Published on Nov 8, 2005
Despite the fact that Nirvana is considered the forerunner of
grunge music, it is indisputable that Pearl Jam has shaped modern
rock music more than any other band.
Right from grunge music’s commercial birth in the early ’90s to
its present day emo incarnation, every trick that modern rock
records have pulled off seems to have been borrowed — in some
shape or form — from what singer Eddie Vedder and the gang put out
in their heyday; that is, during the time when they still cared to
do videos.
The world is very lucky that Pearl Jam didn’t include singles
from
Ten when they decided to quit making videos. There is no
doubt that Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” and “Come As You
Are” changed the way rock videos were looked at. But, it was
“Alive,” “Evenflow,” and “Jeremy” that gave identities to grunge
videos as we see them today; these singles made rock videos hip and
sexy, not to mention the fact that they showed for the first time
that it is possible for a rock singer to be distraught, deep,
intelligent, and irresistibly attractive at the same time.
And, there is the album too. Though the singles from
Ten had a greater impact on modern rock music than the album
itself, Pearl Jam is one of today’s most influential rock bands,
and
Ten is one of the main reasons for Pearl Jam’s cult status.
The album as a whole is as powerful as its singles, taking the wild
aggression of Nirvana and turning it into refined anger.
Irrespective of what mood the album finds itself in — aggravated
or pensive — the emotion is genuine, and something that is lacking
in today’s rock music, even in Pearl Jam’s own modern music.
Rock hit a balance between passion and sophistication with
grunge music, and no other era represents grunge better than the
Seattle era of the early/mid 90’s. This golden period for rock,
which has inspired and revolutionized underground music, wouldn’t
have been possible had it not been for the immensely talented bands
of the early/mid nineties Seattle music scene that produced
groundbreaking rock albums, and
Ten, being one of the forerunners of this lot, is the most
essential grunge record ever.
Ten is more than just a remarkable debut; it is an album for
posterity.