Pearl Jam "Dark Matter" (2024)

Dark Matter

release date: Apr. 19, 2024

format: digital (11 x File, FLAC)

[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,58]

producer: Andrew Watt

label: Monkeywrench - nationality: USA

Track highlights: 1. "Scared of Fear" - 2. "React, Respond" - 3. "Wreckage" (live) - 4. "Dark Matter" - 5. "Won't Tell" - 10. "Got to Give" - 11. "Setting Sun"

12th studio album by old-time rockers, Pearl Jam following four full years after the predictable and rather redundant Gigaton (Mar. 2020) has been made with young upcoming producer Andrew Watt. Four years is usually quite a long time in between studio albums but in the case of Pearl Jam, it's actually seen as a short interval. And then of course, the band hasn't missed an opportunity to release other material. The live album Give Way (Apr. 2023) had previously been circulating as a popular Australian pirate material recording of a 1998 concert in Melbourne and it has been released under various titles such as From Down Under, Human Behaviour, and Brain of JJJ, and then also as of '98 as Give Way, a limited promotion release, which was quickly withdrawn as it hadn't been officially approved of. So, not until '23 it saw the light of day as an official release. The relative long intervals in between studio albums probably also derives from how this band has made it customary to release live recordings of its concert performances every now and then - or more frequently: 'every now', actually. In 2023, the band released no less than eight official so-called live bootleg albums, and in 2022 that number is much higher, which is quite telling in terms of how to make an 'extra' income on your live concerts these days. Bruce Springsteen is another artist who has understood this to near perfection.

Dark Matter pretty much feels like a return to the band's heydays with producer Brendan O'Brien, also in the arrangements where you find the sharp energy-fused songs blended with tracks of more ballad-oriented material, and Andrew Watt does exactly what was intended by introducing a new spark. Vedder sounds like you know him, and the band comes out as a vital and tight unit, which by no means makes you think of an act with limited potential. On the other hand, there's hardly anything new in the repertoire here, which in many ways builds on former releases and former peaks.

Without being a 'Backspacer, part 2', or a new Yield, Dark Matter actually succeeds unexpectedly well and it even betters the 2009 album, at least from my perspective, and I havent found the band this vital since then, or since 1998 for that matter. I know, the 2009 album was regarded as a step in the wrong direction by some. Yes, "Wreckage" may sound like Pearl Jam blending some of their old classic catalogue, but who really would expect this band to sound like some other act?! And in that way Dark Matter unfolds just like a Pearl Jam album 'should'.

Dark Matter is an unexpected warm revisit from old friends telling us they're still sound and alive. I like it!

[ allmusic.com, NME 4 / 5, 👉Pitchfork 6,4 / 10 stars ]

Pearl Jam "Gigaton" (2020)

Gigaton
release date: Mar. 27, 2020
format: cd
[album rate: 3 / 5] [2,98]
producer: Josh Evans
label: Monkeywrench Records - nationality: USA

Track highlights: 1. "Who Ever Said" - 3. "Dance of the Clairvoyants" - 4. "Quick Escape" - 8. "Take the Long Way"

11th studio album by Pearl Jam is the band's first album in seven years and its first with producer Josh Evans, who is credited as studio guitar crew on Lightning Bolt (2013).

Pearl Jam seems long ago to have come to terms with the fact that they don't need to evolve and make music that satisfy themselves but have settled with spitting out albums that fans will like - be it a never-ending list of live albums, 'best of', 'most of' and albums that look back at various earlier steps in their long career. And no, you do not have to evolve. There's no artistic law to abide, but I guess, if you just try to take your art somewhere else than where you've already been, it may appear as you do it for art's sake and not just for the sake of your wallet. This is Pearl Jam playing some Pearl Jam-songs, and that's Okay.

Admittedly, I've never been a huge fan of this 'great' American orchestra. To me, they've always existed there somewhere in between [terrible] Guns N' Roses, the many American heart rock outings, who seek to balance pop with rock by yelling out loudly and making a big stir, and due parts of influence from European and Australian heavy [metal] rock artists, whom I never payed much attention to. In that perspective I've always admired Vedder's vocal but at the same time felt disillusioned by too many album fillers. So, without containing new classic songs and without being anything near great, Gigaton falls in the anonymous better half of the band's eleven studio albums as it's nevertheless something as rare as a coherent Pearl Jam studio album, only without great compositions. But if you just luv the sound of Pearl Jam, this is probably going to be a fine investment 'cause it doesn't even try to go anywhere else than down the familiar freeway they have run down many times before.

