Challenge the recency bias/new albumitis: Rerank Dark Matter

[Jorge]

Did Serbian Ghana respond to anybody's DMs?

[Farmer John]

Did Serbian Ghana respond to anybody's DMs?

The dick pic I sent him went unanswered, which I thought was rude. I'm not necessarily expecting a pic in return, but at least shoot me a compliment.

[Chris_H_2]

Did Serbian Ghana respond to anybody's DMs?

The dick pic I sent him went unanswered, which I thought was rude. I'm not necessarily expecting a pic in return, but at least shoot me a compliment.

maybe he was offended because it wasn't uncircumcised

[Farmer John]

Did Serbian Ghana respond to anybody's DMs?

The dick pic I sent him went unanswered, which I thought was rude. I'm not necessarily expecting a pic in return, but at least shoot me a compliment.

maybe he was offended because it wasn't uncircumcised

That's probably it. I'll make some modifications and try again.

[epilogue]

ah yes, the 5-star, perfect album. we're talking the likes of the Beatles' Revolver, Radiohead's OK Computer and Kid A, Wilco's Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, the Beach Boys' Smile, Nick Drake's Pink Moon, the Velvet Underground's eponymous album, the Talking Heads' Remain in Light, and . . . checks notes . . . ah yes, Pearl Jam's Dark Matter.

This shit drives me crazy.

[Ello Sailor]

Hilarious and, quite frankly, much needed. Good shit, Christopher.

[Ello Sailor]

Add Art Angels to the 5 star albums list pls.

[Leatherhead]

I'm going with a 4. But it's probably actually a 3.5.

[Birds in Hell]

I think it's one star for me, whether we're ranking in context of the band's catalogue or music history.

I can't imagine I'll ever listen to it again and I'd rank it pretty much on par with Lightning Bolt.

[Ello Sailor]

I'd rank it pretty much on par with Lightning Bolt.

Good God. These men have families, dude.

[Farmer John]

Except for the odd live video, I haven't listened to it since around when it came out. But I still think of it fairly favourably, I think. I'll give it a 3.5 from memory.

[Matters]

Wilco's Yankee Hotel Foxtrot

Gonna listen to this for the first time because of your post.

[Chris_H_2]

Wilco's Yankee Hotel Foxtrot

Gonna listen to this for the first time because of your post.

[daft twat]

ah yes, the 5-star, perfect album. we're talking the likes of the Beatles' Revolver, Radiohead's OK Computer and Kid A, Wilco's Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, the Beach Boys' Smile, Nick Drake's Pink Moon, the Velvet Underground's eponymous album, the Talking Heads' Remain in Light, and . . . checks notes . . . ah yes, Pearl Jam's Dark Matter.

Ah yes, subjectivity. None of the masterpieces you listed mean anything to me, but I love Dark Matter. I’d still rank it just behind their first three albums. The love we have for old records is bolstered by nostalgia, and maybe this is odd to say, but I already feel a sense nostalgia for this record. This forum was buzzing, the band was so excited (love the interview at their headquarters), and I got to take my son to the first two shows of the tour where they played damn near the entire record.

I’ll also admit I don’t hear the sound issues many detractors complain about. I think I’m the same way with video games. I don’t notice the graphical differences between a PS4 and PS5 because I’m more interested the gameplay and story. I had an old Nirvana bootleg with shoddy recordings of songs like Return of the Rat on it, and that sound quality never bothered me so whatever is off with Dark Matter just isn’t on my radar.

I think if Pearl Jam looked back on their career in an eras fashion like Taylor Swift, the Dark Matter era would be one of my favorites. Can’t wait to continue it in Pittsburgh in May. Anyone know where I can snag a pair for the first show on the 16th?

[Thurman Murman]

I think i may have gone up to 5 stars shortly after album release, but nearly one year later i think it probably settles around 4 stars. Exceptional by late career standards (significantly better than LB and Backspacer) but not at the same level as those first 4 albums.

[basically_infirmed]

I think i may have gone up to 5 stars shortly after album release, but nearly one year later i think it probably settles around 4 stars. Exceptional by late career standards (significantly better than LB and Backspacer) but not at the same level as those first 4 albums.

that's where I am too. sixth behind the first five albums.

[Ello Sailor]

More like Shart Splatter amirite

[igotworms]

5 when it came out, still a 5. Up alongside the likes of Morning Phase, Hard Cold Fire and Big Moon Ritual as my favorite albums of the last 15 years.

[RockPusher]

Still a fiver

[Birds in Hell]