Dark Matter: Official Album Thread

[oneway23]

Brief post-Chicago thoughts:

New songs were all great live. Won't Tell felt huge. Dark Matter felt huge.

And, for some reason, I got literal chills and smiled massively when they kicked into React, Respond on Saturday night. It's not my favorite DM song, and I don't think it's the best live song of the bunch, but something in that moment was extra special. Dunno.

Really looking forward to that jolt of energy that a live performance brings. Thanks for sharing.

[Kalevi]

Brief post-Chicago thoughts:

New songs were all great live. Won't Tell felt huge. Dark Matter felt huge.

And, for some reason, I got literal chills and smiled massively when they kicked into React, Respond on Saturday night. It's not my favorite DM song, and I don't think it's the best live song of the bunch, but something in that moment was extra special. Dunno.

R,R is my fav. The way it started out sounded different from the album and not as good. Was also bummed that Ed didn't do the stupid laugh- however once it got going it really cooked.

[stip]

Played yesterday for the first time in quite a while in prep for MSG tonight and it's still a staggeringly good album.

Grateful beyond words to have an album of this caliber from them this deep into their career.

same on both counts. gave this a full uninterrupted listen driving up to NJ and man, it is still phenomenal - start to finish, every moment is full of life

[oneway23]

Played yesterday for the first time in quite a while in prep for MSG tonight and it's still a staggeringly good album.

Grateful beyond words to have an album of this caliber from them this deep into their career.

same on both counts. gave this a full uninterrupted listen driving up to NJ and man, it is still phenomenal - start to finish, every moment is full of life

Great way to phrase things, stip. There's a vitality to it, and an earnest sentimentality threaded throughout that really sticks with you .

[DDWJMUVW]

R/R sounded awesome live on Sat night. Reallllly impressed how fucking kick ass it was to see/hear this one in person. Conversely, I didn't think the live version of setting sun was quite as awesome as it is on the record. Maybe it was the place in the setlist. Not sure.

In any event, it was an amazing evening. I saw a handful of "celebs" down in my section JUST behind GA, including Chris Chelios who has having a great time.

Finally got one of my white whales as well....In Hiding. Such a beautiful track end to end. Great way to ring in my 40th that night.

[RockPusher]

R/R sounded awesome live on Sat night. Reallllly impressed how fucking kick ass it was to see/hear this one in person. Conversely, I didn't think the live version of setting sun was quite as awesome as it is on the record. Maybe it was the place in the setlist. Not sure.

In any event, it was an amazing evening. I saw a handful of "celebs" down in my section JUST behind GA, including Chris Chelios who has having a great time.

Finally got one of my white whales as well....In Hiding. Such a beautiful track end to end. Great way to ring in my 40th that night.

From where I sit, Setting Sun is one of those songs that benefits heavily from production. Still beautiful live, but without the atmospheric oomph that audio lab work provides. I feel similarly about Waiting for Stevie- live, they are simply not able to capture that incredible "wall of noise" guitar sound.

[epilogue]

All the DM songs sounded fantastic last night. React, Respond was my favorite. That song just slays. But all of them really opened up for me and made me appreciate the album even more. Wreckage was also really moving. The words to that one really struck me differently for some reason. Maybe it was the wave imagery projected behind the band? I don't know, but I'm so glad I got to hear a hand full of these live.

[VinylGuy]

sounds great dude, and it seems everyone is loving these songs in the live setting, even more than when they came out.

[epilogue]

sounds great dude, and it seems everyone is loving these songs in the live setting, even more than when they came out.

Definitely. And it was nice that the energy in my section didn't drop when they played them. Everyone around me seemed excited to hear the new stuff. Very cool.

[stip]

RR is a strong studio track, but it really hits hard live. And Dark Matter (the song) kept its heaviness as well. Those were both very successful live transitions. Wreckage too.

[epilogue]

RR is a strong studio track, but it really hits hard live. And Dark Matter (the song) kept its heaviness as well. Those were both very successful live transitions. Wreckage too.

Running was the only one that didn't elevate beyond the already good studio version, for me. But it was still fun and energized in the context of the night. The others just exceeded my expectations. Even SoF, which has always been a middle of the road track.

[epilogue]

This album has continued to grow on me. The production is just so difficult, but setting that aside, the songs are obviously solid. And while this is maybe the first time I've felt like where the band (or Ed?) is at is not where I'm at emotionally/personally I can see why these are great songs. Seeing a handful live really helped me see/hear them in a new way.

While I still think (pound for pound) Gigaton is the better album, I'm finding so much joy in listening to DM. The more I listen, the more Something Special feels out of place. Again, I like the song, but it reminds me of Down. Good song but clashes with the rest of the record. I think that one should have been a b-side/outtake.

Curious to find out if there are any real outtakes for these sessions that see the light of day at some point.

[VinylGuy]

yeah i would love some outtakes

i also agree that Gigaton is the better album, but DM might be way more playable for me.

[Revelator]

This album has continued to grow on me. The production is just so difficult, but setting that aside, the songs are obviously solid. And while this is maybe the first time I've felt like where the band (or Ed?) is at is not where I'm at emotionally/personally I can see why these are great songs. Seeing a handful live really helped me see/hear them in a new way.

While I still think (pound for pound) Gigaton is the better album, I'm finding so much joy in listening to DM. The more I listen, the more Something Special feels out of place. Again, I like the song, but it reminds me of Down. Good song but clashes with the rest of the record. I think that one should have been a b-side/outtake.

Curious to find out if there are any real outtakes for these sessions that see the light of day at some point.

Couldn't agree more about Something Special. I dreaded what the song would sound like when we heard the initial clip, but the end product was suprisingly solid (even if it's still the weakest song on the album). Absolutely doesn't fit on the record and would have made a stellar b-side. I would have preferred another R/R-ish heavier tune in it's place

[Monkey_Driven]

No, it needs a ballad or an off kilter slower tempo song in that spot. Too much rawk throughout. The harsh production doesn't help.

[Revelator]

I would take that, too!

[scrub12]

Apparently Waiting For Stevie is the next single.

[guitar_davey]

Apparently Waiting For Stevie is the next single.

Not at all a bad choice.

[stip]

as the us dates start to wind down, and assuming they stick the landing in Australia, could thr dark matter tour be up there with the elite tours in PJ history. I think a case can be made

[BootsToAsses]

as the us dates start to wind down, and assuming they stick the landing in Australia, could thr dark matter tour be up there with the elite tours in PJ history. I think a case can be made

I'd put it up there. Aside from the Euro tour problems, the shows they've played have been incredibly tight with everyone in top form. I've really enjoyed listening to these bootlegs.