Not recommended.

Pearl Jam "Lightning Bolt" (2013)

Lightning Bolt
release date: Oct. 15, 2013
format: digital (12 x File, MP3)
[album rate: 3 / 5] [3,06]

producer: Brendan O'Brien

label: Monkeywrench Records - nationality: USA

Track highlights: 1. "Getaway" - 2. "Mind Your Manners" - 3. "My Father's Son" - 4. "Sirens" - 8. "Swallowed Whole"

10th studio album release by Pearl Jam and the second on Peral Jam's own label, Monkeywrench is once again produced with O'Brien.
Well, the band continues in its usual style. There's nothing new, hardly even the tracks seem new. I think, they just repeat themselves indefinitely, and with this you get some new Pearl Jam songs that sound like a Pearl Jam remix. I'm not impressed and don't find it a recommended album.
[ 👎allmusic.com, PopMatters 4 / 5, Rolling Stone 3,5 / 5, Slant, Spin, 👍The Guardian 3 / 5 stars ]

Pearl Jam "Backspacer" (2009)

Backspacer
release date: Sep. 20, 2009
format: digital
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,55]

producer: Brendan O'Brien
label: Monkeywrench Records - nationality: USA

Track highlights: 1. "Gonna See My Friend" - 3. "The Fixer" (4 / 5) - 6. "Amongst the Waves" - 7. "Unthought Known" - 10. "Force of Nature" - 11. "The End"

9th studio album by Pearl Jam released on Monkeywrench - a label founded by the band, from 2007 initially for the band's live recordings, but with this, also for future studio albums - sees a return to producer Brendan O'Brien.
The album was met by some mixed reviews, but I actually find it one of their better albums. Pearl Jam has always made great songs but always on albums with many fillers or music that I'm generally not that fond of. Hard rock or music that is to heavy rock-founded is normally not in my interest, and by gosh they have produced a lot of that on e.g. Binaural (2000), Riot Act (2002), and Pearl Jam (2006), so this is refreshing as some of the highlighted tracks are more "clean" alt. rock and / or energetic folk rock-fused.
"...fight to get it back ag-a-ain!", the biggest US rock band is back with Eddie Vedder as every good American loves him.
[ allmusic.com 4,5 / 5, The Guardian, Q, Spin, Rolling Stone 4 / 5, Drowned in Sound 3,5 / 5 stars ]

Pearl Jam "Pearl Jam" (2006)

Pearl Jam
release date: May 2, 2006
format: cd
[album rate: 2,5 / 5] [2,48]
producer: Adam Kasper, Pearl Jam
label: BMG Japan - nationality: USA

Track highlights: 2. "World Wide Suicide" - 5. "Marker in the Sand" - 12. "Come Back"

8th studio album by Pearl Jam org. released as the band's first and only on J Records is the second consecutive album produced with Adam Kasper. The album comes after a long hiatus and four years after its predecessor Riot Act from 2002. It's also known as "The Avocado Album", and it was promoted as the band's return to basics. The title obviously reflects an idea of being able to create something fresh, as a new start, since the band's long contract with Epic Records had come to an end in 2003.
Yes, the album is full of grit and aggressiveness, Pearl Jam classic, or to put it simple: grunge rock by Pearl Jam. But more than a decade after the initial grunge rock releases this seems... obsolete, imho. I never was a great fan but still had to turn to this, because the band always seemed to elude me, and ain't that just the same here?! I... don't get it. I always find it difficult to listen through an entire album by Pearl Jam, 'cause there's too much fuss, too much screaming, howling, shouting, but more so: too many things that don't attract me about the compositions - the progressiveness and the electric guitars that sound like Led Zeppelin-jam sessions.
The album is much like Riot Act - also in terms of not being very good - this is just less art rock-shaped and with more focus on a hard rock edge. Vedder's vocal is best when he's at his most sincere and vulnerable. There are few good spots on this, but it sold more than well and was generally well-received by critics - very much as usual. The album went as high as number #2 on the national albums chart list, and music critics lauded it as a true come-back album.
The band always was a darling of the press. I have tried to listen to it several times and still don't get it, and even find it less than mediocre, which is why I really can't recommend it. Ultimately, I find it on par with their so far least favourable studio album, Yield from 1998.
Best thing about the album is clearly the cover.
[ allmusic.com 4,5 / 5, Rolling Stone 4 / 5, Spin 3 / 5 stars ]

