10 Times Hard Rock Bands Went Acoustic (And Nailed It)

Pearl Jam's first record Ten was an absolute scorcher when it was released in 1991. For as much as Nirvana's Nevermind marked the turning point in hard rock music, Ten added fuel to the fire with songs like "Jeremy" and "Alive" rising up the charts. While the band seemed to double down on heaviness with Vs., a little song tucked in the back half of the record had other plans.

Many would be quick to point out "Daughter" as the standout ballad of the record, but "Elderly Woman..." occupies a different kind of headspace. Despite having a long and somewhat pretentious title, this track was the most raw Pearl Jam had ever sounded on record at this point, as the guitar strums become the backdrop of this tragic story.

Rather than dealing with topics like suicide and mental health, "Elderly Woman..." hits upon a raw nerve, as we hear about the life of the titular woman who couldn't break out of her little town and see all that the world had to offer.

As Eddie Vedder intones "hearts and thoughts they fade away," you can feel that kind of heartache in your gut, as if we are all sitting at that counter, pouring our hearts out to this woman behind the bar. Pearl Jam always had a master's touch behind the pen, but this song dialed up the intensity and ripped your heart out.