Dark Matter: Official Album Thread

[BurtReynolds]

Most of this album isn't for me, but I do appreciate that many of the songs take off when they are supposed to, rather than just sit there like limp dicks as in so many of their later albums. They finally seem to be over their allergic reaction to "rawk wankery" and it's way passed time.

Something Special is awful.

I love Running though.

[Oversize]

I'm on my third listen in two days. It's quite enjoyable, isn't it? But, boy oh boy, Dark Matter and Running are easily the two big bummers on this album. Whose idea was it to make those the first two singles? Yikes

The consistency of opinion on this is quite startling. RM is usually all over the map with polar opposite takes but this ain't one of them.

i love DM and it totally makes sense as a single, hell it was a hit for them. Running not so much.

Wreckage is a great third single, they should have released a video for it.

Intrigued to see how Wreckage is received by the charts. I think it will be strong enough to drum up demand for a 4th single...

Won't Tell with a video will absolutely kill (I think). Probably more pop power than Just Breathe, and about the same as Last Kiss.

those two need to appear on a netflix series or something like that for the full mainstream kiss

Ooof... imagine that. Is this the year it's cool to be a PJ fan again? Feels like tides are coming in.

[Fattie_Vedder]

If engaging in full comparative analysis, Dark Matter has serious challenges in terms of our lived in histories with those songs, and I am not yet convinced that as individual songs, these have yet risen to the same level of their other songs. Yet.

However, as a complete work taken solely as a whole from the intro leading into Scared of Fear through the final strums and that let us not fade, this very well be their best work. I don’t think Eddie, to that extent, was engaging in hyperbole.

yeah, its too new to actually know that, but one thing that happening with this one is that i really want to listen to every song. Running is the fun song i need after the emotional WFS, SS is a very nice little song, Wont Tell is building to be a favorite...

Im sure that will change with time, but there is not a bad song on this one or one song that i think its half baked.

I should note I am sure some of these songs will ultimately become the staples for me, but yes, I have no urge to listen to any of its parts alone, even if I find the parts wonderful. There are so few albums from any band that I feel a full compulsion only to hear the whole thing in its order, and I am not doing it waiting to hear this song or that. Or songs that I can take out of its context and leave on their own. I am sure that very well probably will happen given time with this album, but thus far, its existing in a space where I don’t want to listen to the individual songs alone but want to always have 48 uninterrupted minutes with this thing. The arc of this thing just takes me on such an emotional ride that if the pieces are jumbled I just don’t think it will have the same impact.

I feel that. And it’s wild to me that this album more than any other in their catalog is one that is best listened to beginning to end, as a whole.

[Fattie_Vedder]

I finally got around to reading Stip’s review. I want to reiterate what others have said; what a beautiful, well articulated review it is, as always. And I want to say thank you for highlighting some things that resonated with me on first listen but in highlighting them have become clearer in their interconnected themes.

I wondered before if dark matter would be the album I needed at this time in my life the way I needed Gigaton then. The answer is unequivocally yes.

I see now how this album is not explicitly about Eddie’s family, or Chris Cornell, or the grunge scene, or death or the exploration of legacy in a micro view, and I see how all these things inform the thesis: this is about making the most of our fleeting time on earth by centering love and connection. Now that I’ve had time to process the songs and read the lyrics, I see the hopefulness in its central themes. The reason this album resonates so much with me is because, maybe more than any album before, it holds multiple truths at once, and is more at peace with those conflicting feelings. There is sadness, lament for time gone, fear of endings, and there is celebration of the gifts of life, cherishing the people we have, and hopefulness that love will be our legacy. It’s an incredible feat how all these themes are weaved into the fabric of every song, both lyrically and musically.

My initial impression of the lyrics from the limited theater experience was that they were not as ‘poetic’ or descriptive as those of Gigaton. That may still be true, but they are no lesser. I’d argue in some ways they are ‘better’, or if not better, at least they demonstrate an excellence to how they were crafted to be universally relatable.

Of course we each interpret the lyrics through the prism of our world view and personal experiences. For me personally, death, time fleeting, personal legacy, and purpose (the latter two intertwined from a career perspective) have all been heavily on my mind recently. Existential questions surrounding those have been at the root of my anxiety, which is why headinspeakers’ post spoke to me. I see how dark matter calls for leaving a legacy based on how we directly impact the people we love, over a legacy we leave behind with our work that indirectly impacts people. But I can’t help but ruminate on that question. Candidly, i know this sounds harsh, but I struggle with the idea that a legacy based on how we treat others and make them feel is enough, even though I believe that for others, I find it hard to believe for myself; that I would be ‘enough’ without achieving something great and impactful.

Pearl Jam has always been a kind of therapy, and this album feels like it could be a breakthrough.

