Dark Matter: Official Album Thread

[Tj]

Man comparing it to Maverick is almost spot on.

[liebzz]

I listened to this followed immediately by Gigaton this morning.

In the present tense, they both have different ways of dredging up the feeling of desperation to find a resolution that works for the present dark times. Gigaton feels like a call to steady the boat through uncertain times and the heart of the record feels like Seven O’Clock against our present moment. Dark Matter insists we find the connection that binds us to find the clues or keys to a continued existence together. The hope that we can go that route and find a place on the other side of it is most powerfully expressed in Setting Sun. Both are stunning albums that speak to our moment, but as the world reshifts its focus to the next few years, I kind of want the next chapter of this.

Less abstractly, I appreciate more the greater challenge of a listen Gigaton really is as it shifts its sound and range nearly from song to song, whereas Dark Matter truly is a cohesive statement that often takes its moment to soar above rather than tinker at the edges. I would call the 2020s at least a spectacular decade for Pearl Jam music even if the world turns on its head.

[stip]

Crazy to me that their second best decade is 4 decades in

[stip]

and great summation, L.

[VinylGuy]

I agree with that summation and i would add:

- its very eerie and speaks greatly of Ed´s talents as a songwriter that he put out Gigaton and he was basically telegraphing what was going on in that exact moment. That album became basically a soundtrack for at least those two years (2020 -2022)

- Dark Matter feels also like a grown up choosing to look over his shoulder and reflecting on that. Its very interesting how the two albums talk not only in terms of lyrics but also musically.

[daft twat]

I’m continually surprised by how fun the record is to listen to considering the prevailing theme seems to be the end of a relationship.

[Got Some]

So I have an all round 40 minute drive to My daughter from cheerleading practice 3 nights a week.

The album has been perfect.

By the time I get to her cheerleading upper hand is starting.

By the time she jumps in the car Waiting For Stevie is about to set sail.

By the time Im home Setting Sun is most of the times done. If not it’s become somewhat of a ritual for myself and the daughter to sit in the car until the album ends.

Her fav
Something Special
Got To Give
Setting Sun

My fav:
Upper Hand
Waiting For Stevie
React/Respomd
Scared Of fear
Won’t tell

[liebzz]

So I have an all round 40 minute drive to My daughter from cheerleading practice 3 nights a week.

The album has been perfect.

By the time I get to her cheerleading upper hand is starting.

By the time she jumps in the car Waiting For Stevie is about to set sail.

By the time Im home Setting Sun is most of the times done. If not it’s become somewhat of a ritual for myself and the daughter to sit in the car until the album ends.

Her fav
Something Special
Got To Give
Setting Sun

My fav:
Upper Hand
Waiting For Stevie
React/Respomd
Scared Of fear
Won’t tell

Something for the whole family! To your daughter’s credit, Got to Give is destined for unheralded and underrated gem territory, and Setting Sun is probably at the top of my list for the album.

[DDWJMUVW]

I’m continually surprised by how fun the record is to listen to considering the prevailing theme seems to be the end of a relationship.

Yeah - this. In addition to how great these songs each are end-to-end, the record as a whole is just a really enjoyable, fun listen. The same was true of backspacer (minus the end), but the tracks just aren't in the same ballpark as those on DM. I think it was Kyle Meredith who made the comment in March about DM being a hybrid of BS and RA, and actually, that's not very far off in my view.

Separately, I listened to Gig the other day for the first time in a while, and though I still really enjoy the first half of the record (WeS, DoTC, Alright, 7), man that back half just put me to sleep. It's almost unlistenable now that we have DM. It was a perfect set of songs for the time, but DM's tracks are just way more....enduring.

[Monkey_Driven]

I’m continually surprised by how fun the record is to listen to considering the prevailing theme seems to be the end of a relationship.

Yeah - this. In addition to how great these songs each are end-to-end, the record as a whole is just a really enjoyable, fun listen. The same was true of backspacer (minus the end), but the tracks just aren't in the same ballpark as those on DM. I think it was Kyle Meredith who made the comment in March about DM being a hybrid of BS and RA, and actually, that's not very far off in my view.

Separately, I listened to Gig the other day for the first time in a while, and though I still really enjoy the first half of the record (WeS, DoTC, Alright, 7), man that back half just put me to sleep. It's almost unlistenable now that we have DM. It was a perfect set of songs for the time, but DM's tracks are just way more....enduring.

I don't really hear much Riot Act in this at all (other than the You Are delay effect in DM). This is more of a hybrid of Backspacer/Yield/Ten to me.