Pearl Jam "Riot Act" (2002)

Riot Act
release date: Nov. 12, 2002
format: cd
[album rate: 3 / 5] [2,88]
producer: Adam Kasper, Pearl Jam
label: Epic Records - nationality: USA

Track highlights: 1. "Can't Keep" - 6. "I Am Mine" - 7. "Thumbing My Way" - 9. "Get Right"

7th studio album by Pearl Jam with new producer, Adam Kasper, sounds very much like Pearl Jam, and also the continued story of a band still in search of a sound. The predecessor's experimental approach is continued here, although, this is more restrained with art rock-reminiscence. The album echoes two tragedies: nine deaths in front of the scene at the Roskilde Festival in 2000 while Pearl Jam played, and the 9/11 terrorist attack in 2001. At the same time, it's also a near political uproar against the Bush administration. The writing process exemplifies the band's struggles, as all members bring their individual material to the recording studio after which the band then rework these sketches until a satisfactory result is met - a working process they initiated on the much better Yield; however, this process is also reflected in highly varied compositions without any strong bonds. The most successful compositions are as usual those written by Eddie Vedder, whereas the others bring about the more experimental songs.
In a way, the album contains stronger compositions, is more coherent than Binaural and No Code, but still feels like an unfinished bunch of songs where an overall goal is somewhat blurred.
I don't find that the album contains any really great songs and basically just think of it as another mediocre and easily forgettable release by Pearl Jam.
[ allmusic.com 4 / 5, Rolling Stone, Q Magazine 3 / 5, The Guardian 2 / 5 stars ]

Pearl Jam "Binaural" (2000)

Binaural
release date:  May 16, 2000
format: cd
[album rate: 2,5 / 5] [2,48]
producer: Tchad Blake, Pearl Jam
label: Epic Records - nationality: USA

Track highlights: 7. "Insignificance" (3 / 5) - 9. "Grievance" (2,5 / 5) - 12. "Soon Forget" (3 / 5)

6th studio album by Pearl Jam and the first album since the debut not to be produced with Brendan O'Brien. A natural consequence of this is a change of style, and the album is the band's so far most experimental studio release. Especially three songs entirely written and composed by the band's rhythm guitarist, Stone Gossard, and the second track by bassist Jeff Ament are just... something else. The rest are at best mediocre Pearl Jam sound-a-likes. Eddie Vedder is as usual the one who provides almost all lyrics and the majority of the compositions, but even his contributions here are lesser works. One of his songs, "Soon Forget" anticipates his fine solo album Ukulele Songs from 2011.

To me, this is the band's least favourable and simply not recommended.
[ allmusic.com 4 / 5, Rolling Stone 3,5 / 5, Q Magazine, The Guardian 3 / 5 stars ]

Pearl Jam "Yield" (1998)

Yield
release date: Feb. 3, 1998
format: cd
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,64]
producer: Brendan O'Brien, Pearl Jam
label: Epic Records - nationality: USA

Track highlights: 1. "Brain of J." - 2. "Faithfull" - 4. "Given to Fly" (live) - 5. "Wishlist" - 6. "Pilate" - 9. "MFC" [Mother Fuckin' Car?] - 11. "In Hiding" (live)

