Dark Matter album reviews

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Comments

  • greenwoodlogan102498
    greenwoodlogan102498 Posts: 40
    I think this is a GREAT album. Pearl Jam shouldn’t be asked of more than good at this point but they find a way to give a little more. I think this is an album of indulgences; it goes big and loud and it has more creativity within the tracks than has been present in a long time. It creates new things, pays homage to old things, but it always ends up sounding like Pearl Jam. Is Upper Hand basically the beginning of Time by Pink Floyd yes but it ends with a Ledbetter like jam and belting that is reminiscent of 90s PJ. The tributes and new ideas are tied up so nicely that it sounds like a PJ live set without them putting actual cover songs on the album. 

    8.5/10

    1. React, Respond
    2. Wreckage
    3. Waiting for Stevie
  • PJ_Soul
    PJ_Soul Vancouver, BC Posts: 50,665
    bicyclejoe said:
    tbergs said:
    bicyclejoe said:
    Haijay said:
    PJ_Soul said:
    I am so so pleased to say that I dig this album!!! I haven't felt this about a new PJ album for 18 years, so it's pretty great to have the feeling back finally.
    So why did you hang on so long? Surely Imagine Dragons has a forum🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️
    That seems really unnecessary. She made a positive comment as part an honest observation of where her relationship with this band and its music sits. There’s no need to bully her. 
    She. PJ_Soul is not a he. Not that you would necessarily know that. 
    Fixed. Thank you. Apologies to @PJ_Soul

    No prob, common mistake - thanks tbergs :smile:
    With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata
  • bobasfeet
    bobasfeet Posts: 1,195
    This album feels like their Automatic For The People. Not so much in sound but it in it's wisdom and beauty.
  • Johnny Abruzzo
    Johnny Abruzzo Philly Posts: 12,357
    bobasfeet said:
    This album feels like their Automatic For The People. Not so much in sound but it in it's wisdom and beauty.
    I liked the Tom Petty: Wildflowers analogy as well.

    Either way both of those albums were followed up by more career defining work for those artists. which is really freaking exciting!
    Spectrum 10/27/09; New Orleans JazzFest 5/1/10; Made in America 9/2/12; Phila, PA 10/21/13; Phila,  PA 10/22/13; Baltimore Arena 10/27/13; Phila, PA 4/28/16; Phila, PA 4/29/16; Fenway Park 8/7/16; Fenway Park 9/2/18; Asbury Park 9/18/21; Camden 9/14/22; Las Vegas 5/16/24; Las Vegas 5/18/24; Phila, PA 9/7/24; Phila, PA 9/9/24; Baltimore Arena 9/12/24; Pittsburgh 5/16/25; Pittsburgh 5/18/25

    Tres Mtns - TLA 3/23/11; EV - Tower Theatre 6/25/11; Temple of the Dog - Tower Theatre 11/5/16
  • mookeywrench
    mookeywrench Posts: 6,059
    mookeywrench said:
    Dang, this might even get a 6.2 in pitchfork
    So close
  • igotid88
    igotid88 Posts: 28,629
    10
    I miss igotid88
  • TJ25487
    TJ25487 Posts: 1,501
    After the first 3 days of listening it was a 5/10. Then it hit me on my 6th listen. Now 10/10. So good. 
  • aisleseats
    aisleseats Posts: 1,628
    I'm at 36 full listens now. To me, this is a really good album. They should be proud.

    A+: Upper Hand, Waiting For Stevie, Setting Sun (my faves)
    A: Dark Matter, Running, Scared of Fear, React, Respond (all bangers)
    B: Won't Tell, Got to Give (good live potential)
    C: Wreckage, Something Special (not my faves)

    Right now, I'd rank it #7 of 12 on my albums list.
  • Dr. Stip Zoidberg
    Dr. Stip Zoidberg Posts: 256
    I think I probably have this as my number 4 album of theirs. We will see if that stands the test of time

    Waiting for Stevie is a catalog all timer

    If I'd rank after that

    Scared of Fear, Setting Sun, Dark Matter

    Honestly everything after this is a blur. Probably Wreckage and React/Respond but every song is good to great and scratches a different itch. It's hard for me to say yet how many of these songs will settle in the truly elite tier of Pearl Jam songs, but as a front to back satisfying listen this is their best work since Vitalogy







    Out now!
  • Dr. Stip Zoidberg
    Dr. Stip Zoidberg Posts: 256
    my voluminous thoughts are here



