Early indie store Dark Matter listening party

The Rock

just_one said:

The Rock said:

Someone on the RM forum made handwritten notes for each song, go check them out. 

RM? Link please

Red Mosquito forum.

http://forums.theskyiscrape.com/index.php

foodshop65

The record is good. Some moments are better than others. I think the live will be awesome. Got a bunch of posters  and some mats. 9 people

Kwieneke

Anyone have extra goodies to share? Couldn’t make it anywhere today unless I I took a 6 hour round trip

Yamrider

Vinilo in Southampton UK. Only had tote bags, felt for the guy behind the counter trying to explain 'that's all we got sent' when several people, me included, asked about the giveaways.

When I booked the ticket last week they had a pre order for a black and gold vinyl. When asked today he says it's not the RSD and not the tricolour. I went for this but he didn't know anymore than black and gold. 
Anyone know what this is?

ISO slip mat please if anyone has spare.

Really liked Dark Matter. Good mix of songs. I agree that some small hints at older songs. Maybe just me but I couldn't help but think of In Hiding on one. Liked waiting for Stevie.

kmcmanus

BF25394 said:

SVRDhand13 said:

I’m going against the grain… love Something Special. Maybe because I have a young daughter. 

This bodes poorly for me since I don't like children...

C’mon man they’re delicious 

bobasfeet

bobasfeet said:

I am headed to one at 4pm. Can't wait!

Plan 9 - Richmond, VA

runstaples

My wife and I with members of Deep 6, Pearl Jam/Soundgarden cover band at the listening party here in Raleigh. The drummer, Steve, told me some great stories about growing up in Seattle and knowing Andy Wood, Mike and Layne. Loved the album! 

CarryTheZero

Just got back from Mojo outside of Atlanta! They had posters and slip mats for free hand out! They raffled the tote bag, the 3’ x 3’ styrofoam album board, and a giant vinyl wall stick on of the cover as well.

Album sounded amazing. Can’t wait to get my hands on it and listen again. Nothing sounded like a stinker on it (Something Special sounded better than I thought!).

First two tracks are killer rockers, particularly that outro on React/Respond! Wreckage sounded nice! 

Very cool, long Pink Floyd intro into Upperhand, then that song completely shifts gears. Liked it.

Waiting for Stevie sounds like a cross between Dissident and Breath to me. It was awesome!

Setting Sun was a great closer, starts slow, builds to anthemic sound, and then soft again.

I think I’ll really like the album. So glad I went!

bicyclejoe

I have a Dark Matter tote bag if anyone wants it. Just need to cover postage.
On first listen, I rate the album 6/10.

CarryTheZero

Also had these for free! Looks like an RSD giveaway. Haven’t read it yet, but maybe 4 pages of text with photos. An interview with Stone and Mike!

Pap

I went to A Slice of Vinyl in Gosport, UK. I was there at 10:30 (first person to appear for the party - the rest of the guys started coming around 12:30), and the party started at 14:00 (the owner told us that we were the very first to listen to the album, as the other parties were starting one or two hours later). Around 30 people attended. I got the poster, but tote bags were only given to those who pre-ordered the album in-store.

After the first listen, here are my instantly standout songs (excluding Dark Matter and Running):

1. Won't Tell (what a great song!)
2. Something Special (reminded me of Daughter)
3. Wreckage

They will grow on me after a couple more listens:

1. Setting Sun (reminded me of Indifference)
2. Got to Give
3. Upper Hand

They will eventually grow on me:

1. Scared of Fear
2. React, Respond
3. Waiting for Stevie

Off to the theatrical experience on Tuesday, and then the immersive experience on Friday! 

bobasfeet

There was a busy Sunday crowd, so the store couldn’t really crank the album. Also for the record their stereo system seemed  just OK.

Forgive me. I am not a writer. Here some brief thoughts on songs (without Dark Matter or Running)…

Scared of Fear/ React Respond - The first two rockers are solid. I can’t wait to crank them on my home stereo.

Wreckage will be a classic. Fantastic melody. You’ll / we’ll be singing along with this one quickly.

