Ten

 

 

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The album, named after the Jersey number of basketball star, Mookie Blaylock, has been considered as being among the finest and most influential albums written during the 90s, and with reason. Before 91, Michael Jackson was atop the charts, the king of pop. It was not until the rise of Nirvana, and subsequently Pearl Jam, that the 'King' was dethrowned. Armed with epic, sweeping hard rock anthems and the bleedingly powerful vocals from Eddie Veddar, Pearl Jam found itself atop the charts themselves.

I admit, I hated 'Ten' for the first full year of it's release. It took some time to sink in. I was too accustomed to Weird Al, Madonna and 'Sweet Dreams'... I was still submerged in the 80s, and the blistering power of Pearl Jam was simply too much for me. Yet as I grew familiar with the Seattle quintet, so did my appreciation of their music. It was not until 93's "VS" that I realized that Pearl Jam had become my favorite band of all-time. I have been ardently following their career ever since.

Song by song review:

1. Once - With a profoundly suspenseful and edgy guitar to backdrop the first emergence of Eddie's vocals, this song is immediately famous. Plus it's got a haunting oceanic intro to boot...

2. Even Flow - Arguably Pearl Jam's most famous song, Even Flow is easily deserving of such status. It explodes into a narrative about a Homeless man, and manages to maintain the ripping intensity for 5 solid minutes.

3. Alive - Another contender for the most famous song by Pearl Jam, this song roars for nearly 6 minutes. Starting somewhat slow, this song builds to a climactic guitar solo that rivals any Zeppelin or The Who.

4. Why Go - Similar to "Even Flow" in it's blinding energy, this song is a standout among standouts. A guttural, hypnotic guitar underscores Eddie's portrayal of a conflicted girl's tortuous homelife.

5. Black - Originally slated to be Pearl Jam's fourth single from the album, following 'Alive', 'Even Flow', and 'Jeremy', this could have become the biggest. A six minute operatic of love and loss, this song is among the most moving in Pearl Jam's catalogue. Deep, gentle guitars accentuate Eddie's somewhat subdued singing.

6. Jeremy - Spawned one of the most famous music video's of all time, coming in at #6 in Rolling Stone Magazine's list of 'best videos of all time'. This song carries a strength in every stroke of the strings, that you can't help but be emotionally drained and exhilerated by the end of this harrowing, disturbing epic.

7. Oceans - One of the two best songs Pearl Jam ever wrote, the other being track 11 of the same album. This song is beautiful beyong comparison, with guitar and drumwork that match the songs title. As we lilt through this song of reunion, we glide along the waves that Eddie so poignantly describes.

8. Porch - Perhaps the most forgettable song on this album, Porch somewhat departs from the overall feel that the rest of the album creates. This is not to say that it is a bad song, as we find Eddie at what could be his angriest. Nearly rapping his way through a lot of lyrics in under 4 minutes, this song is not without it's merit.

9. Garden - Underappreciated, this song is quietly suspenseful in it's beginning, until the pressure is too much, and the floodgates open. The tumultuous uprising is textured and melodic, yet like the tide goes down once more before a climactic finale.

10. Deep - Just like the title, this song opens with a gaping guitar slide and solo that breaks down the barrier between subtlety and power. Truly deserving to be placed in this perfect album.

11. Release - Eddie Vedder's personal tribute to his dad. The guitar matches his soulful wails, begging for the love of a lost father. Finishing out with the same melody that began 'Once', this CD leaves you the way it left you, only now you are an elevated human being.

Man, I love these guys...

Time to do something about it. This is the greatest album I've ever owned. To me, there is nothing better, no other music does as much for me as the songs on 'Ten'. It's something you can't put your finger on, but every single song brings about some kind of powerful emotion that just can't be evoked by anything else. I don't know how they did it, but somehow they managed to stumble upon a perfect formula(spaced-out guitars that sound heavy and soothing at the same time + hyperactive drumming + funkyass basslines + of course, Eddie's voice which manages to be guttural and beautiful at the same time) that countless other bands have attempted to imitate, that no one's been able to touch since. The tempos are deliberate yet driving. Every single guitar solo on this album sizzles. The melodies are somewhat lacking on some songs, but it's forgivable since they improved so much in that department over time, and it does nothing to detract from the anthemic quality of every single song. Here's how it goes:
"Once" - A very strong opener, and Eddie's voice is probably more abrasive here than it is on the entire rest of the album. What better way to introduce yourself to the world than with a pounding ode to insanity with lyrics about killing people for no reason at all?
"Even Flow" - Instantly recognizable, this is one of Pearl Jam's most popular songs, and with good reason too. Great verse and spectacular chorus lead up into an epic conclusion...."YEAH!.....whoo!....aw, yeah.....fuggit up!"(incredible solo goes here)
"Alive" - Oh. My. God. There are no words to describe how great this song is. From the opening riff that sounds very spacey to the final smash of chords and drums, there in not a single bad or non-golden moment in this entire song, not one. This is as perfect as music can get, according to me.
"Why Go" - The ONLY track on here I don't particularly worship, it's good I suppose, but compared to the rest of the material here, it's just so lackluster. Should've put "Yellow Ledbetter" on the album instead of this one so us PJ geeks wouldn't have to buy the "Jeremy" single.
"Black" - Catharsis. Beauty. Poignancy. PJ's first "ballad" type song is still one of their best. I love how it starts off sounding so hopeful and lighthearted, then quickly drops into the dark pits of despair and anguish, one of the best verse/chorus transitions I've ever heard. Aaron Lewis will rot in hell for butchering this song.
"Jeremy" - Easily their most well-known song, though I personally think Alive should've been. Eddie's storytelling-style of songwriting is in its strongest form here, and the music accompanying it is simply incredible. Though the lyrics are quite moving enough on their own, I think the non-lyrical vocal parts near the end("hoo, hoo, hoo, hoo," and "ooo-whoooooaaa oh, oh, ohohoh") are much more powerful.
"Oceans" - This one was really difficult for me to enjoy at first; guess I was just put off by the extremely high-pitched vocals in the "chorus." But it grew on me and now it's one of my favorites...mainly because I can relate to the lyrics about not being able to be with someone that you love. This one screams out "old-school arena rock" louder than any other song here.
"Porch" - I love how it goes straight from the slow, everloving balladry of Oceans to the thrashing angst of this track. The onyl song here written entirely by Eddie, it's probably also the fastest song on the album. A live staple for sure.
"Garden" - Haunting and powerful. Always evokes images of candles being light in a cemetery at night, don't know why. Jeff and Stone come up with some really great songs together.
"Deep" - Another song written by Jeff and Stone, this one being the stronger of the two. This one has the distinction of being Pearl Jam's first waltz-time song. Eddie's lyrics about a man whose habitual drug use leads to suicide sound downright prophetic in retrospect.
"Release" - The perfect ending to a perfect album. Makes everything they did up to this track sound like mere hack work, like they wanted to wait 'til the very end to show what they were capable of. The only song on this disc written by each memeber of the band.

