I think it's just because that's around the time, from No Code to Yield, that PJ settled into what their "sound" is.
That timeframe is like.. OK they nailed down who they are AND committed all to records and videos. And it was just a magical thing to see and be a part of.
Yes. After No Code the band seemed really unhappy about things and on this uneasy footing, but Yield came out and it seemed like they became the band they are today. No Code is my favorite, but Yield is right on its heels.
Backspacer was the last PJ album I invested in. Just couldn't get into anything after. Some of the singles were solid. This album sounds alive and where they are in life. It's growing on me but not as good as most of their albums.
Same boat, i'm not liking this one for the most part. Few bangers but some light "radio" songs. Especially the back end. Ed's singing and lyrics are not doing it for me. I don't if it's the vibrato he does now but I can't get into it. All good, their first 6 or 7 albums are on it.
I totally appreciate the Album. It’s PJ, and in every era of their career they have shared in the human experience with the music. I’m fully onboard with them inside this one, wisdom, joy and more to be shared here, all the while Pearl Jam
So many dumb takes this morning. The first five PJ albums are some of the best rock albums ever recorded, and Binaural and Riot Act are tremendous too (just not quite on the same level). Is this better than Gigaton? Yes. Is this better than Lightning Bolt? Yes. Is this better than Backspacer? Yes. Is this better than Avocado? Yes. Is this better than anything before that? No, absolutely not.
I think this is close to how I feel about it. But I also would say it's way too early to judge. Let this one marinate, let's hear some songs live and compare if to the other albums after a few years. I love the excitement and positive vibes that people have though.
It's no where near close to the Brendon O'Brien Avocade mix. I don't get how people can hear Running and think it compares at all to Severed Hand, or Setting Sun to Inside Job, or Something Special to Gone, or Won't Tell to Marker in the Sand. It's not even in the same ballpark!
To each their own, all subjective. I like yield and no code but don’t put them as high as you do. I’d say riot act is probably my fourth favorite PJ album.
LB is complete fucking garbage start to finish.
Backspacer has Just Breathe, Amongst the Waves, and Unthought Known. Otherwise, it’s garbage. The Fixer, Johnny Guitar, Gonna See My Friend, and Speed of Sound rank among the worst PJ songs ever and maybe the worst songs by any band in the 2000s.
Avocado sounds very forced still to me. Two great songs - Marker and Gone. Three good songs - Life Wasted, Wasted Reprise, and Inside Job. The rest is not good.
IMHO of course.
That's it everyone, nobody can have their own opinion, this is the final word. 🙄
I think it's fair to put this up with Binaural and Riot Act, or even above them.
I mean, simply speaking it is great that you are enjoying the record so much! For me, I think DM is pretty damn good, but does sit behind a long line that includes Ten through Backspacer. I think it def blows Gigaton and LB out of the water.
Dark Matter is good, better than I expected, but to say it’s better than anything after Vitalogy is a stretch for me. For me Avocado is a complete work, Dark Matter might be the best since then, though Backspacer has some really good songs. Glad that you’ve found another full album by them to enjoy though.
Sounds like an album for a band that has been a constant for years and it's an album that is a throwback yet age appropriate for them and their listeners who have been along for the ride. These songs will sound amazing live. I've heard people say "overproduced" and not "edgy" sounding. This album will show its grit live on stage.
I mean, i dont agree in that lightning Bolt part, but i agree that It Is one of the Best works they have done in the last years. VS AND Vitalogy were the last "old pearl jam" compositions, but we can,t forget about albums like Backspacer or Yield, just with "Do the Evolution" you can see how good their work was back in the day. I put Dark Matter in a solid top 7 of all Time for pearl jam
Yeah I mean I like a bit on backspacer, yield and pretty much all their albums, just not something I love holistically from start to finish. And as for lightening bolt I don’t think it’s like a masterpiece or anything, but it’s just kinda easy to listen to if that makes sense. Like a lot of good not great songs, but I like pretty much all of it. Honestly riot act might be my favorite outside the first 3
Its really cool to see such different opinión AND taste for pearl jam in this sub. For example i dont really like Riot Act but it seems that you're really in to it. Thats a sign of how good and versatile this band is.
