Last night I was properly introduced to Wreckage by Pearl Jam;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUmJfxinKHM
IMHO it's a masterpiece, among their finest work. To be able to sing about such deep sadness, with so much joy and optimism, speaks to a strength of character I can only aspire to.
I'm so gutted I missed the chance to see them on this tour. But that's all part of the wreckage I'm combing through.
I feel like I owe Eddie Vedder and PJ a public apology. I'm sure they'd understand, if they knew, but when I listened through their discography recently, I posted some fairly dismissive comments about their more recent albums. At the time I was frustrated and angry with the world, and I wanted music that spoke to that, like Ten, and Vs, and Riot Act.
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I listened to the more contemplative, almost psychedelic songs, but I didn't really hear them. Couldn't hear them. I was so busy being righteously furious that I couldn't hear the soul and the beauty.
In the last few days and weeks I've had reason to feel torn, and heartbroken, and lost in the dark. Listening to Dark Matter today was like a map of the way into the darkness, and back out into the light. Like Pink Floyd's The Wall.
Words fail me. Thanks PJ for lighting the way.
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@strypey There are a couple things about the production on Dark Matter that leave me not as enthused about PJ's new wunderkind producer as others are .. but in terms of the songwriting and musicality, yes, my gourds, EV's writing is still masterful and Wreckage is an amazing example of the band's synergy.
I have some sort of synaesthesia experience listening to it, I can feel the song on my skin or something, it's really powerful.
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@Johannab
> EV's writing is still masterful and Wreckage is an amazing example of the band's synergy
It is. Every member of the band shines in this song, both individually and as a collective, and this really comes through in the live version I linked.
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McCreedy's lead has never been more virtuoso, yet gorgeously understated. Ament's bass is by turns melancholy and soaring. Gossard doesn't just hold the rhythm, his delicate interplay with the other two is masterful. Cameron's drumming flows beneath it all, embracing and uplifting it. All of this really stands out in the instrumental sections, but it's there all through.
Vedder's voice has matured, not declined, and a deep compassion shines through in every vocalisation.
Chef's kiss.