Dark Matter: Official Album Thread

[oneway23]

I will say, something I find very cool is the number of people I've seen around here who may not post often, but, were affected enough by the experience of hearing this record that they felt compelled to post their thoughts.

Thanks for sharing.

[guitar_davey]

I will say, something I find very cool is the number of people I've seen around here who may not post often, but, were affected enough by the experience of hearing this record that they felt compelled to post their thoughts.

Thanks for sharing.

[Val]

Feeling like I'm falling way behind in the discussion, also having not heard this yet.

With all respect due to those who made the effort to record these listening parties and theatrical events, I'm amazed at how frequently many of you are listening, and how rapidly opinions are forming, given the obvious quality difference relative to an actual CD.

I always enjoy new ways to make old things feel unfamiliar. Even down to the experience of a car speaker fritzing so half a song gets buried and your focus shifts to elements of a song that didnt always featured prominently. None of the sub par (but still greatly appreciated) mixes will be like the actual album. but i really enjoy hearing the songs one way, going through that initial discovery, and then have it all blown up and made new with the album

Yup. Reminds me of being in college, hearing Yield songs for the first time on crummy (but appreciated) recordings of the fellas opening up for the Stones in '97

I remember my first listen of Yield vividly.
I was in between jobs but could still visit my old office freely (friendly terms with the owners). I combined college with a day job back then to mixed results in both fields.

So my Yield CD had come in the mail. I pocketed it on my way out and dropped by the old office at some point.
My old desk wasn't occupied by anyone, so I just sat down, popped the CD into the ROM and sat back, feet on desk and all, and before I know it in comes an angry looking guy who appeared to be a new employee whom I hadn't met until then LOL

It must have felt pretty jarring to him to find a complete stranger occupying his desk and looking like he owns the place.
Anyways, I quickly freed the premises of my presence and went on my way. I'd gotten as far as GTF, btw! The interruption came right before the second verse.

[Ms Harmless]

70s turf is nothing new for this band.

didn't say it was

Is Ten their most 70s album solely due to the Alive solo being a note for note ripoff of an Ace Frehley solo?

no idea, don't care

good talk

OK, I'll bite, and try to articulate my feelings about this

I don't think this is "Pearl Jam's most 70's record ever"; I didnt say that, I was just meaning to say "it's also very seventies" as an addendum to the 80's comment

what I do think (I think) is that this album might be the album in the catalogue which most seamlessly and successfully blends the 70s (punk, prog, blues rock / metal / Americana, a bit of glam) with the 80s (post-punk / new wave / new romantic, The Cure-goth pop, pop rock, a little synth pop, more glam); to my mind, the only other album that deliberately set out to do that is Backspacer, and Dark Matter is much better than Backspacer, and *MUCH* better as a showcase of all those things

in my humble opinion

[oneway23]

I remember my first listen of Yield vividly.
I was in between jobs but could still visit my old office freely (friendly terms with the owners). I combined college with a day job back then to mixed results in both fields.

So my Yield CD had come in the mail. I pocketed it on my way out and dropped by the old office at some point.
My old desk wasn't occupied by anyone, so I just sat down, popped the CD into the ROM and sat back, feet on desk and all, and before I know it in comes an angry looking guy who appeared to be a new employee whom I hadn't met until then LOL

It must have felt pretty jarring to him to find a complete stranger occupying his desk and looking like he owns the place.
Anyways, I quickly freed the premises of my presence and went on my way. I'd gotten as far as GTF, btw! The interruption came right before the second verse.

That's a great story, Val! Must have been quite the shock for the young greenhorn...How dare he disturb your initial listening experience, though...the gall!

[Sgt. Crackpot]

I've heard fuck all of this album, and after reading all your thoughts so far I'm pretty fucking keen for my first listen in 25 hours time.

[Val]

I remember my first listen of Yield vividly.
I was in between jobs but could still visit my old office freely (friendly terms with the owners). I combined college with a day job back then to mixed results in both fields.

So my Yield CD had come in the mail. I pocketed it on my way out and dropped by the old office at some point.
My old desk wasn't occupied by anyone, so I just sat down, popped the CD into the ROM and sat back, feet on desk and all, and before I know it in comes an angry looking guy who appeared to be a new employee whom I hadn't met until then LOL

It must have felt pretty jarring to him to find a complete stranger occupying his desk and looking like he owns the place.
Anyways, I quickly freed the premises of my presence and went on my way. I'd gotten as far as GTF, btw! The interruption came right before the second verse.

That's a great story, Val! Must have been quite the shock for the young greenhorn...How dare he disturb your initial listening experience, though...the gall!

Yield is special for me in this sense.
There's also the story of my hearing the hidden track (Hummus) for the first time when I thought I was being burglarized in clear daylight.

