Dark Matter: Official Album Thread

[digster]

I listened to the whole record straight through yesterday, but the top tier is the stuff I still find myself returning to, independent of listening to the album...


React, Respond
Wreckage
Upper Hand

Scared of Fear
Won't Tell
Waiting for Stevie
Setting Sun

Running
Got to Give
Dark Matter

Something Special

Overall, pretty similar to my first impressions; Scared of Fear has climbed for me over time, while Stevie and Won't Tell have dipped somewhat.

[Leatherhead]

React Respond
Upper Hand
Got To Give
Setting Sun

Dark Matter
Wreckage
Waiting For Stevie
Scared of Fear
Running

Won't Tell
Something Special

Something like that. SoF has dropped quite a bit for me. The chorus of Won't Tell really brings it down. Eddie's singing in Something Special is probably the worst thing on the album. Setting Sun is the best closer since All or None.

[epilogue]

waiting for stevie feels like a song that is either a top of the list or mid. It leans so hard into what it is you’re eithet all in or you’re not

Im sure that is a gross oversimplification but still…

I'm not a fan of instrumental pop/rock music. But I actually think I'd like WFS more if it was an instrumental track. I've literally never felt that way about a PJ before. It's weird.

[stip]

The mind boggles

[epilogue]

It's like four super obvious and repetitive lyrics for like an hour!

[Jaeti]

waiting for stevie feels like a song that is either a top of the list or mid. It leans so hard into what it is you’re eithet all in or you’re not

Im sure that is a gross oversimplification but still…

I'm not a fan of instrumental pop/rock music. But I actually think I'd like WFS more if it was an instrumental track. I've literally never felt that way about a PJ before. It's weird.

This is me, but with Something Special. Especially exactly as it slots in on this album.

[Leatherhead]

Talk to me RM!!!!!!

[stip]

It's like four super obvious and repetitive lyrics for like an hour!

This is one of my all time favorite Eddie lyrics. It may well be my favorite. It is direct, but I think that’s part of its power. It took the payoff moment of a classic early era song and just made it the starting point.

[McParadigm]

It's like four super obvious and repetitive lyrics for like an hour!

We don’t need no education. We don’t need no thought control. No dark sarcasm in the classroom. Teacher, leave those kids alone.

[stip]

one of the interesting things about WFS is that it doesnt really have a chorus - it has a verse/chorus hybrid and then a verse. So the ‘you can be loved’ lyric, which is the only one that repeats (with small variations) is also doubling as a stealth chorus and the anchoring sentiment of the verses.”

and its a great lyric to boot, and delivered with soaring warmth, empathy, urgency, and understanding borne of experience.

what a time to be alive!

[ridleybradout]

Sorry if it's somewhere in this thread and I just missed it, but did anyone do a lossless rip of the Howard Stern performances? If so, can I ask for a share?

Now posted in the original Howard Stern thread

[stip]

thanks!

[VinylGuy]

one of the interesting things about WFS is that it doesnt really have a chorus - it has a verse/chorus hybrid and then a verse. So the ‘you can be loved’ lyric, which is the only one that repeats (with small variations) is also doubling as a stealth chorus and the anchoring sentiment of the verses.”

and its a great lyric to boot, and delivered with soaring warmth, empathy, urgency, and understanding borne of experience.

what a time to be alive!

yeah, i love thats its being super direct but at the same time it has such a power to it, specially the first time i listen to it it really got me.

I kinda like when songwriters keep it simple but it still very powerful.

[RockPusher]

Where the album is sitting with me right now:

TOP TIER:

Everything except...

MIDDLE TIER:

Something Special

BOTTOM TIER:

Running
Dark Matter

In a vacuum, before the album came out, I loved the song Dark Matter hard. However, it's some weird kind of flow interrupter for me these days and I often skip it. Maybe I just listened to it too much in the album leadup.

Running never hit super solidly with me, and I respect how fun it is live, but I often skip it as well. These are the only two I skip.

[VinylGuy]

DM remains as a very strong favorite, specially because i stopped listening the album a lot and im listening to live boots from this tour and that song is a monster really.

Matt´s performance is mindblowing.

[tragabigzanda]

pearl jam sucks now

[VinylGuy]

ok traaaag

[tragabigzanda]

pearl jam sucks now

[ridleybradout]

can anyone recommend a live compilation of Gigaton songs and provide a link please? Ridley the king of all if possible

Here is Ridley's Gigaton live comp, which is the best of what was available at the time, but I think a lot of these songs were done better in 2022 and beyond -- this comp was only pulling from a handful of performances (as was the Gigaton tour edition):
http://forums.theskyiscrape.com/viewtop ... it=gigaton

I'm planning on adding Gigaton and Dark Matter discs to my 'Definitive Live' compilation after the conclusion of the 2024 tour. I still need to get around to doing a Covers disc too.

In the meantime you'll have to buy Stip and B's new book which contains my recommendations for the best Gigaton performances to date

[Buby]

can anyone recommend a live compilation of Gigaton songs and provide a link please? Ridley the king of all if possible

Here is Ridley's Gigaton live comp, which is the best of what was available at the time, but I think a lot of these songs were done better in 2022 and beyond -- this comp was only pulling from a handful of performances (as was the Gigaton tour edition):
http://forums.theskyiscrape.com/viewtop ... it=gigaton

I'm planning on adding Gigaton and Dark Matter discs to my 'Definitive Live' compilation after the conclusion of the 2024 tour. I still need to get around to doing a Covers disc too.

In the meantime you'll have to buy Stip and B's new book which contains my recommendations for the best Gigaton performances to date

Looking forward to the covers disc!