Dark Matter: Official Album Thread

[VinylGuy]

To me, and I'm probably oversimplifying, but it's the first album since Riot Act where it sounds like the entire band was part of the creative process. I wouldn't say it sounds like one of their 90's albums, but there are elements (energy, anthems, Mike's Guitar tone, Ed soaring instead of screeching constantly, etc) that I haven't felt authentically from a PJ album for ~20 years. Hard to put into words after a long ass work day

yeah, it feels they worked together and found out were the songs were taking them. I know thats what the band already told us that, but somehow its something i can feel on those arrangements.

[warehouse]

my younger brother is a knowledgeable casual fan - knows their music, likes them, but not devoted to them. he just got around to the album a few days ago. Thus far Wreckage and Dark Matter are his two favorites, so good choice on the singles I suppose

his two favorite artists are Radiohead and REM for context

so we can trust his taste

a couple of reasons the 90s comparison get brought up are 1) guitar solos and 2)EV's vocal delivery. watt said he made it a point to try to include a guitar solo in every song. i'm not sure if there's a technique thing going on with what vedder is doing, but he sounds like he's holding notes longer. Waiting for Stevie highlights some of the best things about this voice. it seems like he's doing cool vocal outros more on this record, too.

[RockPusher]

In Rainbows is exceptional and possibly their best work.

Yep. A masterpiece and to me the best post-2000 album by a 90s band

That's probably true.

Can't disagree- that album is the closest a work of art has ever come to saving my life.

[RockPusher]

my younger brother is a knowledgeable casual fan - knows their music, likes them, but not devoted to them. he just got around to the album a few days ago. Thus far Wreckage and Dark Matter are his two favorites, so good choice on the singles I suppose

his two favorite artists are Radiohead and REM for context

so we can trust his taste

a couple of reasons the 90s comparison get brought up are 1) guitar solos and 2)EV's vocal delivery. watt said he made it a point to try to include a guitar solo in every song. i'm not sure if there's a technique thing going on with what vedder is doing, but he sounds like he's holding notes longer. Waiting for Stevie highlights some of the best things about this voice. it seems like he's doing cool vocal outros more on this record, too.

Not just that, but he's singing over Mike solo-ing which somehow really works with this band.

[VinylGuy]

That Bill Simmons clip with Ed and Jeff and the baseball collection is amazing

The PJ HQ is awesome AF

[RockPusher]

That Bill Simmons clip with Ed and Jeff and the baseball collection is amazing

The PJ HQ is awesome AF

Mancave to end all mancaves

[VinylGuy]

amazing mancave yes

[Kevin Davis]

it felt reductive to me. but maybe i didnt stay with it long enough

In Rainbows is my favorite Radiohead album. Worth another listen for sure

[RockPusher]

it felt reductive to me. but maybe i didnt stay with it long enough

In Rainbows is my favorite Radiohead album. Worth another listen for sure

I find that every Radiohead album (and perhaps The Smile too) ages like wine. Even if I don't connect at first, there's every chance that I'm going to be heavily feeling it within some days/months/years.

Pearl Jam is my favorite band but Radiohead is right there. I liken them to Pink Floyd vs. PJ's The Who.

[Fattie_Vedder]

it felt reductive to me. but maybe i didnt stay with it long enough

In Rainbows is my favorite Radiohead album. Worth another listen for sure

Ditto. In Rainbows is my favorite, and one reason might be because it is the perfect blend of the accessible and experimental.

[Fattie_Vedder]

it felt reductive to me. but maybe i didnt stay with it long enough

In Rainbows is my favorite Radiohead album. Worth another listen for sure

I find that every Radiohead album (and perhaps The Smile too) ages like wine. Even if I don't connect at first, there's every chance that I'm going to be heavily feeling it within some days/months/years.

Pearl Jam is my favorite band but Radiohead is right there. I liken them to Pink Floyd vs. PJ's The Who.

That happened to me with King Of Limbs. I did not like that album when I first heard it. Years later I came back around to it, and now Give Up The Ghost is one of my all time favorite Radiohead songs.

[RockPusher]

it felt reductive to me. but maybe i didnt stay with it long enough

In Rainbows is my favorite Radiohead album. Worth another listen for sure

I find that every Radiohead album (and perhaps The Smile too) ages like wine. Even if I don't connect at first, there's every chance that I'm going to be heavily feeling it within some days/months/years.

Pearl Jam is my favorite band but Radiohead is right there. I liken them to Pink Floyd vs. PJ's The Who.

That happened to me with King Of Limbs. I did not like that album when I first heard it. Years later I came back around to it, and now Give Up The Ghost is one of my all time favorite Radiohead songs.

The last three songs on that one are perfection for me, and really presaged the amazing follow-up in my opinion.

[Leatherhead]

I look forward to seeing how I feel about this album in 20 years.

[Fattie_Vedder]

it felt reductive to me. but maybe i didnt stay with it long enough

In Rainbows is my favorite Radiohead album. Worth another listen for sure

I find that every Radiohead album (and perhaps The Smile too) ages like wine. Even if I don't connect at first, there's every chance that I'm going to be heavily feeling it within some days/months/years.

Pearl Jam is my favorite band but Radiohead is right there. I liken them to Pink Floyd vs. PJ's The Who.

That happened to me with King Of Limbs. I did not like that album when I first heard it. Years later I came back around to it, and now Give Up The Ghost is one of my all time favorite Radiohead songs.

The last three songs on that one are perfection for me, and really presaged the amazing follow-up in my opinion.

Those are my three favorites on the album too!

That also reminds me, I need to listen to The Smile…

[VinylGuy]

The last Smile album is the best thing Yorke and Greenwood released together since InRainbows

[Leatherhead]

I kinda feel like DM is always in a hurry.

edit: Yea, I just listened to the whole album and it goes by so quickly. It needs 2 more songs. Even some filler/segue tracks would probably do just fine.

[mattyv1908]

I kinda feel like DM is always in a hurry.

edit: Yea, I just listened to the whole album and it goes by so quickly. It needs 2 more songs. Even some filler/segue tracks would probably do just fine.

It needs Pendulum in the place of Something Special and a 2024 ARC immediately following it.

This is a hard album for me to ingest. While I really enjoy it, today while my entire music library was on shuffle for a two and a half hour drive Sleight of Hand came on and it’s miles better than any single song on this album. I understand that’s an extremely hot take at this moment of time but I will die on that hill.

Mind you I think this is a strong collection of songs and worthy of the forums acclaim. It’s what Lightning Bolt should have been. It’s not top shelf PJ though. It is a late career album that deserves the recognition it’s received without a hint of apology.

[coptheriotact]

This is a hard album for me to ingest. While I really enjoy it, today while my entire music library was on shuffle for a two and a half hour drive Sleight of Hand came on and it’s miles better than any single song on this album. I understand that’s an extremely hot take at this moment of time but I will die on that hill.

dont die. sleight of hand is better

[Birds in Hell]

While I really enjoy it, today while my entire music library was on shuffle for a two and a half hour drive Sleight of Hand came on and it’s miles better than any single song on this album. I understand that’s an extremely hot take at this moment of time but I will die on that hill.

Very sensible and correct opinion.

[WtOB?]

to be fair, sleight of hand is one of the best songs they ever recorded.