Dark Matter Album Review by us, the Fans
I first want to start by saying that this is not ‘quintessential’ Pearl Jam to me. Anything 2006 (Avocado) and before is in its own class to me that cannot and will not be touched by the band again. My review here is taking DM for what it’s worth in regards to the older, transitional era of Pearl Jam (Backspacer -> DM).
I am going to start with the ‘bad’ before I get into what I really like about this album. First off, I am not a fan of the production on this album. It’s way too compressed and glossy. The drums do not sound good at all to me throughout. I get the new wave production these days tend to lean towards a clean, crisp, polished sounding output- but this band absolutely shines when it’s completely not entirely of that direction. Another gripe of mine is the fast, punk style stuff PJ has really leaned on since 2009 (i.e. Supersonic, The Fixer, Lightning Bolt, Who Ever Said, Superblood Wolf Moon, Mind your Manners, Never Destination, Ole, etc.)- this to me isn’t the strength of this band musically. Don’t get me wrong, the DNA for these songs is there and some of my favorites (i.e Spin the Black Circle, Go, Blood, DTE, etc.) but for whatever reason these post-2006 fast, punk style songs don’t pack the same punch as those prior. I get some of the same feel of exactly this in to two opening tracks, Scared of Fear and React/Respond (and also later on w/ Running). There are not bad songs in my opinion (better than the opening two on Gigaton and probably comparable to the opening two tracks on both BS and LB), but again- these are fast, in your face and almost robotic in nature in a way. I get that they as a band likes these kind of songs now (which is odd as they approach 60 y/o), but I really miss the (dare I say) ‘grunge’ builds from this band. Where are the ‘Wash’, ‘Footsteps’, ‘Given to Fly’s’, ‘Nothing as It Seems’ type material. I miss the mystery of this band where they would bring us along and build up a song that would just hook us in the moment we first heard it. I think we know now what were going to get from them (formula has now been there for some time) in this new era and that’s this sort of ‘Dad Rock’ type of songs along with some slower stuff. Lastly, I would say the one outlier on this album to me is ‘Something Special’. I think Ed should have kept this for a solo project (a la Sleeping by Myself). The message is great and appreciate Ed paying ode to his daughters, but it just doesn’t fit on here to me.
With all that said, there is some very good stuff on DM! The title track is a solid first single out of the gate! The breakdown of “It’s strange..these days..when everyone else pays..for someone else’s mistake” is pretty powerful by the band collectively in that moment. I enjoy it! They slow it down with the third track on the album with ‘Wreckage’ which is a middle tier slower song for them. It’s very ‘Tom Petty crossed with Bruce Springsteen’. The highlight of this album for me so far is the trio of ‘Upper Hand’ , ‘Waiting for Stevie’ and the album closer ‘Setting Sun’. I can say these 3 songs are some of their best work since 2006! Upper Hand is that ‘Binaural’ build I was talking about above I have been missing from this band. What an excellent song and it grabbed me at first listen. “Waiting for Stevie’ is being called an ode to the early days, and while I can hear hints of that in it, it’s also the new era PJ I was hoping they would go directionally. Another song that pulled me in immediately! And lastly, the album closer ‘Setting Sun’- what a way to close DM! This one is going to be a treat live (maybe an Opener!?).
I need some more time with this album, but for me it
certainly has some highlights outlined above that just overtake anything they
have done on Gigaton and LB for me (maybe even BS). It’s certainly a big
step in the right direction for this band, who seem to be really excited and
energized these days! These guys still seem to have a fire under them to
create art and deliver it to their fans! We are lucky to still have them
making new music and doing live shows! We have to soak it all up while we
can, because it isn’t going to last too much longer. Looking forward to
how these play out live . HAIL HAIL the lucky ones!
Comments
I hated this album when I first heard it. I think much of the negative reaction I had to it was directly related to a lot of the poppy/polished production qualities you're speaking of. It's unlike anything Pearl Jam has ever done before, and typically isn't a quality of music that I listen to. After repeated listens however, I not only think it works, but it pushes the album to another level.
I've written my evolving thoughts and ratings of this album here and there on the boards since it has been released, but I also feel compelled to write down my own thoughts on it, call it a review, whenever I have the proper time and words to express the feels this album has been giving me.
For now, I'll just make a very bold statement and say that I now agree with Eddie when he said that he thinks it's the best album Pearl Jam has ever made. I think it is.
Nuclear fission
But after repeated listens, I can confidently (and happily) say, that Dark Matter has slid right in next to VS. I really really love Dark Matter.
