So, how do you grade Dark Matter?

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Comments

  • SonicReduction
    SonicReduction Illinois Posts: 9
    3 - In the middle of the pack of Pearl Jam songs
    I like the sound overall, but the mix is pretty bad. Eddie is totally lost and his vocal feels very jumbled and over polished. I think everything else is good, and I really like MM’s guitar work at the end. Just having a hard time getting past Eddie’s vocals on this, even though it isn’t his fault 
  • Chazz
    Chazz Posts: 1,156
    4 - One of the greater Pearl Jam songs
    I like it...the vocal feels clearer now that I can read the lyrics
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  • mfc2006
    mfc2006 HTOWN Posts: 37,491
    3 - In the middle of the pack of Pearl Jam songs
    I like it more with each listen, so I imagine my ranking will change over time.
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  • on2legs
    on2legs Posts: 16,020
    4 - One of the greater Pearl Jam songs
    I think live its going to be awesome. 
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  • Hankj25
    Hankj25 Posts: 388
    3 - In the middle of the pack of Pearl Jam songs
    It’s hard to put into words, but I think it has some really strong pieces and I really love the actual sound of the song.  It’s a little bit disjointed and Ed’s inability to be more coherent drags it down imo.  That being said, I think it will sound better live (but will take time for them to perfect it) and it would be a top 4 song on Gigaton.  I’m really encouraged by the potential the album has.
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  • smysteryman
    smysteryman Texas Posts: 5
    lastexitlondon said:
    I've listened a fair bit. This is my take.
    I love the drums. I can't hear the bass ...
    The bass has a distorion on it and it sits kinda low in the mix, but it's for sure there. You just need to listen with headphones ... it sticks out most in the outra section. I wish it were a bit louder in the mix, but there's a lot going on. Feels like they had to pull it back a little because the toms are so forward. You'd be getting clashes if they were to loud.

    All in all I really dig the song. Not sure how it dosn't get stuck in some peoples' heads. The chorus plays on a loop in my head.
  • BSully
    BSully Indiana Posts: 1,503
    4 - One of the greater Pearl Jam songs
    It may change a bit as it ages, but I love it right now... even after 20 or so spins.
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  • smysteryman
    smysteryman Texas Posts: 5
    My only complaint would be this ... the song, lyrically, has a message and a lot to say. I wish Eddie didn't make it so damn hard to decipher what that message is. If you have something to say, a message, say it clearly. And this goes all the way back to Ten. Even Flow is similar. Hell, SNL even had Adam Sandler doing a bit poking fun at it back then. 

    Anyway, love the song, just wish I didn't have to work so hard to understand it.
  • spankyMP
    spankyMP NY to NC to NH Posts: 2,020
    3 - In the middle of the pack of Pearl Jam songs
    SonicReduction said:
    I like the sound overall, but the mix is pretty bad. Eddie is totally lost and his vocal feels very jumbled and over polished. I think everything else is good, and I really like MM’s guitar work at the end. Just having a hard time getting past Eddie’s vocals on this, even though it isn’t his fault 
    Ed sounds great on my AirPods from my iPhone, but he is lost when played on my Echo studio with Atmos.
    Randall's Island 9/29/96, Continental Arena 9/8/98, MSG 9/10/98, Jones Beach 8/23/00, 8/24/00, 8/25/00, Nassau Coliseum 4/30/03, MSG 7/8/03, 7/9/03, Continental Arena 6/1/06, 6/3/06, MSG 6/24/08, 6/25/08, Spectrum 10/30/09, 10/31/09, MSG 5/20/10, 5/21/10, PJ20 9/3/11, 9/4/11, Charlottesville 10/29/13, Charlotte 10/30/13, Global Citizen 9/26/15, Raleigh 4/20/16 :( Baltimore 3/28/20 :( Austin 9/18/23, 9/19/23, Forum 5/21/24, Baltimore 9/12/24, Fenway 9/17/24, Nashville 5/6/25, 5/8/25
  • Ledbetterman10
    Ledbetterman10 Posts: 17,002
    3 - In the middle of the pack of Pearl Jam songs
    mfc2006 said:
    I like it more with each listen, so I imagine my ranking will change over time.
    Hate to say it but I'm kind of the opposite. I like it a little less with each listen. 
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  • THEBIBLEISTEN
    THEBIBLEISTEN Posts: 2,007
    its a 4 for me.

