Ten

Weird one, it felt like I'd heard every song before. Nothing really caught me, a couple of good songs but very samey.

Mid-Grunge

It's a seminal album of the grunge scene just a little too much heavy metal and a little too little punk rock for me

bueno para una banda sonora e zack snyder grita raise in seattle, nadie con un mínimo de sol hace esto

I know this is meant to be like one of the best modern rock albums ever but it never grabs me, I’ve listened a few times

That lovely era of rock where you can barely understand a word said

I expected to enjoy this much more than I did. Maybe it warrants a re-listen...or maybe I'm just not a fan of their brand of grunge ¯⁠\⁠_⁠(⁠ツ⁠)⁠_⁠/⁠¯

Good album, just found it a bit samey! Porch and Deep would be the best songs for me

Songs are a little long

Pearl Jam songs all kinda sound alike, but I also recognized a lot of these so it wasn't bad.

First impression pre listen: Not the biggest grunge fan. Usually find music of this genre to be a bit boring. Pearl Jam is one of those bands I never really got. I find Eddie Vedder's voice, especially on this album to be a bit comical. He did however go on to make the soundtrack for "Into the Wild" so I can't say I fully dislike his artistry. Hoping to find some decent gems on here, even if I know based on the hits that this will probably not be my cup of tea. Individual song notes: Once I like the opening a lot. Feels really airy and weird. Kinda don't love the lyrics. The pre chorus is annoying. I like the drumming. The vocals have moments where they're OK. Maybe I can see past them as the album goes on. Average. 2.5/5 Even Flow Kind of an inescapable song. A bit overplayed. The lyrics are unintelligable at times. I don't get the appeal of the chorus. Long and meandering. Hamfisted lyrics. Don't mind the extended instrumental section. Both the guitars and the bass have some decent stuff going on. Not entirely unlistenable, just a bit bland. Average. 2.5/5 Alive Also sort of inescapable. First verse has some interesting storytelling. Hate the chorus. Kind of falls apart at the bridge. Boring solo. Dragged out beyond belief. Dislike. 2/5 Why Go Deep bass sound. I like the dark distortion. More of the same really. I like what they did with the first chrous. Devolves into annoying repetition. Dislike. 2/5 Black I find the emotional lyrics and delivery to be quite striking. I don't like the overly dramatic presentation. I think the instrumental is just a tad much, which makes it sound cheesy to me. Especially the piano. The final verse is pretty good, has a very harrowing narrative to it. Decent. 3.5/5 Jeremy Great bassline. Scary narrative. Hate the chorus. Really annoying vocal inflections. While I like the concept it yet again devolves into an annoying repetitive slog. Exhausting song. The tambourine gets on my nerves as well by the end. Overblown and dragged out. Dislike. 2/5 Oceans Interesting instrumental. Fits well with the ocean narrative. Ebbs and flows, crashes and falls. Love the drumming. Could do without the vocals. Fine. 3/5 Porch I like the bassline quite a bit. Alright solo. Don't mind the lyrics here. Some great drum parts. A bit basic. Fine. 3/5 Garden Opens with a very serene guitar and vocal passage, which is a nice break after the intensity of the last track. The moment is quickly ruined however by an overbearing chorus. It's not terrible, just boring and predictable. Average. 2.5/5 Deep Don't mind it, don't have much to say about it either. I guess this track has my favourite vocals on the album. Fine. 3/5 Release Pleasant guitar. Decent lyrics. Emotional delivery. A bit much. Love the atmosphere of the hidden track. Fine 3/5 Final review: A mostly fine rock album with a few ups and downs. Won't say I hated it, won't say I loved it. The strongest part for me is definitely the storytelling, and the often harrowing and striking imagery in their lyrics. It's bleak, it's dark and it's serious. I think individually there are great instrumental moments. The basslines are memorable, there is some consistently sick drumming and the guitars do a lot to elevate the more dramatic moments in the songs. However I find the general sound to be a bit boring, with meandering repetitions of less than stellar choruses and predictable song stuctures. And while I got a bit more used to them as the album went on, the vocals are well... not for everyone. Don't get me wrong, his voice is powerful, and his delivery is emotional. However he has some very strange inflections and quirks to his performance which just sounds off-putting to me. The album never gets outright unpleasant, and there are definitely moments where the good outweighs the bad. 2.5/5 rounded up to a 3/5

Si le son des guitares et de la voix est indissociable des années 1990, Pearl Jam a toujours eu un feeling «vieux», comme si c’était un groupe qui pratiquait depuis des décennies, même à ses débuts

Eu até gosto em curtas medidas. Mas não acho fácil aguentar um álbum inteiro não. Acaba ficando monótono. Mas as partes boas são realmente muito boas. 3.5

It was good. Accessible for the wider audience (I mean Americans) which means a bit boring for the hard-bitten music aesthetes (I mean myself)

Way better than expected

This is great for sure but the main keeper songs are all the ones I’ve already heard a million times. Was hoping to discover some new to me songs that I would enjoy more. Still fw their vibe heavy it just didn’t blow me away.

A special album with some very beautiful songs

j’aime pas tant sa voix Black est vraiment bonne. j’aime le piano dedans

Honestly I feel like nostalgia makes me want to give this a higher rating. I found this to be alright overall. Not great, but not bad.

Ok so this is like a 3 star because I know this has some ABSOLUTE bangers. But otherwise, never catch me listening to this type of music 😭😭😭 I am not a divorced dad

Good fun!

What even is grunge? This just sounded like an alt rock album , like creed or something

Straightforward grunge rock, a little more U2 than Nirvana. My opinion of Pearl Jam has always been about 3 stars, except for the music video where he jumps off the rafters.

It was fine.

Divorced Dad rock/grunge

90's emo rock. fine, but ... whatever

The rocking second half and the superb guitar partnership saved this album for me. Some iconic vocals as well of course.

gonz nett

aber starke drei sterne. 4 kann ich aber leider doch nicht machen.

It’s not bad but I was expecting it to be a bit more emotive for me, I know Black and I love that single but the others didn’t hit for me.

i just don't really like grunge

Decent, not really my thing though. Torn between a 2 and a 3, overall didn't grate me when listening though so going for a 3. Couldn't get bill Burr's impression out of my head when listening to even flow so extra point for that.

It was OK, it kinda felt like noise mostly, but decent noise.

Not my jam at all

Pivotal grunge album. Great synthesis of the bass, guitar, and drums with the standout vocals of Vedder. Even Flow is a perfectly emblematic song, which is a classic for a reason. Alive, another classic in its own right, follows and shows the slower, ballad-esque tendencies of grunge. Love the bass line and Vedder’s more growly delivery on Why Go. Like most grunge, for me it overstays its welcome a bit at the back side of the record.

Mmmm... grungy.

