Dark Matter: Official Album Thread

[RockPusher]

This is a fantastic Pearl Jam record, no qualification. I feel like it's the first time in at least two decades that I'm not making some kind of mental rationalization to talk about how much I love their new album. It's been a great feeling.

Well-said. It's continually beguiling and overwhelming, but in the best of ways.

[Tj]

Playing them live is truly where the rubber meets the road, and, these songs slot in next to the existing catalog better than any in a long time.

Seeing them played live (albeit via Youtube), it really hit me in the face how much these new songs really are a consolidation of all their existing strengths as a group.

Lets see where we are at the end of the tour, but if they can give them the same feel then I think it's time for more people to really start entering this album into conversation with their 90s output.

It didn't necessarily occur to me while watching them live. What really struck me watching the Vancouver clips was how happy it made me to see them so obviously proud of their new work.
I was also just so grateful to have new songs which I believe could eventually sit amongst the top tier in their catalog.

No...the idea that I could reasonably be thinking genuine comparisons to their 90s work hit me in a subconscious way. It wasn't the live clips, it was actually while listening through a couple of Trag's latest drafts.

As he reaches the finish line, I tried really hard to to turn off my brain and simply listen in a way that allows the album to wash over me.

I finished up, and it occurred to me that I wasn't thinking about the album in terms of some "late-era classic", or, that it was "pretty good for guys in their 60s, 34 years in."

No, this is something different. This is a fantastic Pearl Jam record, no qualification. I feel like it's the first time in at least two decades that I'm not making some kind of mental rationalization to talk about how much I love their new album. It's been a great feeling.

Agreed it doesn't asked to be compared. I mean do we compare Dark Side to the Wall or Tommy to Who's Next Rumors to Tusk Vitalogy to Yield ? I know I don't yes I might have favorites in a moment for a time, but they are above comparisons. I truly haven't felt that about a Pearl Jam album since Yield. I had to go on journey with Binaural to find the love for that. Dark Matter just kind of opens up the universe of the Band I drove into head first 30 years ago. As Ten spoke to me and gave me a place to process all the thing I was feeling in my youth Dark Matter has done the same for me in regards to the things I feel in my late 40s. It is a triumph.

[Tj]

Playing them live is truly where the rubber meets the road, and, these songs slot in next to the existing catalog better than any in a long time.

Seeing them played live (albeit via Youtube), it really hit me in the face how much these new songs really are a consolidation of all their existing strengths as a group.

Lets see where we are at the end of the tour, but if they can give them the same feel then I think it's time for more people to really start entering this album into conversation with their 90s output.

It didn't necessarily occur to me while watching them live. What really struck me watching the Vancouver clips was how happy it made me to see them so obviously proud of their new work.
I was also just so grateful to have new songs which I believe could eventually sit amongst the top tier in their catalog.

No...the idea that I could reasonably be thinking genuine comparisons to their 90s work hit me in a subconscious way. It wasn't the live clips, it was actually while listening through a couple of Trag's latest drafts.

As he reaches the finish line, I tried really hard to to turn off my brain and simply listen in a way that allows the album to wash over me.

I finished up, and it occurred to me that I wasn't thinking about the album in terms of some "late-era classic", or, that it was "pretty good for guys in their 60s, 34 years in."

No, this is something different. This is a fantastic Pearl Jam record, no qualification. I feel like it's the first time in at least two decades that I'm not making some kind of mental rationalization to talk about how much I love their new album. It's been a great feeling.

Agreed it doesn't asked to be compared. I mean do we compare Dark Side to the Wall or Tommy to Who's Next Rumors to Tusk Vitalogy to Yield ? I know I don't yes I might have favorites in a moment for a time, but they are above comparisons. I truly haven't felt that about a Pearl Jam album since Yield. I had to go on journey with Binaural to find the love for that. Dark Matter just kind of opens up the universe of the Band I drove into head first 30 years ago. As Ten spoke to me and gave me a place to process all the thing I was feeling in my youth Dark Matter has done the same for me in regards to the things I feel in my late 40s. It is a triumph.

[RockPusher]

So many of us are in a similar age range. I'm also late 40s, and my journey with this band has been the longest serious relationship I've had with anyone.

[oneway23]

Agreed it doesn't asked to be compared. I mean do we compare Dark Side to the Wall or Tommy to Who's Next Rumors to Tusk Vitalogy to Yield ? I know I don't yes I might have favorites in a moment for a time, but they are above comparisons. I truly haven't felt that about a Pearl Jam album since Yield. I had to go on journey with Binaural to find the love for that. Dark Matter just kind of opens up the universe of the Band I drove into head first 30 years ago. As Ten spoke to me and gave me a place to process all the thing I was feeling in my youth Dark Matter has done the same for me in regards to the things I feel in my late 40s. It is a triumph.

