Born from the ashes of Seattle grunge outfit Mother Love Bone following the death of lead singer Andrew Wood to a drug overdose, Pearl Jam’s debut album Ten is a rare debut album from a band that didn’t really know each other all too well upon entering the studio. Guitarist Stone Gossard and bassist Jeff Ament (of Mother Love Bone) were devastated when their lead singer passed, and after picking up the pieces, got together to write alongside guitarist Mike McCready, eventually laying down a set of demo tracks entitled Stone Gossard Demos ’91 that were passed along in an attempts to find a drummer and lead vocalist for the band.
Enter vocalist Eddie Vedder, living in San Diego at the time, who was passed along that demo tape by former Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Jack Irons. As the story goes, Vedder heard the tapes, went surfing, and wrote lyrics to three songs the very next day (those songs eventually becoming “Alive” and “Once”, two of the most recognizable tracks off Ten). Vedder was invited up to an audition in Seattle, joined by drummer Dave Krusen, and the rest was history. The band who was named Mookie Blaylock at the time (based off the NBA player of the same name) changed their name to Pearl Jam, signed to Epic Records, and set the grunge world on fire when they released Ten (a homage to Blaylock’s number 10 that he wore in the NBA).
Unlike a lot of grunge bands at the time, one thing I always appreciated about Pearl Jam’s early days was their very clear love for classic rock a la Led Zeppelin. The lead guitars on Ten are an absolute shred fest at times, evoking Jimmy Page and Jimi Hendrix with the blistering solos and use of delay/wah pedals to add tension, which makes it a listen that really stands up thirty years after its release. And of course no review of a Pearl Jam record would be complete without a note about Vedder’s completely unique (and oft-imitated in the years following) approach to vocals. Best described as a “yarling” vocal approach, Vedder has this hilariously over the top tendency to drone his gruff vocals with a complete lack of regard to enunciating any of his words. It’s an approach that has been parodied for years to hilarious outcomes, and is one of those distinct calling cards that make him such a unique artist and Pearl Jam an instantly recognizable band.
Standout Songs: “Even Flow”, “Alive”, “Black”, “Jeremy”
