So, how do you grade Dark Matter?

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  • spankyMP
    spankyMP NY to NC to NH Posts: 2,020
    3 - In the middle of the pack of Pearl Jam songs
    @Spiritual_Chaos where are you in Sweden? I have friends in Viken.
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  • VINNY GOOMBA
    VINNY GOOMBA Posts: 1,826
    4 - One of the greater Pearl Jam songs
    Hankj25 said:
    It’s hard to put into words, but I think it has some really strong pieces and I really love the actual sound of the song.  It’s a little bit disjointed and Ed’s inability to be more coherent drags it down imo.  That being said, I think it will sound better live (but will take time for them to perfect it) and it would be a top 4 song on Gigaton.  I’m really encouraged by the potential the album has.
    I feel like the words pop right out after reading them, but I was mostly clueless on what he was saying after the first few listens without reading along.  I also think this is part of the charm of this one, kind of like Evenflow or Ledbetter.  Really starting to love this track more with each listen and am so pumped for the album!
  • THEBIBLEISTEN
    THEBIBLEISTEN Posts: 2,007
    edited February 2024
    also, I have shared this track with a bunch of NON PJ fans and they love the song. All think its great. Lyrics are cool. great drums and riff. I know there is alot of critical thinkers on here who dont like much other then to rip on stuff but i bet the record will have other tracks that they like. We all have different tastes. 
    Post edited by THEBIBLEISTEN on
  • jonbond1779
    jonbond1779 London, UK Posts: 1,642
    3 - In the middle of the pack of Pearl Jam songs
    SonicReduction said:
    I like the sound overall, but the mix is pretty bad. Eddie is totally lost and his vocal feels very jumbled and over polished. I think everything else is good, and I really like MM’s guitar work at the end. Just having a hard time getting past Eddie’s vocals on this, even though it isn’t his fault 

    totally agree!
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  • AnimalCh1n
    AnimalCh1n Posts: 86
    3 - In the middle of the pack of Pearl Jam songs
    Middle of the pack as far as PJ songs go, means it's very, very good for me.  
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  • nautical_disaster
    nautical_disaster Posts: 348
    3 - In the middle of the pack of Pearl Jam songs
    Solid pearl jam track, great drumming by MC, love the solo by Mike at the end, can't wait to try to figure it out on guitar :) This song could potentially be one of their solid show openers. 

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  • pjpjpaul
    pjpjpaul Posts: 1,719
    https://thetouringfanlive.com/news/f/new-song-review-pearl-jam-dark-matter-by-paul-wirt
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  • Kusy
    Kusy Posts: 351
    Ed's vocal delivery is beyond criticism.
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  • Hankj25
    Hankj25 Posts: 388
    3 - In the middle of the pack of Pearl Jam songs
    Ed’s power is in his rage, right?  But he also has an incredible ability to emote in slower songs.  The lyrics in Off He Goes, Thumbing My Way, Man of the Hour for example are all clear, easy to hear and comprehend.  

    It almost seems like the more energy Ed brings to a faster paced, more intense song, the more jumbled it can become.  Now that being said, sometimes, the lack of clarity can add to a song (Blood for example).  Sometimes, it works the other way, and it detracts.  With this song, he’s right on the edge of being a distraction to the actual music, which is why the song doesn’t quite hit it out of the park for me. That being said, the music is great, Ed’s voice sounds good, and this song is one that I think will be better live than off the record.  
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  • BF25394
    BF25394 Posts: 4,940
    3 - In the middle of the pack of Pearl Jam songs
    I finally heard the song on the radio in my car late last night and it sounded really good as a radio song. Very dynamic and energetic.
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  • vedpunk
    vedpunk Posts: 961
    4 - One of the greater Pearl Jam songs
    After about 20 listens, I like the song.  Don't love it but I'll give it some time.  The overall rhythm, drums and guitar are fantastic.  The verses and especially the bridge are great.  I just don't love the vocal delivery and overall production though.  The vocals are lost in the mix.   The lack of melody in the chorus really drags the song down.  So close to being a hit if there was a more memorable chorus and the vocals were clearer and hit harder instead of being so wordy.  Still super pumped for the new album!
  • 1STmammal2wearPants
    1STmammal2wearPants Worcester, MA Posts: 2,997
    edited February 2024
    3 - In the middle of the pack of Pearl Jam songs
    3 for this - the music is super interesting, but Eddie's vocals are hard to discern/buried in the mix. I haven't had a song of theirs for a while where I couldn't understand most of the lyrics....
    And yeah, this hasn't stuck in my head just yet. 

