3.7 - Most of Pearl Jam's greatest hits are on the first half of this record, which feels epic. Though I haven't ever listened to this record in full, I know songs like "Jeremy" on a deep personal level. Seemingly overnight, Eddie Vedder became the voice of 90s hard rock, emulated by legions of lesser bands (e.g. Nickelback, Silverchair, Creed...). It's hard to separate the voice from its meme-like status; however, his incredible vocal performance on songs like "Black" remind me why so many people copied his style. I'm also struck by the guitar work on songs like "Alive" and on deeper cuts like "Ocean" - layered, vivid and colorful. The second half of the record doesn't have the same fire power, and songs like "Deep" detract from the overall flow. Still, it's an important cultural touchstone well worth a listen.