Pearl Jam - Ten Reissue
Rating
RIYL
SoundgardenAlice In Chains
Eddie Vedder
Temple of Dog
Release Date
03/24/2009
Label
SonyTracklist
Disc 1: Original1.) Once
2.) Evenflow
3.) Alive
4.) Why Go
5.) Black
6.) Jeremy
7.) Oceans
8.) Porch
9.) Garden
10.) Deep
11.) Release
Disc 2: Brendan O’Brien Mix
1.) Once
2.) Evenflow
3.) Alive
4.) Why Go
5.) Black
6.) Jeremy
7.) Oceans
8.)Porch
9.) Garden
10.) Deep
11.) Release
12.) Brother (with vocals)
13.) Just a Girl
14.) Breath and a Scream
15.) State of Love and Trust
16.) 2,000 Mile Blues
17.) Evil Little Goat
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When Ten came out way back in 1991 (Holy Jesus that was 18 years ago) it was regarded as a landmark album for rock music, right alongside Nirvana’s Nevermind. The grunge era in music was already in full swing, but these would be the two bands to lead the way. After all those years, Pearl Jam is the only surviving band from the era. What is most impressive is their ability to stay relevant while continuing to make amazing music. This album, at the time, was able to connect with the many disgruntled teens who were either fed up with their jobs, upset with their families, or just plain pissed off at the society they thought was keeping them down. Now here we are, re-releasing the infamous album after so many years to an environment that is eerily similar.
After the band quit being stubborn and finally asked Brendan O’Brien to play around with the studio versions, the result is absolutely astounding. Never has the aggressiveness, the grittiness, or the beauty that this album contains sounded so good on an album. O’Brien is a clear genius and a master craftsman behind the studio knobs. With this re-issue, bassist Jeff Ament’s instrument is given more emphasis and purpose, singer Eddie Vedder’s voice, which to most sounds like mumbling, is clear and precise, and Dave Krusen’s drums hit harder in your ears. What is most impressive is being able to distinguish between the two guitars. Mike McCready usually receives the nod for his impressive solos on albums as well as during their live shows, while guitarist Stone Gossard’s work can sometimes go unnoticed… until now.
With this re-issue, listeners will be able to understand why Gossard deserves just as much praise as McCready. Rolling Stone had even apologized for not putting either of these guitar masters on their list of 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time noting that both have a vast amount of talent. Songs like “Once” and “Garden” have a guitar in each ear, separating them so you can focus on one or the other. Whichever one you choose, both are a treat.
There are a plethora of packages that are available for this re-issue, so you can grab the retail deluxe version with the DVD of the MTV Unplugged session from 1992, or on the Ten Club website there is a whole vinyl selection to grab including a live performance from Drop in the Park in 1992. Whichever you end up with, all of these editions carry six never before released bonus tracks. Though some of the bonus songs are not necessarily good, it is a chance to hear the early versions of the songs and see how they have grown to what we know they are today.
For the first time the song "Brother" can be heard with vocals. Originally a b-side from the Ten sessions, it was first introduced as an instrumental on the b-sides collection Lost Dogs. Now with Vedder’s vocals, he is able to bring more emotion to the song not present in the instrumental version. Even though the original was a stellar song, no Pearl Jam song is complete without Vedder’s wild, untamed vocals. Also a b-side from those sessions is "Just a Girl", a song that is a bit out of their repertoire but still has that thrashing two guitar assault by McCready and Gossard. It is not a particularly strong track, but it is certainly interesting to hear the ideas that the band played around with.
Also a part of the bonus tracks are very early and very rough versions of the songs "Breath and a Scream" (later shortened to "Breath"), and the fan favorite "State of Love and Trust". Both of these songs were made for the 1992 movie Singles written and directed by Cameron Crowe. They sound as though they were recorded in the garage during band practice, but they were clearly rough demos. "Breath and a Scream" doesn’t sound too different from the original while "State of Love and Trust"’s tempo is significantly slower than the studio released version.
"Evil Little Goat" is an odd little ditty, with what sounds like McCready singing in the beginning followed by Vedder taking over the vocal reigns. It’s a funny track, and it’s nice to know that Vedder did have a sense of humor in the early stages of the band.
The Ten reissue is a chance for those who never got into Pearl Jam before to give it a go. If you are a dedicated Pearl Jam fan, if you haven’t purchased this reissue already, then you should hang up your gloves and turn it in as a fan, because this is not something you should be missing out on. The only flaw of the re-issue is the bonus tracks. Besides "Brother", the others aren’t overly necessary and not something many fans would be begging for. Still, to hear Ten in such fine form, this package is worth every penny.
--Andrew Beam
Comments
Lehigh Valley, PA
Excellent review Andrew. I'm a Pearl Jam freak. In my opinion they are one of the bands that not only changed the face of music but they also helped save it in the early 90's and they continue to do so. I bought the deluxe edition w/ vinyl, cassettes, original demo, booklets, it was like $170.00. Excellent album, excellent reissue.