[Revelator]

Won't Tell 'should' absolutely destroy/clean up the charts as a single. Wreckage is an all-timer for sure, I can't get enough of it, but I think it's length could hold it back a bit with modern audiences. And it would be a travesty for terrestrial stations to radio edit/cut this song short like they do because the song it perfect as is. That said, I should probably put more stock in the satellite radio listeners these days (a la me)...

Won't Tell is vying for top position for me on an album full of gems. I think I love it most BECAUSE of it's extreme accessibility and incredibly strong pop value (speaking as a 30+ year fan who slightly the more left of center/No Code PJ). The guys are firing on all cylinders here, just an incredibly well executed and produced tune.

[dad]

I’m not sure I’ve ever seen burt or argo post in pj chat.

Dark Matter has definitely made an impact.

[Thurman Murman]

There are zero bummers on this album. But Running is not single material, and I’m still skeptical that it was actually pushed as one. I never saw it receive even that lowest cursory level of radio play that comes from basic radio promotion.

Feels more like putting Habit on the flip side of Who You Are, or Tremor Christ (if I recall?) on the b side of StBC. Except now, freed from the confines of physical release media, they had the option to stagger listener access.

That was my initial thought as well regarding Running... but the official site itself called it a "new single" and then refered to Wreckage as the third single from Dark Matter.

[ElonDusk]

Won’t Tell is what I would do if someone asked me if I enjoyed that song. Sometimes candy can even be too sweet.

[Revelator]

Before I forget to mention again....Stip, your review was incredibly well thought out/well-written. If only I had the talent and patience to put my thoughts into words as effortlessly as you do! Really enjoying reading everyone's take on this album, positive and negative. Pretty insightful bunch on here

[Thurman Murman]

Won't Tell 'should' absolutely destroy/clean up the charts as a single. Wreckage is an all-timer for sure, I can't get enough of it, but I think it's length could hold it back a bit with modern audiences. And it would be a travesty for terrestrial stations to radio edit/cut this song short like they do because the song it perfect as is. That said, I should probably put more stock in the satellite radio listeners these days (a la me)...

Won't Tell is vying for top position for me on an album full of gems. I think I love it most BECAUSE of it's extreme accessibility and incredibly strong pop value (speaking as a 30+ year fan who slightly the more left of center/No Code PJ). The guys are firing on all cylinders here, just an incredibly well executed and produced tune.

I think Won't Tell is the most obvious "single" this band has created since Given To Fly. Though im completely out of touch so what do i know?

[stip]

I finally got around to reading Stip’s review. I want to reiterate what others have said; what a beautiful, well articulated review it is, as always. And I want to say thank you for highlighting some things that resonated with me on first listen but in highlighting them have become clearer in their interconnected themes.

I wondered before if dark matter would be the album I needed at this time in my life the way I needed Gigaton then. The answer is unequivocally yes.

I see now how this album is not explicitly about Eddie’s family, or Chris Cornell, or the grunge scene, or death or the exploration of legacy in a micro view, and I see how all these things inform the thesis: this is about making the most of our fleeting time on earth by centering love and connection. Now that I’ve had time to process the songs and read the lyrics, I see the hopefulness in its central themes. The reason this album resonates so much with me is because, maybe more than any album before, it holds multiple truths at once, and is more at peace with those conflicting feelings. There is sadness, lament for time gone, fear of endings, and there is celebration of the gifts of life, cherishing the people we have, and hopefulness that love will be our legacy. It’s an incredible feat how all these themes are weaved into the fabric of every song, both lyrically and musically.

My initial impression of the lyrics from the limited theater experience was that they were not as ‘poetic’ or descriptive as those of Gigaton. That may still be true, but they are no lesser. I’d argue in some ways they are ‘better’, or if not better, at least they demonstrate an excellence to how they were crafted to be universally relatable.

Of course we each interpret the lyrics through the prism of our world view and personal experiences. For me personally, death, time fleeting, personal legacy, and purpose (the latter two intertwined from a career perspective) have all been heavily on my mind recently. Existential questions surrounding those have been at the root of my anxiety, which is headinspeakers’ post spoke to me. I see how dark matter calls for leaving a legacy based on how we directly impact the people we love, a legacy we leave behind with our work that indirectly impacts people. But I can’t help but ruminate on that question. Candidly, i know this sounds harsh, but I struggle with the idea that a legacy based on how we treat others and make them feel is enough, even though I believe that for others, I find it hard to believe for myself; that I would be ‘enough’ without achieving something great and impactful.

