An emblematic group of the Seattle grunge movement, Pearl Jam is back with “Dark Matter”, released on April 19. A simple, powerful and melodic twelfth album carried by the voice of Eddie Vedder which operates a form of return to the sources.
Close to Nirvana, Pearl Jam also dominated the rock scene of the 1990s. Multi-awarded and a Source of influence for many rock artists, the American group released its twelfth album called “Dark Matter” after a thirty-three-year career.
The musicians, in their sixties, return to grunge roots through eleven tracks initially designed to form a new solo album by singer Eddie Vedder. Seeing the evolution of his songs, the charismatic musician suggested that the rest of the group join him to make it more of a Pearl Jam opus.
After the success of the 1990s, the slump in 2000 and the failures of the last releases, we thought the best of the group anchored in the past. And yet, the critics are almost unanimous, Pearl Jam delivers with this “Dark Matter” produced by Andrew Watt (Miley Cyrus, Iggy Pop or the latest Rolling Stones album) one of its best albums. With inflections typical of the style that brought him success in 1991 and the intense voice of Eddie Vedder.
Behind its sometimes more pop side or close to Americana, Pearl Jam has never sought conformism and rather found its way through anger or confrontation. This is again the case on “Dark Matter” through the strength of the singing and the arrangements. The songs are about broken relationships, broken people, dark times, demagogues and the weight of their words against the law.
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Pearl Jam returns to its beginnings by delivering a summary of what defines the group’s success: simple and powerful, melodic rock, with the ambition to make beautiful songs that everyone can sing or play.
Radio subject: Yves Zahno
Web adaptation: olhor
Pearl Jam, “Dark Matter” (Monkeywrench/Republic Records). Published on April 19, 2024.