Overall: 6/10 Honestly, I've never been a big fan of Pearl Jam. At one point in time they were the band I hated the most. I've mostly gotten over that hate, but I still don't enjoy their music. I think the biggest hurdle I need to get over to actually liking Pearl Jam is Eddie Vedder. As a person, he seems great. He seems charitable and aligns with my politics, but I can't stand his voice. To me, he sounds like he gargles glass for 20 minutes before he steps foot in the recording booth. His lyrics tend to be hit or miss for me too, with songs like Even Flow and Jeremy being beautiful poetry, but a song like Porch being kind of lame. The best thing about Pearl Jam is every other musician in the band. I couldn't name any of them if I'm being honest, but their bassist and drummer are especially good. Their guitarist(s?) is good too but I'm not a fan of their guitar tone. Overall, there's some great songs and some stuff that I enjoy, and I would definitely say it's the best Pearl Jam album I've listened to. However, this time listening to it didn't change my opinion in any way and I still don't think it's as great as everybody else seems to think it is. Fav Song: Even Flow Least Fav Song: Porch

Never listened the album, I was only familiar with the hits. Sometimes it is great and beyond, and sometimes it is a bit less than that.

Pearl Jam’s Ten arrived in 1991 as a brooding, stadium-sized statement of purpose, helping define the grunge era with its slick production, emotional intensity, and arena-rock ambition. Unlike the raw edge of Nirvana or the sludgy cool of Soundgarden, Ten is unabashedly earnest—anchored by Eddie Vedder’s weighty baritone and lyrics that tackle trauma and alienation with dramatic flair. While tracks like “Oceans” offer moments of quiet grace and “Porch” injects some much-needed looseness, much of the album leans heavily into its own seriousness, occasionally to its detriment. Still, it’s hard to deny the emotional payoff of a track like “Release,” and despite feeling overplayed with time, Ten remains a landmark—flawed, towering, and deeply felt.

Some of the songs really do rock, but I just don’t have a strong connection or desire to go out of my way and listen to— enjoyable XRT fodder

Never been a big fan of this group. Don’t care for Eddie’s voice. A few songs I know here that are OK, plus one fabulous track, “Jeremy”, which has a great music video. That track gets a 2 to a 3.

Immediately recognisable as early 90s. Pretty good but somehow not grungey enough for a grunge album.

Some absolute classics, but not a needle mover for me.

Rocky you have to be in the mood but at least 3 or 4 great songs on there. Even flow, Alive and Jeremy especially good. its just a bit over long and a little self indugent for a rock album.

Pretty good.

Okay, nothing special though

-this and Soundgarden have been the beginning of my foray into grunge. I did really enjoy this album, I absolutely love the combination of the guitar and Eddie Vedder’s voice -there were def a few tracks that were at best uninteresting and at worst a bit corny tbh. the highlights were phenomenal tho, im glad i finally got a chance to listen to this band -Favorites are Once, Why Go, and Jeremy

Back to my roots

mid

Arms up head to the sky, gets a little repetitive but very cool

Doesn’t sound too grunge which is nice

Listenable.

90s

The familiar hits (alive, even flow etc) are fun to sing along with, and Eddie Vedder has a great growly voice, but the rest of the album was not very interesting.

7.5/10 This was a lot better than I expected. I knew the big songs & that it is considered peak grunge, but honestly is it even pure grunge? Felt like fairly straight up hard rock and very well executed. Well played, well sung. This style has a ceiling for me so was as good as it could have been. Best: Even Flow

Better than expected, but not hooked

Solid 3 out 5, with some absolute standouts. Jeremy and Alive obviously, but I've never heard Porch before and loved that. Release is pointlessly 9 minutes long.

Alright

Really fun. Seems like a lot of people took from that album. Tons of hits

Never really got into pearl jam for some reason. It sounds alright, I feel like I would like it much more if I listened to it in my high school days

Guitarist is really pulling their weight. Overall really good, but not really my taste. There weren’t any songs that were catchy or rememberable melodies, but the overall musicianship was fantastic.

Verstehe leider die lyrics kaum 😅 Nicht schlecht, aber auch n bissl eintönig, oder?

I'll probably always wish I liked Pearl Jam more. But a fun time capsule that makes me feel nostalgic.

30 years on and I still can’t make out most of what Eddie Vedder’s saying. I liked it, I can hear it’s good, I’m just not that moved by big arena rock (as arena rock as grunge gets.) Points to the heartbreak lyric: “I know someday you’ll have a beautiful life. You’ll be a star in someone’s sky. But why, why, why not mine?”

Love even flow

I could never to this album and I think it is Vedder’s voice. He just bellows away. There’s no nuance and it makes everything sound a bit dull and samey. The song that played immediately after, Just Breathe from 2009, is a different story, and suggests this is something he has developed over time

Tho the genre has virtually lost all meaning in the thick of far too many subgenres, 'rock' is the aptest descriptor of this record. Vocally, Eddie Vedder sings w/ a powerful and drawling attack, a register that has now achieved classic status. Musically, it seems every track features a guitar solo, which is at times eventful and justified, others not so much, while the drumming is mostly straightforward and ordinary. I guess what makes it a 'grunge' breakthru is the sensitivity of the lyrics: 'She's been diagnosed by some stupid fuck / And mommy agrees'; 'Clearly I remember pickin' on the boy / Seemed a harmless little fuck.' That 'sensitivity' is mostly believable but at the same time leaves me doubtful and surfeited w/ mawkish honesty.

Pretty biased on this one. Never like Eddie's voice. Lots of popular songs on this album. Good rock and I can appreciate for the time this sounding pretty different, but the voice kills a lot of it for me

I remember really liking this album it’s therefore a little weird to listen to it now and have it sound so boring, so derivative, so blah. I had it on cassette tape. I remember it vividly. It was a clear cassette tape and I would listen to it in my yellow, bulky Sony Sports walkman, while I sat on the bus on my way to figure skating. And I would just keep flipping the tape over and over and over again. I don't think I took the album out of my walkman for weeks. At the time, I thought that my taste in music was superior to other people (read: other figure skating girls) who liked, say, Bon Jovi or Aerosmith or other white man rock bands that were popular at the time. I remember thinking, with disdain, of the girls on my skating team that loved the song "Bed of Roses". I thought the lyrics of that song were garbage. Quick example: "Know I'll be thinking about you / While my mistress she calls me to stand in her spotlight again / Tonight I won't be alone, But you know that don't mean I'm not lonely". Like come on. Are you serious? For me Pearl Jam sounded more sensitive, realistic, gritty and different. Maybe it was back then, but when I’m listening to it now it really just seems to sound like that same old white man rock (I suppose we call it "classic rock" now) that I didn’t like listening to at the time or at least I thought I didn’t like listening to. All this to say that it’s really weird to hear this record and feel like I’m supposed to find something new and different. I mean Eddie Vedder‘s voice is not terrible. There are some bits of guitar I like, the production is good and there are a couple moments that make me remember that bus trip through downtown Whitby, through the Psychiatric Hospital that we called the "Psych" and would drive through late at night to scare ourselves.

