Pearl Jam recently announced their 12th studio album, “Dark Matter”, which will be released on April 19, 2024 via Monkeywrench Records/Republic Records. “Dark Matter” was helmed by Grammy Award-winning producer Andrew Watt and is the follow-up to 2020’s “Gigaton”.
The LP’s second single, “Running”, can be streamed below, and the album can be pre-ordered HERE.
“Running” was one of the last songs recorded with producer Andrew Watt at Rick Rubin‘s Shangri-La Studio in Malibu, California. “It was fun to come up with one more uptempo song,” Gossard said, adding that frontman Eddie Vedder‘s “vocal dexterity here and on a few other spots on the album is just stunning.”
In 2023, Pearl Jam retreated to Shangri-La Studios in Malibu where they simply plugged in and played under Watt‘s watch. Writing and recording in a burst of inspiration, “Dark Matter” was born in just three weeks. As a result, “Dark Matter” 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.
The album’s packaging features light painting art by Alexandr Gnezdilov. The album cover art was crafted using a large self-made kaleidoscope. Each letter visible on the cover was individually captured and handwritten midair with a specially designed flashlight to create the pearlescent effect.
Pearl Jam is celebrating indie record stores with the release of a special edition of “Dark Matter” on April 20, only at participating stores as part of Record Store Day. Get more information and find stores at www.recordstoreday.com.
Pearl Jam reportedly held a listening party for “Dark Matter” in late January at the Troubadour in West Hollywood, during which frontman Eddie Vedder told those in attendance that he considered the LP to be “our best work.”
“Dark Matter” track listing:
1. Scared Of Fear
2. React, Respond
3. Wreckage
4. Dark Matter
5. Won’t Tell
6. Upper Hand
7. Waiting For Stevie
8. Running
9. Something Special
10. Got To Give
11. Setting Sun
