Dark Matter: Official Album Thread

[RockPusher]

McParadigm nailed it - agree 100 percent

Yes.

[VinylGuy]

the reason could be as mundane as they just wanted to try working with someone else to see what happens

probably yes, but they seemed to ditched a whole session with him. And then the SG guys didnt want him to oversee the last abum of that band. I dont think there is any bad blood between the whole band (i saw that Jeff posted he was exited about Brendan's interview) but i do hope we get more info on that.

[mikejasond]

Over time I feel like the eras are starting to feel like:

Ten-Vitalogy
No Code-Riot Act
S/T-Lightning Bolt
Gigaton - ???

This is not exact obviously. No Code/Yield and Binaural/Riot Act are different albums for sure (In fact I like the first two and I don't like the second two)

But as their discography grows I think you can see these eras a bit more broadly, and what might once have been listed as separate eras can now be combined into one.

Ten-Vitalogy is their bombastic days, big anthems, aggressive rock songs, high energy, angry, powerful, etc. (Though Vitalogy you start to see the mind-set emerging that will define the next era, but it shares enough musical sensibilities with Ten/Vs compared to the next albums). They are young and energetic and wild. While anger and disillusion comes in towards the end of this time, it is still mainly externally-facing (Vitalogy beginning to shift)

No Code-Riot Act is the more introspective and internal years. This is the most inward-looking Eddie, all the albums come off like some kind of search for meaning, but the eye is now facing inwards instead of outwards as it was up through Vitalogy. This also leads to some of their least accessible music, because the music was often just a vehicle to deliver Eddie's musings and messages. I think this is much more successful on No Code and Yield than on Binaural and Riot Act (Where they went internal not just with the words, but the music became flatter/colder/less interesting to my ear, with only the lyrics to hold it up). But these albums are defined by an inward eye and a search for meaning, and by Eddie's philosophical musings. They are probably the most interesting albums, because they don't seem made to be digested by the public, but because they want to say something. Arguably by the end of this they care too little about how it sounds, but that's just me.

Then S/T was a return to 'form', back to their rock roots, and S/T and Backspacer especially, as mentioned above, seem made to be much more digestible by other people. These are kind of the albums where it seems the band is just having fun? It makes sense, I guess, they are in a more stable place and just enjoying the music. Making catchy rock songs and becoming a bit of a party band, transitioning into a legacy act.... Lightning Bolt...I dunno, to me it doesn't really do much of anything at all but it more closely resembles these than the later ones, it is more shallow, less substance, but fun. I love S/T, but I think in mindset it more resembles Backspacer/Lightning Bolt than anything before, even if it's better than they are.

And then starting with Gigaton, they put together all their influences, the music is still fun and accessible, but they also seem inspired again, and Eddie seems to be writing to say something, not just to make a catchy song. Dark Matter is amazing how they are able to blend fun and catchy songs with both introspective and external lyrics.....It seems to be taking the best of all their days which is why people can compare it to Vs or to Yield or to any album

[Noaheb]

Stanley cup promo was just playing got to give

[liebzz]

Good analysis Mike. I think I can get behind that.

[WtOB?]

the only track i find myself skipping at this point is the title track. still a bizarre choice for a single and it doesn't sound great on the bootlegs either. matt seems to change his mind on what groove he wants to do every 4 bars.

[Bi_3]

the only track i find myself skipping at this point is the title track. still a bizarre choice for a single and it doesn't sound great on the bootlegs either. matt seems to change his mind on what groove he wants to do every 4 bars.

I'm the opposite. I find myself liking DM more now and finding many of the others a bit less shiny than when the album was released. Running and Wreckage are dull and I think they should have just gone with Stevie for the second single.

[Birds in Hell]

the only track i find myself skipping at this point is the title track. still a bizarre choice for a single and it doesn't sound great on the bootlegs either. matt seems to change his mind on what groove he wants to do every 4 bars.

Yeah, it's no good at all.

The whole thing feels very forced.

The intro lacks some guts live because Stone doesn't play anything until the verse kicks in.

[stip]

ive only heard 2-3 live versions, but it is still a killer album track for me. top half of a stacked album. there’s nothing quite like it in the catalog. elements of you are and save you and quick escape but entirely its own thing

[McParadigm]

Fantastic on the album. Couldn’t care less about how it sounds on a bootleg.

[VinylGuy]

yeah, i love DM and its one of the songs i dont want to skip in the context of the album.

[stip]

Fantastic on the album. Couldn’t care less about how it sounds on a bootleg.

the boots are about 5% of how I experience an album (if that)

[Ms Harmless]

Fantastic on the album. Couldn’t care less about how it sounds on a bootleg.

[epilogue]

Fantastic on the album. Couldn’t care less about how it sounds on a bootleg.

+1

[warehouse]

well i'm glad they've returned to releasing the worst songs from the album as the singles lol

scared of fear
wreckage
stevie

this is how the singles should have gone. but who cares, this album is incredible.

[Kevin Davis]

I love "Dark Matter" the song. I think it has probably grown on me more than any other song on the record.

Bootlegs used to be a huge part of how I experienced the new material; they're much less so these days. But I do think all of the new songs have sounded really solid live for the most part.

[DDWJMUVW]

7 weeks later

SoF
Wreckage
DM
Won't Tell
Stevie
Got to Give
Setting Sun


I can go to these any day, any time and absolutely love every second. Yield is the only other record with that many tracks I can speak similarly about; MAYBE Ten as well. Vs, for all its glory, has a good # of tracks that I really have to be in the mood to hear (Blood, RVM, Indifference, WMA). On the other end of the spectrum is LB, where I have to TRY to be interested in any of those tracks to enjoy a listen. All the other record probably have 4-5 24/7 go-to tracks.

Binaural is a great example. I'd pare that down to God's Dice, Light Years, Grievance, Rival, and Parting Ways.

Or Gig - WeS, Dance, 7 o clock, Retro

Yield gets Faithful, No Way, GTF, Evolution, Low Light, In Hiding, ATY

So, to sum up....this record is tied for # of tracks I can immediately go to, or better put: the longest "give me your absolute must listens" version of any record. What a feat fellas. What a feat!

[RockPusher]

Top Tier:

Waiting for Stevie
Setting Sun
Upper Hand

Ferkin Great:

Won't Tell
Got to Give
React/Respond
Scared of Fear
Wreckage

When I'm in the mood I'm all in:

Something Special
Dark Matter

Fun live:

Running

[liebzz]

I am still in a place where I still listen to the whole thing as a largely single document.

[stip]

I am still in a place where I still listen to the whole thing as a largely single document.

Same - I’ve stayed on my Pearl Jam binge of the last few months and am just as regularly listening to the album integrated with the rest of the catalog and it sounds great