt contributed. I considered maybe O'Brien contributed a little here and there back in the day, too. But on sirius, stone said WFS is 'as much of a collaboration as we've ever done.' So whatever O'Brien did was not the same as what Watt did. As things stand, I think DM would be Gigaton 2.0 without Watt and I love Gigaton but it's not as good as DM.

Moreover, it has been expressed several times in this thread and elsewhere something along the lines of 'I'm still in shock DM is so good given how old they are and how long they've been at it, and the lesser quality of their recent previous releases!!' etc. And 'I can't believe I'm saying this, but is DM better than Yield/Vitalogy?' etc etc. And 'Setting Sun is the best closer they've ever had!' etc.

And there is excessive caution in these statements because how could the same band who put out LB and Gigaton write DM? The answer is Watt. No need for caution, really. DM really is that good. And I'm happy they collaborated with Watt. I'd rather have DM than Gigaton 2.0.

[RockPusher]

I think it's clear that Watt's genius as it applies to PJ lies in a) getting the guys to start with jamming each day and let go of their egos to deconstruct and reconstruct songs appropriately, and b) bringing an enthusiastic, knowledgeable fan's perspective.

I also think it's clear that he is not a riff genius, because he's certainly enough of a musician to make a career for himself that way if he were.

Given all that, authorship-wise, I see this as a Pearl Jam record, plain and simple.

You guys are welcome to whatever disappointment you want. I'm not gonna sunshine on your rainy day.

[stip]

lots of people overthinking this, there's no reason Ed would lie

Unless you dislike Ed and are disgusted by the idea of pursued collaborates. Perfect thing to jump on for validation!

Much love

I think a lot of people are taking things personally and aren't able to be neutral as a result. I love DM and have nothing against Ed. But at some point, DM is going to be included in your pj album rankings. So, before you put DM above Yield (or whatever), don't you care who wrote WFS and some of the other brightest parts of DM? To be honest, because of the collaborations, I'm in the process of trying to figure out whether I'll ever include DM in my pj rankings. and part of that process is figurin out exactly how much Watt contributed. I considered maybe O'Brien contributed a little here and there back in the day, too. But on sirius, stone said WFS is 'as much of a collaboration as we've ever done.' So whatever O'Brien did was not the same as what Watt did. As things stand, I think DM would be Gigaton 2.0 without Watt and I love Gigaton but it's not as good as DM.

No, this doesn't bother me in the slightest. Look at the result, and the performances and the energy, and the feel. This sounds like a collaboration, and produced exceptional results. Even if the genesis of what became Waiting for Stevie came out of a riff idea together they turned it into a triumph.

If any of the guys got an idea playing with one of their 50 side projects and brought it to Pearl Jam would it be a problem?

Given to Fly turned out to be a pretty good song, even if it began with Jimmy Page.

Music is a collaborative project and Watt was a hell of a muse. If any of this didn't sound like Pearl Jam down to its soul maybe I'd feel differently.

[stip]

Also Gigaton rules. But this is better.