Dark Matter: Official Album Thread

General Pearl Jam discussion.
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Rank Dark Matter

5 Stars
119
56%
4 Stars
65
31%
3 Stars
19
9%
2 Stars
2
1%
2 Star
1
0%
%#*! Andrew Watt
5
2%
 
Total votes: 211

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stip
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Re: Dark Matter: Official Album Thread

Post by stip »

Aunt_Claire_Foy wrote:
headinspeakers wrote:so much of the debate regarding production values and mixing, mastering, etc., to me, is subjective, difficult to describe and difficult to understand, when others are talking about it. inevitably, it comes down to "I like it, it makes me feel good" or, "it doesn't." does someone who is a knowledgeable about this stuff have an easy example to showcase "good" vs. "bad" production, or mixing, or mastering, like two alternate recordings of the same song, or something? I'd love to have a frame of reference. my sense is that despite my efforts to lean into this stuff, my ear may not be able to discern the differences between masterful recordings, and shitty ones. It's like analog and vinyl. I actively try to hear a difference but am obviously doing it wrong because generally, I don't. but I want to. need an adult.
tragledouche wrote:Yianni "Live at the Acropolis" is, by all academic standards, the standard in multi-track digital production and represented a sea change in what was possible past 16 tracks.

Pink Floyd's "The Division Bell" was their fist mastered for digital (CD) album and highly regarded for its approach to space and crisp EQ.

AC/DC's "Back in Black" is a master class in leveling and compression.

Steely Dan's "Aja" is in the pantheon of best engineered/produced records and typically at the top of everyone's list.

In terms of BAD production...

Anything after 9/11.

- Trag
He has spoken.
if you record an album properly the terrorists win
headinspeakers
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Re: Dark Matter: Official Album Thread

Post by headinspeakers »

Aunt_Claire_Foy wrote:
headinspeakers wrote:so much of the debate regarding production values and mixing, mastering, etc., to me, is subjective, difficult to describe and difficult to understand, when others are talking about it. inevitably, it comes down to "I like it, it makes me feel good" or, "it doesn't." does someone who is a knowledgeable about this stuff have an easy example to showcase "good" vs. "bad" production, or mixing, or mastering, like two alternate recordings of the same song, or something? I'd love to have a frame of reference. my sense is that despite my efforts to lean into this stuff, my ear may not be able to discern the differences between masterful recordings, and shitty ones. It's like analog and vinyl. I actively try to hear a difference but am obviously doing it wrong because generally, I don't. but I want to. need an adult.
tragledouche wrote:Yianni "Live at the Acropolis" is, by all academic standards, the standard in multi-track digital production and represented a sea change in what was possible past 16 tracks.

Pink Floyd's "The Division Bell" was their fist mastered for digital (CD) album and highly regarded for its approach to space and crisp EQ.

AC/DC's "Back in Black" is a master class in leveling and compression.

Steely Dan's "Aja" is in the pantheon of best engineered/produced records and typically at the top of everyone's list.

In terms of BAD production...

Anything after 9/11.

- Trag
He has spoken.
'

thank you. missed this.
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Strat
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Re: Dark Matter: Official Album Thread

Post by Strat »

lame as hell
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Re: Dark Matter: Official Album Thread

Post by Aunt_Claire_Foy »

Strat wrote:lame as hell
Did Andrew Watt produce the underworld as well?
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Re: Dark Matter: Official Album Thread

Post by Strat »

You should hear him gush about Peter Gabriels recent record.
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tragabigzanda
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Re: Dark Matter: Official Album Thread

Post by tragabigzanda »

pearl jam sucks now
Last edited by tragabigzanda on Thu January 01, 2026 6:47 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Strat
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Re: Dark Matter: Official Album Thread

Post by Strat »

Also, this place turns pseudo Porch during release time. Kind of dumb.
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Re: Dark Matter: Official Album Thread

Post by E.H. Ruddock »

Aunt_Claire_Foy wrote:
headinspeakers wrote:so much of the debate regarding production values and mixing, mastering, etc., to me, is subjective, difficult to describe and difficult to understand, when others are talking about it. inevitably, it comes down to "I like it, it makes me feel good" or, "it doesn't." does someone who is a knowledgeable about this stuff have an easy example to showcase "good" vs. "bad" production, or mixing, or mastering, like two alternate recordings of the same song, or something? I'd love to have a frame of reference. my sense is that despite my efforts to lean into this stuff, my ear may not be able to discern the differences between masterful recordings, and shitty ones. It's like analog and vinyl. I actively try to hear a difference but am obviously doing it wrong because generally, I don't. but I want to. need an adult.
tragledouche wrote:Yianni "Live at the Acropolis" is, by all academic standards, the standard in multi-track digital production and represented a sea change in what was possible past 16 tracks.

