Hard to Imagine it’s been six months since the release of Dark Matter! Since then, I’ve
had a lot of time to think about and listen to these tracks and get a better understanding of the album as a
whole. On release, Dark Matter had me conflicted; I definitely enjoyed it but I couldn’t fully agree with
the notion from many fans that this was some incredible return to form. Giving it more time, I’ve really
come to appreciate Dark Matter. Is it a late-career masterpiece? Nope, buts it’s very effective at what it
does. It’s more comparable to Lightning Bolt for me, a very solid album, but not in the same league as the
best of Pearl Jam’s discography.
I think both the A and B sides of this record are pretty equal. Both have standout tracks while also
having
a few that aren’t as notable. For the A-side, I think Scared of Fear is an extremely strong and fun opener.
Fun fact- the opening pool cue was done by Sean Penn! I love how this track ties in with the closer Setting
Sun, both literally and in its themes. Regret and lost love permeate many of the best songs on this album,
like Wreckage and Upper Hand, two of my favourites. Wreckage really grew on me, I thought of it as a weak
single at first but after more listens it’s become one of the albums best in my opinion. The climax of the
song especially pulls it all together, which is also true of the closer Setting Sun, a fantastic conclusion
that’s up their with the best Pearl Jam closers like Release, Indifference and Future Days. I still love the
title track, and Running is still a fun song. The most underrated song is easily Got To Give, one of my
favourites which has seen very little attention. It’s got a fantastic chorus and ending, makes me sad to see
it so underlooked.
With all that being said, Dark Matter isn’t perfect. There are definitely some tracks
that flounder in
comparison to the rest of the album. React, Respond might be the weakest song, with pretty generic
messaging. It’s not terrible, but nothing too notable. Dark Matter’s lyrics are also a bit weak but it’s
made up for with amazing musicianship, something that can be said for much of the album. I also find Waiting
for Stevie to be pretty weak, despite its fan favourite status. It just doesn’t do anything for me, and
Eddie has wrote songs in this vein in better ways before. But aside from these flaws, I think Dark Matter is
very strong, and it only grew on me with time. It feels good to see that Pearl Jam still has lots of juice
left in them, and they ain’t slowing down anytime soon.
Here are some art projects I've done over the years based on Pearl Jam's music. I hope you like them!