    DOTC was a 4 for me after the first listen.
    Post edited by 1STmammal2wearPants on
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  • Lerxst1992
    Lerxst1992 Posts: 8,088
    BagCzech said:
    3days said:
    I think there should be a 3.5 option that is "A good Pearl Jam song".

    Instrumentally I like it. Lyrically, from what I gather, I like it. It doesn't exactly sound typical of Pearl Jam, so I dig the Soundgarden-esque departure.

    Hard to hear EV in the mix, which made it harder to discern the lyrics. Perhaps a smidge repetitive. I wonder if a Jeff/Matt power section or additional soloing would've created more balance.

    That being said, I'm a big fan of respecting artistic decisions. This song is a banger, and I ike it. Is it great? Maybe. For now, I know it's really good. 
    Concur with having a 3.5. This is why you see a lot of polls now that are a 6 point scale vs 5 point. With a 5 point you can just pick 3 if you’re in the middle, but with a 6 point scale, you’re forced to pick either 3 or 4. There’s no option for just average. 

    Excellent point BC and TD. It’s cool that SC set up this poll, but the wording of the categories creates imbalance in the results. 

    2 is below average and 4 is not above average, but “one of the greater PJ songs.” That’s an extremely high bar for any song, especially those released in the last 15 years. 4 should be above average and 5 great or elite, based on the wordings of 1 and 2.

    Based on that, the song should be a 4.

    As a big Soundgarden fan, I’d say this is a solid or even a great tune, definitely above average for the last ten years(possibly my favorite single in the last ten years) but not one of the greater PJ songs. It’s really tough these days to reach the esteemed heights of Even Flow or Jeremy.
  • MM70435
    MM70435 Posts: 308
    3 - In the middle of the pack of Pearl Jam songs
    I would give it a 2.5 so I rounded up to 3.  I listened to it on repeat for quite a while at first and thought it was OK.  After listening to it numerous times I then played Gigaton and thought it just doesn't stack up to so many songs off Gigaton.  I did not love Gigaton like I do now initially either so my opinion of Dark Matter may change as well.  
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  • CM189191
    CM189191 Posts: 6,927
    5 - Top Tier Pearl Jam song
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  • BF25394
    BF25394 Posts: 4,940
    3 - In the middle of the pack of Pearl Jam songs
    I was at an astronomy panel discussion last night. One of the panelists studies dark matter. He said that we still have many remaining questions about it. I told him they will all be answered April 19. (Incidentally, he had never heard of Pearl Jam.)
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  • JV130312
    JV130312 STATE OF LOVE & TRUST Posts: 2,525
    3 - In the middle of the pack of Pearl Jam songs
    I'd give it around a 2.5.  Not thrilled with it but it's not terrible.  I voted 3 to round up.


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  • js87130
    js87130 Posts: 90
    2 - Below average Pearl Jam song
    2 - Below average Pearl Jam song

    This really reminds me of You Are, which I think is a middle of the pack song for Pearl Jam.  After I listen to Dark Matter I find myself just wanting to hear You Are.  So I have to go with Below Average on this one. 
    And it feels a little disjointed and confused right before Mike's solo. I don't get that part.  It kinds kills the momentum of the song.
  • Lerxst1992
    Lerxst1992 Posts: 8,088
    BF25394 said:
    I was at an astronomy panel discussion last night. One of the panelists studies dark matter. He said that we still have many remaining questions about it. I told him they will all be answered April 19. (Incidentally, he had never heard of Pearl Jam.)

    Who?
  • LastExitBJP
    LastExitBJP Posts: 82
    edited February 2024
    A 3 for me right now. 
    Post edited by LastExitBJP on

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