Dark Matter album reviews

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  • False_Belief
    False_Belief Cardiff Posts: 763
    It’s behind a paywall but the Rolling Stone review just went up.   It’s positive - “ with Dark Matter, the band has rarely sounded more essential”

    https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/pearl-jam-dark-matter-review-1235005622/

    Leeds 2006, London 2007, Hartford 2008, London Shepherds Bush 2009, London O2 2009, Dublin 2010, London Hyde Park 2010, Amsterdam 1 2012, Amsterdam 2 2012, Berlin 1 2012, EV solo London 30/7/2012, Berlin 2014, Stockholm 2014, Milton Keynes 2014, Amsterdam 1 2018, London 1 2018, London 2 2018, EV solo Dublin 2019, London 1 2022, London 2 2022, New York City 2022 

  • bicyclejoe
    bicyclejoe USA Posts: 1,203
    Overall, though, the record is a potent reminder of Pearl Jam’s enduring power. They may be elder statesmen of grunge now, but they can still pack a punch that would make their younger selves proud. This is a record that rewards repeated listens, revealing hidden depths and unexpected twists with each spin. ‘Let us not fade,’ repeats Eddie at the end of melancholic closing track, “Setting Sun.” On the strength of these songs, there seems little risk of that.

    My Pearl Jam Road: 10/22/90 Seattle | 12/22/90 Seattle, Moore Theater | 9/29/92 Seattle, Magnusson Park, Drop in the Park | 9/5/93 The Gorge, with Neil Young and Blind Melon | 7/20/06 Portland, Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall with Sleater-Kinney | 7/22/06 The Gorge, 10/21/06 Mountain View, Shoreline Ampitheatre, Bridge School Benefit | 9/21/09 Seattle | 9/22/09 Seattle | 9/26/09 Portland, OR | 7/14/2011 Eddie Vedder, Portland, OR | 11/29/13 Portland, OR
  • bicyclejoe
    bicyclejoe USA Posts: 1,203
    Mods: Is there any way to merge all of the reflections and thoughts from the theater showings in the Dark Matter in the Dark thread and keep this one dedicated to published reviews from the music press?
    My Pearl Jam Road: 10/22/90 Seattle | 12/22/90 Seattle, Moore Theater | 9/29/92 Seattle, Magnusson Park, Drop in the Park | 9/5/93 The Gorge, with Neil Young and Blind Melon | 7/20/06 Portland, Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall with Sleater-Kinney | 7/22/06 The Gorge, 10/21/06 Mountain View, Shoreline Ampitheatre, Bridge School Benefit | 9/21/09 Seattle | 9/22/09 Seattle | 9/26/09 Portland, OR | 7/14/2011 Eddie Vedder, Portland, OR | 11/29/13 Portland, OR
  • TJ25487
    TJ25487 Posts: 1,501
    bicyclejoe said:
    Overall, though, the record is a potent reminder of Pearl Jam’s enduring power. They may be elder statesmen of grunge now, but they can still pack a punch that would make their younger selves proud. This is a record that rewards repeated listens, revealing hidden depths and unexpected twists with each spin. ‘Let us not fade,’ repeats Eddie at the end of melancholic closing track, “Setting Sun.” On the strength of these songs, there seems little risk of that.

    I like the very last line of this review:

    It’s not a return to form; it’s simply Pearl Jam being Pearl Jam, and that’s something truly special.


  • bicyclejoe
    bicyclejoe USA Posts: 1,203
    TJ25487 said:
    bicyclejoe said:
    Overall, though, the record is a potent reminder of Pearl Jam’s enduring power. They may be elder statesmen of grunge now, but they can still pack a punch that would make their younger selves proud. This is a record that rewards repeated listens, revealing hidden depths and unexpected twists with each spin. ‘Let us not fade,’ repeats Eddie at the end of melancholic closing track, “Setting Sun.” On the strength of these songs, there seems little risk of that.

    I like the very last line of this review:

    It’s not a return to form; it’s simply Pearl Jam being Pearl Jam, and that’s something truly special.


