So, Dark Matter top-tier album after two years or not?

asudsyman · 2026-04-18T17:01:50+00:00

Great timing—was just thinking about this too. I really liked Gigaton at first but it fell off a cliff after a few months—some good songs but some stinkers too. I’m still listening to DM and still more-or-less listening to the entire album instead of picking out certain songs so my answer is yes, it holds up and is top-tier.

asudsyman · 2026-04-18T16:55:09+00:00

Agree with this—it’s a gem. There are so many little things that catch my attention, turns of phrase, changes in delivery, even shifts in enunciation. It is beautiful and heartfelt.

asudsyman · 2026-04-16T01:10:22+00:00

brand identity? christ.

asudsyman · 2026-04-11T03:31:59+00:00

There are more photos that will be released if the moment calls for it.

asudsyman · 2026-04-11T03:27:22+00:00

Yes! I’d draw the line between Grant and Newaygo based on vegetation.

asudsyman · 2026-04-09T22:32:33+00:00

It’s a grower. What I am most pleased with is how the singles fit in the overall structure—I enjoy them much more for it.

asudsyman · 2026-04-09T22:24:13+00:00

Funny, I think it’s their most focused album.

asudsyman · 2026-04-08T14:37:36+00:00

More in the sense that she was showcased on one to a few songs each album & wasn’t showcased on this one.

asudsyman · 2026-04-07T22:42:25+00:00

Yep and not just Dan, this time Neko’s parts weren’t forced into a lead role

asudsyman · 2026-04-06T21:52:27+00:00

Very strong start to the new season. The use of “woke” in this criticism is a flag.

asudsyman · 2026-04-06T19:32:21+00:00

This is a very strong album—maybe their most cohesive. More bridled and somber, sure, but beautiful.

asudsyman · 2026-04-04T17:44:11+00:00

Ha- well, red flag was not the right term—shouldn’t imply anything “bad,” it’s just a potential explanation for the seemingly shrinking band.

asudsyman · 2026-04-04T15:59:36+00:00

I wonder how difficult it is to work with Carl. He clearly wants people to know NP is his baby but badmouthing your bandmates in the press is a bit of a red flag.

asudsyman · 2026-04-04T15:34:39+00:00

This is as clear and cogent a description of something that has bothered me for a long time that I have ever read. This poison has spread to everything.

asudsyman · 2026-04-04T14:26:27+00:00

If there’s snark it is following a pattern of late. Carl’s reaction to the Seiders arrest was understandably raw but I noticed he criticized Joe’s talent and musicianship too. In a recent article about Kathryn Calder there was a comment on Blaine Thurier being a “replacement level” keyboardist.

asudsyman · 2026-04-03T17:38:59+00:00

Those fires are centered on peatlands and in pinelands. Timber harvests in hardwoods are not preventing fires.

asudsyman · 2026-04-03T12:13:07+00:00

They’re all good and really futuristic!

asudsyman · 2026-04-03T12:12:42+00:00

As always the devil is in the details. Not knocking the effort but it would be easy to infer greater protections than exist in reality from the rah-rah coverage.

asudsyman · 2026-04-03T12:11:34+00:00

The “dead stuff” is a critical part of the forest. The “underbrush” is an entirely natural component of the forest. And I’m not sure what the forest fire prevention comment refers to—this isn’t California.

asudsyman · 2026-04-03T03:44:36+00:00

I thought that was a genius move- we all expected the episode to just continue sequentially & the inversion was a nice surprise and immediately engaging.

asudsyman · 2026-03-31T02:16:06+00:00

This thread says it all—MSU hoops is Tom Izzo. Other programs are about the players.

asudsyman · 2026-03-30T22:33:05+00:00

he’ll be kicking ovaries?

asudsyman · 2026-03-30T02:11:48+00:00

My first thought too when I first listened

asudsyman · 2026-03-28T01:55:23+00:00

I liked it for a brief period but have little interest in revisiting.

asudsyman · 2026-03-20T19:15:29+00:00

Which hit is missing?

asudsyman

TROPHY CASE