So, how do you grade Dark Matter?

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  • Spiritual_Chaos
    Spiritual_Chaos Posts: 31,561
    Are you allowed to feel that the tone/sound of the guitar solo is a tad "squeaky" ?
    "Mostly I think that people react sensitively because they know you’ve got a point"
  • lastexitlondon
    lastexitlondon Posts: 14,960
    3 - In the middle of the pack of Pearl Jam songs
    It is and  may I say it's not very technical and generic I love mike's blues and wah style 


    this song is meant to be called i got shit,itshould be called i got shit tickets-hartford 06 -
  • We All Believe
    We All Believe Eastchester, NY - Proud South Canadian. Posts: 846
    3 - In the middle of the pack of Pearl Jam songs
    It's different, which I am all for at this point, even if it's not as much of a departure as DOTC. Ed's vocals are tough to make out, and I'm not crazy about the overall Wattage. I LOVE Mike and Matt unleashed. Overall I'm meh about it.
    May your days be long, til kingdom come.
  • Kearn5y
    Kearn5y Ireland Posts: 3,038
    3 - In the middle of the pack of Pearl Jam songs
    Spiritual_Chaos said:
    Are you allowed to feel that the tone/sound of the guitar solo is a tad "squeaky" ?
    Yes
    Kearnsy
  • Ledbetterman10
    Ledbetterman10 Posts: 17,002
    3 - In the middle of the pack of Pearl Jam songs
    It's a 3 for me as far as the overall discography goes. But if we were just looking at the post-90's albums, I'd rate it a 4. 
    2000: Camden 1, 2003: Philly, State College, Camden 1, MSG 2, Hershey, 2004: Reading, 2005: Philly, 2006: Camden 1, 2, East Rutherford 1, 2007: Lollapalooza, 2008: Camden 1, Washington D.C., MSG 1, 2, 2009: Philly 1, 2, 3, 4, 2010: Bristol, MSG 2, 2011: PJ20 1, 2, 2012: Made In America, 2013: Brooklyn 2, Philly 2, 2014: Denver, 2015: Global Citizen Festival, 2016: Philly 2, Fenway 1, 2018: Fenway 1, 2, 2021: Sea. Hear. Now. 2022: Camden, 2024: Philly 2, 2025: Pittsburgh 1

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  • on2legs
    on2legs Posts: 16,020
    4 - One of the greater Pearl Jam songs
    I give it a solid B to B+ after the first 24 hours.  I do feel like I will like it more as time goes on.  Especially after hearing it live.  
    1996: Randall's Island 2  1998: East Rutherford | MSG 1 & 2  2000: Cincinnati | Columbus | Jones Beach 1, 2, & 3 | Boston 1 | Camden 1 & 2 2003: Philadelphia | Uniondale | MSG 1 & 2 | Holmdel  2005: Atlantic City 1  2006: Camden 1 | East Rutherford 1 & 2 2008: Camden 1 & 2 | MSG 1 & 2 (#25) | Newark (EV)  2009: Philadelphia 1, 2 & 4  2010: Newark | MSG 1 & 2  2011: Toronto 1  2013: Wrigley Field | Brooklyn 2 | Philadelphia 1 & 2 | Baltimore  2015: Central Park  2016: Philadelphia 1 & 2 | MSG 1 & 2 | Fenway Park 2 | MSG (TOTD)  2017: Brooklyn (RnR HOF)  2020: MSG | Asbury Park  2021: Asbury Park  2022: MSG | Camden | Nashville  2024: MSG 1 & 2 (#50) | Philadelphia 1 & 2 | Baltimore  2025: Raleigh 2


  • Gern Blansten
    Gern Blansten Mar-A-Lago Posts: 22,460
    3 - In the middle of the pack of Pearl Jam songs
    In the middle only because there are so many great ones. I love it...can't wait for the rest.

    It will be great live and I bet they will have a blast playing it.
    Remember the Thomas Nine !! (10/02/2018)
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  • mace1229
    mace1229 Posts: 9,893
    edited February 2024
    3 - In the middle of the pack of Pearl Jam songs
    Kind of hard to say. Would probably be my favorite if it was on the last 2 albums, but below average if compared to the early ones.
    It reminded me of Avocado, which is a middle tier album for me. Not because of the sound, but because of how it made me feel and the quality of it. Decent song, not great.
  • AA295481
    AA295481 Posts: 111
    3 - In the middle of the pack of Pearl Jam songs
    Spiritual_Chaos said:
    So, a day after release. How do you sum the single up?
    Spiritual_Chaos said:
    So, a day after release. How do you sum the single up?
    Spiritual_Chaos said:
    So, a day after release. How do you sum the single up?
    Spiritual_Chaos said:
    So, a day after release. How do you sum the single up?

  • Gibson
    Gibson Chicago Posts: 2,671
    3 - In the middle of the pack of Pearl Jam songs
    I like it and it's still growing on me. 

