Waiting for Pearl Jam: The Band Shines Bright With 'Dark Matter'
Following Gigaton, which was plagued with setbacks due to COVID, Pearl Jam's 12th studio album, Dark Matter, is one of the band's most personal albums and well worth the wait.
According to a child-friendly definition of dark matter, it's "that invisible glue that keeps stars, dust, and gas together in a galaxy. This mysterious substance makes up the majority of a galaxy's mass and forms the foundation of our Universe's structure."
Whether metaphorical or literal, the definition lends itself to the legacy of a Seattle band that has reached stratospheric heights following a series of phenomena that can be truly described as the stars aligning in its favor. 33 years later, Pearl Jam is still standing, their music fueled by brotherhood, lived experiences, and legions of devoted fans. With a new album, Pearl Jam shows no signs of slowing down and returns with a record that's a celebration of music and life itself.
On a personal level, Pearl Jam is a band that has become the invisible glue that makes up my life. It's no exaggeration when I say that Pearl Jam's music helped me through some traumatic events, allowed me to meet some dear friends, and prompted my adventures in live music. As a younger fan, Pearl Jam's most recent album introduction is the first one I've gotten to experience properly. Needless to say, I was not disappointed.
Following Gigaton, which was plagued with setbacks due to COVID, Pearl Jam's 12th studio album, Dark Matter, is one of the band's most personal albums and well worth the wait. Guided by producer and self-proclaimed Pearl Jam superfan Andrew Watt (who has livened the work of Eddie Vedder, Rolling Stones, and Ozzy Osborne), Dark Matter finds joy in the abandonment of playing and exists as the band's most collaborative effort to date. With Watt's production as the foundation of the album, the band embraces a new direction while also making callbacks to earlier work.
As a relatively new resident of Seattle, it has been exciting to see the album rollout occur for the city's hometown heroes. I attended a listening party at Easy Street Records this past weekend in addition to the one-night theatrical experience. Both experiences, while very different, still conjured the same result. There was a plethora of excitement and a wave of praise for Dark Matter.
Prior to the album's release, Pearl Jam shared three singles. The title track was the first and for good reason. "Dark Matter" packs a punch through Matt Cameron's ferocious drum-playing and its angsty vocals. Eddie Vedder is back in peak form as the band's lead vocalist. While "Dark Matter" is a great song to set the stage, "Running" and "Wreckage" (likely to become a favorite as several fans indicated at the theatrical screening) are also relatively upbeat songs that were positive nods for what was to come.
Dark Matter opens with "Scared of Fear," a frustrated, yet melancholy song about a struggling relationship. "We used to laugh, we used to sing... We used to dance, we were our own scene." It's a catchy gateway to the rest of the album and hints at the band's maturity, both in the artistic and physical sense.
"Scared of Fear" then transitions into the equally frustrated "React, Respond," which appears to be a culmination of the last four years of social and political events in the US. No strangers to activism and speaking out against political leadership, "React, Respond" takes Pearl Jam back to its roots, more specifically to the Vs. era. On the surface, the song is a call to action to unite for a greater cause. "When what you get is what you don't want... Don't react, respond."
Described as a "guitar-heavy" record, Dark Matter is heavier than some of Pearl Jam's previous albums. Mike McCready's explosive solos are peppered throughout as well as Stone Gossard's memorable riffs. More than ever, the pair plays off of each other well. As far as guitarists go, on Dark Matter, McCready is a barrage of fireworks, while Gossard's work is like a steady crash of waves—both very different types of playing, but still amazing sights to behold. Additionally, Jeff Ament's bass line grounds the music.
My personal two favorite songs on Dark Matter are side by side: "Upper Hand" and "Waiting for Stevie."
"Upper Hand" is a supersonic journey led by Gossard's mesmerizing composition. Another wistful song, "Upper Hand," longs for simpler times. With an ambient beginning, the song morphs into a psychedelic, Pink Floyd-esque sound. The song will be a favorite during live shows and is one I can't wait to hear.
Meanwhile, "Waiting for Stevie" is euphoric, and exemplifies the healing power of live music. A tearjerker (at least to me), "Waiting for Stevie" is a song that has been decades in the making. Emotional and uplifting, the song will likely find itself among other powerhouses such as "Alive" and "Given to Fly." Concluding with an electric solo by Mike McCready, "Waiting for Stevie" represents over 33 years of what makes Pearl Jam special.
Other songs such as "Won't Tell," "Something Special," "Got to Give," and "Setting Sun" help round out the record.
In numerology, 12 represents completion and creative power. As Pearl Jam's 12th album, Dark Matter is indeed a powerful addition to the band's body of work. At this point, Pearl Jam has already reached for the stars, so now it's time to see what lies beyond that. Dark Matter is emblematic of the band's expansion. Luckily, there's more than enough space to explore.
Dark Matter is now available on all major streaming platforms.
The record was released on April 19th and is now available on vinyl.