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 »

i usually wish I had a stronger vocabulary for music and production, but at this point Im kind of glad I don’t just to keep me out of my head. there are many pearl jam songs im less into due to their lyrics that i know others can gloss over that my listening brain fixates on. Same basic experience I suppose
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Aunt_Claire_Foy
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Re: Dark Matter: Official Album Thread

Post by Aunt_Claire_Foy »

RockPusher wrote:
Strat wrote:
RockPusher wrote:
Strat wrote:I will say, dont love the tone of Mikes Solo in DM. That never sounded authentically/typical Mike.
a) that may be the thing I like most in the song

b) it is so absolutely authentic Mike with the way the notes are being played

c) what even is “typical”? Mike’s best solos are unexpected in some way. This one lets you know immediately with that screeeeeetch that comes out of the drum fill that it’s gonna rip
Im glad you like. Im talking tone. Sounds thin to me.
Yeah, I know. I was addressing tone with point a. I love it, no matter how much weight it may need to put on.
It's definitely better than that shit tone on Inside Job or Come Back. <braces for rotten fruit>
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Re: Dark Matter: Official Album Thread

Post by Ms Harmless »

imagine if all Pearl Jam's guitar tones on every album sounded the same just because they were "typically Mike", boring; I'd much rather each album (heck, each song) had its own personality; the solo in DM sounds more metallic than usual but I like it
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Strat
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Re: Dark Matter: Official Album Thread

Post by Strat »

it is related to the point of whether they are utilizing the amp sounds or stock 0plug ins/DI.

To me it sounds like the latter. Im not asking it to sound the same across the board. Mike has always had slightly different tones but it always felt like mikes amp and setup. This feels thin and fake to me.
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Re: Dark Matter: Official Album Thread

Post by Ms Harmless »

I feel like you never mentioned it until Trag did, maybe I'm wrong
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Re: Dark Matter: Official Album Thread

Post by Thejambi »

Ms Harmless wrote:imagine if all Pearl Jam's guitar tones on every album sounded the same just because they were "typically Mike", boring; I'd much rather each album (heck, each song) had its own personality; the solo in DM sounds more metallic than usual but I like it
Thinking the tones sound bad is not the same as wanting the guitars sound the same. IRs and sims are not inherently bad but whatever has been done with the guitar tracks, isn’t particularly flattering. The DM solo sounds really bad to me along with some feedback/string noise in Running.

Mike and Stone got me into guitar playing so I bring that with me when I listen. I hear Mike and Stones’s playing tendencies in these songs, but they do not sound like Mike and Stone.
There's the dog. You can't fake that stuff. Confess with your mouth.
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Strat
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Re: Dark Matter: Official Album Thread

Post by Strat »

Ms Harmless wrote:I feel like you never mentioned it until Trag did, maybe I'm wrong
Because it never crossed my mind that such axe gods would consider such a thing! But when the topic came up, i considered it.

However, ive always been curious about that solo tone. Always felt flat/tinny/brittle to me. I know mike has been using that digital fender amp for the last couple of tours. Ive never personally played one and by all accounts they do a great job of emulating the tube feel but ultimately it is a digital amp.

I have no idea how they ended up mixing this record but as stated numerous times, i dont care for the production of it at all.
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Re: Dark Matter: Official Album Thread

Post by Ms Harmless »

it's definitely tinny (and comes in too loud imo) but I like tinny

bring on the tinny-tus!
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Re: Dark Matter: Official Album Thread

Post by VinylGuy »

Im obsessed with Mike solo. Love it, love how it sounds, love when it appears. Wish it was longer but its still fucking great.
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Kevin Davis
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Re: Dark Matter: Official Album Thread

Post by Kevin Davis »

Ms Harmless wrote:imagine if all Pearl Jam's guitar tones on every album sounded the same just because they were "typically Mike", boring; I'd much rather each album (heck, each song) had its own personality; the solo in DM sounds more metallic than usual but I like it
I get this, but I think most of my favorite guitar players all do have something of a signature tone that they've perfected and more or less stick with.

I've honestly never really paid that much attention to Mike's tone on PJ's studio records. And I'm not sure I'd consider Mike one of my favorite guitarists, but live he definitely has a pretty recognizable tone, which varies a bit depending on how the boots are mixed but is still a pretty consistent anchoring element to their sound.
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Re: Dark Matter: Official Album Thread

Post by Ms Harmless »

at the end of the day, I'm not a guitarist; all major diversions to their "signature sound" already happened for me a long time ago
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stip
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Re: Dark Matter: Official Album Thread

Post by stip »

there is a screechiness to mike’s solo that I think fits well in the song, but doesnt sound like him - his solos are often cleaner and feel cleansing in a way that this doesnt

but running (which i havent listened to in a few days and not nearly as much as DM) sounds more traditional. part of it sounds like the first lightning bolt solo
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Re: Dark Matter: Official Album Thread

Post by VinylGuy »

I totally hear Mike circa TOTD or Mad Season on the solo
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Re: Dark Matter: Official Album Thread

Post by Ms Harmless »

maybe the band binned the DM video because it included guitar amps and they felt that was dishonest

RIP Pearl Jam
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Re: Dark Matter: Official Album Thread

Post by VinylGuy »

So they video is banned? we know that?
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Re: Dark Matter: Official Album Thread

Post by RockPusher »

Ms Harmless wrote:maybe the band binned the DM video because it included guitar amps and they felt that was dishonest

RIP Pearl Jam
maybe it's because it shows Watt playing the solo and Mike pouting in the corner

RIP Pearl Jam
Be mighty...Be humble...Be mighty humble...
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Re: Dark Matter: Official Album Thread

Post by RockPusher »

VinylGuy wrote:So they video is banned? we know that?
Nah she just said "binned" as in a British person's way of saying thrown out
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Re: Dark Matter: Official Album Thread

Post by Ms Harmless »

RockPusher wrote:
Ms Harmless wrote:maybe the band binned the DM video because it included guitar amps and they felt that was dishonest

RIP Pearl Jam
maybe it's because it shows Watt playing the solo and Mike pouting in the corner

RIP Pearl Jam
they had a good Running
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Re: Dark Matter: Official Album Thread

Post by Ms Harmless »

RockPusher wrote:
VinylGuy wrote:So they video is banned? we know that?
Nah she just said "binned" as in a British person's way of saying thrown out
yep!
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Re: Dark Matter: Official Album Thread

Post by RockPusher »

Ms Harmless wrote:
RockPusher wrote:
Ms Harmless wrote:maybe the band binned the DM video because it included guitar amps and they felt that was dishonest

RIP Pearl Jam
maybe it's because it shows Watt playing the solo and Mike pouting in the corner

RIP Pearl Jam
they had a good Running
Something Special
Be mighty...Be humble...Be mighty humble...
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