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From the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.

Ten

Pearl Jam

1991

Buy At Rough Trade
Ten
Album Summary

Ten is the debut studio album by American rock band Pearl Jam, released on August 27, 1991, through Epic Records. Following the dissolution of their previous band Mother Love Bone in 1990, bassist Jeff Ament and guitarist Stone Gossard began rehearsing with new guitarist Mike McCready. The group recorded a five-song instrumental demo tape with Matt Cameron on drums. Copies of the demo were eventually given to drummer Dave Krusen and vocalist Eddie Vedder, both of whom were invited to audition for the band in Seattle. Many of the songs on Ten were instrumental jams or reworked Mother Love Bone songs for which Vedder composed new melodies and lyrics.Despite its reputation as a quintessential grunge album, Ten is often noted for displaying a stronger classic rock influence than other contemporary grunge releases. In a review for AllMusic, Steve Huey asserts that the band's "intricately arranged guitar textures and expansive harmonic vocabulary... especially recalled Jimi Hendrix and Led Zeppelin" and characterizes the album as having an "anthemic" and "warm, rich sound". Huey also praises Vedder for the "highly distinctive timbre" of his vocals and for the "passionate commitment of his delivery".Ten was not an immediate success, but by late 1992 it had reached number two on the Billboard 200. The album produced three hit singles: "Alive", "Even Flow", and "Jeremy". "Jeremy" became one of Pearl Jam's best-known songs, and received nominations for Best Rock Song and Best Hard Rock Performance at the 35th Grammy Awards. The video for "Jeremy" was heavily rotated by MTV, and received four awards at the 1993 MTV Video Music Awards, including Video of the Year and Best Group Video.Beyond its role in consolidating the mainstream success of grunge rock in the early 1990s, Ten is generally considered to have been instrumental in the rise and dominance of alternative rock throughout the decade. The album has since been ranked by several publications as one of the greatest albums of all time. By February 2013, it had sold 13 million copies in the US, becoming the 22nd record to do so in the Nielsen SoundScan era and has been certified 13× Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Ten remains Pearl Jam's most commercially successful album.

Wikipedia

Rating

3.94

Votes

12337
Genres
Rock
Grunge

Reviews

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Wed Apr 07 2021
5

Eddie Vedder's impressionistic lyrics often make their greatest impact through the passionate commitment of his delivery rather than concrete meaning. His voice had a highly distinctive timbre that perfectly fit the album's warm, rich sound, and that's part of the key -- no matter how cathartic Ten's tersely titled songs got, they were never abrasive enough to affect the album's accessibility. Ten also benefited from a long gestation period, during which the band honed the material into this tightly focused form; the result is a flawlessly crafted hard rock masterpiece.

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Tue Oct 19 2021
5

Confession: this is one of my favourite albums. I can more or less sing it front to back. All killer no filler. As grunge-era records go, I prefer this to Nevermind. Don't @ me.

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Thu Feb 11 2021
5

Many classics here, Black and Jeremy are 2 of the best songs of the 90s. It lulls a bit towards the end, but thats not necessarily a bad thing given its explosive middle.

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Thu Sep 09 2021
5

This album is amazing from start to finish. Obviously, Pearl Jam have been copied to death and it's that aspect that I dislike in many copy cat acts. Noone can replicate their authentic sound, which is full ,heavy and gritty.

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Tue Dec 14 2021
4

So. Many. Bangers. This album took me back to middle school so hard I broke out in pimples during the opening chords of "Even Flow." There are a few tracks that didn't age all that awesome but, overall, it's a freaking killer album.

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Wed Jan 27 2021
5

First CD I ever owned. Got it for Christmas 1991 - which was the same date that I got my first CD player / stereo. I was 13 years and this played in my room more or less constantly for well over a year. A seminal album in rock n' roll - along with Nirvana's Nevermind, probably THE defining album of the Seattle scene / grunge movement. And, amazingly, it has aged extremely well.

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Mon Aug 29 2022
3

Best part of this album is when I accidentally searched for Pearl Ham

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Mon Jul 26 2021
5

One of rocks greatest debut albums. Still sounds as good as it did the day I got it at makin tracks and sat on the bus home blown away. It has no weaknesses and it’s easy to say the big songs are out of the way early and it drops off. If anything it gets better especially once we get Alive out of the way. Give me Porch or Garden anytime over it. And then there’s Black - one of the finest “love” songs ever written in my mind. A stone cold classic album and testament as to why this band remains bigger than ever 30 years later.