[Tj]

I’m continually surprised by how fun the record is to listen to considering the prevailing theme seems to be the end of a relationship.

Yeah - this. In addition to how great these songs each are end-to-end, the record as a whole is just a really enjoyable, fun listen. The same was true of backspacer (minus the end), but the tracks just aren't in the same ballpark as those on DM. I think it was Kyle Meredith who made the comment in March about DM being a hybrid of BS and RA, and actually, that's not very far off in my view.

Separately, I listened to Gig the other day for the first time in a while, and though I still really enjoy the first half of the record (WeS, DoTC, Alright, 7), man that back half just put me to sleep. It's almost unlistenable now that we have DM. It was a perfect set of songs for the time, but DM's tracks are just way more....enduring.

I don't really hear much Riot Act in this at all (other than the You Are delay effect in DM). This is more of a hybrid of Backspacer/Yield/Ten to me.

This might cause a stir but I think Lightning Bolt is the best como for Dark Matter. The difference is Dark Matter is great Lightning Bolt isn't. I think Dark Matter successfully does what Lightning Bolt is trying to do. I can definitely see a comp to Yield as well. I can't find any Backspacer in this or Ten, but that's just me.

[Monkey_Driven]

I’m continually surprised by how fun the record is to listen to considering the prevailing theme seems to be the end of a relationship.

Yeah - this. In addition to how great these songs each are end-to-end, the record as a whole is just a really enjoyable, fun listen. The same was true of backspacer (minus the end), but the tracks just aren't in the same ballpark as those on DM. I think it was Kyle Meredith who made the comment in March about DM being a hybrid of BS and RA, and actually, that's not very far off in my view.

Separately, I listened to Gig the other day for the first time in a while, and though I still really enjoy the first half of the record (WeS, DoTC, Alright, 7), man that back half just put me to sleep. It's almost unlistenable now that we have DM. It was a perfect set of songs for the time, but DM's tracks are just way more....enduring.

I don't really hear much Riot Act in this at all (other than the You Are delay effect in DM). This is more of a hybrid of Backspacer/Yield/Ten to me.

This might cause a stir but I think Lightning Bolt is the best como for Dark Matter. The difference is Dark Matter is great Lightning Bolt isn't. I think Dark Matter successfully does what Lightning Bolt is trying to do. I can definitely see a comp to Yield as well. I can't find any Backspacer in this or Ten, but that's just me.

Yeah, you're probably right. More Lightning Bolt than Backspacer.

[stip]

Lightning Bolt, Gigaton, and Dark Matter are all grappling with the same ideas. Thematically those are the best comps, imo

[digster]

Backspacer as done by the band that made Yield feels kind of right to me. It's got the same desire for accessibility that the former album has, but manages to not feel as constrained in the band's playing by that desire as that record did. I think there's a little bit of the Ten desire to go big on every song, which they left behind after that album, but besides Stevie I'm not sure any of it really sounds like that album.

[RockPusher]

Backspacer as done by the band that made Yield feels kind of right to me. It's got the same desire for accessibility that the former album has, but manages to not feel as constrained in the band's playing by that desire as that record did. I think there's a little bit of the Ten desire to go big on every song, which they left behind after that album, but besides Stevie I'm not sure any of it really sounds like that album.

You definitely nailed the Ten connector in my opinion. And for me, going big includes soloing over singing and making sure every song has energized lead guitar. This is more of a "guitar album" thank they've done in a long time.

[B]

Prior to the album’s release in April, all three songs were filmed and recorded from their headquarters as Pearl Jam geared up for The Dark Matter Interview with Apple Music’s Zane Lowe. With a public premiere set for the 10 Days of Pearl Jam (starting Dec. 1), all three performances are available early for Ten Club members to exclusively view.

These videos are awesome!

[Buby]

Prior to the album’s release in April, all three songs were filmed and recorded from their headquarters as Pearl Jam geared up for The Dark Matter Interview with Apple Music’s Zane Lowe. With a public premiere set for the 10 Days of Pearl Jam (starting Dec. 1), all three performances are available early for Ten Club members to exclusively view.

These videos are awesome!

Ditto!

How does one go about ripping audio from Vimeo?
I assume that's why they're using Vimeo and not an unlisted YouTube.

[dimejinky99]

Not saying we need a hundred more Dark matters

But fuck me that song is a moment.
A statement.
Immense.

[VinylGuy]

damn what videos? those hinted when DM came out?

[Buby]

damn what videos? those hinted when DM came out?

Their 10c "Inside" section on their dot com has "early access" of SOF, Running, and Setting Sun live from the warehouse.
These things make the jump to YouTube a bit later.