So, how do you grade Dark Matter?

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Comments

  • BF25394
    BF25394 Posts: 4,940
    3 - In the middle of the pack of Pearl Jam songs
    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?
    It was not a famous person, just a doctoral student.
    I gather speed from you fucking with me.
  • retropony
    retropony Myrtle Beach SC Posts: 352
    3 - In the middle of the pack of Pearl Jam songs
    dance of the clairvoyants II.....
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  • 3 - In the middle of the pack of Pearl Jam songs
    I don't get the mike solo being unreal. It's a 20 second rapid noodle. He is way better than that


    this song is meant to be called i got shit,itshould be called i got shit tickets-hartford 06 -
  • IT'S SQUEAKY 
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  • Spunkie
    Spunkie i come from downtown. Posts: 7,095
    edited February 2024
    3 - In the middle of the pack of Pearl Jam songs
     I'd change mine to a 4 now, if we could. 
    Post edited by Spunkie on
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  • fgdanzi
    fgdanzi Posts: 139
    3 - In the middle of the pack of Pearl Jam songs
    Middle of the pack. Sounds like a tune that could have been on Lightning Bolt. 
  • shetellsherself
    shetellsherself New Jersey Posts: 8,835
    4 - One of the greater Pearl Jam songs
    Love it more each time I hear it.  And would it really be a legit Pearl Jam song if we understood all of the words and could decipher the meaning immediately? 
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  • curmudgeoness
    curmudgeoness Brigadoon, foodie capital Posts: 4,130
    Wow, people really aren't getting this one stuck in their head??? you just haven't listened enough...

    I found myself screaming "IT'S.... STRANGE.... THESE DAYS..." at work today in my head and played the song at least 5 times throughout the day. I don't even care if those are the right lyrics. 

    That phaser on the guitar, which is very prominent after the first chorus, reminds me of No Code/Binaural eras of song writing. They seem to be going out there, even if this is a little quick song they decided to throw at us first. The taste they've given us gives me hope for the album, and I think thats all you really need from the lead single.

    The lyrics are more ominous and could be about a variety of things, unlike Gigaton which felt like a "hate" letter to the then U.S. administration. 

    That scream from Eddie??? I mean come on!!! He's not getting any younger. And Mike's solo is absolutely unreal. I have a feeling this one will rip live, and isn't that like 50% or more the reason we love them??? 

    is it the best PJ song ever? By no means. Will it fit with their catalogue and stand out in a setlist lets say sandwiched between career spanning songs like Why Go and Lightning Bolt? 100%. 

    "STILL EVERYBODY ELSE PAYS.....
    FOR SOMEONE ELSE'S MISTAKE!" 

    It's a total earworm for both me and my husband; the refrain has been on endless loop in my head this weekend. I'm one of those people who would like it to be a bit longer.

    I think the lyrics go beyond political to a sort of moral outrage  -- which, frankly, I share, so there's that.

    Rating it is hard; as others have said, how do you compare a new song to something that has been a part of your life for a few decades? I guess I'd give it a 3.5 - 4 right now. It's easier for me to compare it to my first takes on Sirens and DOTC. I did *not* like Sirens at all until I heard it live; it had way too much of an '80s sound for me, and not in a good way. It grew on my after some live performances.

    DOTC I liked at first listen. It was a different direction for the band, interesting, reminiscent of Talking Heads. 

    Dark Matter, for me, has a lot of hooks, and it grabbed me immediately, and, yes, it sounds like it will be a scorcher live.
    All those who seek to destroy the liberties of a democratic nation ought to know that war is the surest and shortest means to accomplish it.
  • SOLAT319
    SOLAT319 Posts: 4,609
    3 - In the middle of the pack of Pearl Jam songs
    Joan Jett vibes which is better than bubble gum pop vibes. 
    I have no patience for bad music and stupid people...