...nine...eight...seven...six...five...four... three...two...one...blast off!

Didn’t mind this

Not as cohesive as some of their later records, but it definitely felt like they were announcing their presence as a heavyweight in the grunge scene moving to the forefront of contemporary music. There are some great tracks individually, but they were still just finding their sound.

Decent

Standard overplayed 90s, truly great songs tho...

I'm not the biggest fan of Pearl Jam because Eddie Vedder's voice sometimes tries too hard I find. It came to a positive surprise that this album is very solid. I didn't need to listen to it but it's an experience all rounded off with some songs could've stood out more. "Oceans" and "Black" might be two highlights.

Just... fine. It's just... fine. 5/10

I've never really listened to Pearl Jam. Perhaps as they fell between other bands I do like (Nirvana, QOTSA) without particularly appealing to me. Having said that, I think they are OK and I didn't mind listening to this a couple of times.

Not my favorite genre of rock, but a surprisingly enjoyable listen. It does have that effect of a lot of classic albums where it was so influential that it doesn't land quite as well as it did on release, due to everyone emulating it.

Musically quite cool but not for me overall

Hørres ut som Creed. Får lyst til å spilla guitar hero

more like Seven by Pearl Jam. let me rate things with half stars!!!

I’ve never been a big Pearl Jam fan, I must admit. Actually, I always say I’m not a fan of 90s US alt-rock, but then I end up having to clarify that with so many exceptions that I think it’s fair to just say I’m not a Pearl Jam fan and leave it at that. Eddie Vedder’s voice annoys me. So that said, I was really surprised to find myself quite enjoying this. I’ve heard Even Flow, Alive and Jeremy before, obviously, but I found myself enjoying them more in context, especially Even Flow. I still think almost every song could have 30-60 seconds shaved off it without losing much (do we REALLY need a fifth chorus) and I did find my attention wandering by the end - but I guess I can’t honestly say I hate Pearl Jam any more. So that’s a win, I guess?

Pretty good, I’m old so Pearl Jam is new to me though of course I’ve heard of them

I don’t think I’ve ever listened to this record all the way through, but I could sing along (or growl along) to most of it. Pearl Jam has never been my jam. I don’t get how they were put in the same genre as Nirvana and Soundgarden. Nothing here is especially exciting, even if they play it with a lot of chutzpah. I bet a live show woulda been badass in the 90s.

Decent music, meh vocals.

Wow another nineties blockbuster. This is a great album even though I’m not the biggest Pearl Jam fan. Let’s take a fresh listen. I….. don’t know. I mean I was never a fan of Pearl Jam, finding them dull and tedious. This album is a certainly a Pearl Jam album, dull and tedious. I mean the songwriting and musicianship is fine, it’s just all so samey and boring. It all muddles together and even though you know the songs it just sounds like one song that keeps dragging on. This can’t be less than three stars since it’s iconic and must be on such a list, but I just don’t like it.

Too much classic rock for me, from the voice to the style. Nothing is really new, but still well served

Great example of an album where the term “dated” can be used as a positive. I don’t think I’ll be revisiting very often, it’s just not my kind of music. But know that every time Alive comes on in public and people make fun of Vedder’s voice it’s because they secretly love this stuff, no matter how corny they insist it is.

I mean yeah

30 years ago I'd rate this a 5. Didn't age well

This is a very complicated decision for me. I came in with bias- my dad being a fan of this bad immediately makes me feel they deserve credit, however after listening there’s just something with his voice that pains me a little to listen to, I can’t lie. If I put the voice aside, there is no doubt the music and instruments and everything else is undeniably both impressive and incredible. His voice is just slightly intolerable. So, given my slight bias and curiosity, I am willing to give the benefit of the doubt.

I'm not usually the biggest fan of Grunge, but I appreciated some of the classical rock influnces in this one. I'd say I enjoyed it more than I did "In Utero", so I think I'd give this a 3 out of 5. Favorite Track: Black

3 Never mind

Super generic, sounds like something out of a Ford or Dodge commercial

This is a first time listen for me to the entire album. I can see why it generated the mass buzz. I couldn't appreciate this music when first released but definitely enjoyed this one!

Not my favourite but not my least favourite 90s grunge. (14 known/27 new)

One of those records I like in parts, and I'm sure it means a lot to some people, but a whole record of Eddie Vedder grunting gets a bit much.

It’s not bad

I go hot & cold with this band. This is the album that caught my attention. And I was alright with but not bowled over. But as time went on I became a bigger Eddie fan. A good great guy.

I've never been big on Pearl Jam. I always found them a bit dull, and I don't like his singing delivery. There are some good tracks on here though, I can't deny. Alive is probably the stand out, but Even Flow and Jeremy also registered. Listening to this made me realise that I may have been a bit harsh on them before, because it really is quite good in places.

listened to before it's okay but to me sounds like dad rock now

Oh heeeeeeyyyyyyy ooooooooo thisalbumwasinescapableintheninties ahhhy Ohhhhh heeeeeyyyyyyy yyyaaaaaaaa oneoftheposterchildsofaltrockyouberstbelieveit ahhhyya eventhooooo I don't seek out this type of music, I still think it was important counter programing in a post hair metal era of rock and roll music.

Mostly I remember Pearl Jam as a plot point from episode 12 of season 3 of the children's sitcom Clarissa Explains It All ("Marshall's Parents Visit"), when Clarissa landed backstage passes to see Pearl Jam on the same night she was obligated to DJ her grandparents' anniversary party. Pearl Jam isn't really heard or seen in the episode, but each time they're mentioned there's a brief Pearl Jam-like musical stinger. When I saw this episode as a kid I didn't know what Pearl Jam sounded like and my brain made something up. Got that sorted out now. Actually I recognized a decent amount of Ten, just hadn't known who it was - "Even Flow," "Alive," "Black," and "Jeremy," all familiar. Not my favorite but it's definitely higher-tier 90s grunge.

Pretty cool, I like Even flow and Alive, the rest was alright. It's a bit drawn out for my taste, but overall pretty good

fun stuff. liked this way more than soundgarden. the vocals are ehh. the last track was awesome, i loved the sort of jam-sesh style. awesome

some good songs. but mostly generic radio stuff

Pearl Jam was one of the bands that defined 90’s grunge music. Brings back memories. But not my preferred style of music. Songs feel sad, or there’s an emotional struggle.

it took a little while for me to warm up to their sound. i really didn’t care for it at all at the beginning but it got better with time. never loved it though

so crap i hate it

I am glad that Pearl Jam is in the world. Every so often a song will come on and it just feels great. A lot of those songs are from this album.