Pearl Jam has always been a kind of therapy, and this album feels like it could be a breakthrough.

well said - it is great to see folks posting about the ways this is speaking to them now. im not going to say seeing people process and respond to the album is as good as the album, but it has been its own joy to see! even (maybe especially) if they detour

[stip]

Before I forget to mention again....Stip, your review was incredibly well thought out/well-written. If only I had the talent and patience to put my thoughts into words as effortlessly as you do! Really enjoying reading everyone's take on this album, positive and negative. Pretty insightful bunch on here

thank you - there is some effort, though

[WaitingForBluey]

Dammit, Scared of Fear you sexy beast! New favorite :heart emojis

[Oversize]

Won't Tell 'should' absolutely destroy/clean up the charts as a single. Wreckage is an all-timer for sure, I can't get enough of it, but I think it's length could hold it back a bit with modern audiences. And it would be a travesty for terrestrial stations to radio edit/cut this song short like they do because the song it perfect as is. That said, I should probably put more stock in the satellite radio listeners these days (a la me)...

Won't Tell is vying for top position for me on an album full of gems. I think I love it most BECAUSE of it's extreme accessibility and incredibly strong pop value (speaking as a 30+ year fan who slightly the more left of center/No Code PJ). The guys are firing on all cylinders here, just an incredibly well executed and produced tune.

Currently agreeing on both points.

For Wreckage, there is about a 30-45 second part in the middle that is somewhat redundant and could possibly be clipped for radio... and the obvious fadeout ala Black in that last minute. I'm glad they didn't fade out in the studio... we need every second of that beautiful song.

[digster]

The keepers so far are React, Respond and Won't Tell (Jeff, as always, coming in off the top rope), Upper Hand and Wreckage. That last minute-and-a-half of Wreckage may be my favorite part of the record.

[Revelator]

Won't Tell 'should' absolutely destroy/clean up the charts as a single. Wreckage is an all-timer for sure, I can't get enough of it, but I think it's length could hold it back a bit with modern audiences. And it would be a travesty for terrestrial stations to radio edit/cut this song short like they do because the song it perfect as is. That said, I should probably put more stock in the satellite radio listeners these days (a la me)...

Won't Tell is vying for top position for me on an album full of gems. I think I love it most BECAUSE of it's extreme accessibility and incredibly strong pop value (speaking as a 30+ year fan who slightly the more left of center/No Code PJ). The guys are firing on all cylinders here, just an incredibly well executed and produced tune.

Currently agreeing on both points.

For Wreckage, there is about a 30-45 second part in the middle that is somewhat redundant and could possibly be clipped for radio... and the obvious fadeout ala Black in that last minute. I'm glad they didn't fade out in the studio... we need every second of that beautiful song.

I can't help but get chills every time I hear the last 1:30 of Wreckage. Perfection. Someone else said it better earlier but Eddie's spiraling downward vocal after the huge 'Holdin' On' is gut-wrenching (in a good way) considering the tone/perceived meaning of the song's narrative.

[Oversize]

Won't Tell 'should' absolutely destroy/clean up the charts as a single. Wreckage is an all-timer for sure, I can't get enough of it, but I think it's length could hold it back a bit with modern audiences. And it would be a travesty for terrestrial stations to radio edit/cut this song short like they do because the song it perfect as is. That said, I should probably put more stock in the satellite radio listeners these days (a la me)...

Won't Tell is vying for top position for me on an album full of gems. I think I love it most BECAUSE of it's extreme accessibility and incredibly strong pop value (speaking as a 30+ year fan who slightly the more left of center/No Code PJ). The guys are firing on all cylinders here, just an incredibly well executed and produced tune.

Currently agreeing on both points.

For Wreckage, there is about a 30-45 second part in the middle that is somewhat redundant and could possibly be clipped for radio... and the obvious fadeout ala Black in that last minute. I'm glad they didn't fade out in the studio... we need every second of that beautiful song.

I can't help but get chills every time I hear the last 1:30 of Wreckage. Perfection. Someone else said it better earlier but Eddie's spiraling downward vocal after the huge 'Holdin' On' is gut-wrenching (in a good way) considering the tone/perceived meaning of the song's narrative.

Abso-fuckin-lutely!

[WaitingForBluey]

The songs that originally hit (R/R, Upper Hand, Got to Give) are still top level for me. But it's the magnitude of growth from the lukewarm songs on initial listen (SOF, Wreckage, Won't Tell, Stevie, Setting Sun) that has me so shocked.

Further proof that trying to write reactions after first listen is a silly experiment. If I went back and read my original notes I would probably cringe at most of it.

[Revelator]

That last minute-and-a-half of Wreckage may be my favorite part of the record.

[Fattie_Vedder]

The songs that originally hit (R/R, Upper Hand, Got to Give) are still top level for me. But it's the magnitude of growth from the lukewarm songs on initial listen (SOF, Wreckage, Won't Tell, Stevie, Setting Sun) that has me so shocked.

Further proof that trying to write reactions after first listen is a silly experiment. If I went back and read my original notes I would probably cringe at most of it.

I enjoy the process of seeing how my and others thoughts and impressions evolve. It’s an exercise in vulnerability.