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Wed Jan 13 2021
5

The guitar riffs and amazing, the drums pounding, the vocals spectacular, and most of the lyrics are very good. I will certainly be adding this to my playlist!

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Fri Oct 01 2021
5

The less cynical yet equally disillusioned counterpart to Nevermind, Ten is an undisputed pillar of grunge. At the end of the day, Eddie Vedder just wants to be Neil Young, but the times called for something with more of an edge, and on this record, Pearl Jam makes a hell of case for the music requiring it too, adding darker subject matter (it's pretty crazy to consider there were songs inspired by school shootings as early as '91) and breakneck performances to the kind of storytelling that's more commonly reserved for acoustic guitars and folk rock. The heavier stuff is what resonates with me most—the solo at the end of Alive easily trounces anything prior in the song—but even the record's slower, softer moments shine in large part due to Vedder's unique voice. There's not a lot of weak points here, with even the instrumentals serving well as bookends that don't feel particularly indulgent. It's simply a phenomenal record from top to bottom—okay, I don't like Oceans that much, but that one's not even three minutes long. Key Tracks: Once, Why Go, Deep

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Sat Oct 16 2021
5

I wonder sometimes why they're associated so closely with grunge. They're not nearly so muddy and dark. Their music is emotional and definitely coherent but almost impressionistic, not least because you sometimes have no idea what he's mumbling. Anyway, this is nearly an hour of great riffs and strong writing. The production's a little dated, but there's a remaster from a few years back that just about fixes everything. 4.5 rounded up.

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Sat Oct 23 2021
5

Every song is powerful, raw and hard hitting. Knowing it so well almost made me take the brilliance of this album for granted. Eddie is a force of nature.

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Wed Aug 24 2022
3

Pearl Jam are the kind of band who eat cheese on the toilet. They smother cheese all over their filthy bodies and suck eachother off through cheesy glory holes. You know I'm right.

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Thu Sep 17 2020
2

Guitars sound great but this old man yelling really does not 💀💀💀 🦆🦆 I just wish this man could sing so I could actually enjoy this 😭 The actual music/instruments are really good though, just being ruined! Faves - Even Flow, Why Go, Porch No songs saved or added to playlists Overall - could be a solid rock album, if only someone else sang on it 😭 Would I check out their other music - no Rating 2/5 (the vocals COMPLETELY ruined this for me)

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Thu Jun 03 2021
2

I never liked the Seattle Grunge sound and I find Eddie Vedder’s voice annoying. I also found all of the songs on this album repetitive

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Mon Oct 23 2023
3

Pretty generic rock music, with a voice that is impossible to take seriously. Best song by far was Porch, which is the only song that really ratchets up the intensity. Can’t believe people get off to this band so hard.

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Wed Feb 22 2023
1

I don't understand why people like Pearl Jam.

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Thu Aug 17 2023
1

I'm no zoomer but fuck this is boomer as fuck.

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Thu Jan 21 2021
5

Amazing discovery!! Thank you so much!!!

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Sun Feb 14 2021
5

Unassailable. Just legendary.