    Amen, brother.
    My Pearl Jam Road: 10/22/90 Seattle | 12/22/90 Seattle, Moore Theater | 9/29/92 Seattle, Magnusson Park, Drop in the Park | 9/5/93 The Gorge, with Neil Young and Blind Melon | 7/20/06 Portland, Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall with Sleater-Kinney | 7/22/06 The Gorge, 10/21/06 Mountain View, Shoreline Ampitheatre, Bridge School Benefit | 9/21/09 Seattle | 9/22/09 Seattle | 9/26/09 Portland, OR | 7/14/2011 Eddie Vedder, Portland, OR | 11/29/13 Portland, OR
  • RiotAct10
    RiotAct10 Ohio Posts: 1,638
    edited April 2024
    False_Belief said:
    It’s behind a paywall but the Rolling Stone review just went up.   It’s positive - “ with Dark Matter, the band has rarely sounded more essential”

    https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/pearl-jam-dark-matter-review-1235005622/

    Pearl Jam Dig Deep and Find a New Light on ‘Dark Matter’

    John Lonsdale 4/17/2024

    Pearl Jam Dig Deep and Find a New Light on ‘Dark Matter’The group worked with producer Andrew Watt for its rocking, reflective 12th studio album, and made one of its best LPs
    pearl jam dark matter album review
    Danny Clinch*

    It kicks off with a big emotional bang: “We used to laugh/We used to sing/We used to dance/We used to believe,” Eddie Vedder sings on “Scared of Fear,” the rocking opener from Pearl Jam’s 12th studio album, one of their best and most personal records ever. When it came time to work on their follow-up to 2020’s Gigaton, band members headed out to Rick Rubin’s Shangri-La Studios in Malibu and worked with versatile producer Andrew Watt, who helmed Vedder’s 2022 solo album, Earthling, and has worked with everyone from Iggy Pop to pop superstars like Miley Cyrus, Dua Lipa, and Post Malone.



    Post edited by Sea on
    words seem so out of place.

    8.21.00 Columbus | 6.24.03 Columbus | 7.9.03 NYC | 10.2.04 Toledo | 9.11.05 Kitchener | 5.20.06 Cleveland | 8.5.07 Chicago | 5.6.10 Columbus | 5.7.10 Noblesville | 5.9.10 Cleveland | 9.3.11 East Troy | 9.4.11 East Troy | 7.19.13 Chicago | 10.11.13 Pittsburgh | 10.1.14 Cincinnati | 4.8.16 Ft. Lauderdale | 4.9.16 Miami | 8.8.18 Seattle | 8.10.18 Seattle | 9.26.21 Dana Point | 10.1.21 Dana Point | 10.2.21 Dana Point | 9.16.22 Nashville | 9.17.22 Louisville | 9.18.22 St. Louis | 9.2.23 St. Paul | 9.15.23 Ft. Worth | 6.22.24 Dublin | 8.26.24 Noblesville | 9.27.24 Dana Point | 9.29.24 Dana Point
    6.26.11 Detroit (EdVed) | 9.23.17 Louisville (EdVed) | 9.25.21 Dana Point (EdVed) | 10.01.22 Dana Point (EdVed) | 2.6.22 Newark (EdVed)
  • bicyclejoe
    bicyclejoe USA Posts: 1,203
    edited April 2024
    Metacritic score: 85/100
    Not too shabby. One of the highest-rated albums of the year.
    https://www.metacritic.com/music/dark-matter/pearl-jam
    Post edited by bicyclejoe on
    My Pearl Jam Road: 10/22/90 Seattle | 12/22/90 Seattle, Moore Theater | 9/29/92 Seattle, Magnusson Park, Drop in the Park | 9/5/93 The Gorge, with Neil Young and Blind Melon | 7/20/06 Portland, Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall with Sleater-Kinney | 7/22/06 The Gorge, 10/21/06 Mountain View, Shoreline Ampitheatre, Bridge School Benefit | 9/21/09 Seattle | 9/22/09 Seattle | 9/26/09 Portland, OR | 7/14/2011 Eddie Vedder, Portland, OR | 11/29/13 Portland, OR
  • drakeheuer14
    drakeheuer14 Posts: 4,619
    After sleeping on it, I think there are still too many lyrics just in general. Also still wish the echo type effect that they use often with Ed is saved for solo stuff or forgotten moving forward. I bet I will enjoy every one of these more live. 

