The line that I think resonates the most with me is from "Got to Give":
"And I can't stand it 'cause it's no way to live/The pain of this every day has got to give."
Really, that whole song is on point lyrically.
One thing that I think elevates this album-- and this is coming from someone who really loves every Pearl Jam album-- is that there are not many awkward or forced lyrics. No Bob Honey references, as an example. The closest thing I can think of on Dark Matter is the superfluous preposition in "I'm needing for the light" in "Wreckage," which is a very minor nit indeed.
The bridge in Won’t Tell The outro of React/Respond The verse/chorus interplay in Upper Hand
I found that every bridge on the whole album is great. Like extra care was taken to create masterful bridges, and I wonder, if this concept of strong bridges has a deeper meaning within the concept of the album. There's a lot of cool things to discover with this album.
I’ve been thinking this for a few weeks now. Almost every song has a bridge and they are absolutely incredible.
you couldn't swing if you were hangin' from a palm tree in a hurricane
The bridge in Won’t Tell The outro of React/Respond The verse/chorus interplay in Upper Hand
I found that every bridge on the whole album is great. Like extra care was taken to create masterful bridges, and I wonder, if this concept of strong bridges has a deeper meaning within the concept of the album. There's a lot of cool things to discover with this album.
I’ve been thinking this for a few weeks now. Almost every song has a bridge and they are absolutely incredible.
I figured out how the strong bridge concept might relate to the overall album. If we consider that the album itself is about relationships in general, then having strong connections, or "bridges", is important when trying to maintain relationships.
Great thread, and something that I was meaning to touch on if I ever wrote my Dark Matter review. This album is not just a grouping of songs, but Dark Matter is a collection of moments. I think this is one reason why this album is hooking so many of us on a deep level. Even my least favorite songs have some of my favorite moments. Very cool. Endless praise for Dark Matter, certified timeless classic.
Some of my highlight moments:
The style and tones of the guitars, blew me away from the start. This is ear candy for guitar lovers.
Lyrics and sounds connecting to other Pearl Jam songs in Dark Matter, and also other albums.
The "Tremor Christ" riff in "Upper Hand" at 3:05
Every time McCready enters the song to solo. Very stylish. The "Dark Matter" solo will forever make me grin, "Waiting for Stevie" solo is top tier, but my ultimate favorite moment on the album is when Mike enters "React / Respond" to shred, with those stylish mid-bar ghost type notes at around 2:55 midway thru Ed's "Respoooooooonnnnnd" scream. FUCKING AMAZING when I first heard that on headphones, on my 04/20 listening session. A wonderful overall listening experience for me on any album
^ Then shortly after when Mike starts the above shred, at around 3:03 in "React / Respond", that sinister horror movie style laugh. "HA HA HA HA HA"
The palm-muted guitar notes in the pre-chorus to "React / Respond" (as you guess this is my favorite track on the album on first spin
In "Running", the badass wailing siren sounding guitar rip at 1:45. I get so amped at that part
During Mike's solo in "Waiting for Stevie", while the guitar solo is epic as is, I find Ed's soaring vocals to be equally as awesome as he sings "You can be loooooooved"
The mystical and fun lyrics of "Won't Tell"
The opening bass riff to "Something Special", plus the guitar chords. So 90s and I fucking love it.
The outro vocals and lyricsto "Got to Give", and pretty much every moment of this stellar track. As others noted, top tier track.
The opening guitar/percussion combo of "Setting Sun", plus the outro subtle and beautiful guitar strums in combo with Ed's perfect vocals "Let us not fade...", and pretty much every other second of this song. Top tier Pearl Jam song.
The opening atmospheric swell and pool que sound in the album intro to "Scared of Fear", in addition to Stone's awesome riffs in this song
The outro to "Upper Hand" ("Carry me... hooooome"), "Running" ("YOU GOT ME RUNNIN, YOU GOT ME RUNNIN"), and pretty much every other song outro
The bridge in Won’t Tell The outro of React/Respond The verse/chorus interplay in Upper Hand
I found that every bridge on the whole album is great. Like extra care was taken to create masterful bridges, and I wonder, if this concept of strong bridges has a deeper meaning within the concept of the album. There's a lot of cool things to discover with this album.
I'm sure I still have more to discover. As you can tell, I really adore this album, and it should be clear to some why Dark Matter has vaulted to within the Top 5 Pearl Jam albums for many of us. This album is going to age well.
^--- I guess all of the above can be my review. That works.
Dark Matter - A masterpiece. An album of discovery. A timeless classic. A trillion stars out of a trillion.
I've spent a lot of time on this forum and this is one of my favorite posts ever. You clearly spent a lot of time analyzing this album. I love it as much as you do!!!
Great thread, and something that I was meaning to touch on if I ever wrote my Dark Matter review. This album is not just a grouping of songs, but Dark Matter is a collection of moments. I think this is one reason why this album is hooking so many of us on a deep level. Even my least favorite songs have some of my favorite moments. Very cool. Endless praise for Dark Matter, certified timeless classic.