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Mon Jun 21 2021
5

Думаю, этот альбом для меня – светлое лицо 90-ых. Всякие Рванины, Оазисы, Радиохэды и Ню-митольная шляпа – дело, местами, хорошее, но или несёт в себе черты некоторого упадка или недостаточно сильная. А тут оригинальный оптимистичный яркий саунд. Скачал я его в универские годы не помню из-за чего, толи из-за наличия в топе 200 Metal Hammer, толи когда перебирал пятёрки на Allmusic. И прям сразу пропёрся, задавшись вопросом, а хули остальной гранж или ущербный, или кринжовый. Лан, по трекам: 1) Once – сильные гитарные и вокальные партии, мощный припев, тупо хит. 2) Even Flow – впервые наткнувшись в одной из GH, не пропёрся, подумал, очередная бесхребетная инди-поделка. Но в рамках альбома трек неплохо раскрывается, партии довольно интересные, подчёркивают вокальную, которая в куплетах хоть и кажется монотонной, но не надоедает. 3) Alive продолжает тенденцию к чилу. Делает это весьма ленивым образом, через менее внятные куплеты Led Zeppelin стайл и припев с повторяющейся строкой. Но в целом делает, почилить можно в кайф. 4) Why Go пытается вернуться к драйву, сохраняя формулу прошлого трека. Разве что гитарные партии яркие добавляя. Также не то, чтобы сильный трек, но атмосферу держит. 5) Black ну тупо шедевр. То, как я хотел бы REM слышать, и вроде бы слышу, но не часто. Яркие развивающиеся мотивы, лаконичные партии, дополняющие друг друга, пронимающий припев. Вокалёр тащит, и при этом не затеняет инструментал. Бэк-вокальные партии просто идеально вписываются, на уровне электрической версии Дурачка у Опизденевших. 6) Jeremy возвращается к предыдущей формуле. Но в её случае припев вышел более ярким, повторение строки не душит, а воспринимается за должное. Также условный минимализм разбавляется развитием всех партий, добавлением интересных бэков, в итоге складывая отличный трек. 7) Oceans тянет в лирику. И вполне кайфовую. Атмосферная весчь, прям веет какими-то океянами, полётами и мечтами всякими. Напрягли разве что странные смены тональности в моментах, но трек отличный. 8) Porch на контрасте драйву завозит мальца. Гитарные соло интересные, веют олдскулом таким, вокальные партии звёзд с неба не хватают, но атмосферу держат. 9) Garden вновь формулу возвращает, ситуация схожа с Jeremy, разве что контраст внутри трека ещё сильнее, куплеты ещё более аморфные и тихие, припев ещё более яркий, громкий и мощный. Второй куплет переходит в кайфовые бриджи и соло, потом припев, потом снова соло, в общем, прогрессивные нотки даже, одобряем. 10) Deep драйв довозит, но по стандартной формуле. Приятный трек в целом. 11) Release возвращается к атмосфере Oceans. В целом, атмосферу держит, но закрывашку хотелось бы по яркости сопоставимую с открывашкой. Или чтоб глубины залипательной завезли побольше. А так просто хороший трек с отличными вокальными партиями. Да, если по элементам разбирать, то картина слагается не то, чтобы уверенная, яркие моменты чередуются с более слабыми вещами. Но мы на альбом же смотрим. А альбом – это такая плотно набитая банка густой атмосферы и настроения, интересного звука. Которые, в более особо нигде и не встречаются. Даже в дискографии Pearl Jam, которую дальше вообще слушать не смог. Посему альбом стал важным опытом и может быть таковым для многих.

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Thu Jul 08 2021
5

A fantastic hard rock journey. It's easy to see why this album but Pearl Jam on the map. Haven't listened to Even Flow since I played it on Guitar Hero when I was a kid, but the song is still magical.

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Tue Nov 29 2022
5

Should have been called 10/10

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Wed Mar 03 2021
3

Enjoyed it but too miserable for me in general.

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Wed May 10 2023
3

Me during "Alive:" Pearl Jam must have been the most incredible band of the 90s, neatly segueing stadium rock and grunge, this track is amazing, this album has got to be a 5/5. Me towards the end of "10:" Pearl Jam must have been the worst band of the 90s, awkwardly straddling boring and indulgent, this album has got to be a 1/5.

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Tue Jun 27 2023
1

Was never a big fan of this band or this record. I like the chorus of even flow. Something about the production, even though it seems impressive, it didn’t seem to marry with the music for me.

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Fri Jan 29 2021
5

One of my favorite albums ever, Pearl Jam at its very best--they were young and inspiration was fresh. I go back to this album every now and then and never get tired of it.

