I would rate it a middle of the pack song, I've only listened to it about 5 times, I don't plan on listening to it again, i would perfer to wait until the whole album comes out, I would rather hear it in context of the album
I think like most pearl jam songs it will be better live, but it falls short for me as an overall song, the last minute is epic, aside from that it's ok, it just seems empty and overproduced/compressed like it's missing something... but my opinion may change over time, the sound quality on youtube doesn't help my opinion, maybe I'm not able to hear what others can yet
st. pete '94
west palm beach '98
tampa '00
tampa '03
tampa '08
brooklyn '13
austin '14
austin '14
tampa '16
I think it will be awesome live, with the chorus becoming a sort of chant from the crowd. Shows promise for the new album. Really wish you could hear Ed a little clearer. The Record Store Day clip sounds much better than on Spotify/Youtube.
Probaby a more honest reflection for me is between 3 and 4. I never know the lyrics until they are published so that part doesn't bother me. It's always hard to decode Ed until I can sing along while reading the lyrics then start picking it up
Just love the riff, guitar solo, drum work. top notch. my favorite studio first single off an album since spin the black circle. - yeah im gonna go back that far.
I like it as much as Dance of the Clairvoyants which was a great single for the last record, and is already Pearl Jam canon, and I think this one will be too. One reason I really like this one is that while I'm technically not able to rank it as a strong choice for a single vs the rest of the album, I do think it's one of the best lead singles they've put out in 12 albums of material. I can compare how much I enjoy it versus their other lead singles, with all of those songs having the distinct advantage of feeling like old friends
For me, compared to the other lead singles: DM = DOTC, STBC, NAIS (some of my all time favorites)
DM > The Fixer, MYM, WWS, I am Mine (By a lot)
DM < Given to Fly, Who You Are, Go, Alive (some of my all time favorites)
I'm the type of guy that would have a hard time picking my top 25 PJ songs, and the next 25 would be still hard to choose. But I really like this one a lot already. It has me more excited than any of these since Yield.
It’s good but I miss a melody. It just doesn’t get stuck in my head
It‘s the opposite for me: I‘ve not been able to get the intro and first verse out of my head since listening for the second time. So much so that I‘ve been worried I might get sick of it
Overall, to me, it‘s not on a par with the first two Gigaton singles, but it‘s a really solid song. Great energy and I love Ed‘s vocals, especially in the verses. As often for me with Ed in the current phase, the little cracks and weird enunciation to go with the melody arcs make the difference
I like the song, but honestly, it didn't give me the same feeling DoTC did when I first heard that. That one really made me excited to hear the new album. Like, I couldn't wait for Gigaton to come out after hearing Dance. But this one - meh.. And I feel bad that's how I feel about it bc I truly am excited for some new Pearl Jam. I don't dislike it, but, as someone else said, it's not "stuck in my head".... Reminds me of how I felt when Mind Your Manners was released. Though now I really really dig MYM, so maybe this one will grow on me like that one did. Definitely can see where live this one could be killer though - kind of like the album Quick Escape Mike vs the live Quick Escape Mike...
Mike's solo at the end does get washed out a bit in the mix, but I could see it killing live.
After 24+ hours of absorbing it, I've got it middle of the pack overall.
My biggest concern with Watt being involved was that it would sound like an Andrew Watt album, and unfortunately this is drenched in Watt-isms. Overdriven drums and too much of the low end coming from a guitar tone drenched in Watt's signature fuzz tone rather than Jeff. Even picking up a little too much auto tune on Eddie, though not as much as some of the other Watt albums where it's to the point of being distracting.
It's good enough for me to be excited for the album though.
Post edited by bone on
1993-08-12 - Edmonton, AB, Convention Centre
2003-05-30 - Vancouver, BC, General Motors Place
2005-09-04 - Calgary, AB, Pengrowth Saddledome
2005-09-05 - Edmonton, AB, Rexall Place
2009-08-08 - Calgary, AB, Canada Olympic Park
2009-09-21 - Seattle, WA, Key Arena
2009-09-22 - Seattle, WA, Key Arena
2011-09-23 - Edmonton, AB, Rexall Place
2013-11-30 - Spokane, WA, Spokane Arena
I'll be brutally honest. I know we are only 2 days in since it was released, but after 20+ spins, this song is just BLAH to me. I can't even see it growing on me, because as others have said, there really is no melody at all to it. I can't understand a damn thing Eddie is singing and the song is just really repetitive. I told my wife last night that this is hands down, my new #1 ''bathroom break'' song.
