Aww man, to be able to hear Black again for the first time would be something. It's always hard to believe people haven't heard Jeremy with as much as it was played but I keep forgetting it's been over 30 years. This album still kicks ass, great production, great energy, love the guitar tones, and Eddie kills it from front to back. Glad you enjoyed it!
Black is a very special song, it has such a transfixing sound to it, although the entire album is so amazing. Pearl Jam really created an entire atmosphere with their sound on this record that you completely sink into when listening to it.
@@KhalidQuesadaSame .. I really enjoyed seeing her big smile listening to it for the very first time. And it’s great to see the younger generation seeking for music which has a soul and is not made with auto-tune
If you loved Black, you absolutely have to check out their MTV Unplugged version. That is the quintessential version of the song! Eddie's raw emotion with his delivery of the vocals is heart wrenching. It's become known as one of the best live performances of a song, not just by Pearl Jam, but of any band! I can't recommend it enough! I think it's so special that you should do a one off reaction video of it. I think we'd all love to see that!
@@mollyesanborn I've seen them 4 times live & they are amazing! But here's the version you need to check out. Would love to see your reaction to this! ruclips.net/video/uETeeMyrlkQ/видео.htmlsi=vLqJDjdkz-5-dYZV
This is how you make an album. This album has a distinctive mood throughout but still it is very varied and dynamic. And I really like it, it is a album, not just a collection of random songs. One of the best rock albums ever made.
Hell Yeah! Pearl Jam's Ten really defined my Teenage years. My favorite song on that album is Black. Though every track kicks major ass. Pearl Jam 's Ten is indeed one of my all time favorite albums.
VS, their second album is where everyone would say go next. It's 50/50 chance any PJ fan will pick either Ten or VS. After their 3rd album Vitalogy, they turned into more of a rock band and left a lot of the heavy harder stuff behind. Their whole catalog is very much worth exploring. The band just knows how to make great songs@@mollyesanborn
I always think of Ten as a perfect album, it demonstrates the art of an album, a connected collection of great songs. For me the best three Pearl Jam albums are Ten, Vitalogy and Lightning Bolt.
Well said, this album is indeed connected so well from one track to the next. Such a great flow and cohesion to it. Can't wait to hear more of Pearl Jam's music now!
I really hope you react to Temple of the Dog. They were a supergroup made up of members of Soundgarden and Pearl Jam back in the early 90s. They only put out one album, but it was amazing, and is worth experiencing.
Was gonna say this now MUST be heard after Soundgarden and PJ. Of course, a demo tape followed by his idea for dual vocals on the failing Hunger Strike, was Vedder's ticket to the future of his career.
This album and Core by STP were the influence that made me become a guitarist. I was born in '82 and had never purchased many albums, I didn't know that you could love every song on an album, i thought you only bought it for the one or two you liked. Ten was a monumental acheivement in rock and the only reason Kurt dissed them was because he knew they were a better band.
Pearl Jam was a late entry into the Seattle scene - with Soundgarden and Alice in Chains already having albums out. But most of Pearl Jam were veterans of the scene having been in other bands - including Green River and Mother Love Bone, so knew how to craft songs. They added an little-known singer from San Diego, and created Ten - which was a huge hit.
Release, Oceans, and Once are my favorite songs on this album. Although the singular lyric from Black kills me every time. "I know some day 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, can't it be mine?" Said with such heart and feeling and passion behind it. Incredible.
That line from Black stood out to me as well, there is just so much emotional delivery behind it. But yes this whole album is incredible, Pearl Jam really delivered on every aspect with this debut and I can't wait to hear more music from them now!
Ten is a top 10 of all time for me. Amazing band and story. Pearl Jam went on to become one of the greatest rock bands of all time. They got me into so many other artists like Bruce Springsteen, The Who, Neil Young, The Doors and Jimi Hendricks. Like Nirvana, they changed the sound of rock music for a long time with hundreds of bands mimicking and being inspired by them. The industry changed as so many record labels were trying to find the next Pearl Jam after they blew up. The song Black maybe the 90's "break-up" song. Powerful and emotional. I would suggest you listen to the MTV Unplugged version of it if you want chills. Jeremy was also an anthem for Gen X, mental health issues and gun violence which has only gotten worse. This album is lightning in a bottle and means so much to millions of people.
Would you say that Ten is #10 on your list?... haha just joking! But seriously this album is amazing, the sound that Pearl Jam encapsulated on this record is so nuanced and well developed. Very impressive for their debut. I'll definitely have to give their MTV Unplugged session a listen, and I can't wait to go through more in their discography as well.