    Out now!
  • bicyclejoe
    bicyclejoe USA Posts: 1,203
    edited April 2024
    For what it's worth, the Pitchfork review is out. The rating: 6.4 (by comparison, since Pitchfork tends to hate most music, the Taylor Swift received a 6.4 for her new album).
    https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/pearl-jam-dark-matter/
    Post edited by bicyclejoe on
    My Pearl Jam Road: 10/22/90 Seattle | 12/22/90 Seattle, Moore Theater | 9/29/92 Seattle, Magnusson Park, Drop in the Park | 9/5/93 The Gorge, with Neil Young and Blind Melon | 7/20/06 Portland, Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall with Sleater-Kinney | 7/22/06 The Gorge, 10/21/06 Mountain View, Shoreline Ampitheatre, Bridge School Benefit | 9/21/09 Seattle | 9/22/09 Seattle | 9/26/09 Portland, OR | 7/14/2011 Eddie Vedder, Portland, OR | 11/29/13 Portland, OR
  • False_Belief
    False_Belief Cardiff Posts: 763
    Pitchfork gonna Piitchfork. 🙄



    Leeds 2006, London 2007, Hartford 2008, London Shepherds Bush 2009, London O2 2009, Dublin 2010, London Hyde Park 2010, Amsterdam 1 2012, Amsterdam 2 2012, Berlin 1 2012, EV solo London 30/7/2012, Berlin 2014, Stockholm 2014, Milton Keynes 2014, Amsterdam 1 2018, London 1 2018, London 2 2018, EV solo Dublin 2019, London 1 2022, London 2 2022, New York City 2022 

  • Hawk123
    Hawk123 Posts: 2,367
    False_Belief said:
    Pitchfork gonna Piitchfork. 🙄



    That Peppa album is a banger though. 
  • nicknyr15
    nicknyr15 Posts: 9,215
    Pitchfork notorious for hating most music.  To me they’re a parody. 
  • pjl44
    pjl44 Posts: 10,523
    It's a totally reasonable and fairly complimentary review. I never know how to objectively evaluate a Pearl Jam album or any of my favorite bands.
  • js87130
    js87130 Posts: 90
    edited April 2024
    Pitchfork is not what it once was.  It was purchased by Conde Nast in 2015 and then saw a bunch of staff cuts in the last few months.
    Paste had reviews of Taylor (3.6 out of 10) and Dark Matter (7 out of 10) that seem just about right.  I enjoy Dark Matter a lot.  I don't think it is among their best but it is definitely better than the last 4 records.  I am happy with it and I hope the lessons learned from this record roll over into their next.  I still think they they can make a late-career gem but I don't htink Dark Matter is it.  7 out of 10 seems on the nose.
  • bicyclejoe
    bicyclejoe USA Posts: 1,203

    My Pearl Jam Road: 10/22/90 Seattle | 12/22/90 Seattle, Moore Theater | 9/29/92 Seattle, Magnusson Park, Drop in the Park | 9/5/93 The Gorge, with Neil Young and Blind Melon | 7/20/06 Portland, Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall with Sleater-Kinney | 7/22/06 The Gorge, 10/21/06 Mountain View, Shoreline Ampitheatre, Bridge School Benefit | 9/21/09 Seattle | 9/22/09 Seattle | 9/26/09 Portland, OR | 7/14/2011 Eddie Vedder, Portland, OR | 11/29/13 Portland, OR
  • wnh1977
    wnh1977 Iowa Posts: 650
    Pitchfork scores through the years...

    • Riot Act  -  4.9
    • Pearl Jam  -  5.5
    • Backspacer  - 4.6
    • Lightning Bolt  -  5.0
    • Gigaton  -  6.2
    • Dark Matter  -  6.4
    So, according to Pitchfork scores, their best work since at least Binaural.
    1998: 6/26, 6/27, 6/29
    2000: 8/15, 8/18, 10/9, 10/11, 10/12
    2003: 6/18, 6/21, 6/22
    2005: 9/9, 9/28
    2006: 5/16, 5/17, 6/26, 6/27
    2007: 8/5
    2009: 8/23, 8/24
    2010: 5/3, 5/4, 5/21
    2011: 9/3, 9/4, 9/11, 9/12
    2013: 7/19, 11/16
    2014: 10/3, 10/9, 10/12, 10/17
    2016: 4/16, 8/20, 8/22
    2018: 8/18, 8/20, 9/2
    2022: 9/18
    2023: 8/31, 9/2, 9/5
    2024: 5/18, 6/29
  • tbergs
    tbergs Posts: 10,401
    wnh1977 said:
    Pitchfork scores through the years...

    • Riot Act  -  4.9
    • Pearl Jam  -  5.5
    • Backspacer  - 4.6
    • Lightning Bolt  -  5.0
    • Gigaton  -  6.2
    • Dark Matter  -  6.4
    So, according to Pitchfork scores, their best work since at least Binaural.
    Right, but what about inflation? A 6.4 today was probably a 4.9 in 2002 :smiley:
    It's a hopeless situation...
  • bootlegger10
    bootlegger10 Posts: 16,255
    I really believe that some of these reviews are written before they hear the record.  They know what they want to write.  

    And they penalize PJ for sounding like PJ.  Makes no sense to me.

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