Dark Matter: Official Album Thread

[RockPusher]

Music is a collaborative project and Watt was a hell of a muse.

Thank you. That's the sentence I've been wanting to say. Who would have guessed that Ed's best muse would be an early-30s trust fund glam baby?

[VinylGuy]

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...

yeah, pretty much. Im loving the mix of this album really.

[VinylGuy]

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.

dude Ed sounded really good on those. I dont know what else you want from him really.

[digster]

Also Gigaton rules. But this is better.

After having it for the weekend and listening, Gigaton's highs feel higher, and there's an unbridled sense of exploration, of wanting to find something new to say and play, on that album that I think is essential for me when listening to this band, and it feels in shorter (though not absent) supply on Dark Matter. But I'm really hoping they start creating at a quicker pace because it'd be wonderful if they could keep vacillating between the extremes they've set on these two records.

[Ms Harmless]

also Pearl Jam have made doing covers and collabs a major part of their "thing" their entire career, and they've always worked with their friends first and foremost, it's hard to argue we couldn't have possibly seen this coming

[RockPusher]

also Pearl Jam have made doing covers and collabs a major part of their "thing" their entire career, and they've always worked with their friends first and foremost, it's hard to argue we couldn't have possibly seen this coming

You mentioning the word "friends" reminded me- they've known Watt for awhile. He has their trust and they have his. That is a big part of why this worked when, let's be honest, many thought it wouldn't.

[tragabigzanda]

pearl jam sucks now

[daft twat]

Are we now really looking for reasons not to enjoy this? We’re suspicious because it’s so good? If so, this might be the song for you:

[tragabigzanda]

pearl jam sucks now

[Biff Pocoroba]

I’m not as high on the album as many here but I will definitely agree the sound quality is the best in years.
I do like the record, honest, but I’m not going to get as excited about new Pearl Jam like I did a couple decades plus ago.

[Aunt_Claire_Foy]

You guys are arguing with nobody. Literally no one is refuting anything you are typing.

This board loves violent agreement. Rare to see this level of harmony but also the cheerleading is drowning out some very fair criticism.

And no I will not elaborate. Not yet anyway. Still enjoying the afterglow.

[Strat]

On the contrary, I think we’re just assessing the situation and coming to terms with the reality that for Pearl Jam to make a great album again, they had to bring in some outside collaborators.

I mean, again, watt and klinghoffer apparently had a minor part in like two songs.

It's not like watt wrote every song and every part. I think wha this shows instead is that Pearl jam - with the right people pushing them - can make a great album, particularly if they actually get in a goddamn room and write together. That is the biggest piece here

Also I think the past few records were less than great and downright not good due to demo completion BS and probably raising families

[Aunt_Claire_Foy]

On the contrary, I think we’re just assessing the situation and coming to terms with the reality that for Pearl Jam to make a great album again, they had to bring in some outside collaborators.

I mean, again, watt and klinghoffer apparently had a minor part in like two songs.

It's not like watt wrote every song and every part. I think wha this shows instead is that Pearl jam - with the right people pushing them - can make a great album, particularly if they actually get in a goddamn room and write together. That is the biggest piece here

Also I think the past few records were less than great and downright not good due to demo completion BS and probably raising families

This X 1000.

This whole bring a demo and we will work it thing has been a complete inspiration suck. They’re best together. Not apart. What happened to 5 against 1??

[daft twat]

On the contrary, I think we’re just assessing the situation and coming to terms with the reality that for Pearl Jam to make a great album again, they had to bring in some outside collaborators.

But they always have, right? Don’t most bands? I know there are the occasional self-produced records, but a producer’s job is to get the best out of who he is producing. Look at Rick Rubin’s credits. Dude did BSSM, Reign of Blood, License to Ill, Wildflowers, The Black Album, etc. Authors have editors, movie franchises look to directors (look at the Mission Impossible movies’ revival), and musicians put their talents in the hands of producers. If Watt or Klinghoffer had input, so what? I don’t see any weakness in phoning a friend.

[Ms Harmless]

also Pearl Jam have made doing covers and collabs a major part of their "thing" their entire career, and they've always worked with their friends first and foremost, it's hard to argue we couldn't have possibly seen this coming

You mentioning the word "friends" reminded me- they've known Watt for awhile. He has their trust and they have his. That is a big part of why this worked when, let's be honest, many thought it wouldn't.

yep

[hlniv]

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

That’s just like, so lecherous man

[Buby]

Man... After listening to those Stern FLACs, these guys could just crank out "Live from HQ" EP's and we would gobble them up.

[Kevin Davis]

Questioning the provenance of a song that has six different writers on it is a perfectly natural level of interest to take in a band that you like. Most Beatles songs are credited to Lennon/McCartney; volumes have been written analyzing and questioning how that partnership worked, and who did what.

Pearl Jam have periodically had minor credits to non-band members (or satellite band members) on original songs (i.e. “Smile,” “Love Boat Captain”). It’s no big deal. But it’s interesting to think about how it went.

[daft twat]

Questioning the provenance of a song that has six different writers on it is a perfectly natural level of interest to take in a band that you like. Most Beatles songs are credited to Lennon/McCartney; volumes have been written analyzing and questioning how that partnership worked, and who did what.

Pearl Jam have periodically had minor credits to non-band members (or satellite band members) on original songs (i.e. “Smile,” “Love Boat Captain”). It’s no big deal. But it’s interesting to think about how it went.

It is, but to be so concerned about who wrote what is affecting your enjoyment seems over the top to me. If I go to a Michelin star restaurant and have the best meal of my life, I’m not going to give a shit if the sous chef got involved in the main entree.

[VinylGuy]

Questioning the provenance of a song that has six different writers on it is a perfectly natural level of interest to take in a band that you like. Most Beatles songs are credited to Lennon/McCartney; volumes have been written analyzing and questioning how that partnership worked, and who did what.

Pearl Jam have periodically had minor credits to non-band members (or satellite band members) on original songs (i.e. “Smile,” “Love Boat Captain”). It’s no big deal. But it’s interesting to think about how it went.

yeah, thats a good talk, sometimes it feels that after we got an awesome album, people need to still find a reason to shit on it. Saying that Watt wrote the song or the riff instead of actually listening to what the band is saying and being open about, its another thing.