Love - Scared Of Fear, Dark Matter, Waiting For Stevie, Setting Sun
Like - Wreckage, Got To Give
Meh - React, Respond, Won't Tell, Upper Hand, Running
Loathe - Something Special
- Something Special makes The Haves look like Stairway To Heaven. He gets a pass b/c it's about his daughters, but ugh.
- Scared Of Fear and Running sounded GREAT on Stern, IMO. I think the album as a whole will translate better live.
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2007 Venezia
2010 London
2012 Oslo
2014 Milano
2018 Milano
2018 Krakow
2019 Barolo (Ed)
2022 Berlin
2022 Frankfurt
2022 Krakow
Only critique is the same thing that's plagued albums since their self titled album which is too much lyrics.
Especially on side 2. A lot of textures and riffs on the back half of the album get lost competing with the vocals when they can hold on their own right.
Eddie has the paid-by-the-word songwriting down pat. I just wish on some songs he could retread back into the quieter, Neil Young emulating he did in the late 90's.
Let the music air out, speak for itself and have the vocals compliment it rather than be the core of the song.
But after roughly a week and listening to this album 20ish times, I think it holds together as a full album —- much more so than the previous two. Each of those have points in the album where I would remove a song or reorder the tracks. Or in the case of Gigaton, just trim it down to less than 5 minutes (extended jams are fine, but there is nothing wrong with a well crafted 3 1/2 minute song, either).
Scared of Fear - Solid opener that continues to grow on me. Reminds me a little of Getaway, but I like it better. Sounded great on Stern, and now I cannot wait to hear it at Wrigley
React, Respond - I always think that a good album MUST have a great 2nd track. Not sure this is great, but I do like it. The chorus reminds me of PiL or Split Enz. I do not care for the production flourishes towards the end
Wreckage - Did not like this as a single, but I really like it in the context of the album. Another one that I am liking the more I listen to the album.
Dark Matter - My least favorite of the 3 singles at this point. Musically, it is good, and I am sure I will enjoy it live. Matt’s drumming is unreal on every track, but really makes this song. But I keep feeling like this is Mind Your Manner, Can’t Deny Me, et al rehashed for a new record.
Won’t Tell - My first thought was that this was a rehash of Infallible, but with a little more guitar and less keyboards. It has grown on me steadily where I like it as the closer for side 1, but not sure it is one that I really love outside of the album.
Upper Hand - Another song that initially reminded me of a Lightning Bolt track (pendulum). This will be used to open shows - I am sure of it. Of all the tracks, this is the one that has grown on my the most — it is becoming one of my favorites on the album.
Waiting for Stevie - This is definitely my favorite track on the album. It is different, but sounds like it could have appeared on one of the early 2000s albums. If I don’t hear this one at one of the Wrigley shows I will be heartbroken.
Running - Seems like opinions are split on this one. Yes, it is a rehash of other “punk” songs they have made, but I still really like it.
Something Special - Ok, no way around the fact that this is a pretty cheesy song. I do think it works in context, but I really cannot see myself listening to this track if I am not listening to the full album. But, I also have a teenaged daughter, so this also kinda makes sense to me.
Got to Give - Yet another that is growing on me. Not bad, a little nondescript
Setting Sun - At first I thought it was just another mellow acoustic album closer, but I like the way it builds to the Beatles-esque outro (reminds me a little of All Those Yesterdays). It usually makes me want to flip that album over and listen again.
Final thought…. Matt Cameron is the hero of this album. His drumming is so good that it rises above the slick production. I think this is the most cohesive album they have made in quite a while. This is the album that both Lightning Bolt and Gigaton could have been with a little self editing and/or a producer that was not afraid to challenge the band a little.
I agree with a comment prior that the lyrics get in the way sometimes, so my review can be summarized this way.
My least favorite album is Lightning Bolt, my favorite album is Ten with Avocado a close second. Dark Matter is middle of the pack I guess. The usual split of songs I like to songs I skip is 70-30. Dark Matter is closer to 60-40. It is a solid creative effort from a band that has held a place in my heart and mind for 30+ years. Kudos to them for recording and touring with a purpose into their 60's. They are the only band from my far past I would see live or listen to new music from.
Alpine Valley: 6/26/98, 10/8/00, 6/21/03, 9/3/11 Target Center: 6/30/98
Summerfest: 6/30/06 Music Midtown: 9/22/12 Wrigley Field: 7/19 & 7/20/13, 8/20/16
Charlotte: 10/30/13
Greenville: 4/16/16, Columbia 4/21/16, Wrigley Field: 8/20/2016