Pearl Jam - Ten (1991)

Album Review

Short Note: Although the album has been recently reissued this review is based on the original '91 version

Tracklist - Lyrics - Official Website

Pearl Jam's debut album is often cited as a highlight of the grunge era[1]; "a grunge masterpiece" second only to Nirvana's Nevermind[2] and an "instant classic"[3]. Some, however, myself included, find this album (and Pearl Jam's music) more along the lines of hard rock[3]. Whereas Nirvana were more influenced by The Melvins and The Pixies, Pearl Jam take inspiration from acts like Led Zeppelin and The Who; heavy guitar riffs, passionate growling vocals and lead solos abound. Ten would not feel out of place if released during the 70s.

My earliest memories of this album, besides the fold-out artwork, are the two singles "Even Flow" and "Alive". My mother purchased Ten when it first came out, but only ever played these two songs. Both are highlights, but I prefer Even Flow. It seems clicheic to describe music as "towering" or "soaring"[3], those are the only words I can think of to describe Even Flow's chorus. The guitar solo creeps up on you, slowly building tension into the final vocals. Alive still holds its own however, and the guitar riff and refrain of "I'm still alive" is perhaps more iconic.

"Jeremy" is the third single, and while the first two both had music videos they were simply live performances; this was the first video with a narrative and the last video the band would do for several years. They felt the meaning and impact was lost; after being seen "a few hundred times" it becomes "Oh yeah, this is the video where the kid kills himself"[4]. I experienced this first-hand; on first listen the song is chilling, especially the chorus line "Jeremy spoke in class today". After seeing the video a few times the magic was gone, and it's only now on relisten that I remember the song's power. The bass intro, with its harmonics, creates a unique atmosphere and backdrop to the music, and returns to close the song in an equally memorable way.

As for the others, "Once", "Why Go" and "Deep" are fierce rockers, with Deep being perhaps the darkest song on an album not known for being upbeat. The song is especially interesting when heard on headphones, as the most prominent example of the panning effects used throughout the album.

"Black" and "Oceans" are perhaps the best songs here. Although the record label urged to release Black as a single, the band refused. "Some songs just aren't meant to be played between Hit No. 2 and Hit No. 3. You start doing those things, you'll crush it. That's not why we wrote songs. We didn't write to make hits. But those fragile songs get crushed by the business. I don't want to be a part of it. I don't think the band wants to be part of it."[6]

"An obvious highlight"[2], "music doesn't get any more devestating (or any more better) than [the climax of Black]"[3]. Here Eddie Vedder's intense style of singing is at its best. "Have you ever heard someone sing with as much emotion as he does right there?"[1].

Oceans is a relaxing song that builds, timpani rising dramatically as the song progresses. You can hear a pepper shaker and fire extinguisher being played, "because we were so far from a music rental shop and necessity became the mother of invention",[7] a nice discovery while listening on headphones (the fire extinguisher is in the right channel).

But the most noteworthy (and my favourite) is "Master/Slave", which opens and closes the album as a hidden track. It's an odd, hypnotic and entrancing piece of music, unlike anything else on the album, with drum machine, drums and a dominant bassline forming the rhythmic basis while echo-drenched guitar yelps across the aural landscape.

I first became enamoured with this album in my teens. Between then and now my musical tastes have expanded greatly, but this has only helped me appreciate Ten more. While some may find the music too heavy or an acquired taste given Eddie's vocal style, there isn't a weak song on here and the production is deceptively clever and spacious. Anyone interested in classic rock or simply rock of the 90s should give Ten a spin.

Videos: Even Flow - Alive - Jeremy - Oceans