Solid rock, never fully appreciated the vocal style.

Honestly, the hits are fun 3.5/5s, and the rest don’t appeal to me at all. I’d prolly give it a 2.5

Meh

This album takes me back to high school. Like my high school experience, this album was not good but, it was not bad either. “Black”, “Jeremy” and “Even Flow” are great songs. The rest of the album was mediocre.

Rock N Roll 🤟🤟🤟🤟

Litt gammel gubbe som prøver å være ung og kul. Litt grinete, heavy og gritty, ganske kult. 3/5

Bien

Kedvenc/Favourite: Why Go Nem igazán fogott meg, úgy hiányzott belőle nekem valami, de nem tudnám megmondani, hogy mi. Olyasmi hangulata volt, mintha Apukámmal hallgatnék zenét a kocsiban. Egyáltalán nem rossz, de nem az én zeném. It didn't really resonate with me, I felt like it was missing something, but I just couldn't figure out what. It had a kind of mood like listening to music with my Dad in the car. Not bad at all, but not my kind of music.

Not my genre

Harder rock than I thought Pearl Jam was. More experimental as well. Heard some stuff Mk.gee took from

The album is good, but never was nor will be a fan of Pearl Jam. Eddies voice just grates my ears.

It was decent. I’m not a big grunge fan but did enjoy it and Vedders voice. At the same time, I didn’t like most of the songs enough to want to come back to them. My appreciation for this one could go up whenever I deep dive grunge but for now somewhere between a 3 to 4 star. Rating: 3.4

Knew a few songs already but wasn't stoked on the album as a whole

Don't mind Pearl Jam - sometimes can be a bit too much electric guitar for me tho...

All albums will be 1, 3 or 5 stars, with no further commentary or explanation given.

I liked Pearl Jam's hard rock infused version of grunge, and generally found this to be a listenable and accessible album. Alice and Release were particularly memorable tracks, although not much else stood out.

Really enjoyed it minus the long lingering sections with no actual words.

fave songs; oceans, black, even flow, deep not quite the album for me but there’s a few good songs on here.

Even Flow took me back to playing Guitar Hero as a kid.

Through my love of US hardcore, I came to like the nascent grunge scene featuring Green River, then Mudhoney, and all that sludgy grunge stuff, such as Dinosaur Jr, Nirvana with Bleach, then the super popular grunge of Nevermind. Then like all scenes, came the also rans, holding onto the coat tails, cashing in of the success of all these great bands, appeared Pearl Jam. OK, they were the other half of Green River, but I felt at the time (and still do) that they appeared as a polished, metal leaning chart orientated version of ‘alternative rock’, more in common with Soundgarden and Metalica’s Black Album. My problem has always been that Metal orientation. However I absolutely adored ‘Alive’, it’s an absolute better of a song. The rest of this? It’s ok, but I felt this album led to a downhill slide that led to all those other commercial heavy alt rock pop bands, finishing up with the ghastly Stiltskin. It’s always been a classic rock style album in alt rock clothes done good, plenty of great songs, but just too polished for my taste (Sorry Iain!). But with this listen when I take out the layers of history, I could appreciate it for what it is – a really enjoyable album that propelled guitar music further into the mainstream, so that’s a good thing!

Hits all the right Pearl Jam notes, if that's your thing.

Lyrics: 2/5 Music: 3/5 Production: 3/5 Cohesiveness: 3/5 Overall: 3/5 Stand out songs: Even flow Alive

I feel like I don't understand grunge at all

Had never actually listened to these guys could i kinda had a feeling I wouldn't exactly love it ... certainly still feeling that way after listening but it was fun to listen to. And nice to give me a better appreciation for the first wave of grunge... should come as no shock that I love their collab album with Neil Young lol but I was having a hard time hearing the connection between this album and neil when I know they are huge neil fans and he was a big influence on them ... anyways it was cool!

there's a bunch of classic songs that have been played to death in my life

Bit too breathless for my taste

Never caught the Pearl Jam fever. I know Ten is supposed to be all that, but it leaves me remarkably unmoved.

Miałem trochę trudności z tym albumem. Wydaje mi się, że zasługuje na więcej ciepła, niż jestem w stanie mu dać. To solidny hard rockowy album, ma kilka utworów, które kojarzę, choć nie sądziłem, że kiedykolwiek słyszałem cokolwiek Pearl Jamu. "Even Flow" to naprawdę dobry utwór, wydaje mi się, że ciężko z tym dyskutować. Z drugiej strony wydaje mi się, że z perspektywy 33 lat ten album stracił jednak sporo świeżości. Myślę, że to głównie przez setki naśladowców tego stylu, więc to nawet nie wina samej płyty, raczej tego, co przyszło po niej. Single z tej płyty są całkiem fajne ("Even Flow" czy "Jeremy" chociażby), ale są też jakieś takie nastoletnie smęty z tekstami, które odnalazłyby się też w repertuarze Happy Sadu (który nawet lubię czasami, ale nie oszukujmy się, nie jest to wybitna muzyka). Myślę zwłaszcza o "Why Go". Czuję, że sporo późniejszych twórców się mocno inspirowało. Zwłaszcza Godsmack, którym się jarałem w liceum, słyszę dużo zbieżności. Serio przydałaby mi się tutaj 10-stopniowa skala, bo to jest takie idealnie 3,5/5, za bardzo uderza w moje gusta na 3, a jednocześnie nie jest wystarczająco wciągające na 4 i stawianie tego na równi z "Tigermilk" czy "The Nightfly", do których na pewno będę wracał. Z tej płyty wrócę głównie do "Even Flow".

Your dad will love this. 3

It sounded like every other rock album to me. I liked it more on the second listen. I saved a few songs. mama really likes this one and sang along in the kitchen when she came home. I was manking creamy pumpkin and butter beans with carmelized onions.

Cerramos noviembre con un debut. Diría que de las bandas grunge clásicas, Pearl Jam es la que menos me llegó: salvo algunas excepciones, es una banda con canciones más luminosas y que suena bien. Álbum cargado de hits, garpa para poner de fondo y pasar el rato. Nos vemos en diciembre.

Favorite was "Porch"

Hm hm hm. I wish I could give this album a 3.5 -- there's probably more here that I would skip than enjoy, but it's hard to fight the nostalgia factor.

Like this one but didn't love it. Might need to give it a relisten.

Pretty nice album. Pearl Jam's vocalist has this interesting sounding voice, so most of the songs are pretty obviously by him. I am happy with this album, there were two song that were quite popular - Everflow and Jeremy (that I've heard on the radio at some point), and the rest were alright.

auðvitað er þetta handbolti en á vissan hátt lög æsku minnar. ekki endilega ljúfar minningar sem vakna en nostalgía engu að síður. 3,5.

mi piacciono!

