The MG Album Club #15: Pearl Jam - Ten

[axolotl]

My first marriage was ending. I had languished on the periphery of life and music for about nine years when this came out. Late at night, after the kids were in bed, I would tune in to MTV, among other things, and listen to what was new. This music hit me like a ton of bricks.

I heard "Jeremy" and "Alive" first. Then, I heard "Black." This became the theme song for the end of my marriage and my first real pass at major depression. "I know someday you'll have a beautiful life. I know you'll be a star, in somebody else's sky, but why, why, why can't it be mine?"

Late in 1992, I purchased the CD. The second half became as alive as the first, but the last several songs seemed to offer a resolution, or denouement, to the rage and fury felt in the earlier songs.

I stopped listening to it much, later in the 90s, as I grew happier and more content. But, as I listen to it end-to-end for the second time in two days, I notice that it still strikes a chord in me - one that I can call up in an instant. I do not experience the in-held rage that I used to; it's not good for my blood pressure.

I present it here, for your listening pleasure, or disappointment, or disgust. Have at it, Buckaroos.

 

[Zeeba Neighba]

Late in 1992, I purchased the CD. The second half became as alive as the first.

Actually, "Alive" is on the first half


(I do wish we had the tomato thrown emoji)

Great pick, Axo!

From that year, I've always been much more into releases by Nirvana and Red Hot Chili Peppers
At the time, I bought the first two Pearl Jam CDs, because it seemed like what music lovers should do, and agree Ten is a great album. But I never got into Pearl Jam like some others (my friend's wife used to follow them on their tours) - I was always surprised they rated a station on Sirius XM like Elvis, The Dead and Bruce. But there's clearly something there for people

So I don't break them out too much and look forward to approaching this album freshly

 

[Unsomnambulist]

I will always prefer Nirvana and Nevermind, but this is a classic and serves as a high point before the current era of rock's decline.

 

[Zeeba Neighba]

I will always prefer Nirvana and Nevermind, but this is a classic and serves as a high point before the current era of rock's decline.

Upbeat take on music, Unsom

 

[Unsomnambulist]

Upbeat take on music, Unsom

Who today is making rock music on the level of Nirvana, or even Pearl Jam?

 

[Zeeba Neighba]

Who today is making rock music on the level of Nirvana, or even Pearl Jam?

Hey, I'm not arguing - most of the big artists (and what high school and college students listen to) are in the hip hop genre

OTOH I think rumors of rock's demise have been out there since Elvis went into the army

 

[Unsomnambulist]

Hey, I'm not arguing - most of the big artists (and what high school and college students listen to) are in the hip hop genre

OTOH I think rumors of rock's demise have been out there since Elvis went into the army

I don't think rock will completely die out. And it will regain popularity at some point.

 

[Worm]

Solid 5 stars from me. I always thought that Vedder had a way better voice than Cobain.

 

[axolotl]

Solid 5 stars from me. I always thought that Vedder had a way better voice than Cobain.

Admit it. You thought Eddie was way cuter, too.

Spoiler

So did I.

 

[Ojai Sam]

Spotify link:

As my grandmother used to say, I haven’t spun this since Hector was a pup. Looking forward to it muchly.

 

[Nickyboy]

As my grandmother used to say, I haven’t spun this since Hector was a pup.

Was your grandmother from Germany by any chance?

 

[Ojai Sam]

Was your grandmother from Germany by any chance?

No, but she did live in Vienna for many years. Vienna, Illinois, that is.

 

[Ojai Sam]

Axo, your backstory reminds me of, well, me. My choice of music flows directly from my state of mind. A particularly bleak time in my life coincided with the rise of alt country. Listening to Uncle Tupelo or especially Whiskeytown alone on a cold, rainy evening convinced me to get my life together. Who need counseling when you have Ryan Adams?

Here’s the thing, though. My mind has simply never embraced grunge. The Big Four are all just noise to me. I still tend to rock out when I’m annoyed but lean more to Led Zep or Rory Gallagher. Back in the day I tried mightily to like PJ. After Neil Young embraced them, I tried again. When Jack Irons’ mom became our banker I took yet another shot. No dice. I still prefer Badfinger.

So, sadly this one rates on the Sam-O-Meter. But the backstory earns a solid .

 

[Nickyboy]

I hate to be a wet blanket, but this one is a dud for me. I never got into the grunge scene (too old by then) and there was never a "gotcha" moment that grabbed me. I do understand and appreciate that much of what grabs us with music is visceral and what is happening at the moment in our lives which makes it meaningful. Alas, I never had that with Pearl Jam. And not to pull a "Bob Dylan's voice is shit" moment, but damn....Eddie Vedder's voice is worse than Dylan's to me. NOT that that should take away from the music. And it doesn't. But the music is much more appealing than his singing.
That said, I do own the cd. It was a pwerhouse at the time. Come on! But I must say, that this week was the first time since probably 1993 that I have spun it. The hits are good. But they don't speak to me on any level. I can see that this was an important release at its time. Unfortunately, it wasn't my time.
I give it 2/5 stars.

