Pearl Jam - Dark Matter

[Tyler Durden]

What's your impression?

[Hokahey]

Sounds like a shitty Helmet rip off.



I’ve been listening to a lot of Mother Love Bone lately, and I forgot just how much you can hear early PJ in a lot of those songs. Which coincidentally, MLB was inspired some by Janes.

I wish they’d make go back and make some music like that again. Something with some groove and big solos. If you’re going to rip off the early 90s, why not rip off yourself?

[Pandemonium]

The production just sounds off to me. Which is odd as I liked Andrew Watts production on the last Rolling Stones album.

[Mescal]

I’ve been listening to a lot of Mother Love Bone lately, and I forgot just how much you can hear early PJ in a lot of those songs. Which coincidentally, MLB was inspired some by Janes.

MLB sounds more like Candlebox than Jane's

[Hokahey]

I’ve been listening to a lot of Mother Love Bone lately, and I forgot just how much you can hear early PJ in a lot of those songs. Which coincidentally, MLB was inspired some by Janes.

MLB sounds more like Candlebox than Jane's

I think that’s debatable. Go listen to holy roller and tell me that if you strip away the vocals, it doesn’t sound like a Jane’s Addiction song.

[Artemis]

I quit Pearl Jam when Vitalogy was released, so like 30 years ago!

I saw them at the second Lollapalooza and then in the mid 90s at Maple Leaf Grdens. I think Filter opened. It was a really good concert. If memory serves one of the encores was Fame. It was a highlight for sure, EV and band did a good job.

After listening to Dark Matter I have to say, I don't like EV's vocals. The song reminds me of a lot of other songs from 70s,80s,90s. There are some parts that sound great, but mostly it's too busy; and not in a pleasing way.It's not a bad song, just doesn't knock my socks off. To me, this song lacks body.It's a passable table wine made of a blend of grapes, one level above plonk.

[SR]

I saw them at the second Lollapalooza and then in the mid 90s at Maple Leaf Grdens. I think Filter opened. It was a really good concert. If memory serves one of the encores was Fame. It was a highlight for sure, EV and band did a good job.

They stole the show here in LA in '92 at Lolla in LA

[JOEinPHX]

What's your impression?

I think after a couple bland albums in a row (Avocado, Backspacer, Lightning Bolt) they finally got their shit together a little bit on Gigaton (minus that back half that was basically all written by Vedder). And I was hoping the fire was lit back under their asses to not just write another "paint by numbers" Pearl Jam album.

This song gives me continued hope that this album will be solid.

That's about all I can offer. I think it's more of a sign of good things, than something great in and of itself.

It's nice to see them still trying new things, and sounds, after 30+ years though.

[kv]

I saw them at the second Lollapalooza and then in the mid 90s at Maple Leaf Grdens. I think Filter opened. It was a really good concert. If memory serves one of the encores was Fame. It was a highlight for sure, EV and band did a good job.

They stole the show here in LA in '92 at Lolla in LA

temple of the dog was the best part...Chris Cornell squatting on the back of the drum riser just howling...in the day light...yup, that one I remember too

[kv]

fuck forgot porno for pyros playing on the side stage that day till I looked it up ..porno show was insane with people climbing and flipping off the top of the light poles by the stage..fever pitch show...first time I ever saw them...ya know for as much as we all bitch about Perry...he put on some good shows back then...

[Tyler Durden]

Pearl Jam now writing songs about plumbing. WTF is going on with this band?! Andrew Watt sucks.

[JOEinPHX]

Pearl Jam now writing songs about plumbing. WTF is going on with this band?! Andrew Watt sucks.

This song is about plumbing the same way that Born in the USA is about patriotism.

[Tyler Durden]

This song is about plumbing the same way that Born in the USA is about patriotism.

I was being facetious.

Andrew Watt’s production is still awful.

[Hokahey]

Jesus that’s awful. Someone needs to tell the rest of the band to write a Mother Love Bone album and then have Eddie add vocals

[JOEinPHX]

Heard the whole album yesterday at a pre-release listening party at a record store.

The rest of the album sounds nothing like the 2 singles. They stick out like a sore thumb, almost like they were mixed knowing they would be the singles.

You can tell the band actually all worked together on this one. Other than Running, there are no songs that really stick out as being a song Ed wrote by himself (unlike the 2nd half of Gigaton when you KNOW he did)

I felt like there was a lot of Petty influence on this one, and the songs are a little more uptempo than the past few records. (Think driving songs like Rearviewmirror)

It reminds me alot of No Code, in that songs covered a lot of stylistic ground, but all still formed a cohesive piece. I don't think this is a record you listen to for any particular song. This is a record you put on to listen from start to finish.

8/10

I think it's the best thing they have done since Riot Act.

[Hokahey]

Heard the whole album yesterday at a pre-release listening party.