Pretty cool, again didn’t appreciate bands when they were new and upcoming.

It’s good. I don’t think it’s for me though. All these songs kinda linger on and outstay their welcome to me. Really solid song writing tho.

It’s Led Zeppelin. Probably enough said. Not a bad listen. "Kashmir" definitely stands out as a particularly good track. I would definitely listen to this again. Double album though so it’s just a lot in one sitting.

7/10 mainly for even flow.

Sve je većinom isto

Lemppari: Black Vähiten lemppari: Release

3 stars

Some good songs, but I can’t take anything Vedder sings seriously

Even flow is sick, and release is way too long. This album is the truest 3 you can possibly give, perhaps the king of mid.

I felt a bit lukewarm about this, I think because so many songs were overplayed on the radio.

Can’t say I’ve ever really been a fan of PJ as there’s something about their songs that I just can’t quite get into. It’s not terrible and I’m sure it’s a big deal in the grunge arena but I’m just not a big fan and I doubt I’ll listen to it again.

I don't feel the love. Vedder doesn't do it for me like Cornell or Cobain. The rock guitar is fine. Hive me Nirvana

Mehhhhhhhh would’ve been better if Vedder were a woman.

Twas not what I expected at all, but was presently surprised

First listen. Ok.

Not bad

I probably listened to Ten at some point back when it came out, but it didn't leave any lasting memory. I do like Jeremy and Alive, but they're not enough to carry the whole album, and it all got a bit dull by the end. I thought this would be an easy 5 stars, but it turned out to be a damp squib 3.

Some good stuff but didn’t blow my mind

I never really got into Pearl Jam at the time. I fear it might be a bit too late for me now. I recognised a fair few songs - the singles I guess - but wasn’t too into the album tracks. I’m not hugely into Eddie Vedder’s voice. Musically there’s some good stuff to enjoy. I dunno. It’s alright!

6/10. It was ok. A few didn’t hit for me at all, and it got a bit repetitive. Put Alive on the playlist for representation.

It was a nice album to listen to while working. I definitely knew a few songs.

Eddie Vedder has a great voice and Pearl Jam has a distinctive sound but they don't resonate with me. The only stuff I associate with them that I've listened to a few times is the soundtrack to Into the Wild, which Vedder did and is really nice.

The music is pretty good, but the vocals are just trash. If you want to hear this style of vocal done well, listen to Layne Staley.

This is an album I heard so many times back in the 90s that it’s become tough to stick with it from beginning to end without getting bored and turning it off. That said, I can’t deny the influence it had and how groundbreaking it was for its time. When it came out, it was like nothing else out there—a real breath of fresh air. Although I’m burned out on it now and it lacks the appeal it once had, I have to admit that there was a time when I listened to this album regularly.

никогда не всасывал гранж по достоинству, может по нирване сужу. тут троечку накину т.к эти ребята по интереснее будут куртки

not bad but boring

No matter how much I loved the grunge era at the time, this is the one band I really couldn’t and can’t get on with. They are just less overtly riffy than their peers (not a good thing for my tastes), and Vedder’s vocals I just find a tone and style which makes me feel miserable. So while it’s not awful at all, I also get no joy from listening to it. Would be a 2, but I did see them live last year and that was way better than I was expecting. So let’s give a generous bonus point.

Perfectly okay. In one ear and out the other.

Okayish

I'm a huge fan of angsty 90s rock. And this CD would be on Mt. Rushmore for that style (along with Nevermind, Dirt and Superunknown). Of those four though, it's probably the weakest, and there's a handful of other less-canonical CDs from the era that I also prefer. Starting with the CD itself, the real problem is that it gets very weak down the stretch. Really only the first three songs are good rockers (and boy are they good). But after that it declines steadily, and beyond "Jeremy" it straight falls off a cliff. The last four minutes of "Release" kind of get a pass (CDs where the end loops back into the beginning are just cool), but even absent that, there's a lot of C-grade material on the back half. Of the two endlessly-radio-repeated ballads, "Jeremy" is quite strong but "Black" is really just OK. So that's four really solid songs for about 20 minutes of runtime on a close to one-hour CD. What makes "Once" and "Even Flow" work so well is the frenetic energy imported from Mother Love Bone, it's the same formula that makes "This is Shangri La" work so well. Even by "Alive" though they've mostly dropped that, as if the two MLB guys brought those two songs with them and the rest were wannabe 70s anthems written by Vedder. And this does seem like a bit of a 70s arena rock retread. Of the big Seattle four, Pearl Jam clearly took the most influence from those guys (as opposed to AIC and Soundgarden from metal and Nirvana from punk). They're heavy on huge singalong anthems for their choruses, big finishes (as if they were playing live) and endless riffing. Those tendencies, those influences, and the fact that Vedder (unlike Cornell or the duo of Staley and Cantrell) has a very middle-range and easily imitable voice has meant that Pearl Jam has spawned the most wretched array of imitators, basically a whole genre of crap (see e.g. Nickleback, Shinedown). That's not their fault, but I think this one gets way more credit than it's due.

Solide

3.5/5 stars

Misleading title

It's fine. 3

Buen álbum de grunge 100% noventero. La primera mitad del álbum es un temazo tras temazo, la 2° mitad flojea un poco y baja la calidad de las canciones, para terminar con una inentendible canción de 9 minutos ¿?. Los mejores temas: los clásicos de toda la vida, aunque sea un cliché Black es el mejor tema del álbum junto con Porch (mi favorita del disco). Rescato Once que es una gran forma de abrir el LP. Mi menos fav: Release. Nota final: 7/10

🤷‍♂️

I can see how this became the bridge between classic rock and grunge. I don't think it's particularly ground breakinf and I miss the anger and sludge that grunge brought, but it's a perfectly serviceable rock album with some good tunes.

Not likely to just throw it in but there’s cool moments.

this band still just really doesn't do it for me but I have a little more appreciation after a full listen

The soundtrack to the radio station of my teenage years, 100.7 Sea FM. The singles are great but I don’t care much for the non-singles.

It was alright. The thing is, it wasn't bad at all on paper and listening to it, I just didn't enjoy it that much really. I really like the song black, which did get added to liked songs, but really there wasn't much appeal. If I was forced to never listen to it again, I wouldn't bat an eyelid to be honest. (2.5 stars, not as bad as Fiona apple)

This is a fine debut album.

Liked the hits but could do without the rest.