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Sun Jul 04 2021
5

Heard 8 trillion times. Easy 100/5

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Tue May 18 2021
5

Love this album, was really nice to listen to it again

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Thu May 27 2021
5

Favourite songs: - Garden - Jeremy - Once

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Mon Jul 26 2021
5

Really liked this one, from Eddie's voice, to the classic/stadium rock elements, the riffs, just a great overall rock album

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Thu Oct 07 2021
5

More fretless bass than I remember, but the power of that album! Still sounds fresh (bass parts aside) today

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Tue Nov 02 2021
5

One of the greatest debuts of all time. You must hear that all the time, don't you? Well, typically people say that you an amazing album that just so happens to be a band's debut. But no, here we have the greatest introduction of the band that would shape rock n roll in the 90s. No other band of the era had such a consistent discography with each release just as solid as the last. Whereas Guns n Roses shaped hard rock from the late 80s, Pearl Jam took the genre into an entirely new direction, making way for the more alternative music to come. In fact, I don't think the rest of the grunge movement or even Nirvana would have picked up if not for radio and Mtv support for this album. I'm too young to know for sure, but older rock fans are always raving about Pearl Jam concerts more than any other, how they could extend songs and solos for like 10 minutes, and it's pretty clear by their music videos and audience that they were a leader in live performances. Their influence cannot be understated. Second only to Nirvana in the popularization of grunge culture. And it makes sense when you listen to their songs. The vocals are crisp and clear, with appropriately poetic lyrics to sing along to. Hell, even when I was 11 I knew Jeremy was about a boy killing someone in front of his class for revenge (although I didn't know it was himself until years later), and that just came from me listening to the song on the radio. Pearl Jam has the perfect mix of everything you could want out of rock songs: impactful vocal delivery, lyrics you can sing to, epic solos, incredible production (although I hear some complain about its rawness), and harmony between band members knowing exactly what to do and when. Album is full of hit after hit. Of course, the four signature songs are perfect in every way. But Pearl Jam isn't sticking by any formulas. The rest of the songs are amazing too. It's just such a shame they all come after the hits because many people won't give them much of a chance, thinking the best is over. "Oceans" is one of the more alternative songs, mellower yet like no other. Creates a dynamic contrast between the two sides of the album to lead back into the action of "Porch." The song "Garden" has this great solo that reminds me of 70s jam bands. I swear the more I listen to the second side, the more I fall in love with them. Even the supposedly weakest track "Deep" is an amazing blend between alternative and their harder grungier material about addiction. I love it when albums get the closing track right, so you can imagine my satisfaction "Release," followed by a bonus track continuation of the first part of the opening track.

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Fri Nov 26 2021
5

This is a perfect album, start to finish. It holds a special place for me, because most of my life I've been listening to decades-old music and this was probably one of the few times in my life I was listening to the most popular music of the day at the time it was popular. Everything about it is great. I remember Even Flow was the first song I heard off the album and was just blown away by the power and groove of the song. Alive is an anthem. Jeremy was overplayed but still holds up as a classic. The non-singles are all classics in their own right. The music and lyrics are powerful throughout and the band members are all outstanding. McCready and Gossard provide an amazing one-two guitar punch. Always loved Jeff Ament's bass style (especially the fretless aspect - I just learned that he was a fan of Japan's Mick Karn) and the drums drive the album along. Of course, a million people tried to sound like Eddie Vedder afterwards, but he remains an original. I find it interesting that the band members feel the album was over-produced - I still think it sounds great - just the right mix of polished and edgy. This will always remain my favorite album of the grunge explosion.

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Tue Dec 28 2021
5

Not a bad song. Stylistically the same. This makes it all very similar, but because the songs are good it does not feel too repetitive.

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Tue Dec 01 2020
4

4 superb grunge songs and a bunch of other unfocused tracks that make Pearl Jam one of the weaker bands in grunge's main staple.

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Wed Jul 07 2021
4

I love Vs. and Vitalogy, which makes me think perhaps the wrong Pearl Jam album is on the list. I know the album very well, and revisiting it should tell whether it's a 4 or 5. This holds up incredibly well. If you don't let some of the heavy subject matter get to you, this will always be an enjoyable listen. Bonus points: Sent me on a deep dive through the heap of incredible live Pearl Jam albums (seriously, I stopped counting, there were so many in Spotify alone). Minus point: Realizing my favorite Pearl Jam songs aren't on this album. Actual rating is 4.5.

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Mon Jul 26 2021
4

Super album but not quite a 5 star.