"Like Nirvana, they changed the sound of rock music for a long time with hundreds of bands mimicking and being inspired by them" Yeah but not in a good way lmao. I like Pearl Jam enough but every single Pearl Jam-sounding band from the 90s to early 2000s was awful.
Probably the greatest American rock band still going, thank you for doing this album. Please continue on with your journey of them. Next album Vs., and the one after that Vitalogy, are both required listening. These guys have been my favorite band for over 30 years now.
Now you gotta do Temple of the Dog. That album was mostly written by Chris Cornell as tribute to dead singer of Mother Love Bone, Andrew Wood (2 Members of PJ were in that band ). But he, along with Soundgarden Drummer, hired the backing band that became Pearl Jam ( Before they recorded their first album Ten) and went on the studio to create the masterpiece of an album to remember their fallen brother . Its a very soulful album and will fall right into place as you are continuing through Soundgarden and Pearl Jam discography. Its an essential listening. Hopefully you haven’t forgotten to do ‘Badmotorfinger’.
Alice in Chains, Soundgarden, and now Pearl Jam. Love your reactions Molly. I hope you can continue your grunge journey and listen to Stone Temple Pilots.
Ugh... 'grunge.' A bunch of great bands that came out around the same time, some from the same area, that sounded nothing alike. Yet they're all lumped together under a stupid name like grunge ( I'm pretty sure some ad exec came up with that silly moniker) In the early eighties they had NWOBHM (New Wave of British Heavy Metal, at least those guys had some musical common ground) but grunge is what it's known as... 😞
Omg yes! This was the first album I ever bought in my life as a teen when it came out in 91. Could have chosen a worse one 😄 it's still in my top TEN albums ever 😍
Aaah, Pearl Jam - Ten. Man, how many times did I listen to this through my teenage years and twenties?? And I am still counting. Really enjoyed your commentary. The best track here is probably Black, but my personal favorite has grown to be Release through the years. Be sure to watch their MTV Unplugged performance. A really strong performance of Black on that one. They play most of these songs + a really great b-side called State of Love and Trust. Their next album ´vs´ is probably my favorite of theirs. Indifference just melts my soul every time.
Thank you for watching, glad you enjoyed the reaction! This album was incredible from start to finish. Pearl Jam definitely created something special. So nuanced and layered with the instrumentals, and then so much emotion and an amazing vocal delivery to boot. I'll definitely have to give their MTV Unplugged a listen as well, and can't wait to hear Vs. too!
@@mollyesanborn Yes, not a bad song on here. You touched on many reasons why I love this record. The guitars and music are of course fantastic, but it has to be the vocals that ultimately drew me in. Soft and angst ridden at the same time. Desperation, and like you say, the passion and believability. The lyrics are part of that as well. Eddie is a great storyteller.
I can remember listening to this album in middle school! This album has so many good songs. Eddie Vedder has a unique voice and Pearl Jam revolutionized 90’s grunge movement. Love your reactions! Definitely check out temple of the dog!
Thank you for watching! Such a great album, really glad I finally gave this one a listen. I'll be sure to keep your Temple of the Dog suggestion in mind :)
This is my favorite PJ album with VS (verses) being second! I never get tired of hearing both albums! Love your reactions and insights Molly! Keep up the great work!
When this first came out my 13 year old little brain was f'n blown! By far my favorite band of all time! I've seen them in concert 6 times and every one was a masterpiece. One of the best things about Pearl Jam is they continued to grow and evolve with each album, coming up with fresh sounds and concepts.
That's fantastic that you got to hear this album right when it came out! I am very excited to continue on with their albums and hear how they evolve as a band.
@@mollyesanbornalso, to address your comments about water themes reoccurring. That is definitely intended, or at least a product of the way this album was made. Without writing a complete Wikipedia entry about how the band was formed, when Eddie Vedder auditioned for the band he was living in California surfing when not working. He received an instrumental demo tape through mutual friends of some songs the band was working on. He wrote and recorded lyrics to go with them, notably the songs that would become alive, once, and black (eventually others were released on future albums and singles). Vedder continues to be an avid surfer.
@@archwayportraits that's really fascinating, yeah that water/ocean influence is so strong on this record. I love that he pulled that aspect of his life into the sound that Ten has.
You should watch their whole Unplugged show, on your own time or as reactions, to see just how good these guys are live. They only performed 7 songs but they absolutely knocked every one out of the park. They're still putting out albums and selling out stadiums all over the world, some 32 years later.
