Dark Matter

Really liking Dark Matter. Only question is why do most of the lyrics to "Got To Give" seem to be missing?

Extraordinario

Before the diehard PJ fans cry blasphemy, I'll be the first to admit, I'm not a diehard fan of this band, despite the fact Vedder lives a few blocks from my house. The only time I've ever seen him play live was on the Hovercraft/Foo Fighters/Mike Watt tour in 1995. I'm mainly arriving at this album a huge fan of Vedder's prior work with producer Andrew Watt ("Earthling"), along with Watt's blockbuster recent albums for the Rolling Stones, Iggy Pop, and Ozzy Osborne. Not sure what Watt's secret sauce is, but he seems able to push his artists to deliver new work that deserves to rank high among their respective Imperial Era/Genius Phase creative and commercial peaks. Similar to how Mark Ronson rescued Duran Duran from decades-long creative doldrums on 2009's All You Need is Now, Watt is a fan of the band that reminds them (and fans) what made Pearl Jam special in the first place. With "Ten", Pearl Jam seemed ready to absolutely own the world, even if having to take the silver to Nirvana's gold. But then both bands released anti-commercial sophomore albums engineered to repel all the fair weather fans. I tried to keep up with Pearl Jam, eventually losing interest five albums in as they explored a Neil Young-style anti-establishment ethos with denser, less urgent, blander, and darker work. Dark Matter is a surprisingly bright album; the band has the energy and chops of a debut album band, eager to take on the world. The melodies, lyrics, and production fire on all cylinders. It's a blast to listen to -- uplifting when you just let the grooves, melodies, shredding solos, and brilliant instrumentation carry the weight, engaging and inspiring when you tune into Vedder and his lyrics. Even the CD's hardcover book with gorgeous band photographs declares this album is going to last the ages, as opposed to low-rent eco paks that look like crap on a CD shelf and age prematurely with creases and tears. Dark Matter is a true welcome home from a band that once again seems eager to be superstars.

In 1991, when Pearl Jam emerged with "Ten" in the midst of the grunge movement, I didn't like them or "Jeremy". I didn't get the hoopla. I didn't like the grunge movement. I didn't like Nirvana, Soundgarden, Alice in Chains, Smashing Pumpkins, etc. I hoped it would all go away.Flash forward to 1994 and "Vitalogy". I heard "Better Man" and "Nothing Man" and thought, hmm, this is pretty good, and bought the album which I felt was just okay. Flash forward to 1998, "Yield", and "Wishlist" and "Given to Fly", which I also liked. Somewhere in the mid-2000's I decide to buy up all of their albums and continued to follow them.Before writing this review I revisited all of their albums in sequential order along with listening to "Dark Matter" for a week and a half. I also included "Lost Dogs" as well. This revisiting of their material finally set my opinion right. They are a good band. They don't make crap albums. They've done this for 30+ years now which is pretty amazing. I see why they are still so popular (all of their albums have charted in the top 10). They don't let you down. They don't follow trends. They don't cater to anyone. This is what makes them so good."Dark Matter" is no different. After repeatedly listening to it I found that all 11 tracks are good. Some I prefer more than others such as "Wreckage", "Dark Matter", "Won't Tell", "Got to Give" and "Setting Sun". Although I also liked "Scared of Fear", "React, Respond", "Running", "Something Special". The two more experimental tracks, "Upper Hand" and "Waiting for Stevie" may be my least favorite but they still have merit. All in all, another satisfying Pearl Jam album.Here's how "Dark Matter" compares to their other works:1991 Ten: Four Stars1993 Vs: Four Stars1994 Vitalogy: Four Stars1996 No Code: Four Stars1998 Yield: Four Stars2000 Binaural: Three Stars2002 Riot Act: Three and a Half Stars2003 Lost Dogs: Three and a Half Stars2006 Pearl Jam: Four Stars2009 Backspacer: Five Stars2013 Lightning Bolt: Four Stars2020 Gigaton: Four Stars2024 Dark Matter: Four Stars

Ok, so I may be a little biased because this is my favorite band but that being said ,this is my favorite album by them to date!

Back in my rock radio days I got an advance cassette copy of their initial album ‘Ten’. I was blown away. Had our production director clean the cassette sound and we started playing “Even Flow” before anyone else. The listeners loved it and bought up all the first batch of albums, cds etc as soon as it was on store shelves! A year later I was the only radio program director in radio-crowded San Francisco to go meet ‘‘em and take in their New Year’s Eve ‘91 concert at the Cow Palace. They were the opening act for a band I can’t recall! Now 33 years later Eddie and all my Seattle home boys in the band continue to create top notch kick ass tunes!

Pearl Jam rocks with several great new songs.

Yes, I bought a CD as I have a portable, rechargeable player I can set up outside when gardening and I don't have to sweat into my expensive airpods. Love Pearl Jam and this is a good album.