42. Pearl Jam - Ten 1991
To think that this collection of 11 songs is classed in the same pigeon-hole as Nirvana's 'Nevermind', is, well, quite frankly, ridiculous! Pearl Jam take their cues from Classic Rock bands such as Led Zeppelin, Cream and the Doors with a dash of 80's Post-Punk. You will be hard pushed to fine a better debut album than 'Ten', and it remains the band's biggest selling album to date. As far as Rock records go, you get everything you could possibly want. Drums that drive the songs along with aplomb, Bass guitar lines that are thoughtful, yet, weighty and a twin guitar team that paint pictures and set the many moods on offer. Then, there is Eddie Vedder's rich, soulful and emotive baritone voice. One the most recognizable vocalists ever to pick up a microphone. A singer who sounds like he
means it more than Vedder, you will struggle to find. Of course, the most well known track housed within is 'Alive', but it there are so many more golden offerings - The heart-breaking 'Black', the subject matter of which, Vedder, has always declined to shed any light on. The album curtain raiser is 'Once' and leaves you in no doubt that although they can do soft and gentle, at the heart of Pearl Jam is a Rock Band that like to flex their muscles. The track has a mystical, eastern sounding riff that underlines the verse music, urgent drumming, a superb Blues Rock solo from Stevie Ray Vaughan fan, lead guitarist, Mike McCready and a powerful chorus that shows what a charged Eddie Vedder can do. 'Jeremy' is one of the few less-personal tracks on offer about a classroom shooting that took place in U.S. shortly before the albums release. The climax of this song has to be heard to be believed. 'Porch' is the band channeling their inner Neil Young at his most rocking. 'Garden' is deliciously dark, and velvety, with Vedder coming off as a new age Jim Morrison. 'Release' is of those songs that you will always remember having some kind of pivotal moment in your life, whilst it plays. With 'Ten', Pearl Jam demonstrated that you could sound both contemporary and cutting edge, whilst writing songs that sound like they belonged in stadiums. The arrival of Pearl Jam, with 'Ten', also re-iterated that you could wear your heart on your sleeve and talk about things that have happened in
your life without having to be macho, sarcastic or ashamed.