That said, I'm looking forward to hearing the next single and the rest of the album. But this song aint doing it for me.
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I've done another few listens . It's very thin and empty as a song I actually saw a black circle cover that sounded more full and better. I like the feel of it but the guitars need more full chords or thicker sound . To me it still is like a one finger on one fret guitar playing if that makes sense. Prob not
brixton 93
astoria 06
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reading 06
barcelona 06
paris 06
wembley 07
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this song is meant to be called i got shit,itshould be called i got shit tickets-hartford 06 -
Like the song, just don't like the sound of the mix, especially on the snare drum and eds vocals in parts. I think its gonna sound great Live though, cant wait to hear it!
I graded it mostly as a first single from an album. Still way too early to rate it against the rest of their catalogue. I find it to be quite groovy and melodic. I'm also digging the snare fill (drums overall) building into the solo into the last chorus. The bridge is not my favorite.
For the purposes of getting excited about a new album, it's on point. Like DotC, I'll listen to it so much that hearing the rest of the album will likely make me downgrade it (Retrograde & Quick Escape are my top 2 from Gigaton).
It's a strong first impression and I'm already certain Dark Matter will be my Spotify "Most played" track this year, but I have a feeling we're in for even better tracks come April 19th
4.2 - love it. Sounds vital. Athletic even. MC is on a charge, and perhaps signalling a changing of the guard… Muffly Ed: don’t care, love Riot Act. Seems they love what they’ve done, imagine the shows later to come
I love it but playing it safe and giving it a 3 for now. We’ll see how it holds up after the excitement of new music and tour starts to settle in. It has the potential to be a 4.
Blah for me. I had such high hopes but that just isn't the sound I'm looking for. I want more of Mike and Stone, not the metal riff sound. A lot of the other snippets of songs from the back door sound good though. I heard one of them say Dark Matter is the best song they have done in a while and I am pretty shocked that they feel that positive about it. The other thing is, the last couple years they have been trying to save Ed's voice on tour, but I find it hard to believe they would play this every night. Edit: I hate even typing this on this forum.
I think it's too soon to grade against other songs. I need to hear it live first.
Agreed, and they need time to work it out live, too. The first time they played Lightning Bolt at Wrigley in 2013, it wasn't very good. Over time though it has become a great live song.
Interested to hear how much of what people don't like about Watt on the recording disappears on the stage.
Like the song, just don't like the sound of the mix, especially on the snare drum and eds vocals in parts. I think it’s gonna sound great Live though, cant wait to hear it!
Yeah with the exception of Can’t Deny Me, this is their worst “sounding” song. Hopefully the entire album isn’t like that.
Middle of the pack for me. I don't know why, but Eddie adding a W to words that don't have one is distracting to me.....that second line. It seems he does it a lot more often now
Washington DC 2008
Charlotte NC 2013
Greenville SC 2016 Wrigley 1 2018
Wow, people really aren't getting this one stuck in their head??? you just haven't listened enough...
I found myself screaming "IT'S.... STRANGE.... THESE DAYS..." at work today in my head and played the song at least 5 times throughout the day. I don't even care if those are the right lyrics.
That phaser on the guitar, which is very prominent after the first chorus, reminds me of No Code/Binaural eras of song writing. They seem to be going out there, even if this is a little quick song they decided to throw at us first. The taste they've given us gives me hope for the album, and I think thats all you really need from the lead single.
The lyrics are more ominous and could be about a variety of things, unlike Gigaton which felt like a "hate" letter to the then U.S. administration.
That scream from Eddie??? I mean come on!!! He's not getting any younger. And Mike's solo is absolutely unreal. I have a feeling this one will rip live, and isn't that like 50% or more the reason we love them???
is it the best PJ song ever? By no means. Will it fit with their catalogue and stand out in a setlist lets say sandwiched between career spanning songs like Why Go and Lightning Bolt? 100%.