Soooo many good albums released around this time period, huh? Hard to pick a favorite! Ten and Siamese Dream are both extremely solid choices for the best though, two amazing records!
I’ve got a cool story about Eddie Vedder. First I worked for an insurance company back in the day in the special lines field and remember actually speaking to Eddie about his boat policy! He said enjoyed calling instead of his agent! Very down to Earth and later we were able to meet at a Seattle Pearl Jam show so he was able to put a face to the voice on the phone 📱. ILL NEVER FORGET IT! RIP CHRIS CORNELL. The Seattle scene in the early 1990’s is unsurpassed by anything going on today!
Every track on this album is incredible and so full of energy, and their live shows around this time were on another level. The guitar riff on Deep hits so hard every time, Stone and Mike are such an awesome guitar duo.
This was the first album I ever heard on CD. Man I feel old. The chorus of Even Flow echoes in my mind to this day. If there is anything that transports me in time it's that.
Hi Molly, it's really cool you're going back and listening to some of the old grunge albums. Here's a couple more obscure, but must listens: 1. Mad Season - Above 2. Singles: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (no really, you have to listen to this album!) Mad Season was a side project including Layne Staley on vocals and Mike McCready from Pearl Jam on guitar. It came out in 1995 (late grunge era), but it has Layne Staley on it so you must hear it. "Singles: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack" is one of the best movie soundtracks ever assembled, and includes originals from Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, and Smashing Pumpkins that you won't hear on any other albums! It also includes Chris Cornell's song "Seasons", which if you're a fan of Chris Cornell you must hear! The theme of the movie and the album is the grunge music scene in Seattle in the early 90's. The album was released in June of 1992 and was the first time we heard the song Would? by Alice in Chains, as the album Dirt wasn't release until September of that same year. So as you can imagine Singles made quite an impact.
cool reaction. There are a few iconic concerts in modern music. Pearl Jam in 1992 at Pinkpop is one of those sets. I cannot reccommend it more strongly.
yw, there is, just search youtube for PEARL JAM PINKPOP 92, the whole set@@mollyesanborn if you thought he had energy in studio versions..... anyways, enjoy your reactions. peace.
Pinkpop is all over RUclips. It's an amazing show for numerous reasons. Highly recommend seeking it out. I was a fan before 10 came out because a really cool friend insisted that I go see this band. They're live shows are phenomenal.
If I remember right the Pinkpop festival was one of their first live shows. They were 100% committed to giving it all they had. Amazing energy performance.
SOOO glad you are finally doing Pearl Jam, one of my fave bands of all time, Ten is such a phenomenal debut, it's insane how strong their songs were right from the very start, cant wait for you to get to the next album of theirs ('Vs') which is probably my fave album of their discography.
Love your channel and content, Molly. As someone that grew up when a lot of these records were popping off and on the forefront of my attention, it’s really cool to experience them again for the “first” time through someone as appreciative and articulate as you. Thank you 🫡
Thank you. I hadn't listened to Ten track by track in a while. This album changed everything for me. I love almost all the bands that hit the scene at this time but Pearl Jam is special. I absolutely love that they're fan boys of a bunch of bands I adore. This band has been the soundtrack of my life through good and bad times. As excellent as Ten is, there's so much more. Thank you! I enjoyed this. 💕👍
It was VERY COOL to see someone obviously REALLY appreciate hearing Ten for the first time. I'm not quite through your video, but the word you might be looking for that I've always used to describe the overall mood of the album is "ethereal." I've been a HUGE PJ fan since I was 14 and this album was new. If you liked Oceans, Eddie Vedder continues to sing about the ocean A LOT! And the sun, and the moon, and the wind, etc. That "ethereal" thing is VERY IMPORTANT to the overall "theme" of Pearl Jam's entire career!
Yup. Watching more and you're ALREADY picking up on the water themes! KEEP LISTENING! You just might become one of "The Faithful." (You'll find out on Yield.)
Yeah Ten is such a beautiful album, ethereal is a very appropriate word to describe its sound. I'm very excited to continue on with their discography and see what I'll think of the rest of their albums.
@@mollyesanbornVedder is a surf bro and used to live IN A VAN DOWN BY THE BEACH! So references to the ocean and waves are often apparent in his lyrics.