I like the way you put this. Similar feelings.

So many of us are in a similar age range. I'm also late 40s, and my journey with this band has been the longest serious relationship I've had with anyone.

Reminded me of "That is the longest relationship of anyone in the band, unless you count Stone and Jeff" Ed quote from Paramount Theater '94.

[Ms Harmless]

So many of us are in a similar age range. I'm also late 40s, and my journey with this band has been the longest serious relationship I've had with anyone.

same, I'm 42 and loved them since I was 9; ST thru Lightning Bolt was a bit of Dark Night of the Soul but they won me back with Gigaton and Dark Matter sealed the deal

[upperdecker]

I surely missed some announcement, but will this tour definitely be available as official boots? Assuming the answer is yes, does anyone know how long before each show will be available for purchase or streaming via nugs? Can't wait to hear these songs live in sbd quality, especially after the YT videos.

[Ms Harmless]

I'll probably buy boots for this tour and I've never bought PJ boots

[basically_infirmed]

I surely missed some announcement, but will this tour definitely be available as official boots? Assuming the answer is yes, does anyone know how long before each show will be available for purchase or streaming via nugs? Can't wait to hear these songs live in sbd quality, especially after the YT videos.

There's a placeholder for 2024 bootlegs in the 10C store for whatever it's worth

[DDWJMUVW]

So many of us are in a similar age range. I'm also late 40s, and my journey with this band has been the longest serious relationship I've had with anyone.

same, I'm 42 and loved them since I was 9; ST thru Lightning Bolt was a bit of Dark Night of the Soul but they won me back with Gigaton and Dark Matter sealed the deal

Just a couple years younger. " I was bitten" in the summer of 95 when I saw the video for Evenflow at 11.

I'd say things still felt great for me up to about BS era. Admittedly, I really started to drift away in the late 20 teens, thinking we would never get another record after the turd that was LB, especially after can't deny me. I really felt that it was over for them in 18 and 19. Gig brought things back to life - a less than perfect record that seemed to perfectly exemplify the time in which we were living; and it had a good handful of really awesome tracks. Earthling showed that Ed (if nobody else) still had it in him to write and perform at a high level. The power and gusto of the live shows when those resumed totally brought it all back to life for me. This record has been a great awakening. I can't effing wait for the summer and to see what they do next, but I think the sky is the limit for them as long as they want to be together. 1-2 more records is welllllll within reach.

[stip]

Do folks consider Vancouver or the Howard Stern show the official live debut of Running and Scared of Fear? Asking for a friend.

[Strat]

Who cares.

They fucking rule.

[Strat]

these motherfuckers should be arrested for suspected criminal activity if they aren't in the same room writing for the next record like they did on this one.

[stip]

Who cares.

They fucking rule.

we are documenting first live performance of each song. do you really want to leave a decision of such historical importance in B’s hands?

[Strat]

Who cares.

They fucking rule.

we are documenting first live performance of each song. do you really want to leave a decision of such historical importance in B’s hands?

Oh B has been on ignore for 20 years. lol

[Birds in Hell]

Do folks consider Vancouver or the Howard Stern show the official live debut of Running and Scared of Fear? Asking for a friend.

Surely it’s Vancouver.

[Strat]

Do folks consider Vancouver or the Howard Stern show the official live debut of Running and Scared of Fear? Asking for a friend.

Surely it’s Vancouver.

Quyestion for you

You are mild at best for this new album, you were just slightly above mild on gigaton, and haven't really enjoyed anything beyond that in 20 years.

You doing okay?

[Birds in Hell]

Do folks consider Vancouver or the Howard Stern show the official live debut of Running and Scared of Fear? Asking for a friend.

Surely it’s Vancouver.

Quyestion for you

You are mild at best for this new album, you were just slightly above mild on gigaton, and haven't really enjoyed anything beyond that in 20 years.

You doing okay?

Doing fine!

Looking forward to seeing the band for the first time in over a decade later this year.

This is all just business as usual for my experience as a conflicted, low key fan of Pearl Jam.

If nothing else, I’m glad the band seem very happy with how things are travelling right now.

[LetMeSleep]

From the few clips I've seen and the interviews, Ed seems engaged and focused on the band. More so than the past few albums going back to probably Avocado. Could this be that the fatherhood phase is past and he has the time to focus on the band, I hope so. It seems that the band are there with him.

We could be in for a purple patch.

[spike]

From the few clips I've seen and the interviews, Ed seems engaged and focused on the band. More so than the past few albums going back to probably Avocado. Could this be that the fatherhood phase is past and he has the time to focus on the band, I hope so. It seems that the band are there with him.

We could be in for a purple patch.

Interesting, could be that simple. A strong album, more interesting interviews, and a very good concert to open the tour all point to yes.