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  • Force Of Nature
    Force Of Nature York, England Posts: 1,138
    For me its probably a 2 or 3.  Maybe it will grow in time.
    Its not a bad song, I do enjoy it and listened loads of times but musically it doesnt really do it for me. 
    Hoping if this album does sound like pearl jam of old, then there are a few songs that have killer riffs, rather than just smashing chords
  • dani11
    dani11 uk Posts: 43
    3 - In the middle of the pack of Pearl Jam songs
    Middle of the pack.

    The song had been stuck in my head (when I was playing it on repeat for a while), but now I've stopped listening so much, I've almost forgotten how it goes!

    Dance Of The Clairvoyants had better melody (in terms of singing). I agree with whoever said Mike's solo at the end is just a 20 second rapid noodle - but I think the solo will be longer and much better live. It's missing some depth somehow, maybe in the verses. The chorus is pretty solid.

    All in all I think the song will sound pretty good live and I'm excited to hear it.




  • Lifted
    Lifted Posts: 1,836
    2 - Below average Pearl Jam song
    A 1 might be more accurate, but Im hoping it grows on me and/or works better within the context of the album, so I gave it a generous 2.

    This is hanging around with sirens and the fixer as lead singles I've been the least impressed with. While I like the vibe more in this one, the song itself might be the worst of the bunch. It sounds lazy and forgettable and I hate the production.

    I listened to Binaural recently after playing this track on repeat a good bit...and it really makes me wonder how some of the songs that have been heavily criticized in the past would be received if they were released today. I feel like the bar has been lowered so much over the past 16 years that fans are generally going to appreciate anything that's at least average. Fair enough for a band at this stage of their career, but my point is, Evacuation sounds like a masterpiece compared to this latest single.


  • Get_Right
    Get_Right Posts: 14,164
    Need to hear the entire record.
  • spankyMP
    spankyMP NY to NC to NH Posts: 2,020
    3 - In the middle of the pack of Pearl Jam songs
    Wow, people really aren't getting this one stuck in their head??? you just haven't listened enough...

    I found myself screaming "IT'S.... STRANGE.... THESE DAYS..." at work today in my head and played the song at least 5 times throughout the day. I don't even care if those are the right lyrics. 

    That phaser on the guitar, which is very prominent after the first chorus, reminds me of No Code/Binaural eras of song writing. They seem to be going out there, even if this is a little quick song they decided to throw at us first. The taste they've given us gives me hope for the album, and I think thats all you really need from the lead single.

    The lyrics are more ominous and could be about a variety of things, unlike Gigaton which felt like a "hate" letter to the then U.S. administration. 

    That scream from Eddie??? I mean come on!!! He's not getting any younger. And Mike's solo is absolutely unreal. I have a feeling this one will rip live, and isn't that like 50% or more the reason we love them??? 

    is it the best PJ song ever? By no means. Will it fit with their catalogue and stand out in a setlist lets say sandwiched between career spanning songs like Why Go and Lightning Bolt? 100%. 

    "STILL EVERYBODY ELSE PAYS.....
    FOR SOMEONE ELSE'S MISTAKE!" 

    It's a total earworm for both me and my husband; the refrain has been on endless loop in my head this weekend. I'm one of those people who would like it to be a bit longer.

    I think the lyrics go beyond political to a sort of moral outrage  -- which, frankly, I share, so there's that.

    Rating it is hard; as others have said, how do you compare a new song to something that has been a part of your life for a few decades? I guess I'd give it a 3.5 - 4 right now. It's easier for me to compare it to my first takes on Sirens and DOTC. I did *not* like Sirens at all until I heard it live; it had way too much of an '80s sound for me, and not in a good way. It grew on my after some live performances.

    DOTC I liked at first listen. It was a different direction for the band, interesting, reminiscent of Talking Heads. 

    Dark Matter, for me, has a lot of hooks, and it grabbed me immediately, and, yes, it sounds like it will be a scorcher live.
    Agree on just about all of this!
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