My only real knowledge of Pearl Jam was that “Even Flow” was in Guitar Hero 3, and it was super fun to play. I imagine a lot of people my age had a similar experience being introduced to Pearl Jam. So that was a nice throwback. I really enjoyed this album, honestly. Some tracks are a bit long but they don’t overstay their welcome. Eddie’s voice is amazing, and it seems like he can do a whole lot with it. The screams are undeniable. Each song comes at you hard and fast, and stays there. The stakes are high, the songs are serious and meaningful, but not in a way that tired me out. It’s easy to see how this album was influential. I hear a lot of later 90’s and 2000’s rock here, both in bands I like and bands I don’t. That alone gets respect from me. This was cool. Some of the songs do start to sound a little samey here and there, but it’s their debut album so I’ll forgive them a little for that. I don’t know of any other Pearl Jam albums or if they’d be part of this list. I kinda hope they are, but I do get the sense that this is who they are. Three stars. Standout Tracks: Once, Even Flow, Alive, Jeremy, Deep

Reading the lyrics after decades of my own interpretations was an eye-opening experience.

OK

I liked it, but it isn't anything special to me.

Good but not fully sold yet

If you ever want to understand the grunge movement of the early 90s, this is an important album. It doesn't stand above the rest save for the occasional song pining for the unreachable particularly in "Black" and "Garden". This style allows for Vedder's singing to pop. The energetic songs lack the guitar stying needed for the songs to stand apart. "Release" is unique in its quiet hopefulness and length. I don't know if it's the best song, but the length allows for some transformations and only dips into soppiness for a moment here and there. Okay album.

Really liked it for awhile, but it got too repetitive

I swear to goodness, every album so far has been "Oh that's a genre/sound you don't really care for? Listen to one of the progenitor albums!" and it end up making me more open to the idea of exploring further. So it's been a cool exercise in growth but also, it'd be nice if at least one of these was something that really gripped me and flipped me upside down.

sorry satria but don't even try to tell me this is better grunge music than Nirvana... I'm not the biggest fan of the genre but bands like Nirvana and Alice in Chains impress me, and this isn't bad by any stretch of the imagination, but y'know, it's not my thing... Now that being said it's probably my favourite of the 3 stars I've given out but I can't justify putting it on the same level as the beastie boys album

Levyllä aika monta bängeriä, mutta silti aika keskinkertaista, mutta hyvää. Eddie Vedderin laulu on myös oma juttunsa, tykkää tai ei. Ei tarjonnut kummiskaan mitään uutta sen lisäks mitä Pear Jamista jo tiesin. Parhaat: Even Flow, Alive, Black, Jeremy

I should probably like Pearl Jam more than I do. There is just something about the lyrics that seem impersonal to me, and something about the guitar sound that is more like typical rock music than grunge/punk.

my only takeaway from this album is that i suddenly want to paint my nails brown and put on merlot colored lipstick and go watch my so called life WHAT IS HAPPENING TO ME

why did i know so many of these.... guess im a secret pearl jam stan... anyway i had alive in my head all day after this and it made me mad it's been 18 years and this album isn't over... send help

wow lemme tell you i had NO idea while listening to this that pulling up genius.com to decipher the rest of what he's singing would be how i found out the ohhhhhhimstillaliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiive song is about incest. weird day!

favorites: porch, even flow and jeremy

genuinely disturbed that some of these songs were Familiar to me......... this will never be incubus but this was cute! some songs really ruined my life but others were so fun they helped me forget the bad ones

Not the biggest fan but even flow and Black rule.

Oh

A PJ masterpiece!

A cool grunge record, a classic of sorts. It's got a few songs on the first side which I'd say are really good but I think as we move into the second side it loses speed. If I bought it I'd only play the first and then move on. Fav songs: - Even Flow - Alive - Black

Alive and Even Flow are fun songs and are well produced ... but the others to me are so over the top or over produced or dramatized in their melodies which I don't like. It's not terrible but not one that I found enjoyable to listen to.

You hope that an album like this makes you go "fuck yeah!" Unfortunately I didn't feel quite so enthusiastic as it wen on.

I am no longer a pearl jam hater

If this challenge has taught me anything, apparently, I missed my grunge phase when I was 13. Obviously, as an Alternative Rock Radio Girl™️ growing up, I’ve heard these singles, but I never really paid attention to them, and I definitely have never heard Ten front-to-back. Or any Pearl Jam album, for that matter. Right out the gate, I’m deeply impressed by the guitar work on this. It 100% doesn’t sound like what I thought it would sound like. It has a more CCR mixed with Stevie Ray Vaughn flavor to it, just cranked up to 11. But there’s also a lot of variance on display, and the dynamic range of the band is a lot more interesting than I would’ve expected (“Alive,” “Black,” “Release”). I can see why this gets the praise it does – it’s not a classic grunge album, it’s a classic rock album in the traditional sense. And while this normally isn’t my vibe, I am intrigued. That said, I’m also not sure if I am personally sold all the way. And one of my major holdups is Eddie Vedder. I don’t live under a rock; I know his singing style is divisive, to say the least, and I know the jokes. But even knowing what his voice sounds like, I still found it instantly shocking in the context of a full-listen. Like, I’m not sure if I’d go so far as to say it straight-up doesn’t work, because I think it does create a very unique vibe, and on some songs, it does click for me. But for the most part, I just think Vedder is more a distraction to me than an asset. Every single time I’m about to be like, “This song kicks ass,” I’m interrupted by Vedder’s howls, and each time, I said, “Ew, gross,” out loud to myself. It happened on “Once,” it happened “Why Go,” it happened on “Garden.” By the end, when it was happening, I just expected Vedder to ruin it the second his vocals kicked in. I would LOVE to hear Pearl Jam with a different vocalist. I can tell they kill live, I can tell they’re all amazing musicians and writers, and I would love to hear an instrumental version of Ten. But I need it all without Vedder’s moans. Still, Ten is a digestible, breezy listen with a lot to offer. It comes awfully close to a 4/5, though ultimately, its classic rock aesthetics and Vedder’s vocal styling both get in the way for me personally. It may be a grower with time, but if that happens, it’ll be a result of me listening to it track-by-track on shuffle, not in a single sitting again.

I like the sound but it all blended together. Felt kind of like one 45 minute song

d por si no m gusta mucho pearl jam, los temas q mas m gustaron fueron los menos escuchados increiblemente, no se si ponerle 2 o 3 estrellas, creo q voy a elegir 3 pq cuando escucho even flow m acuerdo d jesus en skate

Good in parts… some nice guitar solos… but overall too much same-same. I find the album lacked depth or complexity.

I had a hard time deciding how to rate this. On the one hand, it’s pretty nostalgic - “Even Flow” takes me right back to hours of playing Guitar Hero, and several of the other tracks were things I listened to as a teenager. However, I don’t think it really holds up; the vocal style gets grating pretty quickly. I don’t think I can fairly give it more than 3 stars, but there was a time I liked it better.

