Dark Matter (song)

[stip]

Fantastic writeup stip.

thanks

[Jorge]

Talking about music is fun

It is. But talking about things I'm not into isn't my idea of a good time. Like - avoid at all costs

But you can be into the band, and not this song? Does that mean you don't get to talk about it? That is weird. I love my favorite sushi restaurant but every now and then the meal isn't up to standard. Do I not get to talk about it?

Wait, why is it your favorite sushi restaurant if the quality is so inconsistent

[dad]

Talking about music is fun

It is. But talking about things I'm not into isn't my idea of a good time. Like - avoid at all costs

But you can be into the band, and not this song? Does that mean you don't get to talk about it? That is weird. I love my favorite sushi restaurant but every now and then the meal isn't up to standard. Do I not get to talk about it?

Wait, why is it your favorite sushi restaurant if the quality is so inconsistent

oh no

[Jaeti]

I will never get tired of hearing new Pearl Jam. I'm still processing the song. I think I've listened a dozen or so times and I keep getting caught off guard by some different aspect or another. I'm not always drawn to the "heavy" PJ stuff, especially off the bat. But there is a sort of blanket joy and excitement in hearing this band fresh again. The chorus keeps getting me. And that solo toward the end is fucking epic. I goddamn love that.

It's 2024 and we have NEW PEARL JAM! I can't believe it.

[Strat]

Talking about music is fun

It is. But talking about things I'm not into isn't my idea of a good time. Like - avoid at all costs

But you can be into the band, and not this song? Does that mean you don't get to talk about it? That is weird. I love my favorite sushi restaurant but every now and then the meal isn't up to standard. Do I not get to talk about it?

That's fine. But don't get saucy towards someone else who does like it by calling them cult members and talk about how much better you are with your critical thinking skills.

I super enjoy reading why people don't like this song. Or any song! Some smart people here with deep musical knowledge.

[E.H. Ruddock]

Talking about music is fun

It is. But talking about things I'm not into isn't my idea of a good time. Like - avoid at all costs

But you can be into the band, and not this song? Does that mean you don't get to talk about it? That is weird. I love my favorite sushi restaurant but every now and then the meal isn't up to standard. Do I not get to talk about it?

Wait, why is it your favorite sushi restaurant if the quality is so inconsistent

It is more about when I try a new roll or dish I don't care for.

[liebzz]

I will never get tired of hearing new Pearl Jam. I'm still processing the song. I think I've listened a dozen or so times and I keep getting caught off guard by some different aspect or another. I'm not always drawn to the "heavy" PJ stuff, especially off the bat. But there is a sort of blanket joy and excitement in hearing this band fresh again. The chorus keeps getting me. And that solo toward the end is fucking epic. I goddamn love that.

It's 2024 and we have NEW PEARL JAM! I can't believe it.

Gigaton is the old album now.

[Jorge]

Fantastic writeup stip.

thanks

Yeah, I enjoyed reading that, especially the part about Ed's vocals

[epilogue]

I will never get tired of hearing new Pearl Jam. I'm still processing the song. I think I've listened a dozen or so times and I keep getting caught off guard by some different aspect or another. I'm not always drawn to the "heavy" PJ stuff, especially off the bat. But there is a sort of blanket joy and excitement in hearing this band fresh again. The chorus keeps getting me. And that solo toward the end is fucking epic. I goddamn love that.

It's 2024 and we have NEW PEARL JAM! I can't believe it.

Gigaton is the old album now.

Which is just insane

What a time to be alive!

[E.H. Ruddock]

Talking about music is fun

It is. But talking about things I'm not into isn't my idea of a good time. Like - avoid at all costs

But you can be into the band, and not this song? Does that mean you don't get to talk about it? That is weird. I love my favorite sushi restaurant but every now and then the meal isn't up to standard. Do I not get to talk about it?

That's fine. But don't get saucy towards someone else who does like it by calling them cult members and talk about how much better you are with your critical thinking skills.

I super enjoy reading why people don't like this song. Or any song! Some smart people here with deep musical knowledge.

I didn't call anyone a cult member. Please calm down. And I know you were implying that I'm not one of the smart people with deep musical knowledge. Please remove me from this thread.