    Still a damn good record and looking forward to spinning it a lot!
    Pittsburgh 2013
    Cincinnati 2014
    Greenville 2016
    (Raleigh 2016)
    Columbia 2016
  • bicyclejoe
    bicyclejoe USA Posts: 1,203
    Financial Times 

    Pearl Jam: Dark Matter album review — a grunge band still in full flight

    The grunge band launch themselves into their latest record with wholehearted, full-throated commitment

    https://www.ft.com/content/979f5683-e695-4fb2-9532-3cc729b11524
    My Pearl Jam Road: 10/22/90 Seattle | 12/22/90 Seattle, Moore Theater | 9/29/92 Seattle, Magnusson Park, Drop in the Park | 9/5/93 The Gorge, with Neil Young and Blind Melon | 7/20/06 Portland, Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall with Sleater-Kinney | 7/22/06 The Gorge, 10/21/06 Mountain View, Shoreline Ampitheatre, Bridge School Benefit | 9/21/09 Seattle | 9/22/09 Seattle | 9/26/09 Portland, OR | 7/14/2011 Eddie Vedder, Portland, OR | 11/29/13 Portland, OR
  • tbergs
    tbergs Posts: 10,407
    Using the term "grunge" with present day Pearl Jam is just silly. Kick up the nostalgia and rehash some classic stereotypes that haven't been relevant in 30 years. 
    It's a hopeless situation...
  • lastexitlondon
    lastexitlondon Posts: 14,896
    Yeah that word is shit


    this song is meant to be called i got shit,itshould be called i got shit tickets-hartford 06 -
  • bicyclejoe
    bicyclejoe USA Posts: 1,203
    edited April 2024
    I think it’s fair. They helped define the grunge era (and were arguably more popular than Nirvana). It’s hard to separate the two. I saw it as more of compliment and pin on the map. I’d rather them be defined as grunge than classic rock. Past the headline, it’s a great review. 
    Post edited by bicyclejoe on
    My Pearl Jam Road: 10/22/90 Seattle | 12/22/90 Seattle, Moore Theater | 9/29/92 Seattle, Magnusson Park, Drop in the Park | 9/5/93 The Gorge, with Neil Young and Blind Melon | 7/20/06 Portland, Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall with Sleater-Kinney | 7/22/06 The Gorge, 10/21/06 Mountain View, Shoreline Ampitheatre, Bridge School Benefit | 9/21/09 Seattle | 9/22/09 Seattle | 9/26/09 Portland, OR | 7/14/2011 Eddie Vedder, Portland, OR | 11/29/13 Portland, OR
  • bicyclejoe
    bicyclejoe USA Posts: 1,203
    https://blabbermouth.net/reviews/dark-matter

    Blabbermouth Metal Magazine
    9/10

    PEARL JAM have nothing to prove at this point, but they're still not a band to just release music without putting the time and effort into it. "Dark Matter" is an engaging listen from front to back, and what's comforting to the listener is that the album sounds 100% like PEARL JAM. There's not much experimentation here, but when you're one of a handful of bands that really pioneered an entire musical genre, you don't need to experiment. PEARL JAM are masters at their brand of driving grunge sound and impressionistic lyrics, and "Dark Matter"is simply the next step.
    My Pearl Jam Road: 10/22/90 Seattle | 12/22/90 Seattle, Moore Theater | 9/29/92 Seattle, Magnusson Park, Drop in the Park | 9/5/93 The Gorge, with Neil Young and Blind Melon | 7/20/06 Portland, Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall with Sleater-Kinney | 7/22/06 The Gorge, 10/21/06 Mountain View, Shoreline Ampitheatre, Bridge School Benefit | 9/21/09 Seattle | 9/22/09 Seattle | 9/26/09 Portland, OR | 7/14/2011 Eddie Vedder, Portland, OR | 11/29/13 Portland, OR
  • spankyMP
    spankyMP NY to NC to NH Posts: 2,019
    bicyclejoe said:
    https://blabbermouth.net/reviews/dark-matter