5th studio album by Pearl Jam and the fourth consecutive album to be produced with Brendan O'Brien is the return to a more energetic and aggressive style like a combo of Vs. (1993) and Vitalogy (1994).
I hardly noticed the album at the time of its release and have only recently come across it as one of the band's more successful albums.
In a Pearl Jam context the album is quite unique for being a coherent album. I've always found that the band struggled extremely hard in finding the right expression and a unifying sound for their individual albums by putting too much effort in embracing the soft and mellow compositions with clear folk rock references alongside a trademark of being true grunge rockers with fierce attitude and howling guitars, but without succeeding much in either. For once, I find that the compositions go hand in hand on the entire album, despite having both extremes of the energy spectre. The album peaked at number #2 in the US and topped the charts in Australia, New Zealand and in Norway.
Without being really great, I easily find it bettering the band's highly praised debut, and to me, this is simply Pearl Jam's best effort.
[ allmusic.com 2,5 / 5, NME 3,5 / 5, Rolling Stone 4 / 5 stars ]

Pearl Jam "No Code" (1996)

No Code
release date: Aug. 27, 1996
format: cd
[album rate: 2,5 / 5] [2,66]
producer: Brendan O'Brien, Pearl Jam
label: Epic Records - nationality: USA

Track highlights: 4. "In My Tree" (3 / 5) - 5. "Smile" (3 / 5)

4th studio album by Pearl Jam and the third consecutive album produced with O'Brien. Although, it contains up-tempo tracks it turns out much more subdued than the angry and aggressive predecessor Vitalogy (1994), and the result is perhaps the least grunge rock-styled album by Pearl Jam with a distinct singer / songwriter profile.
The album sold quite well and also ended up on top of the national albums chart list but wasn't received as one of the band's better releases.
I don't find it interesting, and honestly think of it as a bit on the dull side as it hardly contains any memorable tracks.
I find it mediocre and cannot recommend it.
[ allmusic.com 3,5 / 5, Rolling Stone, Q Magazine 4 / 5 stars ]

Neil Young "Mirror Ball" (1995)

Mirror Ball
release date: Jun. 27, 1995
format: cd
[album rate: 2,5 / 5] [2,54]
producer: Brendan O'Brien
label: Reprise Records - nationality: Canada / USA

22nd studio album by Neil Young was promoted as a collaboration of Neil Young and Pearl Jam, however, all tracks except track #8, "Piece and Love" (written by Eddie Vedder) were written by Young, and the album is basically a Young studio release with Pearl Jam (without Vedder) as his backing band; however, Pearl Jam producer Brendan O'Brien was brought in to produce the album to add some of the Pearl Jam-energy to this Neil Young album. Not surprisingly, the style is highly influenced by grunge rock exemplified by Pearl Jam.
The album was generally met by positive reviews and made it to number #6 on the Canadian albums chart list, number #5 in the US, and to number #4 in the UK.
Apparently, the recording sessions were a bunch of studio sessions with Young and Pearl Jam playing around recording takes as they got along without any pre-written material.
I have never really liked this particular album, and mostly think of it as murky and simply without a distinct vision. It's basically just jam session material and without a single great song.
The album is not recommended for anything but background noise and / or for collectors only.
[ allmusic.com 3 / 5, Rolling Stone 4 / 5, NME 4,5 / 5  stars ]

Pearl Jam "Vitalogy" (1994)

Vitalogy
release date: Nov. 22, 1994
format: cd
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,46]
producer: Brendan O'Brien, Pearl Jam
label: Sony Records, Japan - nationality: USA

Track highlights: 1. "Last Exit" - 2. "Spin the Black Circle" (3 / 5) - 5. "Nothingman" - 8. "Corduroy" - 11. "Better Man" (4 / 5)

3rd studio album by Pearl Jam org. released on Epic Records. This is the second and final album to feature drummer Dave Abbruzzese, who was replaced by Jack Irons (former Red Hot Chili Peppers, also substituting Abbruzzese on track #14).
With Vitalogy the band embarks on a journey into more experimental alt. rock compared to the previous two albums. It's no longer just grunge rock but more of a alt. rock and hard rock combo. The whole album is really a huge blend of styles and songs, some of which are quite aggressive hard rock-styled touching punk rock elements, a few are just alternative... or mere experimental, others are fine rock hymns with harmony vocals, and the then there are also quiet singer / songwriter folk rock ballads. Best track here is "Better Man", and I know the album is a favourite among many Pearl Jam fans - I just don't find it that great and frankly find it too mixed as a whole with a big gap between highs and lows.
[ allmusic.com 4,5 / 5, Rolling Stone, Q Magazine 4 / 5 stars ]