[tree_]

Talking about music is fun

It is. But talking about things I'm not into isn't my idea of a good time. Like - avoid at all costs

Pearl Jam is interesting to me. They were my favourite band, like the ONLY band for me, until I was around 17 years old. I know them and their work intimately. I can't let them go, no matter how horrible Ed has ended up sounding. I'm actually impressed with a lot of the music they are making. I think they should replace Ed to save themselves from further embarrassment. I respect and am interested in differing opinions. I struggle, but try to understand how people can still enjoy Ed's vocal performances.

Sports, same. Lifelong Dolphins fan, win or lose. I'm not happy with every player on their roster, and I want them to improve. It's interesting to follow them and see how they evolve.

[Strat]

Talking about music is fun

It is. But talking about things I'm not into isn't my idea of a good time. Like - avoid at all costs

But you can be into the band, and not this song? Does that mean you don't get to talk about it? That is weird. I love my favorite sushi restaurant but every now and then the meal isn't up to standard. Do I not get to talk about it?

That's fine. But don't get saucy towards someone else who does like it by calling them cult members and talk about how much better you are with your critical thinking skills.

I super enjoy reading why people don't like this song. Or any song! Some smart people here with deep musical knowledge.

I didn't call anyone a cult member. Please calm down. And I know you were implying that I'm not one of the smart people with deep musical knowledge. Please remove me from this thread.

I didn't say you did say that I just said don't say that.

Friendship over.

[oneway23]

So this far in to a band's career, and no one can be critical of any of it? You like every single song? So this thread should just be a jizz fest about the song? That seems more like the Pit. I like this song, but I also like hearing why others may not like it. I did like it in 06, but didn't in 13, but do in 24. But I'm not going to like ALL of the songs, does that make me a bad fan? Sorry, but saying one is wasting keyboard miles or brain space just because it may not be their "In My Tree" (awful song btw), is a bad take.

Must you love every song? Certainly not. Is that really what you gleaned from my post?

All opinions welcome, all insights appreciated...Fantastic.
Post after post of the same? Not so much...

[E.H. Ruddock]

Talking about music is fun

It is. But talking about things I'm not into isn't my idea of a good time. Like - avoid at all costs

But you can be into the band, and not this song? Does that mean you don't get to talk about it? That is weird. I love my favorite sushi restaurant but every now and then the meal isn't up to standard. Do I not get to talk about it?

That's fine. But don't get saucy towards someone else who does like it by calling them cult members and talk about how much better you are with your critical thinking skills.

I super enjoy reading why people don't like this song. Or any song! Some smart people here with deep musical knowledge.

I didn't call anyone a cult member. Please calm down. And I know you were implying that I'm not one of the smart people with deep musical knowledge. Please remove me from this thread.

I didn't say you did say that I just said don't say that.

Friendship over.

Snark Matter

[liebzz]

Talking about music is fun

It is. But talking about things I'm not into isn't my idea of a good time. Like - avoid at all costs

But you can be into the band, and not this song? Does that mean you don't get to talk about it? That is weird. I love my favorite sushi restaurant but every now and then the meal isn't up to standard. Do I not get to talk about it?

That's fine. But don't get saucy towards someone else who does like it by calling them cult members and talk about how much better you are with your critical thinking skills.

I super enjoy reading why people don't like this song. Or any song! Some smart people here with deep musical knowledge.

I didn't call anyone a cult member. Please calm down. And I know you were implying that I'm not one of the smart people with deep musical knowledge. Please remove me from this thread.

I didn't say you did say that I just said don't say that.

Friendship over.

Snark Matter

React, Respond

Hurray for Pearl Jam puns for songs not even out yet. Trailblazing!!

[Kevin Davis]

Nobody else thinks this would fit right in with Lightning Bolt? Sounds so slick and plasticky

It's on the same end of the spectrum for sure. Though LB, in addition to sounding slick and plasticky, also felt impotent -- flat, dull, devoid of life, everything de-emphasized in the service of prioritizing Eddie's voice, etc. Purely in terms of gloss, sparkle and polish, I think "Dark Matter" is more overcooked than LB. But I'm also feeling a presence -- a brawn, a force, a weight -- that none of the songs on LB possess, and I don't just think it's the aggressive mixing/mastering. I do think there is a difference between polishing something so that it sparkles, and scrubbing it so much that the finish comes off; this feels like the latter to me, where LB feels like the latter. I wouldn't actively choose either production style personally, but if forced to make a choice...