Amen.
Somewhere in New York
Cheers man. I'm happy to see another Pearl Jam fanatic. Though I have both the original CD and the reissued tracks, I still don't have the deluxe edition and when I finally get the money I'll be sure to grab it. I can't wait to see them rock out the new songs on Conan this Monday. They haven't made a bad CD yet in my eyes, even though some see Riot Act as kind of weak, that album and Binaural are my two favorites from them. Listening to this reissue, it brought out emotions I hadn't noticed in the original version and it just sent chills all through my body.
"If someone gives you a kazoo and toots around the house to MTV, they're not gonna fuck you." - David Cross
Minnesota
Everything after Vitalogy I've pretty much thought has been crap. I know that's not going to sit well with many people, but after the killer albums of Ten and Vs. (and parts of Vitalogy), everything since has been a big letdown.
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Toronto
The only reissue that was cool was the super deluxe one with all the fun shit in it. Other than that it was pretty pointless. The Brendan O'Brien mix is really not that fantastic. Still, it's an awesome album.
Riot Act and Binaural (and some Yield moments too) were big letdowns. Binaural taking the top spot, Thumbing My Way saved Riot Act from matching Binaural. But I can go on and on about their last records, the thing is nothing tops the genious of the first three albums, those guys peaked as they grew closer to their 30's, and after that, it's not bad but not as great as their mid 90's records.
Lehigh Valley, PA
I hear ya on the emotions thing. Also, seeing Pearl Jam live, is one of the greatest experiences ever. You wanna talk about having chills sent through your entire body...
Minnesota
Really? I wasn't very overly impressed when I saw them with Tom Petty a few years ago. They weren't bad, but their performance seemed pretty workmanlike. They didn't have the energy I imagined they would have.
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Lehigh Valley, PA
I have seen them three times, most recently last summer and it was the best I have seen them. I don't know, maybe it's just my absolute obsession with them but they are amazing live .
PA
Least favorite band of all time.
Music Blog.
Depths blog. (my band)
Los Angeles
This can not be true.. Creed? Nickleback? Godsmack? Hoobastank? Limp Bizkit?
Surely there are bands far worse than Pearl Jam.
Either way, this review makes me want to give this band a shot as a more mature listener having not heard anything released by this band in 7 or 8 years. Maybe I'll dig it now.
Lehigh Valley, PA
Chris...I'm really tired of your negativity lately haha.
Jamoncito, honestly you should but you should not have needed a review on a reissue to make you think that.
Los Angeles
Wasn't really that it's the reissue, more that it's just talking about the content of the album. I've just never read a review of this album before... ya know? It came out 18 freakin' years ago. I was three!
Boston, MA
Nice review. I love the Brendan O'Brien remixes. Vs. will always be my favorite album by them but I have to say that their last record was fantastic and very underrated. I'm def looking forward to hearing what they are working on now.
Stereo Typing
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West Haven, CT
They're on the list.
The Cityscape Burns Brighter By The Hour.
PA
Exactly...and who do you think is responsible for Creed and Nickelback's existence, and all the other godawful garbage that's came since those two bands? Pearl Jam. And Bill, I'm really not that negative lately. Pearl Jam, and Converge have always been like my least two favorite bands of all time, and pretty much everyone knows that. A Day To Remember has recently joined that list, as you all know. Apologies for that previous outburst.
Music Blog.
Depths blog. (my band)
Somewhere in New York
I don't know if that's the most valid argument to make over not liking Pearl Jam, I'm sure there are other reasons. KISS is the reason Pearl Jam exists, I love Pearl Jam but I hate KISS. To be honest I don't think any of those bands in that list sound remotely like Pearl Jam.
And on the whole seeing them live thing, saw them last year for both nights at Madison Square Garden, and those were two of my favorite shows of all time.
"If someone gives you a kazoo and toots around the house to MTV, they're not gonna fuck you." - David Cross
Los Angeles
Converge too? What on earth as a fan of heavy music would make you hate converge. My guess is that it's the vocals. It's always the vocals with converge. Sigh...
I would dispute this heavily. Pearl Jam is so much more melodic than any of those bands, and their instrumentation and creativity is far superior, especially given the time that Ten came out. Also hating on Pearl Jam for shitty alt-rock imitators is like hating on Minor Threat or Gorilla Biscuits for shitty hardcore. There's always going to be bad imitators, but you can't deny a musical milestone.
I'd also go so far as to say that Alice In Chains is the band responsible for bands like Godsmack or Disturbed or something. While I was a fan of AIC (and still enjoy some of their music), "Man in the Box" is like nu-metal central. If it came out today I'd probably shun it.
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Minnesota
If anyone is still thinking of picking this up, I stopped by Target today and it was on sale for $9.99. At that price, I had to buy it.
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West Haven, CT
AIC were "grunge" meshed with Metal which is not even close to "jun jun jun" Nu-metal.
The Cityscape Burns Brighter By The Hour.