Dark Matter ALBUM REVIEW by one of the faithful

Hey friends, I've been absorbing dark matter since yesterday and have written a relatively in depth review for the website 13th Floor. Have a read, I expect it might both stimulate and temper excitements! Can't wait for you all to hear the record and to see where the band takes these songs live.


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Comments

  • lastexitlondon
    lastexitlondon Posts: 15,187
    Some of this I agree with


    this song is meant to be called i got shit,itshould be called i got shit tickets-hartford 06 -
  • BrainofBGA
    BrainofBGA Australia Posts: 4,564
    Overall that sounds pretty positive. In line with most other reviews. Something Special seems to be a divisive type of track. This one sounds like it’s going to be the Buckle Up, Sleeping by Myself track of Dark Matter. 
    Melbourne #1 '98
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  • Something Special seems to be a divisive type of track. This one sounds like it’s going to be the Buckle Up, Sleeping by Myself track of Dark Matter. 
    Totally right. I hope some folks end up digging something special, my response to it was so visceral and surprising to me that it made the track seem objectively bad. Hopefully I'll be proved wrong if others enjoy it. I absolutely loved Buckle Up, yet many still hate that track with a passion!!
  • Spunkie
    Spunkie i come from downtown. Posts: 7,095
    Thanks for your thoughtfulness. (By the way, there's a capital T on "Therefore" in the middle of a sentence.)
    I was swimming in the Great Barrier Reef 
    Animals were hiding behind the Coral 
    Except for little Turtle
    I could swear he's trying to talk to me 
    Gurgle Gurgle
  • BF25394
    BF25394 Posts: 4,957
    Overall that sounds pretty positive. In line with most other reviews. Something Special seems to be a divisive type of track. This one sounds like it’s going to be the Buckle Up, Sleeping by Myself track of Dark Matter. 
    You're right that those tracks are divisive, but it sounds to me more like "Something Special" is thematically in line with "Just Breathe," "Future Days," "The End" and "Sirens"-- emotional Ed songs about his wife and/or daughters that feel out of place on Pearl Jam albums (less so for "Sirens," in my opinion). (It's not clear to me whether "Sleeping By Myself" is autobiographical in the same way as those songs.)
    I gather speed from you fucking with me.
  • lastexitlondon
    lastexitlondon Posts: 15,187
    I think my problem with the album although only heard it once was it has no flow. First 4 or 5 can't recall but those first ones fit together then it becomes all over the place and I know I've said it before so apologies like the last few records it has some that left me thinking how did that make the cut. 


    this song is meant to be called i got shit,itshould be called i got shit tickets-hartford 06 -
  • AllNiteThing
    AllNiteThing Posts: 1,115
    Spunkie said:
    Thanks for your thoughtfulness. (By the way, there's a capital T on "Therefore" in the middle of a sentence.)

    Thereby.
    24 years old, mid-life crisis
    nowadays hits you when you're young
  • BrainofBGA
    BrainofBGA Australia Posts: 4,564
    BF25394 said:
    Overall that sounds pretty positive. In line with most other reviews. Something Special seems to be a divisive type of track. This one sounds like it’s going to be the Buckle Up, Sleeping by Myself track of Dark Matter. 
    You're right that those tracks are divisive, but it sounds to me more like "Something Special" is thematically in line with "Just Breathe," "Future Days," "The End" and "Sirens"-- emotional Ed songs about his wife and/or daughters that feel out of place on Pearl Jam albums (less so for "Sirens," in my opinion). (It's not clear to me whether "Sleeping By Myself" is autobiographical in the same way as those songs.)
    Yes, I forgot about Future Days in particular. Think that one is quite divisive. I don’t mind Just Breathe and The End. But Future Days…😏

    I was thinking Sleeping was quite divisive, not so much for its theme, but more so it place on a PJ album. Considering it was already an Ed solo track that got re-recorded into a PJ tune. 
    Melbourne #1 '98
    Melbourne #2 '03
    Melbourne #3 '03
    Melbourne #1 '06
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    Melbourne '09
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  • dwjmu84
    dwjmu84 Posts: 409
    SBM had no business on LB; its inclusion, along with a closer the likes of future days, took the album to a low point in the band’s career in terms of quality. 
  • cincybearcat
    cincybearcat Posts: 16,976
    dwjmu84 said:
    SBM had no business on LB; its inclusion, along with a closer the likes of future days, took the album to a low point in the band’s career in terms of quality. 
    I agree re:SBM.  It's a cheesier version of an already released song.  Weird choice.  Can't wait to hear the album myself, but I suspect there will be a few skipped songs for me after time, usually is.  And that bit of Something Special we heard on that tweet....I bet it gets to skip status faster than most.
    hippiemom = goodness
  • KM73780
    KM73780 Posts: 1,177
    Further evidence that Something Special will not be one of my favorites 
  • CROJAM95
    CROJAM95 NEW YORK Posts: 11,347
    if its justt 1 or 2 that arent up to par, thats pretty good...always find it funny thats what constantly gets focused on here

    always 

    Some of the greatest albums of all time have 1 or 2 or more whatever songs
  • kramerica4
    kramerica4 Posts: 284
    CROJAM95 said:
    if its justt 1 or 2 that arent up to par, thats pretty good...always find it funny thats what constantly gets focused on here

    always 

    Some of the greatest albums of all time have 1 or 2 or more whatever songs
    This!
  • JeBurkhardt
    JeBurkhardt Posts: 5,387
    If upon releasing their 12th album, only 1 or 2 songs on it are going to be questionable to some fans, it sounds to me like they did a good job. There aren't a lot of artists that can match that. Looking forward to hearing them in a few weeks.
  • lastexitlondon
    lastexitlondon Posts: 15,187
    I say 4 


    this song is meant to be called i got shit,itshould be called i got shit tickets-hartford 06 -
  • kramerica4
    kramerica4 Posts: 284
    I say 4 
    Which ones?
  • dwjmu84
    dwjmu84 Posts: 409
    I say 4 
    Which four in your opinion?

    Also, if I recall, you had one listen to this record, which was highly affected by the atmosphere.  I think you even admitted that there was quite a bit you could not remember.  Having said that, which songs did you not enjoy on first "listen"?
  • kmcmanus
    kmcmanus Posts: 903
    7 out of 11 on the twelfth album is a pretty good percentage 
  • lastexitlondon
    lastexitlondon Posts: 15,187
    dwjmu84 said:
    I say 4 
    Which four in your opinion?

    Also, if I recall, you had one listen to this record, which was highly affected by the atmosphere.  I think you even admitted that there was quite a bit you could not remember.  Having said that, which songs did you not enjoy on first "listen"?
    Agreed but as I was listening I recall thinking I didn't like the second half . Scared of fear. React respond. I liked instantly. 
    Dark matter I love. Waiting for stevie was ok. But I didn't like something special and the last song. Inbetween were not for me is all I thought. They maybe for you or others but I was led to believe it's a heavy album and apart from 5 songs. It's not. Only in my opinion. Of course 


    this song is meant to be called i got shit,itshould be called i got shit tickets-hartford 06 -
  • mcgruff10
    mcgruff10 New Jersey Posts: 29,280
    Nice review! 
    I'll ride the wave where it takes me......