Few things are more suspicious than an artist who releases a so-called “late career return to form album.” Recently, the Rolling Stones and Foo Fighters each had one of these, and they were just fine. But that’s the problem they were only fine. I spent a lot of good will on them. They still felt like homework.
So what about Pearl Jam? Twelve albums deep, maybe they’ve been in the semi wilderness since their self-titled record where they said they identified as an avocado. Well, this is number eleven, ‘Gigaton’, which was branded a “gigaflop” you know, like one of those summer blockbusters that actually loses the film studio money and leaves the cinema faster than you can say “well that escalated quickly”. A jumbo Mars bar for anyone who can hum a song from that one from memory {places Mars bar back into coat pocket}.
At first ‘Dark Matter’ felt more immediate than its predecessor but I worried it could end up like ‘Backspacer’ where anything catchy also ended up disposable and depthless. That remained my stance for my next few returns too, and then something most unexpected happened. I started wanting to listen again. The impossible had occurred; I found myself choosing to go back to new Pearl Jam because I thought it would be enjoyable.
Like all great rock albums ‘Dark Matter’ knows how to start strong: five songs in a row is quite a run, well sequenced an upgrade on the similarly bold opening stretch of ‘Backspacer’. The opener has strong Vedder vocals and upbeat throwback feel done without overcooking it; ‘React, Respond’ is hands down one of their most fun uptempo numbers with genuine mania energy; ‘Wreckage’ is effortless sounding balladry as showcase for trademark Vedder bleat we all love; ‘Dark Matter’ is the track that most aims at a more ‘modern’ take on rock them beating Royal Blood at their own game; and ‘Won’t Tell’ is a radio play courting singalong with soaring chorus/bridge.
The second half of the album is patchier but doesn’t fall off a cliff qualitatively, and more than that two of the very best songs are saved for last in the form of the ‘emotional heart’ of the record, ’Waiting for Stevie’, and well-judged atmospheric closer you knew they had to have called ‘Setting Sun’. Single ‘Running’ does its job as a bit of thrust on Side B not one of PJ’s most memorable punk numbers. ‘Got to Give’ is a perfectly serviceable “by the numbers” would-be anthem of a type they’ve been good at since day dot, and if low-slung sing song’s somewhat fluffy ‘Something Special’ is the weakest moment here then really that’s not so low a basement.
A ‘Dark Matter’ review states that it is an emphatic success in any light; this comeback proves why people who love washed-up artists will never let go of their desire for them to recapture former glories after four or more fake starts, this time it’s for real.
For More Movies Visit Putlocker.