A perspective on recent Pearl Jam albums

BF25394BF25394 Posts: 4,502
Here are the Metacritic scores for the most recent Pearl Jam studio albums. They may surprise some fans:

Dark Matter: 81
Gigaton: 80
Lightning Bolt: 73
Backspacer: 79
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Comments

  • F Me In The BrainF Me In The Brain Posts: 31,265
    I could see that....if the other scores were what they were and Gigatonwas a 60
    The love he receives is the love that is saved
  • kmcmanuskmcmanus Posts: 738
    I could see that....if the other scores were what they were and Gigatonwas a 60
    Nah, Gigaton was significantly more experimental than the previous, that’s critical catnip.
    Also, believe it or not, a lot of us like Gigaton.
  • PJ_SoulPJ_Soul Posts: 49,950
    edited May 3
    BF25394 said:
    Here are the Metacritic scores for the most recent Pearl Jam studio albums. They may surprise some fans:

    Dark Matter: 81
    Gigaton: 80
    Lightning Bolt: 73
    Backspacer: 79

    BS, LB and Gigaton are overrated there IMO, or Dark Matter is underrated. And I feel like that isn't just Dark Matter derangement syndrome, lol.
    With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata
  • F Me In The BrainF Me In The Brain Posts: 31,265
    kmcmanus said:
    I could see that....if the other scores were what they were and Gigatonwas a 60
    Nah, Gigaton was significantly more experimental than the previous, that’s critical catnip.
    Also, believe it or not, a lot of us like Gigaton.
    Blech.  Lol.  All good, I'm liking DM 
    The love he receives is the love that is saved
  • KN219077KN219077 Posts: 1,115
    They all have their moments and great songs, dark matter seems most well rounded album start to finish 
  • igotid88igotid88 Posts: 27,991
    Low for Lightning Bolt or as some here call it Lightening Bolt.
    I miss igotid88
  • wiscojamwiscojam Posts: 343
    kmcmanus said:
    I could see that....if the other scores were what they were and Gigatonwas a 60
    Nah, Gigaton was significantly more experimental than the previous, that’s critical catnip.
    Also, believe it or not, a lot of us like Gigaton.
    Thank you. A lot us Do like Gigaton.
  • ekwiptekwipt Posts: 560
    Dark Matter is a very interesting record. There may not be a single song on it I like better than my fav song(s) on those previous albums but as a whole album it far surpasses them. It’s tight & lean with no filler. I never feel like any part of it drags. I don’t skip a single track. 
  • danofundanofun Posts: 1,026
    I could see that....if the other scores were what they were and Gigatonwas a 60
    👆40
  • Attaway77Attaway77 Posts: 3,151
    edited July 3
    Riot Act/Binaural/Gigaton... These three albums, to me, are a listening experience. Bring on fall/winter, I enjoy watching the snow fall listening to these albums.

    Backspacer is perfect for what it is, short album with great songs
    LB, not so much
    DM is what everyone was missing
    Greatest band ever
    PJ4LIFE

    Post edited by Attaway77 on
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  • pdalowskypdalowsky Posts: 15,074
    PJ_Soul said:
    BF25394 said:
    Here are the Metacritic scores for the most recent Pearl Jam studio albums. They may surprise some fans:

    Dark Matter: 81
    Gigaton: 80
    Lightning Bolt: 73
    Backspacer: 79

    BS, LB and Gigaton are overrated there IMO, or Dark Matter is underrated. And I feel like that isn't just Dark Matter derangement syndrome, lol.
    DM is genuinely the best and most complete record ive heard from any band in years
  • benlw86benlw86 Posts: 82
    Agree. And I think the songwriting is terrific. Eddie sounds fantastic, but if this album was released in the 90s and thus you added his 90s voice and general higher fame, it would have been enormous. Not that I care, just a statement of how great the songs are.
  • tempo_n_groovetempo_n_groove Posts: 40,355
    KN219077 said:
    They all have their moments and great songs, dark matter seems most well rounded album start to finish 
    I'm still searching for that moment on Backspacer and Gigaton...
  • benlw86benlw86 Posts: 82
    Unthought Known? Amongst the waves? comes then goes? Who Ever Said? Quick Escape?
  • HenriettaLowellHenriettaLowell Posts: 125
    Never got the Gigaton hate at all. To me it was the most considered album since Riot Act, and on par with Avocado. Dark Matter is more well-rounded as an album though, I agree. 
  • HenriettaLowellHenriettaLowell Posts: 125
    ekwipt said:
    Dark Matter is a very interesting record. There may not be a single song on it I like better than my fav song(s) on those previous albums but as a whole album it far surpasses them. It’s tight & lean with no filler. I never feel like any part of it drags. I don’t skip a single track. 
    Exactly, no skipping here either, but also consider 3-4 tracks on Gigaton superior to anything on Dark Matter
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