Some of my highlight moments:
The style and tones of the guitars, blew me away from the start. This is ear candy for guitar lovers.
Lyrics and sounds connecting to other Pearl Jam songs in Dark Matter, and also other albums.
The "Tremor Christ" riff in "Upper Hand" at 3:05
Every time McCready enters the song to solo. Very stylish. The "Dark Matter" solo will forever make me grin, "Waiting for Stevie" solo is top tier, but my ultimate favorite moment on the album is when Mike enters "React / Respond" to shred, with those stylish mid-bar ghost type notes at around 2:55 midway thru Ed's "Respoooooooonnnnnd" scream. FUCKING AMAZING when I first heard that on headphones, on my 04/20 listening session. A wonderful overall listening experience for me on any album
^ Then shortly after when Mike starts the above shred, at around 3:03 in "React / Respond", that sinister horror movie style laugh. "HA HA HA HA HA"
The palm-muted guitar notes in the pre-chorus to "React / Respond" (as you guess this is my favorite track on the album on first spin
In "Running", the badass wailing siren sounding guitar rip at 1:45. I get so amped at that part
During Mike's solo in "Waiting for Stevie", while the guitar solo is epic as is, I find Ed's soaring vocals to be equally as awesome as he sings "You can be loooooooved"
The mystical and fun lyrics of "Won't Tell"
The opening bass riff to "Something Special", plus the guitar chords. So 90s and I fucking love it.
The outro vocals and lyricsto "Got to Give", and pretty much every moment of this stellar track. As others noted, top tier track.
The opening guitar/percussion combo of "Setting Sun", plus the outro subtle and beautiful guitar strums in combo with Ed's perfect vocals "Let us not fade...", and pretty much every other second of this song. Top tier Pearl Jam song.
The opening atmospheric swell and pool que sound in the album intro to "Scared of Fear", in addition to Stone's awesome riffs in this song
The outro to "Upper Hand" ("Carry me... hooooome"), "Running" ("YOU GOT ME RUNNIN, YOU GOT ME RUNNIN"), and pretty much every other song outro
The bridge in Won’t Tell The outro of React/Respond The verse/chorus interplay in Upper Hand
I found that every bridge on the whole album is great. Like extra care was taken to create masterful bridges, and I wonder, if this concept of strong bridges has a deeper meaning within the concept of the album. There's a lot of cool things to discover with this album.
I'm sure I still have more to discover. As you can tell, I really adore this album, and it should be clear to some why Dark Matter has vaulted to within the Top 5 Pearl Jam albums for many of us. This album is going to age well.
^--- I guess all of the above can be my review. That works.
Dark Matter - A masterpiece. An album of discovery. A timeless classic. A trillion stars out of a trillion.
I've spent a lot of time on this forum and this is one of my favorite posts ever. You clearly spent a lot of time analyzing this album. I love it as much as you do!!!
Thank you @SVRDhand13! I have had this album on repeat since it was released, and it draws me in more with each listen. This doesn't just rank high for Pearl Jam albums, but this ranks high amongst any album I've ever listened to by any band. Only few albums have ever drew me in as much as this one, and so sharing my thoughts and analysis was fun and easy. It is very clear to me that the band put a lot of care and love in to crafting this album, and I sense that many of us fans are feeling the love as well. These songs sound amazing live!!
When wreckage kicks in and starts sounding like corduroy you remember why you love this band. When you hear upper hand and feel like you’re transported back to your fondest memories of hearing the band’s best songs flr the first time you remember why you’ve spent so much money and energy on the band, its fans, and livd shows.
Comments
"And I can't stand it 'cause it's no way to live/The pain of this every day has got to give."
Really, that whole song is on point lyrically.
One thing that I think elevates this album-- and this is coming from someone who really loves every Pearl Jam album-- is that there are not many awkward or forced lyrics. No Bob Honey references, as an example. The closest thing I can think of on Dark Matter is the superfluous preposition in "I'm needing for the light" in "Wreckage," which is a very minor nit indeed.
I would open it if you came
But if it's not you knocking
It's staying closed" - Won't Tell
"Keep knocking the door 'cause I know someone's there
Beautiful and oh so vulnerable. Now that's wearing his heart on his sleeve!
Do I have to be scared?
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 -
2010: Newark 5/18 MSG 5/20-21 2011: PJ20 9/3-4 2012: Made In America 9/2
2013: Brooklyn 10/18-19 Philly 10/21-22 Hartford 10/25 2014: ACL10/12
2015: NYC 9/23 2016: Tampa 4/11 Philly 4/28-29 MSG 5/1-2 Fenway 8/5+8/7
2017: RRHoF 4/7 2018: Fenway 9/2+9/4 2021: Sea Hear Now 9/18
2022: MSG 9/11 2024: MSG 9/3-4 Philly 9/7+9/9 Fenway 9/15+9/17
2025: Pittsburgh 5/16+5/18
This is mine for sure. I absolutely LOVE it.