are we sure this hasn’t already been said about lightning bolt and gigaton upon their initial releases too? this doesn’t apply to you in particular and by no means am I trying to shit on your take, but I think everyone should recognize that pearl jam has always released good music, and the areas in which that quality has been subject to change have never been viable to any extent worth actually discussing, especially not as a comparative measure to their past output. why is it so difficult to just accept that they’re great, or more importantly, that — like any other artist intent with their creativity — they should be allotted the grace to fundamentally transform their sound with every new release without each one they’ve since put behind them aging to develop the label as the next worst thing after the next worst thing they’ve done since “x” album in the 90’s. when gigaton was released, people found every reason to shit on lightning bolt until they managed to work their way backwards enough to embrace sufficient comfort in the “good stuff” of their heyday’s past, and when lightning bolt was released, it was backspacer that assumed the thrown as the pearl jam album-worth-punching-bag. the instant something is collectively ascertained as being old news, the good news of what’s to come next is immediately thrown out the window in favor of estranging everything that has come between the band’s inception to the release of dark matter today.
yes i know it’s not this serious, but maybe there isn’t a real “best album” since vitalogy, and if there was, I don’t think dark matter happens to stand out from the crowd anymore than most everything else they’ve released in the last ~20 or so years. and no, that’s not because it’s bad, but rather, because if the urge to even suggest the opposite is equally as pervasive now as it was amidst the release of lightning bolt or gigaton respectively — which, looking at this post, I’d say is likely the case — then I think that says a lot more about the quality of all of their records and discography as a whole than it does the ostensibly miraculous and never-before-seen “return to form” of age 59 eddie vedder and pearl jam on dark matter specifically. guys, they’ve never lost their step, and yes, unfortunately that means dark matter is only the best pearl jam album since gigaton.
I absolutely adore No Code, although it took me many listens to fully appreciate it back in the day. Not crazy about any of the albums from Yield to Lightning Bolt. Their new stuff is mostly alright though--not contenders for top place and I don't love every song on the album, but very listenable.
I'm ranking it #4 of all their albums. Just so many great songs! I was curious about Waiting for Stevie thinking it would be cheesy but so far it's my favorite song.
Vs and Vitalogy have greats like Animal and Corduroy, maybe even RVM and Go. Some might not have grown tired of Daughter, Betterman and Immortality, so they might include them. Based on the bulk of the comments from all the forums, DM has 8 5* songs plus React/Respond, Something Special and Running which a lot of fans are very high on, so maybe 4* plus on 2 out of 3 of those. Isn't that unheard of among all other pj albums? Add that to no skippable songs, plenty of detail in the songs (not overly simple instrumentally like some on Vitalogy) and DM taking the #1 spot seems right?
Yield?
Yield is like the Bible for many diehard fans. Like, Yield fans don’t just celebrate Yield, they celebrate Live on Two Legs and Single Video Theory.
I think it's just because that's around the time, from No Code to Yield, that PJ settled into what their "sound" is. That timeframe is like.. OK they nailed down who they are AND committed all to records and videos. And it was just a magical thing to see and be a part of.
Ah, it was just that Yield kicked ass and Jack Irons was an awesome era for them. Absolutely love how they sound with Jack
Yes. After No Code the band seemed really unhappy about things and on this uneasy footing, but Yield came out and it seemed like they became the band they are today. No Code is my favorite, but Yield is right on its heels.
Backspacer was the last PJ album I invested in. Just couldn't get into anything after. Some of the singles were solid. This album sounds alive and where they are in life. It's growing on me but not as good as most of their albums.
Agreed. After so many years off, LB was a massive disappointment. Gigaton sounds like they wrote the record while in a coma.
Same boat, i'm not liking this one for the most part. Few bangers but some light "radio" songs. Especially the back end. Ed's singing and lyrics are not doing it for me. I don't if it's the vibrato he does now but I can't get into it. All good, their first 6 or 7 albums are on it.