    Always hard (nearly impossible) to give it the same level of credibility against the songs we grew old with and attached memories and emotion to.
    1998: Barrie  2000: Toronto  2005: Kitchener, London, Hamilton, Toronto  2006: Toronto 1&2, Paris, Milan, Torino, Pistoia  2009: Calgary, Vancouver  2011: Canada  2013: London, Wrigley, Philly 1&2  2014: St. Louis, ACL 1, Detroit  2016: Lexington, Quebec, Ottawa, Toronto 1&2, Fenway 1&2, Wrigley 1&2  2017: EV - Louisville  2018: London 1&2, Milan, Padova, Rome, Prague, Krakow, Berlin, Wrigley 1&2, Fenway 1&2  2020: Toronto, Ottawa, Hamilton  2021: London 1&2  2022: Hamilton, Toronto  2023: Chicago 1&2, Noblesville  2024: Seattle 1&2, Noblesville, Wrigley 1&2

  • AA295481
    AA295481 Posts: 111
    3 - In the middle of the pack of Pearl Jam songs
    I would rate it a middle of the pack song, I've only listened to it about 5 times, I don't plan on listening to it again, i would perfer to wait until the whole album comes out, I would rather hear it in context of the album
  • my_wave
    my_wave clearwater, FL Posts: 358
    2 - Below average Pearl Jam song
    I think like most pearl jam songs it will be better live, but it falls short for me as an overall song, the last minute is epic, aside from that it's ok, it just seems empty and overproduced/compressed like it's missing something... but my opinion may change over time, the sound quality on youtube doesn't help my opinion, maybe I'm not able to hear what others can yet
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    ed - clearwater '12
    ed - clearwater '12
  • rahjiim
    rahjiim Posts: 165
    4 - One of the greater Pearl Jam songs
    I'm at 3.5, so that makes it 4. I like it a lot, but had no time to listen with nö distraction. 
  • LaFleur
    LaFleur Posts: 829
    edited February 2024
    2 - Below average Pearl Jam song
    I don't love it.  Might grow on me.  Had similar feeling when MYM came out.  DOTC on the other hand I loved quickly, and still do. 
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  • Busch896
    Busch896 Delaware Posts: 60
    3 - In the middle of the pack of Pearl Jam songs
    I think it will be awesome live, with the chorus becoming a sort of chant from the crowd. Shows promise for the new album. Really wish you could hear Ed a little clearer. The Record Store Day clip sounds much better than on Spotify/Youtube. 
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  • jimjam1982
    jimjam1982 AZ Posts: 1,471
    4 - One of the greater Pearl Jam songs
    Probaby a more honest reflection for me is between 3 and 4.  I never know the lyrics until they are published so that part doesn't bother me. It's always hard to decode Ed until I can sing along while reading the lyrics then start picking it up

    Just love the riff, guitar solo, drum work.  top notch.  my favorite studio first single off an album since spin the black circle. - yeah im gonna go back that far.
  • VINNY GOOMBA
    VINNY GOOMBA Posts: 1,826
    4 - One of the greater Pearl Jam songs
    I like it as much as Dance of the Clairvoyants which was a great single for the last record, and is already Pearl Jam canon, and I think this one will be too.  One reason I really like this one is that while I'm technically not able to rank it as a strong choice for a single vs the rest of the album, I do think it's one of the best lead singles they've put out in 12 albums of material.  I can compare how much I enjoy it versus their other lead singles, with all of those songs having the distinct advantage of feeling like old friends :)  

    For me, compared to the other lead singles:
    DM = DOTC, STBC, NAIS (some of my all time favorites)

    DM > The Fixer, MYM, WWS, I am Mine (By a lot)

    DM < Given to Fly, Who You Are, Go, Alive  (some of my all time favorites)

    I'm the type of guy that would have a hard time picking my top 25 PJ songs, and the next 25 would be still hard to choose.  But I really like this one a lot already.  It has me more excited than any of these since Yield.
  • HenriettaLowell
    HenriettaLowell Cologne, Germany Posts: 140
    edited February 2024
    3 - In the middle of the pack of Pearl Jam songs
    JPPJ84 said:
    It’s good but I miss a melody. It just doesn’t get stuck in my head
    It‘s the opposite for me: I‘ve not been able to get the intro and first verse out of my head since listening for the second time. So much so that I‘ve been worried I might get sick of it

    Overall, to me, it‘s not on a par with the first two Gigaton singles, but it‘s a really solid song. Great energy and I love Ed‘s vocals, especially in the verses. As often for me with Ed in the current phase, the little cracks and weird enunciation to go with the melody arcs make the difference

    Edit: typo
    Post edited by HenriettaLowell on
  • lazyjc22
    lazyjc22 Posts: 136
    DissidentRival74 said:
    I like the song, but honestly, it didn't give me the same feeling DoTC did when I first heard that.  That one really made me excited to hear the new album.  Like, I couldn't wait for Gigaton to come out after hearing Dance. But this one - meh..  And I feel bad that's how I feel about it bc I truly am excited for some new Pearl Jam. I don't dislike it, but, as someone else said, it's not "stuck in my head"....  Reminds me of how I felt when Mind Your Manners was released.  Though now I really really dig MYM, so maybe this one will grow on me like that one did.  Definitely can see where live this one could be killer though - kind of like the album Quick Escape Mike vs the live Quick Escape Mike...
    Mike's solo at the end does get washed out a bit in the mix, but I could see it killing live. 
  • bone
    bone Posts: 499
    edited February 2024
    3 - In the middle of the pack of Pearl Jam songs
    After 24+ hours of absorbing it, I've got it middle of the pack overall. 

    My biggest concern with Watt being involved was that it would sound like an Andrew Watt album, and unfortunately this is drenched in Watt-isms.  Overdriven drums and too much of the low end coming from a guitar tone drenched in Watt's signature fuzz tone rather than Jeff.  Even picking up a little too much auto tune on Eddie, though not as much as some of the other Watt albums where it's to the point of being distracting.  

    It's good enough for me to be excited for the album though.  
    Post edited by bone on
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