Pink Floyd's "The Division Bell" was their fist mastered for digital (CD) album and highly regarded for its approach to space and crisp EQ.

AC/DC's "Back in Black" is a master class in leveling and compression.

Steely Dan's "Aja" is in the pantheon of best engineered/produced records and typically at the top of everyone's list.

In terms of BAD production...

Anything after 9/11.

- Trag
He has spoken.
Changing trags name to an insult really adds credibility to an argument against him
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oneway23
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Re: Dark Matter: Official Album Thread

Post by oneway23 »

Schoolyard foolishness
We still make records to be listened to — not that everyone will listen to a record track one to twelve in a row or side A or Side B — but we still make 'em in case somebody does want to listen to it like that, that's how we make em…
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Re: Dark Matter: Official Album Thread

Post by chadisme417 »

I was 13 when I found this band. I'm 45 now. I've obviously changed a lot in that time. Same as a 60 year old man doesn't have much of his 20's left in him. At this point all I need from this band is presence. Whatever decisions they've made about their jobs over the years, or currently, the only one I care about is that they've decided to keep going. We're all so lucky to be able to debate why we love or hate their 12th record in 33 years.

Now y'all can go back to insulting the music, each other, the band - whatever makes you happy.
CAS
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tragabigzanda
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Re: Dark Matter: Official Album Thread

Post by tragabigzanda »

pearl jam sucks now
Last edited by tragabigzanda on Thu January 01, 2026 6:47 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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oneway23
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Re: Dark Matter: Official Album Thread

Post by oneway23 »

tragabigzanda wrote:
Strat wrote:You should hear him gush about Peter Gabriels recent record.
I just bought the Bright Side LP today!
Amazing record!
We still make records to be listened to — not that everyone will listen to a record track one to twelve in a row or side A or Side B — but we still make 'em in case somebody does want to listen to it like that, that's how we make em…
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tragabigzanda
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Re: Dark Matter: Official Album Thread

Post by tragabigzanda »

pearl jam sucks now
Last edited by tragabigzanda on Thu January 01, 2026 6:47 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Dark Matter: Official Album Thread

Post by RockPusher »

chadisme417 wrote:I was 13 when I found this band. I'm 45 now. I've obviously changed a lot in that time. Same as a 60 year old man doesn't have much of his 20's left in him. At this point all I need from this band is presence. Whatever decisions they've made about their jobs over the years, or currently, the only one I care about is that they've decided to keep going. We're all so lucky to be able to debate why we love or hate their 12th record in 33 years.

Now y'all can go back to insulting the music, each other, the band - whatever makes you happy.
:hooray: :bammer:

I'm 48. One could say I was at the absolute perfect age when I discovered Pearl Jam. They gave me that feeling I had guessed my dad must have had when he discovered The Who. Right now I'm a tax preparer running the marathon of another tax season. Pearl Jam is still giving me love, and I still need it.
Be mighty...Be humble...Be mighty humble...
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LetMeSleep
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Re: Dark Matter: Official Album Thread

Post by LetMeSleep »

Holy shit you guys need to find another record to get you through the next 4 weeks. 30 pages of absolute drivel in less than 24 hrs.
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spike
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Re: Dark Matter: Official Album Thread

Post by spike »

LetMeSleep wrote:Holy shit you guys need to find another record to get you through the next 4 weeks. 30 pages of absolute drivel in less than 24 hrs.
welcome to the board n00b!
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Homeboyd
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Re: Dark Matter: Official Album Thread

Post by Homeboyd »

Not sure if I should comment on the actual song from the clip but I kinda love it...that said, I finally do see what everyone is saying about the production. It has a poppy, in your face sheen that I'm not really a fan of. But whatever, I figured Running would be a 2:20 punkish lark and this song has a groove that I think I'll enjoy.
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Re: Dark Matter: Official Album Thread

Post by evenslow »

My problem with it is the lack of separation. It's just a giant block of noise.

That said, I'm really encouraged by Running.
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Re: Dark Matter: Official Album Thread

Post by Tj »

I guess I'm a lucky one. I care way more about these songs live anyway. I like the production of Earthling enough not to let it get in the way. Power of Right was a bit of a bummer because I heard it live first and was expecting something like Mudhoney, it's fine though. I don't like The Haves .uch but I do like the production.
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stip
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Re: Dark Matter: Official Album Thread

Post by stip »

I wonder if Tom Waits likes it
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