Review: Pearl Jam Release New Song, Title Track Of Upcoming LP, The Heavier Sounding “Dark Matter”

“It’s strange these days when everybody else pays for someone else’s mistake…” Pearl Jam, “Dark Matter”

Oh man, I wish I could tell you how excited I am about new Pearl Jam. After teasing it for a few days on “the social media,” Pearl Jam have just dropped the first song from their upcoming twelfth album, the title track “Dark Matter.” The song and the new album were produced by red hot producer Andrew Watt who has recently worked on LPs with Ozzy (on 2 different ones), Iggy Pop, and the Stones. And perhaps more relevant to this discussion, Watt also worked on Eddie Vedder’s fine solo project, Earthling. Perhaps that was just an audition for this band album.

I was thrilled it’s only been four years since their last LP, 2020’s Gigaton… they took seven years between albums prior to that one. I think we all got “jipped” a little bit on Gigaton. It dropped in March of 2020 right when the COVID pandemic started. Any big tour plans they had were cancelled. I do think they did play some shows but not till much later. Anymore with Pearl Jam one gets the sense that it’s more about the touring than the new albums. I haven’t seen Pearl Jam in ages and would love to see them again live, they’re sensational.

Typically when Pearl Jam record a new album it’s a long and laborious process. Dark Matter was recorded over a three week stint at a studio in Malibu. Andrew Watt came in and “kicked the band’s ass” to get it done. Pearl Jam remains Eddie Vedder (vocals/occasional guitar), Stone Gossard (guitar), Mike McCready (lead guitar), Jeff Ament (bass), and Matt Cameron (formerly of Soundgarden on drums). Vedder has been quoted as saying this is the best thing they’ve done… Having been a long time fan of albums like Ten or Vitalogy, that’s a pretty bold statement.

The band has also hinted that this album is going to be much heavier than recent work. If “Dark Matter” is any indication, it will indeed be heavier… almost more Soundgarden-y. This new single is an 180 degree turn from the first track released off of Gigaton, “Dance Of The Clairvoyants,” which sounded like early Talking Heads to my ears. I played “Dark Matter” for the Rock Chick and her response was, “Hey, that’s good.” And trust me, that’s high praise from her.

I really like this song. I could use some heavy rock right now. The track rocks but it isn’t that old anthemic style from their early days. This song comes straight at you. It kind of reminds me, stylistically, of “Mind Your Manners” the first rocking track off of Lightning Bolt. It starts off with some great tribal drums from Cameron. Then the guitars kick in. Stone Gossard is a masterful rhythm guitarist. It’s a halting riff that throbs in your ears. Vedder’s vocal is as impassioned and intense as usual. At points in the song his voice becomes more of a pained howl. I can’t say enough about Mike McCready’s guitar solo on this track. He shreds. Oh, Hell yes. Here’s the track on YouTube…

This is a great, heavy start for an album that I hope is just as heavy. This might end up being as good as Vedder thinks it is… we know Watt has a way of getting bands to do what they do best. We need some good, socially conscious hard rock around here. Pearl Jam seem motivated and focused which after 30-plus years is hard to do with a band… it’s just so hard to get 5 guys (with instruments) marching in the same direction. It seems Andrew Watt has worked the same, “let’s get it done” magic here that he worked with the Stones on Hackney Diamonds. I’m almost as excited for this new Pearl Jam as I was for that Stones LP… although admittedly after 18 years the Stones had me on the edge of my chair…

Turn this one up loud and crank it. The new album drops in mid April and you know B&V will have our ear to the speaker for this one!

Cheers!