10 Almost Perfect Grunge Albums With One Bad Song

In the annals of grunge, Pearl Jam are listed among the top genre-defining artists. Along with Soundgarden, Nirvana and Alice in Chains, they formed the core of what many consider the 'Seattle sound'. But Pearl Jam, musically were wildly different to their fellows.

With the disintegration of Mother Love Bone - one of the most promising groups on the early Seattle scene - remaining members, Jeff Ament and Stone Gossard were looking to form a new group. With the addition of Mike McCready and Eddie Vedder, they formed a band which lent far more into the sounds of '70s hard rock, and blues, rather than punk.

When you consider Pearl Jam's debut was released in such close proximity to Nevermind, the difference in style is striking. Pearl Jam certainly represented the more refined side of grunge. They matched the power and energy of Nirvana, but came at things from a more classic rock approach.

With their third album the group stripped away the finesse of earlier releases, and came out with a far rawer experimental sound. The group were going through a degree of inner turmoil. Relationships were strained, all the pent up aggression can certainly be felt in the songs. Vedder spits his lyrics with even more venom than usual. And there's an uneasiness to certain tracks. For the most part they seemed to have channeled their anger effectively. But, did we need the seven and half sprawling closer, Hey Foxymophandlemama?