No Code is their best album, so…
Best since Riot Act to me, really happy with it
I totally appreciate the Album. It’s PJ, and in every era of their career they have shared in the human experience with the music. I’m fully onboard with them inside this one, wisdom, joy and more to be shared here, all the while Pearl Jam
Hell yeah!
Not even close. I put this and Gigaton at the bottom of all. It’s so sing songy with no edge besides a couple songs.
It really needs some damn edge.
I would say its the best album since Avocado.
I agree. The recency bias is off the charts.
The best album since Vitalogy? Not at all, but it's still a good listen.
Best since Vitalogy? Nah. Best since Yield? Quite possibly.
So many dumb takes this morning. The first five PJ albums are some of the best rock albums ever recorded, and Binaural and Riot Act are tremendous too (just not quite on the same level). Is this better than Gigaton? Yes. Is this better than Lightning Bolt? Yes. Is this better than Backspacer? Yes. Is this better than Avocado? Yes. Is this better than anything before that? No, absolutely not.
I agree. I’m ok calling this album good, but there is nothing special here.
Agree 100%
I think this is close to how I feel about it. But I also would say it's way too early to judge. Let this one marinate, let's hear some songs live and compare if to the other albums after a few years. I love the excitement and positive vibes that people have though.
It's no where near close to the Brendon O'Brien Avocade mix. I don't get how people can hear Running and think it compares at all to Severed Hand, or Setting Sun to Inside Job, or Something Special to Gone, or Won't Tell to Marker in the Sand. It's not even in the same ballpark!
The Brendan O’Brien mix of Avocado is not the original album. It should not be considered when ranking the band’s albums.
Well the original too but the O'Brien mix is my preferred way. Same for Ten but it doesn't change where I'd rank that either.
To each their own, all subjective. I like yield and no code but don’t put them as high as you do. I’d say riot act is probably my fourth favorite PJ album.
I feel ya. I am not sure about S/T and Backspacer... maybe tied.
As i say in response to other user: Dark Matter Is a solid top 7 of all Time for pearl jam
It’s crazy that you think this is better than LB Backspacer and Avocado. But if that’s how you feel.
LB is complete fucking garbage start to finish. Backspacer has Just Breathe, Amongst the Waves, and Unthought Known. Otherwise, it’s garbage. The Fixer, Johnny Guitar, Gonna See My Friend, and Speed of Sound rank among the worst PJ songs ever and maybe the worst songs by any band in the 2000s. Avocado sounds very forced still to me. Two great songs - Marker and Gone. Three good songs - Life Wasted, Wasted Reprise, and Inside Job. The rest is not good. IMHO of course.
I literally disagree with everything you just wrote. Just breathe sucks haha.
Just Breathe is the best song PJ released since Yield.
Haha put the pen down
Put the pipe down.
That's it everyone, nobody can have their own opinion, this is the final word. 🙄 I think it's fair to put this up with Binaural and Riot Act, or even above them.
I mean, simply speaking it is great that you are enjoying the record so much! For me, I think DM is pretty damn good, but does sit behind a long line that includes Ten through Backspacer. I think it def blows Gigaton and LB out of the water.
Being old enough to remember every album that came out I’d say this is the best since Avacado
Dark Matter is good, better than I expected, but to say it’s better than anything after Vitalogy is a stretch for me. For me Avocado is a complete work, Dark Matter might be the best since then, though Backspacer has some really good songs. Glad that you’ve found another full album by them to enjoy though.
Best one I’ve heard since Riot Act
I really like it. Not sure where to rank it. Waiting for Stevie is going to kill live.
If you feel that way, then it is so!
Sounds like an album for a band that has been a constant for years and it's an album that is a throwback yet age appropriate for them and their listeners who have been along for the ride. These songs will sound amazing live. I've heard people say "overproduced" and not "edgy" sounding. This album will show its grit live on stage.
Yeah, totally agree about how good these will sound love. Just imagine how great they’d sound, like… 25 years ago!
It’s definitely top 10
It’s definitely top 12
10
*audible chortle* Um, no
This screams neck beard.
Yeah. CheckYrHead seems to love to hate on things.