STANDOUTS: Even Flow Alive Black Jeremy OVERALL: 3/5

I've found it hard to decide how I feel about the 'between' albums that plot the course from the 70s classic rock I like to the 90s-00s garage rock I like. I know without some of them, we never end up with some of my favourites; the grunge movement is a crucial piece of the puzzle and this is a significant band and album of that movement. But I haven't got into most of them as much as I had hoped. I gave it a few listens and enjoyed it overall but it never quite felt like something I'd buy or consider essential. It's consistently good but never quite crosses into 'great' for me.

MOR grunge

There's not a single bad track on this album, but Vedder's vocals are carrying most of the weight. His voice and melodies pair so well it will almost put you in a trance, until a mediocre guitar solo pops up or you focus too hard on the drums. The outro was the most gripping part, especially the hidden track.

I suppose this album was decent. I do think some more variety couldn't hurt. The singer has a distinctly gravelly voice, but he seems to be able to make it smoother when he chooses. Not my favorite album, but I see the appeal.

Very much let down by the vocals

I love the music. I don’t care for his voice. His voice is probably perfect for this music but it just doesn’t work for my ear. Actually, it’s not necessarily so much his voice as the way he uses it. I don’t like the screaming. I think it’s a great album. All my reviews are based on how I respond to it, completely subjective. For that reason, I give it three stars.

decent. Only a few really good tracks, everything else is like middle of the road

It wasn't too great but I really enjoyed it still

I really dont think this one deserves to be called Grunge, and nowhere near Nevermind. Not too bad dad rock record, but not that interesting for me.

I really liked Even Flow. It sounds very similar to Soho’s 1990 single Hippy Chick, but that’s surely coincidental. Other tracks I liked: Why Go, Jeremy. Anthemic rock with shoegazey stuff going on in the background.

Just like Soundgarden the other day, I didn’t hate it as much as I expected to. I really don’t care for Pearl Jam. But they’re not bad. I’ve had Better Man in my head all day.

I like this music, but hear it all the time...

Eh

first 3 song slap and then it all kinda just blends together idk

classic 90s grunge rock that feels pretty nostalgic - all of the songs are pretty fun to listen to, albeit a bit repetitive.

Probably the first non-Nirvana grunge that's clicked for me at all. "Evenflow" genuinely rips, and I was pretty alright with the rest of it

Rock n roll

I just really don't like Pearl Jam. And I know that's a me problem, but it doesn't make me like their music any more. That being said, this was a solid rock album that I'm sure others enjoy a lot.

Liked, great debut

3.5

The boomer vibes are strong in this one. Ist mir zu cheesy und langweilig. Trotzdem nicht kompletter Schrott. 2,8.

I remember watching the Jeremy music video on MTV when I was waaaay too young. The school shooting imagery kinda fucked me up … and now look at where we are in America. Great nostalgic album, but I never cared much for Eddie’s singing. I wish Seattle was still known for music like this.

Was not looking forward to this album but the amount of variety really surprised me. My favorites were “Even Flow” and “Jeremy.”

Never really was into the grunge thing. It’s not bad and he’s got a powerful voice.

No bad

Classic Pearl Jam. Next step beyond Nirvana. Not my cup of tea. Never had been, but for "Evermore" will be a great album

5/10 okay I guess? it’s not terrible, but it’s impossible for me to get into grunge I have no idea how these guys are famous

Back in the day this blew me away. Not really my thing any more.

My problem with Pearl Jam is that almost every song sounds exactly the same to me. It's fine, it's not bad, but it isn't something I would go out of my way to put on, or listen to an entire album of really. Even the more popular songs are just kinda "meh" to me. I can see why people like it, and overall it is a decent album, but it doesn't do a whole lot for me personally.

Hell yeah borther

Listened to this album on a windy day at the beach. My drink went flying off the table. I still don’t know whether it was the wind or the music. Relentless.

Wow, I thought this was all the same song?!

I didn't listen to this pearl jam album. I DID listen to Bruce Springsteen's "darkness on the edge of town" which I enjoyed unexpectedly as I've never been a Springsteen fan. "Racing in the street" made me cry.

Good hard rock

The hits are HITS but the rest is just filler mostly. Too many AUOOOOOHS and YEAAAAAAHSSSSS

Niet mijn smaak, maar wel leuk

Black blijft toch wel erg mooi en sad Rest van het album ook wel nice Maar had er meer van verwacht op basis van de hits die ik ervan al kende

Not as bad as I thought, but still not for me.

Not good, not terrible.

And the hits just keep on coming! I’m not the world’s biggest PJ fan, but they were far and away the catchiest grunge band of the time. I get a little bit bored, listening to this record, having been so familiar with all of the hits for years but that’s not fair assessment to judge this album because the hits are GREAT! If I had to, I would rename this album 7 out of 10 by Pearl Jam.

Meh

Good album with great players, but I've never really gotten into this band, though I've tried in the past. Sonically very pleasing with incredibly tight playing and Dave Krusen doing a phenomenal job. It's primarily Vedder I don't particularly resonate with. 3.5

A genuinely likable album. I spent years rolling my eyes at Pearl Jam but enjoyed this loads. Felt very much in my wheelhouse, sonically. 90s, grungey, not sure what else I’d want.

It's good, but this record is responsible for Nickelback and Creed. Favorite song: Deep.

Pretty good just not my jam. Low 3.

I don't really like Pearl Jam, but this is a very well made album. 3.4.

Never been a big Pearl Jam fan but I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. Still not crazy about them but thought this was a good album

Didn't think I liked Pearl Jam based on their songs I'd heard before but this was pretty good.

A classic, great sounds Top tracks: Even Flow, Black

Enjoyed this much more than I thought. Alive was unbelievable. Overall really solid album with good average and a few good highs. Strong 7

Yeah, like for sure dude.

If it weren't for the vocals this would be a 4

Even Flow and Alive were already on my Spotify liked library, but I only like some of Pearl Jams music. Eddy's deep monotone voice is quite recognisable albeit the lyrics are just boring and unimaginative punched out in Eddy's one key delivery. The album, or rather Pearl Jam in general, is all very very samey... apart from a few guitar riffs that momentarily grab your attention in some tracks... but the whole thing, we'll it's just lacking, so it's a middle of the road 3 from me.

I can't listen to Even Flow anymore because of a video that ruined it, but Pearl Jam is a grunge icon and I respect that, 3/5

This is like RockTM. Like how I imagined all of 'rock' music and every 'rock band' sounded like when I was 13.

Rather outdated for me, but still ohne of the best rock albums of the 90s.

Got some good stuff on here, and it's their first album! But, not enough for me to run out and buy it.