    Blabbermouth Metal Magazine
    9/10

    PEARL JAM have nothing to prove at this point, but they're still not a band to just release music without putting the time and effort into it. "Dark Matter" is an engaging listen from front to back, and what's comforting to the listener is that the album sounds 100% like PEARL JAM. There's not much experimentation here, but when you're one of a handful of bands that really pioneered an entire musical genre, you don't need to experiment. PEARL JAM are masters at their brand of driving grunge sound and impressionistic lyrics, and "Dark Matter"is simply the next step.
    Skipped right over Wreckage LOL. Otherwise, very nice, I like.
    Randall's Island 9/29/96, Continental Arena 9/8/98, MSG 9/10/98, Jones Beach 8/23/00, 8/24/00, 8/25/00, Nassau Coliseum 4/30/03, MSG 7/8/03, 7/9/03, Continental Arena 6/1/06, 6/3/06, MSG 6/24/08, 6/25/08, Spectrum 10/30/09, 10/31/09, MSG 5/20/10, 5/21/10, PJ20 9/3/11, 9/4/11, Charlottesville 10/29/13, Charlotte 10/30/13, Global Citizen 9/26/15, Raleigh 4/20/16 :( Baltimore 3/28/20 :( Austin 9/18/23, 9/19/23, Forum 5/21/24, Baltimore 9/12/24, Fenway 9/17/24, Nashville 5/6/25, 5/8/25
  • pjl44
    pjl44 Posts: 10,529
    tbergs said:
    Using the term "grunge" with present day Pearl Jam is just silly. Kick up the nostalgia and rehash some classic stereotypes that haven't been relevant in 30 years. 
    Gotta adjust expectations based on the publication
  • Johnny Abruzzo
    Johnny Abruzzo Philly Posts: 12,362
    That FT review talked about Nirvana the first two paragraphs. I was out.
    Spectrum 10/27/09; New Orleans JazzFest 5/1/10; Made in America 9/2/12; Phila, PA 10/21/13; Phila,  PA 10/22/13; Baltimore Arena 10/27/13; Phila, PA 4/28/16; Phila, PA 4/29/16; Fenway Park 8/7/16; Fenway Park 9/2/18; Asbury Park 9/18/21; Camden 9/14/22; Las Vegas 5/16/24; Las Vegas 5/18/24; Phila, PA 9/7/24; Phila, PA 9/9/24; Baltimore Arena 9/12/24; Pittsburgh 5/16/25; Pittsburgh 5/18/25

    Tres Mtns - TLA 3/23/11; EV - Tower Theatre 6/25/11; Temple of the Dog - Tower Theatre 11/5/16
  • Tim Simmons
    Tim Simmons Posts: 9,573
    I love Nirvana but I think in 2024, 30 years after they ostensibly ended, we can talk PJ without mentioning Nirvana.

  • PJammin'
    PJammin' Posts: 1,913
    Tim Simmons said:
    I love Nirvana but I think in 2024, 30 years after they ostensibly ended, we can talk PJ without mentioning Nirvana.

    I agree.

     I’m sure they will always link them though til the end of time. 
    I died. I died and you just stood there. I died and you watched. I died and you walked by and said no. I'm dead.
  • pjl44
    pjl44 Posts: 10,529
    For decades Financial Times has been my go-to for new album reviews but now I have no idea what to think anymore 
  • Lifted
    Lifted Posts: 1,836
    My initial reaction is that this album is all over the place and has no flow. A lot of styles going on, and too many for it's own good. It definitely has it's moments, but the lows are very low. I'll give it more time, but if this isnt the worst PJ album in the catalog, it's probably only better than lightning bolt which isn't saying much.

    For me wreckage, won't tell and something special were the lows. Upper hand, setting sun, scared of fear and running were my initial highlights. Waiting for Stevie has some great moments, and also some parts I'm not really fond of.

    This album is a lot to digest....but for now I'm feeling a 6/10

    And yes, I know my review sucks.

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