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Who produced Dark Matter?
Andrew Watt produced Dark Matter. Pearl Jam announced the album in February 2024, calling it the band’s twelfth studio album and its first since Gigaton (2020). The announcement listed Monkeywrench Records and Republic Records as its labels. (Pearl Jam’s announcement)
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How did Pearl Jam record it with Watt?
Apple Music’s album editorial describes the project as beginning when Eddie Vedder encouraged his bandmates to meet Watt at the producer’s Los Angeles home studio without bringing gear or prewritten material. The musicians wrote and recorded with Watt in two sessions: the first at his home studio, followed months later by work at Shangri-La in Malibu. (Apple Music’s album listing and editorial)
The ready-to-play studio setup is central to guitarist Stone Gossard’s account of the process. In an April 19, 2024 interview with GRAMMY.com, he said: “This was no drama. There was no work involved. We just walked in and played.” His description is a band member’s recollection of the sessions, not an independent account of the recording process. (GRAMMY.com interview)
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- Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame inductees, Pearl Jam, return with their highly anticipated new album, Dark Matter
The Associated Press also identified Shangri-La, Rick Rubin’s studio in Malibu, as a recording location. AP reported in February 2024 that the album had been ready for about a year by the time Pearl Jam announced it. (Associated Press report on the album announcement)
What did Andrew Watt do beyond producing?
Gossard described Watt’s sound in terms of compression, reverb, guitar tones, and the way sounds were placed in a track. These are Gossard’s observations of Watt’s sonic approach, rather than technical measurements of the album’s production.
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He also described Watt and Vedder working back and forth on “Wreckage”: “That’s really Andrew and Ed back and forth, discovering that arrangement, and the push and pull of where that song could go.” The account points to Watt’s involvement in shaping arrangements as well as overseeing the recording. (GRAMMY.com interview)
What does the album sound like?
Apple Music characterizes Dark Matter as “immediate and direct,” describing a range that includes broad-shouldered rock, balladry, midtempo songs, and punk. Those are the service’s critical descriptions, not neutral technical categories. Apple Music contrasts the album with what it calls Gigaton’s more sculpted and experimental feel; that, too, is editorial framing rather than a measured consensus. (Apple Music’s album editorial)
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In its coverage of a January 31, 2024 listening event, AP described the advance material as hard-rocking and noted that the lyrics begin darkly before moving toward hopefulness. AP also reported Vedder praising drummer Matt Cameron. At the event, Vedder called the album “our best work”—his personal assessment, not an objective verdict. (Associated Press report from the listening event)
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Release details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Release date | April 19, 2024 |
| Album number | Pearl Jam’s twelfth studio album |
| Producer | Andrew Watt |
| Labels | Monkeywrench Records and Republic Records |
| Track count and running time | 11 songs; 48 minutes, according to Apple Music’s album listing |
Release date, album number, producer, and labels come from Pearl Jam’s February 2024 announcement; Apple Music supplies the track count and running time. (Pearl Jam; Apple Music)
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