Not a huge fan of this album but Black is a great song. They usually have at least one great song per album

This album is really good But not my thing at all I have had a copy of it for 15 years and I'm not sure I listened to it until today I think its good but led to alot of bad music that it inspired Very high three

I've heard 3/4 of this album a million times but rarely the last couple of songs. Never really got into Pearl Jam, I know a couple of other songs from elsewhere but this band really never truly grabbed me the way Nirvana did. Great first 6 or 7 songs though.

forgettable

Ten is decent. It has some very good songs, but it also runs the risk of sounding too samey at times. Black is definitely the standout track as it contains so much emotion and really enables Eddie Vedder to show off his vocal prowess.

ok, I gotta say...I had never listened to them previously. If I had listened to them in the 90's early 00's by review might be different. Not a fan. Loud, poor chord transitions and many of the songs sounded similar and yet others didn't seem to fit the others...a mish mash of songs, sounds, instruments, lyrics....I gave it a 3 only because the group has done songs, per friends of mine that enjoy them that are better....otherwise I would've given it 2 stars.

One of those "classic" 90s grunge albums, we all know at least a few of the songs, if not all the words ("weeba wedda wodda beeda beddaaah made o' concrete! UHHH yeah"?). Wild to think that Jeremy was written in a time when a kid bringing a gun to school was absolutely unheard of. Cool for nostalgia, but as 90s bands go I'd still rather listen to Nirvana or the Smashing Pumpkins. At least they had the balls to go after Ticketmaster.

Quite energetic, but lacks a bit of darkness, and I don't like very much the singer's voice who sometimes seems to be forcing it. But definitely the representative of its time.

Slam bang crash mumble shred. Pearl Jam has a sonic formula that works for me. Not sure why early 90s PJ gets put in the same bucket as Nirvana. A much bigger rock sound.

3.5 really

Ein solides Album

I didn't like it at first, but warmed up to it.

Meh. A couple good songs. Not a fan of grunge.

Like, I acknowledge this is an iconic record but I just don’t love grunge nor Eddie vedder’s voice

couple good ones

Some great tunes, but I didn’t find myself getting fully immersed in the music. It wouldn’t be the kind of music I’d regularly listen to but it was decent.

Once - Good opening to an album, eased me in. Wasn't sure what to expect but enjoyed it nonetheless. Even Flow - A classic. Not too heavy. Very fun song. Alive - Nice song, lyrics pretty cool maybe quite sad? Like this one a lot. Great voice. Wicked guitar solo. Why Go - Slightly heavier, liked it. Not my favourite so far but by no means bad. Long guitar solo which was fun. Black - Slower song, nice. Like the vocals on this one a lot. Jeremy - Bit more boring don't hate it but won't be listening again any time soon. Ocean's - Lovely beginning. Great vocals on this one. Love the high notes. Felt very cool listening to this song. Porch - Really felt the bass in this one, the drumming was very expressive in Porch. Garden - Felt powerful. Vocals and lyrics really huge in this one. Again, really feel the bass. I like this one. Deep - Rock and roll and grunge. Dirty song liking this. Drums at the end very rock. Release - Last song, feels like a last song to an epic album.

Just around the turn of the 1990's, two bands emerged in Seattle who would change the music industry forever, excoriating the sheen from the latest decade to reveal a new movement which became known as grunge. In June 1991, one of these two Seattle bands released "Ten", and the other… hated it. That's right, Kurt Cobain viewed Pearl Jam as sellouts, a hodge-podge of musicians who'd grown bored of playing in other groups, stopped washing their hair, and leapt on the "grunge" bandwagon with airbrushed and diluted songs. So while "Ten" was celebrated by many for incorporating a streamlined, classic-rock influence, it was decried by others (including Mr. Cobain) for compromising the rough-and-ready, DIY approach that made grunge so special to them. I respect Cobain's opinions, but with the greatest respect I would not want to hear a rough-and-ready version of "Ten". Grunge-adjacent alt-rock has never been my comfort zone: I'd only heard "Ten" once before getting it here, and incidentally I'm one of the few people on the planet who just can't get on board with "Nevermind". Anyway, after listening to "Ten" a few times, it has grown on me… but not all the way. There's no question that this is a blockbuster album. Production is polished and clean, with Mike McCready's multi-tracked roaring guitars never losing definition and a Dave Krusen's bright, tight snare sound driving every track forward. Eddie Vedder's gruff growl relates stories of murder, homelessness, mental illness: interesting concepts, but the lyrics lack much depth and narrative is usually sacrificed for flashy rock solos and riffs, making it all feel a little performative. Still, nothing wrong with flashy rock solos and riffs: musically, "Alive" is a real powerhouse anthem. It boasts an excellent, fluid guitar line leading into a strong, epic hook. "Oceans" is another highlight, with its cinematic rumbling drums, and haunting howl over the slow build summoning a tempest. Then there's "Black", a bleak, bitter and beautiful breakup anthem, and "Release": as close to melodic bliss as Pearl Jam allow us to get. There's a lot more in here for a guitarist in particular to latch onto - the maze of tangled, twisting arpeggios running through "Garden", the blistering solos in "Alive" and "Even Flow", the nice touch of slide in "Deep" (a switch to 3/4 time was much appreciated) - it all defined the sound of the record for me more than Vedder's vocals or lyrics. Meanwhile, the harder rocking tracks feel a bit homogenous and indistinct from one another: "Why Go", "Porch", and even opening track "Once" lost me a bit. On the whole, I didn't love it but "Ten" might have brought me a few baby steps closer to appreciating "grunge." Perhaps by the time "Nevermind" rolls around on here, I'll finally see the light.

Pretty solid. Some things I liked and some I didn’t. A good 7/10

Mocny w chuj Taki ciężki intensywny Ale dobry

Probably a band I should like more. I just can't.

A little. More metal than I usually like, but good.

I did get a little confused and thought that Pearl Jam did Afternoons and Coffeespoons which is a great song and in my head Eddy Vedder should look like Ian Gillan in 1975 but confusion over. I did like some of the songs at the time they came out and I’m happy enough to listen to them now - Jeremy and Even Flow are classic but I don’t need to listen to them again necessarily for a while. These are probably more a 3.5…

I remember what a breath of fresh air this and other grunge albums were back in the early '90s after years of hair metal dominating the airwaves. But boy did I sour on this genre pretty quickly. Objectively, these are solid songs, well performed and arranged and all that. The lyrics are pretty cool, and Eddie has a real gift for melody, which is always a plus for me. "Jeremy" is a truly exceptional song. Killer guitar riff, and Eddie's melody is so unusual and un-intuitive that it shouldn't work, but it sticks with you the moment you hear it. (And the song's message is powerful.) So there are moments of brilliance on here. (Black was another tune that grabbed me on this listen.) Boy man oh man do I dislike his vocals. I can't stand the way he pronounces things, or his extended melismas. And when he holds notes—especially low notes—I don't know that they're actually flat, but goddamn they feel like lead pipes landing in my lap. I just can't take him. And although the band is solid they're nothing special. Plus, some of the songs go on way too long. So, yeah. There are a few PJ songs I dig, but overall, please no.