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Sat Oct 07 2023
4

This record was ubiquitous in my small suburban NJ town when I was 11 or 12 in the early 90’s. Everyone my age knew these songs, liked these songs. You heard them on the radio, saw the videos on MTV. There were commercials on broadcast TV during sporting events or American Gladiators in promotion of this album, so even if you didn’t have MTV, you were aware of it. You’d listen to this record with your friends on the way to soccer or lacrosse practice and debate if Pearl Jam was better than Nirvana. I’m struggling to think of someone I knew back then who actively disliked Pearl Jam. It was like oxygen: all around you, all the time, providing a sort of angsty teenage sustenance that kept you going. This record is one of the soundtracks to my youth and if you’re in your early 40’s, it’s probably one of yours, too. Listening to it just feels right, like putting on a pair of comfortable slippers or finally getting home after a long plane ride. I am fully on board with the nostalgia trip that this record provides. And that is why I was going to give it 5 stars. The more you focus on nostalgia, however, the more you’ll start to remember the cracks in perfection: like how you never really used to listen to this entire album and would start to lose attention after “Jeremy”, even though “Porch” was pretty fucking good. I’m willing to bet that if you found an original vinyl pressing of this record, the A-side of it would have a lot more wear than the B-side. The A-side of Ten is amazing, hit after hit after hit. I think every one of those songs got massive airplay back in 1992. The B-side of this record…not nearly as strong. Ten is a great reminder that when you’re being nostalgic, you’re choosing to remember the great things and usually not the factual reality. But, man…is that A-side fantastic, or what?

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Mon Jan 25 2021
3

Harder rock than I usually listen to, but I like Eddie Vedder's voice. Good stuff. My band plays Alive, so I was familiar with that one. Not enough variety in the tunes for me. "Release", though, is a nice change of pace.

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Mon May 29 2023
3

Pull out Skate 3 and put on your white robe, Jesus. It’s time Pearl Jam time. I remember the first time I listened to Pearl Jam intentionally. I was roughly 15 at the time. My mom had just gotten a new car, and we had satellite radio free for 2 weeks. One of the channels offered just played Pearl Jam. Only Pearl Jam, all the time. As I listened, I would ask myself questions like, “How much can you love Pearl Jam that you would become a radio DJ for a station that only plays Pearl Jam and nothing else? Is there really enough Pearl Jam to give enough listening variety? Is the DJ secretly just a member of Pearl Jam?” I couldn’t get into it then, and I can’t get into it now. I’ve definitely listened to worse albums, but I will always choose other albums to listen to. Even the songs I do like, I prefer other band’s covers of.

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Thu Jun 01 2023
3

never really sat down and listened to this before although it was on in the background constantly through 1992 it seemed. Alive and Black carry this through the 3* barrier, the rest sounds like Guns'n'Roses playing Neil Young at times (appropriately enough). I think they got better, I remember quite liking the avocado one

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Fri Oct 27 2023
3

THIiiisiissssssss wasanalbumthatistartedtoenjoyatfirst Buuuuuuuuuuuut thiswayofsingingkindagotoldprettyquickandiendedupbeingprettyoverit HOOOOowwwwwever Theirpoliticsaregoodsotheygetanextrastarforthat

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Tue Mar 05 2024
3

Вроде бы и неплохо, но эти роковые депрессии совсем не в настроение, в другое время может быть и понравилось бы, а пока увы

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Fri Jun 04 2021
2

Songs to eat a shotgun too. Grunge is dull. Voice is not great.

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Sun Jan 17 2021
2

I don't like pearl jam!!!!!! AGGGHHHHHHHH

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Tue Jan 23 2024
2

Nicht gut gealtert. 90er Powerrock mit starken Powermännern fand ich mal richtig gut, aber nervt jetzt eher. Noch ein Stern für die guten alten Zeiten

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Fri Nov 20 2020
5

LOL just yesterday I was listening to this and wondered if it was on this list, and if so when it would come up. one of the best albums of all time 5/5.

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Thu Oct 01 2020
5

I liked this album a lot more than I thought I would. It was very angsty but it felt so deep and meaningful also. It's definite a super intense album but it really resonated with me.

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Fri Nov 13 2020
5

Really great. I knew a lot of the songs, but had never listened to the whole album.

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Wed Jan 13 2021
5

familiar, used to listen to it a lot with dad.