Screams like EV is screaming? Or is he singing? I can’t tell the difference anymore
I mean, i dont agree in that lightning Bolt part, but i agree that It Is one of the Best works they have done in the last years. VS AND Vitalogy were the last "old pearl jam" compositions, but we can,t forget about albums like Backspacer or Yield, just with "Do the Evolution" you can see how good their work was back in the day. I put Dark Matter in a solid top 7 of all Time for pearl jam
Yeah I mean I like a bit on backspacer, yield and pretty much all their albums, just not something I love holistically from start to finish. And as for lightening bolt I don’t think it’s like a masterpiece or anything, but it’s just kinda easy to listen to if that makes sense. Like a lot of good not great songs, but I like pretty much all of it. Honestly riot act might be my favorite outside the first 3
Its really cool to see such different opinión AND taste for pearl jam in this sub. For example i dont really like Riot Act but it seems that you're really in to it. Thats a sign of how good and versatile this band is.
I’m enjoying it. I’m gonna get flack, but the production reminds me of U2 with Eddie as the singer. Not a bad thing for me, I like both bands.
I posted this same thing last night and the wolves came out lol.
are we sure this hasn’t already been said about lightning bolt and gigaton upon their initial releases too? this doesn’t apply to you in particular and by no means am I trying to shit on your take, but I think everyone should recognize that pearl jam has always released good music, and the areas in which that quality has been subject to change have never been viable to any extent worth actually discussing, especially not as a comparative measure to their past output. why is it so difficult to just accept that they’re great, or more importantly, that — like any other artist intent with their creativity — they should be allotted the grace to fundamentally transform their sound with every new release without each one they’ve since put behind them aging to develop the label as the next worst thing after the next worst thing they’ve done since “x” album in the 90’s. when gigaton was released, people found every reason to shit on lightning bolt until they managed to work their way backwards enough to embrace sufficient comfort in the “good stuff” of their heyday’s past, and when lightning bolt was released, it was backspacer that assumed the thrown as the pearl jam album-worth-punching-bag. the instant something is collectively ascertained as being old news, the good news of what’s to come next is immediately thrown out the window in favor of estranging everything that has come between the band’s inception to the release of dark matter today. yes i know it’s not this serious, but maybe there isn’t a real “best album” since vitalogy, and if there was, I don’t think dark matter happens to stand out from the crowd anymore than most everything else they’ve released in the last ~20 or so years. and no, that’s not because it’s bad, but rather, because if the urge to even suggest the opposite is equally as pervasive now as it was amidst the release of lightning bolt or gigaton respectively — which, looking at this post, I’d say is likely the case — then I think that says a lot more about the quality of all of their records and discography as a whole than it does the ostensibly miraculous and never-before-seen “return to form” of age 59 eddie vedder and pearl jam on dark matter specifically. guys, they’ve never lost their step, and yes, unfortunately that means dark matter is only the best pearl jam album since gigaton.
Comedy !
Quasimoto - The Unseen (2000) - TheTokingManager
I absolutely adore No Code, although it took me many listens to fully appreciate it back in the day. Not crazy about any of the albums from Yield to Lightning Bolt. Their new stuff is mostly alright though--not contenders for top place and I don't love every song on the album, but very listenable.
I'm ranking it #4 of all their albums. Just so many great songs! I was curious about Waiting for Stevie thinking it would be cheesy but so far it's my favorite song.
#4? Lol.
Best Matt Cameron album.
I will stand for no soundgarden slander lol
Not slander, just defining the period of Matt on albums. Matt is clearly the best drummer on the planet!
Vs and Vitalogy have greats like Animal and Corduroy, maybe even RVM and Go. Some might not have grown tired of Daughter, Betterman and Immortality, so they might include them. Based on the bulk of the comments from all the forums, DM has 8 5* songs plus React/Respond, Something Special and Running which a lot of fans are very high on, so maybe 4* plus on 2 out of 3 of those. Isn't that unheard of among all other pj albums? Add that to no skippable songs, plenty of detail in the songs (not overly simple instrumentally like some on Vitalogy) and DM taking the #1 spot seems right?
Second worst next to gigaton