3 quick thoughts: - I love your reactions, very honest and insightful - Didn't hear you get into the lyrics much on this, which I think they are fantastic and tell the mood perfectly - This is my favorite album of all time, a perfect TEN, if you will
Thanks for watching, I'm glad you enjoyed the reaction! I'm generally pretty bad at picking up on lyrical themes with one listen, the music/production/overall feeling I get from the music is usually what my brain chooses to focus on. I will definitely be giving Ten some more listens and will try and delve deeper into the lyrical themes on it. And yes, a 10/10 album for sure!
My two favorite tracks from Pearl Jam are on the Singles Soundtrack. You should react to that it may be the best soundtrack ever - epic grunge compilation with tracks that are not on other albums. Soundgarden, Smashing Pumpkins, Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains and more.
So cool you keep noting the echoey, atmospheric quality of this album. It's always been my favorite thing about it. It's almost haunting. The band hated that by the way. They thought it was overproduced and 80s-sounding and wanted just the sound of a band in a room, much drier and tighter.
That's so interesting! Yeah I love the way they produced this album, that sort of floaty, dreamy feeling that it has. It would be interesting to hear a different version sounding the way the band had wanted it.
@@mollyesanborn You should check out Bob Mould. He was in Husker Du who were the godfathers of all these grunge bands. He did some amazing solo albums in the late 80's early 90's then came out with the band Sugar, perfect power pop. Check out Copper Blue and Beaster for the highlights of that era. He's been doing great solo work ever since and is an icon of the early punk-pop genre.
Yes!!! Legit, just react to their discography in order of release. They grow, they flex, but they're my all time favorite for the span of their career and abilities. If you ever get the chance to see them live, GO. Love your channel and insight. Keep up the great work 🤘 Edit: before going to their next album 'Vs', react to their MTV Unplugged performance 💙
Molly, I’m a bit older than u. Back in the early 90s this was my FAVORITE album! I still like it a whole bunch! I got the biggest kick out of you digging it! (I hope u did anyway). I’ve always liked Pearl Jam and feel that this was their best piece!
I love your videos so so much (i found you today!) mainly those of the bands of my youth (smashing pumpkins, system of a down, incubus, korn, slipknot). I shared them with old friends from school and thanks to that i reconnected with them. I appreciate your subtle reactions, they made me rediscover known worlds and fall in love again with that music. You touched my soul. Cheers from Argentina!
Oh wow, thanks! Glad to hear that you're enjoying the channel. That's so cool that you were able to reconnect with old friends through the videos. I really appreciate you watching and glad you dig this music as much as I do haha! ❤️
1991 was an amazing year for alt rock/grunge! In March REM released Out of Time, featuring their hit songs _Losing My Religion_ and _Shiny Happy People;_ in May The Smashing Pumpkins released their debut album Gish, which you reacted to previously and which IMO was a pretty awesome debut album; in August Pearl Jam released this album, again IMO was a pretty awesome debut album; then in September Nirvana released Nevermind, which made pretty much everything else released that year irrelevant because they basically couldn't keep copies on the shelves of record stores, and the hit tracks were almost constantly playing on the radio and MTV. Oh yeah, and I guess Soundgarden also released Badmotorfinger in Octorber. But like I said, Nevermind. Personally, I was pretty young when this album came out, so I didn't discover it until a few years later. I usually picked up albums by bands that my friends liked when they were on special at the record store (when I had the money), but this one blew me away when I first heard it. Obviously I'd heard some of the songs on the radio before, but I was shocked by how many great tracks were on one album! I was kind-of used to listening to my Dad's old records which might've had the hit track that most people bought the album for plus one or possibly two other good tracks, but Ten is banging pretty much from end to end. But watching Pearl Jam live is where it's at. I've been to a bunch of their shows, basically whenever they toured Australia, and it's always an awesome experience. Check out the music video for _Even Flow_ if you want to get an idea of what it's like.
Great comment! Thanks for taking the time to write it. Man 1991 was indeed fantastic for music, so many great albums came out. I've still gotta get to a Badmotorfinger reaction, can't wait to hear that one. And Nevermind I've already heard a lot of the tracks from, Nirvana being the one grunge band I was semi-familiar with before starting this channel. I'll have to watch some of Pearl Jam's live performances, along with the Even Flow video as you suggested.
What an album, still easily one of the best debut albums of all time, and one that marked my teenage years. I'll be honest, I can't really listen to it anymore but it'll always have a special place.
