It’s no secret that Pearl Jam are my favourite band of all time and have been since a huge musical turning point in my life on the release of Vs. in 1993 (more on that later). While I respect everything they’ve done, including the (few and far between) albums of their catalogue that I consider to be weaker, poorer or less enjoyable, as well as their right (which they have most certainly earned), to evolve, experiment and deviate from their classic sound and style, out of all their albums, I could not get my head around or get into their last offering, Gigaton (2020) at all (and not for a lack of trying). It was my least played and least favourite PJ album yet.
That being the case I was a little nervous about listening to to new single, “Dark Matter”, due to a small but palpable fear that a second album I lacked affinity with could cause a reverse musical turning point in my relationship with the band. A band who have been there for me at every physical, practical, emotional, psychological and spiritual season. At many a turning point of my life so far, with a soundtrack often so fitting and apt it felt like particular albums were written especially for me at various junctures, to help me ride the next wave wherever it would take me.
I had however heard the rumours that the upcoming album (their 12th studio album, also named Dark Matter and due for release on 19th April through Monkeywrench and Republic records), would be a return to their earlier, heavier fayre. As well as that, I’ve never before been disappointed by two Pearl Jam albums back to back. In point of fact, it’s usually after a Gigaton-esque experience that one of my favourite albums follows, and Dark Matter follows that very trajectory.
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Straight off the bat I can tell this album is going to to blow me away as, like any promising first Pearl Jam single, it sounds like Pearl Jam. And by that I don’t mean it sounds only like Ten (1991), Vs. (1993) and Vitalogy (1994), as some early and fair weather Pearl Jam fans would like, who as I’ve said before would only have been happy with Ten, Eleven and Twelve. I mean it sounds like an accumulation of all their best albums to date. Not by any means excluding the first and epic Abbrussezze trifecta, but including the quirky Jack Irons clad No Code (1996) (my personal favourite album of all time), and evolutionary Yield. Also encompassing elements of some of their best albums featuring grunge godfather of drums, Matt Cameron (Soundgarden, Temple of The Dog, and Pearl Jam’s longest standing drummer to date), such as, the gritty Riot Act (2002) the alternatively uplifting and melancholy Avocado (eponymous, 2006) album, and the driven Lightning Bolt (2013) with something new. The best Pearl Jam albums indeed retain the character of all those preceding it, while encompassing a new aspect of themselves, like a person committed to a soul searching journey on the road less travelled experiencing their latest point of break through with the human condition.
New single, “Dark Matter” is enmeshed with the sounds and styles of all my favourites (and in my humble opinion their best), of their back catalogue but with a side of extra Soundgarden. Though this is Cameron’s 7th studio album with the band and follows years of touring with them, his own musical history and presence has never been felt and heard as strongly as it here. “Dark Matter” blends Pearl Jam’s classic signature to date with a return to not just their own grunge roots, but the heaviest of heavy grunge roots previously reserved for Soundgarden and Alice In Chains, and reminiscent of Badmotorfinger (1991) as well as the fresher and more evolved King Animal (2012). Heaviness withstanding however, this soul searching hitchhiker loses nothing of its journey so far, also inter- weaving Eddie’s classic rough and ready grungey vocals with those more mature vocal lines and melodies characteristic of his solo career; both hard hitting and heartfelt with equal, and every bit of horsepower Vedder ever had.
All this combined with Mike McCready’s most sterling performance and most exciting and building lead break to date, the most interesting and biggest contribution of a drum solo from Cameron yet, and songwriting, chemistry and unity unrivalled between the legendary grunge icons. Add two of rock music’s most accomplished and coolest musicians: Stone Gossard (guitar) and Jeff Ament (bass) and you can’t go wrong.
“Dark Matter” is, as with all Pearl Jam’s best singles, both a banger from the offset and a grower to boot, and Dark Matter promises to be (change my mind) the best album Pearl Jam have ever made.
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Pearl Jam hit the UK / IE in June:
- Jun 22 Dublin, IE – Marlay Park
- Jun 25 Manchester, UK – Manchester Co-op Live
- Jun 29 London, UK – Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Header image: Danny Clinch
You can pre-order the Dark Matter album now
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An outstanding piece by someone who obviously knows her Pearl Jam. Detailed, insightful, witty & doesnt read like your everyday run of the mill article. There are even Pearl Jam easter eggs in there for those who know Loved it & have read it twice now. Kudos to Sarah & to Moshville for having her onboard. I agree with her take on the new single & am also buzzin for the new album. I look forward to her review on the album. 10/10
Enjoyed reading this review of the new single, but more than that SarahN puts into words exactly how I feel about Pearl Jam and exactly why I love them so much and have stuck with them through the ups and downs of their most recent catalogue. Here’s hoping this new album is one of the good ones. Oh, and No Code is my favourite album ever too :)
Thanks for your comment Greg. Delighted you enjoyed the review and were able to relate. Means a lot as a writer and fellow Pearl Jam fan. Keep on rocking in the free world! ✌️❤️PJ – Sarah Nuttz