"STILL EVERYBODY ELSE PAYS..... FOR SOMEONE ELSE'S MISTAKE!"
I rated it a 3, kind of mid? It doesn't suck, but it's not near the most amazing things in their catalog. It's ok. Kind of missing a good course or melody to sing a long to. It's also possible it'll grow on me, I've only listened to it a half dozen times so far
Comments
west palm beach '98
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ed - clearwater '12
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Just love the riff, guitar solo, drum work. top notch. my favorite studio first single off an album since spin the black circle. - yeah im gonna go back that far.
For me, compared to the other lead singles:
DM = DOTC, STBC, NAIS (some of my all time favorites)
DM > The Fixer, MYM, WWS, I am Mine (By a lot)
DM < Given to Fly, Who You Are, Go, Alive (some of my all time favorites)
I'm the type of guy that would have a hard time picking my top 25 PJ songs, and the next 25 would be still hard to choose. But I really like this one a lot already. It has me more excited than any of these since Yield.
My biggest concern with Watt being involved was that it would sound like an Andrew Watt album, and unfortunately this is drenched in Watt-isms. Overdriven drums and too much of the low end coming from a guitar tone drenched in Watt's signature fuzz tone rather than Jeff. Even picking up a little too much auto tune on Eddie, though not as much as some of the other Watt albums where it's to the point of being distracting.
It's good enough for me to be excited for the album though.
2003-05-30 - Vancouver, BC, General Motors Place
2005-09-04 - Calgary, AB, Pengrowth Saddledome
2005-09-05 - Edmonton, AB, Rexall Place
2009-08-08 - Calgary, AB, Canada Olympic Park
2009-09-21 - Seattle, WA, Key Arena
2009-09-22 - Seattle, WA, Key Arena
2011-09-23 - Edmonton, AB, Rexall Place
2013-11-30 - Spokane, WA, Spokane Arena
That said, I'm looking forward to hearing the next single and the rest of the album. But this song aint doing it for me.
astoria 06
albany 06
hartford 06
reading 06
barcelona 06
paris 06
wembley 07
dusseldorf 07
nijmegen 07
this song is meant to be called i got shit,itshould be called i got shit tickets-hartford 06 -
2022 Ottawa 09/03
2016 MSG 1 & 2
2013 Brooklyn (10/18, 10/19) Philadelphia (10/21, 10/22)
2012 Atlanta 09/22
2009 Albany 06/08 (Eddie Solo)
2008 Bonnaroo 6/14
2006 Albany 05/12
2005 Philadelphia 10/03
2000 Saratoga Springs 08/27
It's a strong first impression and I'm already certain Dark Matter will be my Spotify "Most played" track this year, but I have a feeling we're in for even better tracks come April 19th
Edit: I hate even typing this on this forum.
Interested to hear how much of what people don't like about Watt on the recording disappears on the stage.
"...I changed by not changing at all..."
Pearl Jam bootlegs:
http://wegotshit.blogspot.com
Charlotte NC 2013
Greenville SC 2016
Wrigley 1 2018
"...You try it, I give you the room, you try..."
I found myself screaming "IT'S.... STRANGE.... THESE DAYS..." at work today in my head and played the song at least 5 times throughout the day. I don't even care if those are the right lyrics.
That phaser on the guitar, which is very prominent after the first chorus, reminds me of No Code/Binaural eras of song writing. They seem to be going out there, even if this is a little quick song they decided to throw at us first. The taste they've given us gives me hope for the album, and I think thats all you really need from the lead single.
The lyrics are more ominous and could be about a variety of things, unlike Gigaton which felt like a "hate" letter to the then U.S. administration.
That scream from Eddie??? I mean come on!!! He's not getting any younger. And Mike's solo is absolutely unreal. I have a feeling this one will rip live, and isn't that like 50% or more the reason we love them???
is it the best PJ song ever? By no means. Will it fit with their catalogue and stand out in a setlist lets say sandwiched between career spanning songs like Why Go and Lightning Bolt? 100%.
"STILL EVERYBODY ELSE PAYS.....
FOR SOMEONE ELSE'S MISTAKE!"