When looking for good music, I often judge the music by the shortest time the song took to get the listener hooked. I am rarely pleased as quickly as I was by Pearl Jam. Hence, I return with yet another old-school classic masterpiece, Ten. This album was released in 1991, making it the oldest album I’ve reviewed yet. Also, with the albums getting older with each review, I’m beginning to sense a pattern here. But what can I say? When it comes to music, old really is gold.
Ten was Pearl Jam’s first studio album and their most successful. With over 10 million copies sold and a 13x platinum certification, this album is definitely the definition of a bestseller. As with every famous album, the album received mixed reviews at the time of its release. While it was praised by renowned magazines, on one hand, it was dissed by some artists on the other.
The album starts off calmly at first with Once, before all inhibitions are thrown out of the window and we are treated to some real rock. Shredded guitars open for a song that quickly turns into hardcore funk rock. The lyrics do little to convince us otherwise: being based millennial insanity, like many of the mainstream songs of this genre. The ostinato on the ride is the only thing maintaining regular time, putting it well in contrast to the rest of the groove. Loud, metal guitars paired with quick, hoarse vocals set a grunge rock vibe for the album. With a well-executed, edgy guitar solo and a thorough enjoyment of drum breaks between segments, the album is off to a good start.
The next song, Even Flow, starts with a guitar balanced on the right before the rest of the band joins in with a funk continued from the previous track. There is little silent space in this song and even in this album in general. Yet somehow, the track doesn’t feel overly stuffed. The credit for this goes to the clever way the guitarists play around after every line in the verses, unique each time. Extra points go out to Dave Krusen for crystal clear ghost notes that really make a difference during the guitar solo.
Oh, feelin’, understands the weather or that winters on its way
Oh, ceilings, few and far between all the legal halls of shame, yeah
Alive opens in a way that throws off the first time listener but feels at home to someone who appreciates Pearl Jam regularly. Starting with only the guitar riff on the left side, the drums kick in with trashy hi-hats and we immediately see why this song was a bestseller. Filled with amazing guitars solos and acoustic breaks alike, this song manages to capture the perfect balance of heavy and soft rock. Needless to say, this song grows on you. The song ends by quickly losing all tempo and finishing with a well-suited drum break.
Continuing on a heavier note, we reach Why Go. This song is set in the agony of a girl diagnosed with some fatal disease and now is being forced to live her life as a patient, dominated by hospitals and doctors. The song opens with only the drum groove, quickly joined by a playful bassline. The guitars enter screeching and squeaking, trying to create a psychedelic effect. The track is overloaded with energy and there are no breaks for any band member. Even fills are straightforward flams and rudiments in this simple yet aggressive song. As the song progresses, all instruments reach a crescendo before exiting with a scream.
She seems to be stronger
But what they want her to be is weak
By now, all songs in the album are beginning to sound the same and we crave some real heart and soul. To the rescue comes Black. Beginning and continuing throughout with high pitched guitar, the song is slower and has more depth. With a laid-back groove and irregular guitar improvisations, Eddie Vedder has undoubtedly outdone himself with this song. Black beautifully captures the heartbreak of losing “the one” and makes the coldest of hearts melt. This is definitely one of Pearl Jam‘s best works.
Returning to the initial momentum, Jeremy starts with a twangy country sound that slowly expands into a slow rock song. Telling the story of a neglected little boy named Jeremy, the song is good but not extraordinary. The song is clearly not unique for the band, sounding a lot like their other works. By the end somehow the song changes a lot and finishes with a harmony and a completely new, plucked guitar riff.
Then the dynamics change again. Oceans plays next, bearing little resemblance to other works by the band. The song has no fancy solos or progressive guitars. Accompanied by just an acoustic guitar and one drum in the background, Vedder belts out a wide range of harmonies. The song is simple yet likable and gives a good break from listening to the same similar sounding track listing over and over again.
And we’re all allowed
To dream of the next
The moment Porch starts, you know this band came to play. The song is fast paced and energetic from the very beginning. This punk rock song is definitely enjoyable and features Metallica-styled guitar solos with hurried singing. The song slows down to catch its breath only once in the middle, while the guitarist continues to play his solo. This track packs enough punch and energy to replace your morning cup of coffee. But then again, that’s just classic Pearl Jam for you.
After a breathlessly fast-paced song, we reach the slower and softer, Garden. This alt-rock song has soft verses and a loud chorus. Guitars shine through in this track, including the bass. Taking into account the absence of emphasis on other components, we really get to hear the bassline and at the same time, we crave more of that smooth bass guitar. The band has definitely captured the melancholy spirit of a blues-rock in this song, and it talks about accepting death without bothering with existential questions.
After all is done
And we’re still alone
I won’t be taken
Yet I’ll go
The last song of the album is named Release and simply put: it’s beautiful. The song opens with a plucked guitar and vocals that are borderline Indian Classical singing. The whole track is pleasantly surprising and can easily be mistaken as the work of an underground Indie band. Minimalism is the idea here and small details, like the resonating rivets on the ride cymbal, make all the difference. Pearl Jam didn’t only write a remarkable song on dad issues, they also chose the perfect song to close the album on.
For a debut-album, Ten certainly deserved the appreciation it received. Even though other artists like Kurt Cobain attacked the band for their playing styles, I feel the band tried and succeeded in creating an album that stayed true to their style throughout. If someone had to listen to Pearl Jam for the first time, this would definitely be the album I recommend.
thesmilingsadist 