I think it's the best thing they have done since Riot Act.

Not exactly a ringing endorsement.

[guysmiley]

I liked riot act

[Hokahey]

I liked riot act

That was the album that made me realize I’d gone from the biggest Pearl Jam fan I knew to possibly not one at all. And yet, I still love their first 5.

[JOEinPHX]

Heard the whole album yesterday at a pre-release listening party.

I think it's the best thing they have done since Riot Act.

Not exactly a ringing endorsement.

I know that is a divisive record.

But I don't think it's fair to compare this one to Yield yet because 1.) that one was just so excellent and 2.) I haven't heard the new album in a manner in which I can make that comparison just yet (they played it via the store's overheard speakers)

[HiHeHo]

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/pea ... p_deeplink
Eric Avery is mentioned:
[ “The first two times I saw Jane’s Addiction, I played with them – with Green River the first time and Love Bone the second. Both times I was transfixed. Eric Avery plays his bass from that Peter Hook approach: lots of drone-string; really melodic; a lot of repetition.

“I remember watching that first show from the side of the stage and seeing how Eric and drummer Stephen Perkins played together. I said to Stone Gossard, ‘That’s what I want to do, right there.’

“It was rock, largely because of Dave Navarro, but with a singer that wasn’t rock – a super weirdo. The rhythm section was playing very tribally and really post-punk. It was one of those moments where I was like, ‘Whatever that is, I want to tap into that energy.’”]

[Hokahey]

This isn’t good. There are a few songs that make you go “oh these are ok.” So 4/10?

Here’s the problem with modern Pearl Jam. They have no identity whatsoever, and that’s mostly Eddie’s fault. He’s bland and boring so they’re bland and boring. They should be called Eddie and the Pearl Jams.

They have zero edge. Zero grit. The music barely crosses over the line from what you’d hear over the grocery store speakers. Which Ironically, I have heard Brad (Stones former side project) at the grocery store. Except, Brad had soul. They had a little groove. I was happy to hear them. PJ has nothing except Eddie cosplaying Petty and Springsteen with none of their pop sensibilities. So you just get watered down mush. And in this case, polished mush thanks to Andrew Watts penchant for adding massive sheen to his productions. He and Bob Ezrin must be friends.

I have to go drink some coffee now and try to wake up from that boring ass album.

[kv]

I haven't been into pearl jam since their second or third album..but I was youtubing and caught some old clips from shows I saw them in the early years...I miss their first drummer...don't even remember his name..remember he had a condition that made touring hard and thats why he left ..but he added a lot to their early sound imho

[JOEinPHX]

I haven't been into pearl jam since their second or third album..but I was youtubing and caught some old clips from shows I saw them in the early years...I miss their first drummer...don't even remember his name..remember he had a condition that made touring hard and thats why he left ..but he added a lot to their early sound imho

I think you're mixing up a few people.

Dave Krusen drummed on the first album but was an alcoholic, so they fired him.

Dave Abbruzzesse was there for the peak popularity years between 92 and 94, but he was fired because he was an asshole.

Jack Irons from the Chili Peppers took over for a few years from 1994 to 1998, but he was the one with social anxiety and shit and didn't want to tour.

So Jack left and they brought back Matt Cameron, who was TECHNICALLY actually their first drummer. He drummed on that TOTD album and all Ten demos, but was unable to join the band fulltime because of his commitments to Soundgarden. Once SG broke up, he was free.

Anyway, I think you're remembering Dave 2 but mixing up his departure with Jack.

[Noonesshocking]

I haven't been into pearl jam since their second or third album..but I was youtubing and caught some old clips from shows I saw them in the early years...I miss their first drummer...don't even remember his name..remember he had a condition that made touring hard and thats why he left ..but he added a lot to their early sound imho

I think you're mixing up a few people.

Dave Krusen drummed on the first album but was an alcoholic, so they fired him.

Dave Abbruzzesse was there for the peak popularity years between 92 and 94, but he was fired because he was an asshole.

Jack Irons from the Chili Peppers took over for a few years from 1994 to 1998, but he was the one with social anxiety and shit and didn't want to tour.

So Jack left and they brought back Matt Cameron, who was TECHNICALLY actually their first drummer. He drummed on that TOTD album and all Ten demos, but was unable to join the band fulltime because of his commitments to Soundgarden. Once SG broke up, he was free.

Anyway, I think you're remembering Dave 2 but mixing up his departure with Jack.

From what I've read, PJ were huge assholes to Abbruzzese - particularly Ed. They really smeared him in the press by twisting a lot of stuff he said and did.

[kv]

it was Dave Abbruzzesse...only drummer I saw them with I think...he had some arm/muscle condition touring was a prob...he fit that band better than anyone...I really was stoked when Matt joined...but looking back miss Abb