Won’t Tell. I’m pretty sure there was a moment in this song that sounded VERY similar to an old Pearl Jam song. I started writing down notes during this song, but I keep thinking back on it and I think I really dug this one. Edit: “you can find me here” is the part that sounded familiar. Trying to figure out which song.

Upper Hand. Wow. Nothing As It Seems vibes (at times)

Waiting For Stevie is not as throwback as described but still very good. The outro threw me but nice transition into Running.

Something Special is not really cringey at all. These kind of songs can be, but this is well done. 

Got To Give was good but my least favorite.
I need to hear it again. 

Setting Sun had a nice build and I see why it’s the closer.

Ed sounds great. I didn’t mind production from what I could hear on house speakers. The music was tasteful and everyone at some point had a time to shine. It’s a very mature Pearl Jam album and way better than the Earthing effort. There is something on it for everyone. As per the reviews on here comparing songs to older songs, in my opinion, I think there are moments in the new songs that sound familiar, but not necessarily whole songs. It’s really a stew of all their records and at different moments you get different flavors. I found none of those flavors offensive or heavy on nostalgia.

Overall, I loved the album. I do think it will be a grower for some people, in the best way. I can’t wait to hear it in the theater on Tuesday and spin, spin it on Friday. 🤞🏻

Kwieneke

bicyclejoe said:

I have a Dark Matter tote bag if anyone wants it. Just need to cover postage.
On first listen, I rate the album 6/10.

Taken?

AnimalCh1n

Count me in on people looking for a slipmat. Happy to cover costs for shipping +.

Ten Backspaced Riot Actors

Just got back from listening party.  “Wreckage” needs to be on the radio, loved it.  I loved track 1.  Intro sounds like Aha Heartbreak Kings of Leon,  which is a good thing.  Overall, overwhelming trying to figure out an album on first listen.  The band and especially Eddie sound great! Really displays his true singing ability.  

I think this album is gonna be a grower in a good way.  

Setting sun was great, love the “if you could see what I see, you would do anything to stay” line or something along those lines.

Edited:  hard to compare this to prior albums.   The band sound so fresh.  A little poppy- like some moments of U2, Coldplay, Soundgarden, Tom Petty, with the badass Pearl Jam sheen.  I like it a lot.  If there are more records in the future I like this direction

MikeDigs

Based on the latest reviews and feedback from the listening parties, it seems to be the concensus that Wreckage is a beautiful gem of a track, and Got to Give might be the weakest/filler track but still a decent song.  I'm really excited to dive in to this album with headphones and enjoy.   Seems like there's many layers to this album that will reveal themselves on repeat listens.

Ten Backspaced Riot Actors

And Won’t Tell is another radio song if they want.  It’s a monster, I think

deb1211

I really love the album. I thought React, Respond was great and Won't Tell really made an impact. I kept thinking what is this song..it's fantastic. I didn't have the track list so wasn't always sure which song was on but i loved hearing Eds voice soar on some of the songs and also felt we got some build up songs with endings that will be amazing live with room for extended jamming. I love the variety on this album. Of course I already love Dark Matter and Running and think I was the only one who knew most of those lyrics in this small town.

I kept thinking if I feel good about these songs already, I'm gonna really love them after I get to listen more. 

I got there early and got to hear Give Way while waiting. I was first haha..well there was merch I had to have. I'm trained to show up early. The shop owner was sweet. She raffled my dark matter bracelets and kept saying a superfan made them. She even gave me a patch and this guy who won the tote gave it to me.

Oh and a piece of Wreckage is already stuck in my head

djjazzy276

Just got back from The Record Pub in Portland. Such a fun event and great to chat with fellow fans. So much chatting in fact that it was hard to hear the album, but from what I could make out, I found it to be pretty solid top to bottom. Something Special definitely sticks out like a sore thumb, but not necessarily in a bad way. Can’t wait to have this in my hands and listen with my good headphones. We got the poster and slipmat, then my wife won the last tote bag as well! So cool that this happened.

Jules10

bicyclejoe said:

I have a Dark Matter tote bag if anyone wants it. Just need to cover postage.
On first listen, I rate the album 6/10.

Interested!