10 Classic Albums That Were Originally Considered Failures

As the grunge afterglow started to fade, Pearl Jam were still at the top of their game. After conquering the rock world with their debut release Ten, their follow-up Vs. blew their first attempt out of the water, without so much as a music video to go along with it. Fans were champing at the bit for what the band would do next, but Vitalogy left a few people scratching their heads.

Getting more and more uncomfortable with fame, Vitalogy is Eddie Vedder's vision from start to finish, as he seized creative control over the band. While there were some typical grunge rock bangers on here, the album did have its fair share of artful pieces that confused listeners rather than excited them. Even some of the band members like Mike McCready expressed their dissatisfaction with the record, but time has been much more kind.

Ever since its release, Vitalogy has become the unsung hero in Pearl Jam's discography, with caustic rockers like Spin the Black Circle blending perfectly with emotional ballads like Nothingman. This record might not be an absolute thrill ride from start to finish, but it does show a side of the band no one had ever seen before. For all of its frayed ends and schizophrenic tones, Vitalogy may just be Pearl Jam at their most human.