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Credit Eddie Vedder for being one modern songwriter who's able to write story songs with force and conviction. His use of imagery, metaphor, and language both vernacular and elevated provides the ideological balance that the furious, exotically tinged music (mostly courtesy of rhythm guitarist Stone Gossard and bassist Jeff Ament) needs. Such was Nirvana's weakness -- repetitive guitar riffery coupled with mostly meaningless lyrics. Pearl Jam, however, pays as much attention to head as to heart, and the sincerity of the songwriting and performances stands up to repeated listens much better than Nirvana's self-limiting irony.

Signature guitar song "Alive", the richly sung "Garden" and aggression incarnate "Once" are quite simply three of the best rock songs of the decade. Added to substantial hit "Jeremy", explosive "Porch", the mythical Led Zeppelin-flavoured "Oceans" and the metaphysical narrative "Black" (reminiscent of Blue Oyster Cult's "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" in terms of the world it evokes) which blends Browning's "Andrea del Sarto" with the psychosexual frustration of D.H. Lawrence, and you have one of the penultimate rock albums of the decade.


Mookie Blaylock would be proud...   April 11, 2002
 27 out of 29 found this review helpful

The album, named after the Jersey number of basketball star, Mookie Blaylock, has been considered as being among the finest and most influential albums written during the 90s, and with reason. Before 91, Michael Jackson was atop the charts, the king of pop. It was not until the rise of Nirvana, and subsequently Pearl Jam, that the 'King' was dethrowned. Armed with epic, sweeping hard rock anthems and the bleedingly powerful vocals from Eddie Veddar, Pearl Jam found itself atop the charts themselves.

I admit, I hated 'Ten' for the first full year of it's release. It took some time to sink in. I was too accustomed to Weird Al, Madonna and 'Sweet Dreams'... I was still submerged in the 80s, and the blistering power of Pearl Jam was simply too much for me. Yet as I grew familiar with the Seattle quintet, so did my appreciation of their music. It was not until 93's "VS" that I realized that Pearl Jam had become my favorite band of all-time. I have been ardently following their career ever since.

Song by song review:

1. Once - With a profoundly suspenseful and edgy guitar to backdrop the first emergence of Eddie's vocals, this song is immediately famous. Plus it's got a haunting oceanic intro to boot...

2. Even Flow - Arguably Pearl Jam's most famous song, Even Flow is easily deserving of such status. It explodes into a narrative about a Homeless man, and manages to maintain the ripping intensity for 5 solid minutes.

3. Alive - Another contender for the most famous song by Pearl Jam, this song roars for nearly 6 minutes. Starting somewhat slow, this song builds to a climactic guitar solo that rivals any Zeppelin or The Who.

4. Why Go - Similar to "Even Flow" in it's blinding energy, this song is a standout among standouts. A guttural, hypnotic guitar underscores Eddie's portrayal of a conflicted girl's tortuous homelife.

5. Black - Originally slated to be Pearl Jam's fourth single from the album, following 'Alive', 'Even Flow', and 'Jeremy', this could have become the biggest. A six minute operatic of love and loss, this song is among the most moving in Pearl Jam's catalogue. Deep, gentle guitars accentuate Eddie's somewhat subdued singing.

6. Jeremy - Spawned one of the most famous music video's of all time, coming in at #6 in Rolling Stone Magazine's list of 'best videos of all time'. This song carries a strength in every stroke of the strings, that you can't help but be emotionally drained and exhilerated by the end of this harrowing, disturbing epic.

7. Oceans - One of the two best songs Pearl Jam ever wrote, the other being track 11 of the same album. This song is beautiful beyong comparison, with guitar and drumwork that match the songs title. As we lilt through this song of reunion, we glide along the waves that Eddie so poignantly describes.

8. Porch - Perhaps the most forgettable song on this album, Porch somewhat departs from the overall feel that the rest of the album creates. This is not to say that it is a bad song, as we find Eddie at what could be his angriest. Nearly rapping his way through a lot of lyrics in under 4 minutes, this song is not without it's merit.

