Album Review: Pearl Jam, Dark Matter

You know these grunge gods have cooked up something special when frontman Eddie Vedder says, “No hyperbole, I think this is our best work.” What’s undeniable is that the band’s 12th album, Dark Matter, is sprinkled with stardust. Part of that can be attributed to the producer, lifelong Pearl Jam fan and member of Eddie Vedder’s solo band, Andrew Watt.

Watt has worked his magic with artists as diverse as Miley Cyrus, Justin Bieber, Ozzy Osbourne and the Stones. Here, the studio wizard proves his mettle again. Birthed live in one room, Dark Matter bristles with energy. What’s more, there’s something on it for every generation of Pearl Jam devotees. Highlights include the bombastic ‘Waiting For Stevie’, which calls to mind their Singles era; ‘Something Special’, a breezy, if slightly cheesy bop about parenthood; and ‘Running,’ a bullish, punk-minded spiritual heir to ‘Do The Evolution’.

Best of all is ‘Wreckage’, which sees Eddie and the lads turn the clock back to the mid-’90s, and conjure up the spirits of old PJ offshoots Mad Season and Temple Of The Dog, It’s sure to be a live showstopper. Overall, Dark Matter is very tasty indeed.

7/10