 

[Ojai Sam]

That said, I do own the cd. It was a pwerhouse at the time. Come on! But I must say, that this week was the first time since probably 1993 that I have spun it.

That goes for me too!

 

[Zeeba Neighba]

This is why, with the album club, picking well known albums periodically is wonderful. Sometimes, one assumes these tried-and-true, critically acclaimed albums are universally enjoyed then discussion provides some interesting perspectives

As for me, I break Ten out about once a year. I like it but don't love it. As I said above, it's hard for me to not compare (unfair I know) to Nevermind and Blood Sugar Sex Magik both of which I prefer and feel are better albums. That sounds like more of a knock than it is, because I think those albums are top shelf, incredible. It's interesting though that Ten doesn't get a bit more love though here - although "grunge" artists (as nonspecific a music term as Britpop) often get compared to each other, I've always found Pearl Jam (including on Ten) a relatively easy transition for rock fans and it seems most indebted to classic rock. Less experimental, longer songs, longer guitar solos.

Personally I like Ten and think it's a really good album but far from my favorite. It wanes down at the end and, I too, am not a fan of Vedder's growl (funny how some voices bother some and not others - I can listen to Springsteen, Dylan but don't gel with Vedder". Several big songs - "Alive", "Jeremy", "Evenflow". My favorite is "Black". Mike McCready's guitar work is fantastic throughout the album

I give it

Duh moment: for years I always though the album was called Ten because of ten songs. Sure, I said to myself, it has eleven songs but I think the last is a CD bonus song, because why call an album Ten?

Later on I found out (and many here may know it) that Pearl Jam was originally named Mookie Blaylock in honor of the Oklahoma then NJ Nets player (later Hawk and GS Warrior) whom the band liked. They wound up changing the band's name (or rather had to change it) but named the album Ten in honor of Blaylock's jersey number.

 

[Old Uncle Toe]

I have to go with Ojai Sam and Nickyboy on this one. I just never latched on to Grunge. My kids liked Nirvana. I never cared for them. (The band, that is. I like my kids.) As Nicky said, I think I was just too old when Grunge came out. My rock was Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, Johnny Winter.

At some point I heard Pearl Jam's cover of Last Kiss and I enjoyed it. I liked Yellow Ledbetter. Given that, I tried to get into the band but never really found a foothold beyond those two songs.

I dutifully listened to this. I don't care for Vedder's vocals, but I realize that even Robert Plant is an acquired taste, so I don't knock him. I will say that as someone who has to actively pay attention to hear lyrics, Vedder makes it that much more difficult. I'm sure the rest of the band members are very accomplished but the sound they choose to make doesn't do it for me. I didn't mind Alive and Black as they were a little subdued. But to be honest, by Garden (track 9 of 11) I was just waiting for it to end.

I will leave this to the (slightly) younger among us to enjoy.

 

[axolotl]

My first marriage was ending. I had languished on the periphery of life and music for about nine years when this came out. Late at night, after the kids were in bed, I would tune in to MTV, among other things, and listen to what was new. This music hit me like a ton of bricks.

I heard "Jeremy" and "Alive" first. Then, I heard "Black." This became the theme song for the end of my marriage and my first real pass at major depression. "I know someday you'll have a beautiful life. I know you'll be a star, in somebody else's sky, but why, why, why can't it be mine?"

Late in 1992, I purchased the CD. The second half became as alive as the first, but the last several songs seemed to offer a resolution, or denouement, to the rage and fury felt in the earlier songs.

I stopped listening to it much, later in the 90s, as I grew happier and more content. But, as I listen to it end-to-end for the second time in two days, I notice that it still strikes a chord in me - one that I can call up in an instant. I do not experience the in-held rage that I used to; it's not good for my blood pressure.

I present it here, for your listening pleasure, or disappointment, or disgust. Have at it, Buckaroos.

What I find interesting, is that I have heard a live version of "Black," in which Eddie added the anguished cry of, 'We belong, we belong together."

I don't care for this. I prefer the unresolved, unrequited angst of the original.

While I might share the anguish for a moment, the anger of the grief process requires an end, if we are to reach a new homeostasis. There is no requirement of requitement; there is no "belonging together." I have spent decades of my life melded to that belief, and I choose to let it go, where it belongs.