    Great heavy tune. Gunna be a banger live. Great first single. So happy these guys are still putting out music and still have it. 
  • cmikehelton
    cmikehelton Posts: 242
    3 - In the middle of the pack of Pearl Jam songs
    I'd be curious what people are listening to the song on... I hear people complaining of not hearing Ed's vox. I hear it fine.. plus the bass. If you're listening on your phone without headphones, it probably doesn't sound that good. I thought the same at first. Since, I have listened to it in my vehicle and adjusted the eq.. it sounds really good. 

    I would rate the song a 7.5 out of 10. I think when they play it live Mike will go off on the ending solo and it'll be even better!
    "And the young, they can lose hope
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  • shadowcast
    shadowcast Posts: 2,336
    4 - One of the greater Pearl Jam songs
    Really dig the overall sound of the song. But once I pulled up the lyrics it really hit home for me..BIG fan of this jam and can't wait to hear it live!!! 
  • Spiritual_Chaos
    Spiritual_Chaos Posts: 31,561
    We have a result


    "Mostly I think that people react sensitively because they know you’ve got a point"
  • mcgruff10
    mcgruff10 New Jersey Posts: 29,143
    Hankj25 said:
    It’s hard to put into words, but I think it has some really strong pieces and I really love the actual sound of the song.  It’s a little bit disjointed and Ed’s inability to be more coherent drags it down imo.  That being said, I think it will sound better live (but will take time for them to perfect it) and it would be a top 4 song on Gigaton.  I’m really encouraged by the potential the album has.
    Spot on assessment! Side note, I absolutely love Matt's drumming at 2:40, it's absolutely insane.  
    I'll ride the wave where it takes me......
  • mace1229
    mace1229 Posts: 9,893
    3 - In the middle of the pack of Pearl Jam songs
    GetRight13 said:
    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!
    Ed sounds like his micrphone was covered by a sock or something, 
  • mcgruff10
    mcgruff10 New Jersey Posts: 29,143
    cmikehelton said:
    I'd be curious what people are listening to the song on... I hear people complaining of not hearing Ed's vox. I hear it fine.. plus the bass. If you're listening on your phone without headphones, it probably doesn't sound that good. I thought the same at first. Since, I have listened to it in my vehicle and adjusted the eq.. it sounds really good. 

    I would rate the song a 7.5 out of 10. I think when they play it live Mike will go off on the ending solo and it'll be even better!
    I can hear ed's vocals fine, it's his annunciation of words.  I have zero clue as to what he is saying.  
    I'll ride the wave where it takes me......
  • pledgeagrievance
    pledgeagrievance Posts: 2,874
    2 - Below average Pearl Jam song
    Been listening on average once a day and don’t feel the need to listen more. Not hearing anything the people giving it 4s are hearing. Kind of a tough listen for me. I was talking to a friend who’s been a fan a long time but not on the boards. Our collective disappointment is there lean into metal here, no feeling. 
    At this point we were saying they’d listen to Wilco’s Being There or go play with Neil in a barn for a month and see what happens. Lean into there folk/jam side like Red Mosquito, In my Tree, NAIS, Half Full. Not lean into AC/DCs Back in Black. 
  • spankyMP
    spankyMP NY to NC to NH Posts: 2,020
    3 - In the middle of the pack of Pearl Jam songs
    Sounds great (Ed included) blasting in the car!
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  • spankyMP
    spankyMP NY to NC to NH Posts: 2,020
    3 - In the middle of the pack of Pearl Jam songs
    Spiritual_Chaos said:
    We have a result


    HAHA
    Randall's Island 9/29/96, Continental Arena 9/8/98, MSG 9/10/98, Jones Beach 8/23/00, 8/24/00, 8/25/00, Nassau Coliseum 4/30/03, MSG 7/8/03, 7/9/03, Continental Arena 6/1/06, 6/3/06, MSG 6/24/08, 6/25/08, Spectrum 10/30/09, 10/31/09, MSG 5/20/10, 5/21/10, PJ20 9/3/11, 9/4/11, Charlottesville 10/29/13, Charlotte 10/30/13, Global Citizen 9/26/15, Raleigh 4/20/16 :( Baltimore 3/28/20 :( Austin 9/18/23, 9/19/23, Forum 5/21/24, Baltimore 9/12/24, Fenway 9/17/24, Nashville 5/6/25, 5/8/25

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