Pearl Jam Releases First Single On Upcoming Album “Dark Matter” – Single Review

Review by Bailey Thompson

Alt-rock band Pearl Jam recently released their latest single “Dark Matter.”

Pearl Jam consists of members Eddie Vedder as lead vocalist, who also plays guitar, Jeff Ament on bass guitar, Stone Gossard on rhythm guitar, Matt Cameron on the drums, Boom Gaspar as the bands keyboardist, and lead guitarist Mike McCready. They’ve been around since the 90s and are still releasing music! It’s nice to see that although times have changed their style hasn’t changed dramatically and is still very reminiscent of their older stuff.
The song itself is proof of this as it explores some different themes, but it still uses the band’s traditional sound. The guitar riff at the beginning of the song is what sets the tone before Eddie Vedder comes in with the vocals. The way the band works together tying in all of their talents adds a very raw and human feeling. As Vedder sings about being lost in “dark matter” the band backs him adding to the overall deep emotion conveyed in the song.

The chorus provides listeners insight into the band’s true feelings about the current world. The way they repeat the lines, “It’s strange these days, when everybody else pays, for someone else’s mistake” in the chorus speaks directly to their strong beliefs regarding our world’s injustice. They don’t hold back from sharing their thoughts and feelings, yet still find a way to share it beautifully through the lyrics and music.

On a lighter, laid-back note, the lyrics the beat and repeated lyrics alone make for a catchy song. I for one am not typically into alternative rock, but after listening to “Dark Matter” I could not get the lyrics out of my head. The band does a great job at creating an ear worm of a song.

Hoping Pearl Jam continues this trend of deep lyrics gleaned with raw and string vocals, rest of the album will surely be a hit. It seems they will continue this theme when the band released the statement, “channels the shared spirit of a group of lifelong creative confidants and brothers in one room playing as if their very lives depended on it.” This quote gives me hope that the rest of the upcoming album Dark Matter will be just as emotional and strong when it releases on April 19th, 2024!

Featured Image from Amazon.