So many of the songs on LB also just had this musically lost, melodically inept gracelessness to them that made them unsatisfying in ways that went beyond just the sound of the record. I don't feel that here -- the composition feels a lot more chiseled by comparison, more musically natural, with a better integration between the words and music, between the band's performance and Eddie's.

All of this could just be because I'm listening from a distance that is far greater than it was when LB came out in 2013, and I'm just hearing what I like and giving the rest a pass. It's a pretty happy place to listen from, honestly.

[Ms Harmless]

give it time.. they're just excited to have new stuff

Some people just enjoy liking what they like. Presumably for most of us on this board, Pearl Jam is one of those things.

and the people that's aren't goo goo over it are perfectly fine with people liking it however they want. but it feels as if some of the people that do like it believe that other people aren't entitled to not like it, as if it's some personal affront or something. it's some weird, culty thing that comes up every release cycle.

No. It just baffles me that the same people who clearly aren't into this band or this song (or gave up on the band years ago, which is perfectly fair) need to race to their keyboards every time and hammer on about how lame Pearl Jam has gotten. It's kind of exhausting. And for those of us who get a little joy out of this band, yeah, I guess it does feel slightly personal.

there's always the option of foe'ing certain posters

I'm having an easier time than usual precisely because I did this

[E.H. Ruddock]

That bass at 1:30. I can't get enough of it.

[Ms Harmless]

Nobody else thinks this would fit right in with Lightning Bolt? Sounds so slick and plasticky

It's on the same end of the spectrum for sure. Though LB, in addition to sounding slick and plasticky, also felt impotent -- flat, dull, devoid of life, everything de-emphasized in the service of prioritizing Eddie's voice, etc. Purely in terms of gloss, sparkle and polish, I think "Dark Matter" is more overcooked than LB. But I'm also feeling a presence -- a brawn, a force, a weight -- that none of the songs on LB possess, and I don't just think it's the aggressive mixing/mastering. I do think there is a difference between polishing something so that it sparkles, and scrubbing it so much that the finish comes off; this feels like the latter to me, where LB feels like the latter. I wouldn't actively choose either production style personally, but if forced to make a choice...

So many of the songs on LB also just had this musically lost, melodically inept gracelessness to them that made them unsatisfying in ways that went beyond just the sound of the record. I don't feel that here -- the composition feels a lot more chiseled by comparison, more musically natural, with a better integration between the band's performance and Eddie's.

All of this could just be because I'm listening from a distance that is far greater than it was when LB came out in 2013, and I'm just hearing what I like and giving the rest a pass. It's a pretty happy place to listen from, honestly.

great post

[epilogue]

Nobody else thinks this would fit right in with Lightning Bolt? Sounds so slick and plasticky

It's on the same end of the spectrum for sure. Though LB, in addition to sounding slick and plasticky, also felt impotent -- flat, dull, devoid of life, everything de-emphasized in the service of prioritizing Eddie's voice, etc. Purely in terms of gloss, sparkle and polish, I think "Dark Matter" is more overcooked than LB. But I'm also feeling a presence -- a brawn, a force, a weight -- that none of the songs on LB possess, and I don't just think it's the aggressive mixing/mastering. I do think there is a difference between polishing something so that it sparkles, and scrubbing it so much that the finish comes off; this feels like the latter to me, where LB feels like the latter. I wouldn't actively choose either production style personally, but if forced to make a choice...

So many of the songs on LB also just had this musically lost, melodically inept gracelessness to them that made them unsatisfying in ways that went beyond just the sound of the record. I don't feel that here -- the composition feels a lot more chiseled by comparison, more musically natural, with a better integration between the band's performance and Eddie's.

All of this could just be because I'm listening from a distance that is far greater than it was when LB came out in 2013, and I'm just hearing what I like and giving the rest a pass. It's a pretty happy place to listen from, honestly.

great post

Agreed.

KD nails it.