9. Garden - Underappreciated, this song is quietly suspenseful in it's beginning, until the pressure is too much, and the floodgates open. The tumultuous uprising is textured and melodic, yet like the tide goes down once more before a climactic finale.

10. Deep - Just like the title, this song opens with a gaping guitar slide and solo that breaks down the barrier between subtlety and power. Truly deserving to be placed in this perfect album.

11. Release - Eddie Vedder's personal tribute to his dad. The guitar matches his soulful wails, begging for the love of a lost father. Finishing out with the same melody that began 'Once', this CD leaves you the way it left you, only now you are an elevated human being.

Man, I love these guys...


Still Rockin' Ten (OK 11) years later...   July 28, 2002
 24 out of 36 found this review helpful

An awful lot has been said about this album, so I'll try to say something a little different. File this away in the annals of "things you might not have known."

Pearl Jam's "Ten" contains two-thirds of Eddie Vedder's little known "Mamasan Trilogy." In the spirit of rock opera Vedder lays out a tale of a twisted life in the songs Alive and Once. The third song of the trilogy, "Footsteps/Times of Trouble" is on the Temple of Dog record combining members of Soundgarden and Pearl Jam in tribute to fallen band member Andrew Woods of Pearl Jam precursor Mother Love Bone. So here's how the story goes...the trilogy starts with "Alive" in which a young man's Father has died and allows himself to be seduced by a older woman Mrs. Robinson type who also happens to be...err...umm...how to say this, well let's just say maternally-related of the first order. This traumatic experience eventually caused said seduced kid to go on a rampage falling down the ill-fated path of taking up serial homicide as a profession as told about in the song "Once" Vedder growls, "Once upon a time I could control myself" And it all ends as our forlorn character is caught and lands on death row. "Footsteps," finishes the trilogy off with reminisces of a doomed delinquent dallying his last days and lost in deep thought, regret, and denial from behind the bars of a jail cell.

So, "Ten" is Pearl Jam's most popular and accessible album but I don't think their best. It is the least Pearl Jam of Pearl Jam albums not capturing what the band is all about. In places it is overproduced with some unneeded echo effects in "Evenflow." But if you are new to Pearl Jam, get this album. The detractors only show through to serious and seriously demented Pearl Jam-heads. The songs only get better live and hearing them on albums like Spodek Poland or Philadelphia only makes you appreciate the studio versions that much more. Enjoy.


I thought this was an album review, not a message board   November 15, 2003
 15 out of 25 found this review helpful

I realize I'm being hypocritical here, but i feel it should be said. Why are we using this as a message board to bash two very different but great bands? (Nirvana and Pearl Jam) I thought this was an area for reviews on albums? I'm getting so sick and tired of people wasting everyone elses time with such ridiculous bitching...Everyone has favorite and hated bands, so be it, but deal with it, and enjoy the music you like and stop forcing your opinions on everyone else. Grow up. As far as an album review, I like this album, it was an important album but i think it was merely a steping stone to greater records, such as Yield and No Code...


'Ten' vs. 'Nevermind'? not possible....   November 10, 2003
 13 out of 20 found this review helpful

Nevermind had more music videos than 'Ten', it was more promoted, it was played on MTV & the radio more... it still is, 'Nevermind' is usually always above 'Ten' on every best album list... etc, etc...

Yet... even though all of this is true...

Nevermind = 10 million copies sold

Ten = almost 12 million copies sold

the point? Pearl Jam didnt need mtv, the radio, or critics to prove to everyone they were much better than Nirvana, & made a much better album than 'Nevermind', numbers dont lie

Why would 'Ten' of sold more than 'Nevermind'? if 'Nevermind' was , & still is, much more promoted? the only option that leaves is because of the music

This, was the true explosion from Seattle.