In short, if you don't own and worship this, you are somebody I will hate with a passion for the rest of my life. Nah, not really, but I'll certainly never respect your taste in music until you buy this, listen to it endlessly, and praise it as the masterpiece that it is.

We'll never learn. For years it has always been, "Oooo Nirvana's great but Eddie Vedder sucks!" Or, it'll be, "Pearl Jam is awesome, but Kurt Cobain doesn't know how to write better songs."

This is what happens what the media lumps bands together under an umbrella label. In this case, it's grunge. But frankly, comparing Nirvana and Pearl Jam is like apples and oranges. Pearl Jam is obviously more influenced by classic and blues oriented rock, listen to the leads on this album. It sticks out like a sore thumb. But Nirvana was essentially a punk band. I'm sure everyone agrees that Cobain's point wasn't to write complex guitar-oriented rock. He had a very primitive, organic way of playing that was unusually unique. Cobain was a good writer in his own right, and different from the epic rock sound that Pearl Jam had. So both bands are very much credible.

Apart from all that, Ten is a GREAT album. As far as combining simply good songs and accessibility, Pearl Jam didn't get any better than this. It is not my favorite PJ album, but one can't deny the opening riff of "Once." When you hear it, it's like, "Oh God, what's happening??" Evenflow and Alive are simply well-written songs. Why Go is ferocious and energetic. Jeremy is a song that nearly anyone could relate to, and there's a haunting beauty to it that totally contradicts its subject matter-that's good writing. Black and Oceans are simply raises the bar very high, so high there's probably few bands that could match that kind of desire and power.

So in it's own right, Ten could be arguably one of the best albums of the 90s. True, it sold a ton of copies, but you can't knock an album that everyone just gets into. Just because it has sold 12 million in the US and Rolling Stone calls it one of the best doesn't mean it must suck...some albums are just GOOD.

If you're new to PJ, this is the perfect place to start.

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5.0 out of 5 stars 2 Reasons Grunge Was Good.
The first being Nirvana's "Bleach", the second being this instant classic. Why do Pearl Jam, let alone this CD still remain powerful? Read more

Published 27 days ago by Sci Fi Fan

5.0 out of 5 stars formative music for my formative years
Someone said it in another review- I dont how they did it but they managed to create a masterpiece which has something special which I can't really put my finger on. Read more

Published 1 month ago by Matt

5.0 out of 5 stars The best grunge album ever
This album with Nevermind by Nirvana are the best albums ever on grunge. This album has amazing songs you can hear any part of the day. Read more

Published 2 months ago by KOURKOULOS NIKOS

5.0 out of 5 stars One Heck of a Debut (4.5/5)
First things first. Forget what the music history books tell you. Pearl Jam is NOT Grunge. Never was, they are not grunge now, and they never will be. Read more

Published 2 months ago by Private Quentin Tarantino Fan

5.0 out of 5 stars Quite Possibly...
Do I dare say it? Zeppelin had IV, Floyd had Dark Side Of The Moon, The Who had Who's Next, Guns N Roses had Appetite For Destruction... But Pearl Jam has Ten. Read more

Published 5 months ago by Austin Dalyai

5.0 out of 5 stars The Benchmark for Which All Other Rock and Roll Music is Judged
If you haven't listened to Pearl Jam's debut album, "Ten", then either you haven't been born yet, are too young to know how to operate electronics, or have been in a coma. Read more

Published 5 months ago by Jason Chertoff

5.0 out of 5 stars Must-Have Album
If you are considering buying this album, you are one of the few people who does not already own it. Read more

Published 6 months ago by Baltimore

1.0 out of 5 stars shipping with amazon
Amazon sucks with shipping, no tracking and no idea how to get the correct information---just amazing i ordered this item through amazon.. this place sucks. ..

Published 10 months ago by Amazon SUCKS!!!!!

4.0 out of 5 stars Classic 90's Grunge album. Production style is a bit muddy
This is a terrific album with hits that I'm sure if you were alive in the 90s and not living in a cave you've heard. Read more

Published 14 months ago by Ryan K. D. James

5.0 out of 5 stars Vedder's Vocals Shine, Making the Album Great
Coming out around the same time Nirvana exploded "Ten" established Pearl Jam as one of the most popular Northwest (Seattle) "grunge" bands. Read more

Published 15 months ago by Diane Mcgough

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