[Thurman Murman]

Trying to catch up this morning....did a better quality leak get circulated coming out of these theatre showings? I'd getting weak and holding out till Friday doesnt seem all that desirable anymore.

[oneway23]

There's also the story of my hearing the hidden track (Hummus) for the first time when I thought I was being burglarized in clear daylight.

Oh geez LOL. Sounds more like severe paranoia from some really good bud, to me

[Val]

I've heard fuck all of this album, and after reading all your thoughts so far I'm pretty fucking keen for my first listen in 25 hours time.

It's a beautiful, beautiful album full of good to great songs, but they are mostly on the poppy side, so be forewarned.
This is who Pearl Jam are now.

[Val]

There's also the story of my hearing the hidden track (Hummus) for the first time when I thought I was being burglarized in clear daylight.

Oh geez LOL. Sounds more like severe paranoia from some really good bud, to me

I shared that story on this board once. It's totally authentic and not a word of it is a lie.
Let me try find it, it was posted under a different user name...

[Rob]

Trying to catch up this morning....did a better quality leak get circulated coming out of these theatre showings? I'd getting weak and holding out till Friday doesnt seem all that desirable anymore.

Someone posted something a few pages back but the file seems like it maxed out or something and protected now. Surprised we (or just some of us) can’t find anything else yet after all these showings.

[Ms Harmless]

there's a very simple but effective drum fill somewhere in one of the slower-paced songs that made me smile from ear to ear, because it was a choice I would have made on the drums; I need the album to check where it was, though

[tommy]

How on earth has this not leaked?? Gimme a break!

[stip]

Trying to catch up this morning....did a better quality leak get circulated coming out of these theatre showings? I'd getting weak and holding out till Friday doesnt seem all that desirable anymore.

nothing approaching release grade

[rosser0432]

Feeling like I'm falling way behind in the discussion, also having not heard this yet.

With all respect due to those who made the effort to record these listening parties and theatrical events, I'm amazed at how frequently many of you are listening, and how rapidly opinions are forming, given the obvious quality difference relative to an actual CD.

I always enjoy new ways to make old things feel unfamiliar. Even down to the experience of a car speaker fritzing so half a song gets buried and your focus shifts to elements of a song that didnt always featured prominently. None of the sub par (but still greatly appreciated) mixes will be like the actual album. but i really enjoy hearing the songs one way, going through that initial discovery, and then have it all blown up and made new with the album

Yup. Reminds me of being in college, hearing Yield songs for the first time on crummy (but appreciated) recordings of the fellas opening up for the Stones in '97

Yeah, it's cool to experience the album in different stages. A couple runs through the phone recording and I know that I'll enjoy the hell out of this album. And in a few days I'll get to really digest it in good quality with lyrics, etc. and get a better feel for each song.

Man, those '97 boots bring back memories. Those were probably the first boots that I bought (or more likely convinced my parents to buy me). Found them in a cool little record store while on vacation soon after becoming a fan. I was initially bummed at the quality after hearing LOTL, but quickly got over it and they spent hours in my discman. Think they even had Eddie singing Waiting on a Friend on one of them. Good times.

[stip]

I've heard fuck all of this album, and after reading all your thoughts so far I'm pretty fucking keen for my first listen in 25 hours time.

not even the clips? thats marketing, sarge. it dont count

[DeeDee]

I folded again and listened to the iPhone leak for the 3rd time.

This record is gorgeous, I can't wait for it to be released so I can listen to it in its full glory.

Setting Sun finally hit me, and React/respond will be a killer live. I can see Jeff bouncing and jumping around in the outro like he used to do when they played Last Exit or STBC. And Won't tell and Wreckage are so beautiful... And the end of Upper Hand hit me too.

Oh boy, I'm excited.

[oneway23]

Man, those '97 boots bring back memories. Those were probably the first boots that I bought (or more likely convinced my parents to buy me). Found them in a cool little record store while on vacation soon after becoming a fan. I was initially bummed at the quality after hearing LOTL, but quickly got over it and they spent hours in my discman. Think they even had Eddie singing Waiting on a Friend on one of them. Good times.

Loving the stories this morning. There's a lot I don't miss from those days, but, nothing like discovering a great boot for the first time in some hole in the wall spot somewhere.
Felt like finding a little bit of gold dust at $25-$30 a pop.! Nowadays, we're so fortunate to have anything and everything a mere few clicks away.

[jdopj]

A couple of highlights from the theater

The guitar tones, riffs and layering are a true highlight.
Ed’s vocal delivery on this is top notch

I didn’t think this band after 32 years of fandom could move me like this. I didn’t think I would have this feeling again. It was an emotional experience.