Pearl Jam "Vs." (1993)

Vs.
release date: Oct. 19, 1993
format: cd
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,38]
producer: Brendan O'Brien, Pearl Jam
label: Epic Records - nationality: USA

Track highlights: 3. "Daughter" (4 / 5) - 4. "Glorified G" (3 / 5) - 5. "Dissident" (3,5 / 5) - 10. "Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town" (3,5 / 5)

2nd studio album by Pearl Jam is the first album produced with long-time preferred producer Brendan O'Brien, and it's the first with new drummer David Abbruzzese. Compared to the debut, the biggest change is the production sound.
Back at the time of the release, I felt it was just a huge disappointment, but the album has grown on me over the years, and today I understand how it became the band's most successful release. The compositions are in way more powerful, yet more scarcely orchestrated. The band was (and still is) rather dismayed by the way the debut had been mixed ending up with a sound they didn't like and never aimed for. Here, with O'Brien the sound is more vibrant and, in a way, more genuine - almost as live recordings. There's a fine span between powerful explosions and softer and acoustic compositions, and the voice of Vedder is even more expressive. I don't find that the album holds a lot great tunes, but overall it's better produced.
In its time the album was the fastest selling album for the first week, and it's still the band's best-selling album ending on top of the national charts as it did in a number of other countries around the world.
[ allmusic.com 4 / 5, Rolling Stone 4,5 / 5 stars ]

Pearl Jam "Ten" (1991)

Ten (debut)
release date: Aug. 27, 1991
format: cd
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,58]
producer: Rick Parashar, Pearl Jam
label: Sony Records, Japan - nationality: USA

Track highlights: 1. "Once" - 2. "Even Flow" - 3. "Alive" (4,5 / 5) - 5. "Black" - 6. "Jeremy" - 8. "Porch" - 9. "Garden" - 10. "Deep" (4 / 5)

Studio album debut by Seattle grunge rock band Pearl Jam org. rel. by Epic Records. Pearl Jam is the fusion of members of various bands all originating from Seattle except for Eddie Vedder. The band consists of vocalist Eddie Vedder, bassist Jeff Ament, rhythm guitarist Stone Gossard, lead guitarist Mike McCready, and drummer Dave Krusen [story of the formation] (Krusen would leave the band shortly after recording the debut only to be replaced by Matt Chamberlain for a short period before Dave Abbruzzese would take over).
The style represents a huge blend of influences, which ultimately is grunge rock. There are clear references to early 70s psychedelic and progressive rock (Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple) and to Jimi Hendrix blues rock, later 70s metal rock, and I also hear fragments of Neil Young with Crazy Horse, as well as parts of an American punk rock history, especially Hüsker Dü.
This guitar-founded electric hard rock has never really been that appealing to me, and the only reason that I ever got to listen through this in the first place, was because of the hit single "Alive", which is the album's biggest highlight, as far as I'm concerned. Sure, tracks like "Once", "Even Flow", "Black", "Jeremy", and "Garden" are all fine songs, and in a Pearl Jam fan context they are everything the audience wants, but to me, they are like 3 out of 5, meaning: good songs, no more, no less - nothing special. I simply get tired of the reverberating guitars, the heavy rhythm section and the heavy rock sound, which takes me nowhere. To me, it's dark and heavy (noise). If "Alive" got me interested in Pearl Jam and the rest didn't live up to that, I have to admit that I have always fancied the voice of Eddie Vedder. He's the main reason that I keep listening to this band.
Anyway, the album was well-received by critics, and the album reached number #2 on the American albums chart list. As the only Pearl Jam album, Ten is included in "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die". In my mind - despite the band's own view on the production sound of the album - it's among the band's top 3 albums, although, it does contain some of the absolute best single tracks by the band: "Alive" and "Deep", but in terms of quality songs, I find it too bland. Something that would prove to be a fitting characteristic to their future albums, imho.
[ allmusic.com, Blender, Uncut 5 / 5, Rolling Stone, Q Magazine, Mojo 4 / 5 stars ]