By Matt Vaughan
We can all finally exhale. Pearl Jam’s much anticipated new record Dark Matter was released today! The people are smiling. This is a career defining record for Pearl Jam. Resilience, being present, owning your issues, working through ’em, accept your part, it’s OK to be scared, insecure…we all are, but we have each other, our friends, our family, our neighbors, let’s lift each other up, hand in hand. We can find utopia, it’s in the power of the mind, body, heart, and soul. We may not always feel loved or cared for, but somebody up there is looking after us. You are special even when you don’t feel it. Wrap your arms around yourself, your loved ones and even occasionally those that you disagree with. They might need it more than anyone else. We can beat the bastards, we can ignore the clowns, we can fight oppression, we will enjoy the fight, we will implore others. We will dance, we will talk, we will listen. We will be reliable, accountable, less judgmental, find the good, we’re better together than apart. A kick in the ass is still a step forward.
Now, as far as the musicianship and production. The band are masters at what they do, they are the titans of the rock genre. Mike and Stone’s guitars show off their versatility and taste. Some moments harken to influences such as David Gilmour, The Edge, Jimmy Page, Pete Townshend, but ultimately they are themselves. Ament and Cameron are on a whole other level! Jeff is just a beast on this record and Matt puts on a clinic. Eddie gives you every era of his vocal range and a few of those Into the Wild guttural whispered screams. His lyrics are visceral and perceptive, no surprise there, but it may just be that this time, the process and the journey have created revelations. The celestial universe is opening up and the answers and solutions are right in front of us.
Having 33-year-old Andrew Watt producing the record, seems to give the band a little more clarity and focus. Andrew is a massive PJ fan; he got what the fans wanted, while also encouraging and challenging the band to step it up and show off a little bit. They deserve to after all this time. The sequencing is beautiful, a record that you want to listen to in its entirety.
This is a classic rock album, in the vein of Led Zeppelin or early U2. There are the sing-along choruses, the anthems, the rippers, and the open-the-windows-and-let-the-air-in-breezers, but like typical Pearl Jam, you will be challenged, they aren’t going to sugar coat it. Unlike most rock outfits, Pearl Jam has never released a dud, a clunker, a stiff. This is their 12th studio album. There are records fans prefer over others, sure. There are records that sold better than others, yep, but even the average fan will agree, Pearl Jam has never let up. They compete for greatness every time. No fade to this glory !
The first two singles, the title track Dark Matter and most recently, Wreckage have the faithful excited, but there is much more here. Scared of Fear, React Respond, Won’t Tell, Upper Hand, Waiting for Stevie, Running, Got To Give…any and all of these should make appearances on their upcoming tour. Something Special is your 2024 version of The Beatles Hey Jude or Bowie’s Kooks. While Setting Sun will undoubtedly close out a set or two.
So, what do you do if you don’t burn out…or fade away? Pearl Jam just figured it out. See you at The Grammy’s ! This is your Rock Record of the Year!
Pearl Jam World Tour begins next month with Seattle shows at Climate Pledge Arena on May 28 and May 30.
Pearl Jam have always been champions of the vinyl format. If you recall, they released their classic album Vs. on vinyl a week before the CD and that was at the height of the CD heyday, in 1993. Vinyl lovers were rewarded with the record one week early! Pearl Jam won a Grammy for the song Spin The Black Circle back in 1996. Essentially, a love letter to records and a plea to keep them alive “oh you’re so warm, oh the ritual, as I lay down your crooked arm…spin spin, spin the black circle.”
If that wasn’t enough, they have released a limited edition PNW version pressed on SuperSonics colors, green and gold vinyl. Won’t last long! The additional label designs are from Alexandr.
You can go so far to say that Record Store Day may never have gotten off the ground had it not been for Pearl Jam. Back on April 29, 2005, Pearl Jam played a secret surprise show at Easy Street Records. Only 125 people were in attendance, unaware of what was about to happen. Easy Street was hosting the 10 year Anniversary of their CIMS group (Coalition of Independent Music Stores). From the balcony upstairs, Pearl Jam came walking down the stairs and played a full set to the awestruck crowd. Still considered one of the most legendary PJ shows, but was as equally surprising, was that the following year the band decided to release the show on CD exclusively to independent record stores. While most bands were doing exclusives with bog box retailers like Best Buy, PJ went the other route. 75,000 copies sold immediately and it helped bring all of the indie stores together. Two more coalitions were formed and the following year, Record Store Day was created. Having a band of Pearl Jam’s stature and conviction wrapping their arms around these record shops gave us the confidence to punch our fist through the dirt one last time. During 2005-2008, over 2,000 record shops had closed. The challenges were endless…Napster, mass merchant/big box retail loss leaders, chain store dominance, Amazon and online sellers, the I-Pod, MAP pricing…indie record shops were closing at a record rate.
In 2019, Live at Easy Street was released on vinyl for the first time. Pearl Jam were the Record Store Day Ambassadors that year.
So, when you pick up and purchase Dark Matter this week, understand that without them, the vinyl format would not resonate as it does today.
Pearl Jam bass player and de facto art director, Jeff Ament has won Grammy’s on his own for his design work [2020 Chris Cornell box set]. In this case, he brought in some friends to collaborate with, including light paint artist Alexandr Gnezdilov. A spectacular gatefold package includes a lyric book and additional photography from Jeff himself. A sticker pack is included, which allows you to switch out the record label with additional label designs from Alexandr.
Dark Matter is available now from Republic Records on vinyl and CD.
Matt Vaughan is the owner of Easy Street Records in the West Seattle Junction.
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