Dark Matter CD

In "Dark Matter," Pearl Jam grapples with their storied legacy, but the swagger feels like an uneasy fit. The melodies hint at existential dilemmas, almost as if they're waiting to justify their own importance. With Andrew Watt's sleek production draping over the band's gritty foundation, one wonders: can shiny tools really reach the depths? Ironically, as they hover over past triumphs, it's the band's evolution that threatens to be their most captivating act.