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Fri Feb 05 2021
5

I think this is favorite album of the 90s

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Fri Jan 22 2021
5

A barrage of hits for the first half and great music overall, even if I get tired from Eddies voice after a while. a classic alright

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Tue Apr 13 2021
5

Awesome album, already knew it from before

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Tue Apr 13 2021
5

chingonsisisimo viaje y como va cerrando el album

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Tue Mar 30 2021
5

Alternative radio is actually legally required to play all 11 of these songs at least once a day

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Fri May 14 2021
5

Once, even flow, alive, release. Easy 5.

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Tue Mar 30 2021
5

Memories of the Seattle grunge scene!

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Tue Apr 06 2021
5

Potentísimo. El grunge más sobrio de todos. Debut gigante.

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Mon Jul 26 2021
5

High school flashbacks. Hard to imagine that era without this album and band. Extremely influential and still kicks ass to this day. Easily one of the top albums on this whole list in terms of “must hear”

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Mon Aug 02 2021
5

Una joya. Este disco es simplemente increíble. Nunca lo consideré grunge, más bien me pareció siempre rock alternativo. El poder de Even flow, Alive y Jeremy es increíble, Black es una poesía hermosa y triste. Las letras están bien trabajadas, cuentan historias y llega a quien las escucha. Es el primer disco que me toca escuchar de los 1001 que ya había escuchado completo y que estoy totalmente de acuerdo que esté en este listado.

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Tue Sep 14 2021
5

Great album. I also love the not hits on this album LMAO.

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Fri Sep 17 2021
5

So damn good. Loved delving more into the history of the band and the of this album. Eddie Vedder just keeps getting better with age.

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Tue Sep 21 2021
5

Вечная молодость. Вечная классика.

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Mon Sep 27 2021
5

Black is my favorite track from the album. Probably an all time top 10.

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Wed Sep 29 2021
5

15. Ten - Pearl Jam. 11 Tracks Is this called Ten cos it's rated 10 out of 5? What an album! Don't think I have ever listened to it sober before. What an album! Have I said that before? Wow. A new bar has been set against which all others will be judged. Mind-blowing! 5/5

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Fri Oct 01 2021
5

the majority of this album is seared into my brain and it should be. unimpeachable. literally the only pearl jam album i think is any good but how do you outdo perfection

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Fri Oct 01 2021
5

One of the biggest most influential rock album of all time and it stood the test of time Best drumming award for the album goes to: Deep

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Sat Oct 02 2021
5

I had forgotten how good this album is. Used to listen to it all the time in the early 90s. Not only is the album 5 stars but just about every song is 5 stars.

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Thu Oct 21 2021
5

1991, ключевой альбом гранжа. Американцы, дебютный альбом. Классный вокал Эдди Веббера. Входят в большую четверку сиэтлского гранжа.

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Sun Oct 31 2021
5

Le meilleur de pearl jam,un classique ! 5

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Sun Nov 07 2021
5

Mother father and children of all my favorite music. 5 Sterne reichen nicht!!!

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Mon Nov 15 2021
5

I haven't liked another of theirs as much since then.

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Fri Nov 26 2021
5

I still remember first hearing Jeremy and then being surprised to find out Eddie Vedder wasn't 40+ years old. There are very few albums like this that not only have no weak songs but also changed music. I put together best of rock lists for each year of the 90's over the summer and it is amazing how different rock music was in 1990 versus 1992-93 a year after Ten and a few other pivotal albums from late 1991 (e.g., Nevermind, Badmotorfinger). Maybe short-lived, but it stomped out cheesy 80's hair rock / forced rock to be better. No doubt bands like the Pixies, Melvins, and Replacements paved the way for bands like Pearl Jam, but the sound was perfected on Ten. Hard edged, pulsing sounds and lyrics that make you think. Everyone likely knows the first 6 tracks (Why Go and Once are just as good as the mega-hits) but the last 5 tracks are also impressive - if you like the frenetic Even Flow, try Porch; if you like the brooding Black, try Release; if you like the multi-layered Alive, try Garden. An all-time classic.

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Fri Nov 26 2021
5

Flash in the pan. One-shot album, never heard from again. Seriously, I remember when this came out. I was in college and I gravitated towards it pretty quickly. You could not unhear this album; it was everywhere. Even the non-single, album tracks were played ALL the time. I tend to think of the album as overplayed, but every track on there (even Jeremy) is solid. It was their second album that solidified it for me “Go” is just a great opener. But this is where it all started.

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