I consider Ten to be my favorite and a perfect 10/10 album (no pun intended), because it speaks to me, it delivers what I want to hear in rock music. It has the perfect guitar sound, perfect snare drum sound, perfect bass sound, and even perfect vocals. What I also love about this album is that each song has their own identity, in terms of sound, because they’re pretty distinctive from each, and also in their lyrics. They are very powerful songs in many different ways, and I love that so much. Highly recommend to people who haven’t listened to this album, and also Vs
Oh yeah- here it is. The record that hooked me in to all things rock. This right here is pure sonic PERFECTION. Even though I do have to admit hearing this stuff brings memories to me that remind me how old I'm getting, but getting back on track; this band, this album really inspired me as a drummer. The grooves are so strong that they might be illegal in 24 states if I recall correctly. Welcome to PJ's discography. So glad you got to hear this greatness!
Thanks for the comment! I can see why this was the album that got you hooked on rock. It's amazing. They really developed such a detailed sound across this record, it's so cohesive and the tracks just flow perfectly from one to the next. I will absolutely check out more from Pearl Jam now, can't wait to really dive into their catalog as a band!
This album spoke to me so much as a kid/teenager when the grunge movement was in full effect but as a San Diego kid something about Eddie’s lyrics (many of which were written while he lived here) spoke to me
This was such a huge album. One of the biggest bands of the era, based on this first album. I've owned it on cassette, CD, and vinyl. Their next two are also incredible as they go darker and weirder.
The first half of the last track is Release. The instrumental bit at the end is called Master/Slave. Release is a very common opener at Pearl Jam concerts, especially in dark arenas.
Love the reaction and channel! And I could listen to a compilation of you saying “acoustic” on loop. Love it and I don’t know why it’s subtly so different from how I say it.
I was so happy to see you have this positive of a reaction to this album. I loved Pearl Jam so much that in the late 90s I was able to completely fill my 50-CD changer with Pearl Jam and Metallica albums and singles.
Stone Gossard plays a fender Strat and Mike McCready plays a les paul. That's why there's that great blend of chunky low end and crystal highs on the guitars.
"Porch" live hits in an amazing way that the album version can't deliver. Either way, Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains, Soundgarden, Nirvana, and Smashing Pumpkins ruled the world for a handful of years, and I'm so happy I was a teenager during that moment on this planet.
I will have to check out a live version of Porch, I know a lot of people have been suggesting I give their MTV Unplugged a listen. And yes I have been loving the grunge lately! The 90's were ripe with all of these talented bands popping on the scene.
That's so awesome that this record was one of your inspirations for getting into music. I can see why, I was blown away by this one. Can't believe I've never thought to check out Pearl Jam before now, boy was I missing out. And that's a cool fact about Oceans! Would have never guessed it was written about a surfboard haha!
@@mollyesanborn yup, this is the one. This is the album that converted me from a casual listener of music to the obsessed, crazed music nerd that I am today. Check out Temple Of The Dog someday. It’s Eddie Vedder and members from Pearl Jam/Mother Love Bone together with Chris Cornell and members of Soundgarden. That was such an amazing era for music!
I love black's studio version... the echo, the piano... i haven't seen pearl jam capture that vibe in their live concerts... it's kinda watery, industrial, progressive, artsy...
Interesting, a lot of people in the comments have been praising the live MTV unplugged version of Black. I'll have to listen to it and see how it compares to the original. I love the studio version too though, I honestly can't imagine another rendition of it being better but who knows.
I loved the sound of ten, thanks to rick parashar and ament/gossard. A shame they didnt sound like that again, Brendan o brien gave them an angrier vibe in vs and vitalogy
What a treat you get Molly, to be able to listen to Ten for the first time. This is one of those albums that is wall to wall solid tracks all the way through. Pearl Jam had a lot of good albums but they never quite reached the level of this magnum opus again. This is a 90s masterpiece.
90's masterpiece for sure. It's hard to believe this was their debut, such an amazing start for them as a band. As you said every track is amazing, and they flow together so perfectly.
@@mollyesanborn Absolutely. Alive is about childhood trauma and abuse. Black, a broken relationship, Jeremy is based on the true story of troubled kid in Texas who took his own life and Release is so personal about his father, Eddie won’t perform it live. Please do yourself a bonus and check out the videos that accompanied this album. Alive, Even Flow, MTV Unplugged performance of Black and the music video for Jeremy.
@@mollyesanborn To Molly: After a bit of thought and recollection, I think it’s important that you please allow me to convey to you and everyone else that Vs is a great album with some very strong shining moments, and Vitalogy is not to be discounted as it is one of their greatest masterpieces. From what I remember, Ten, Vs and Vitalogy are my three favorites, and probably widely considered top 3 by the general listening public. For what it’s worth. Side note: Please consider checking out some of The Cardigans albums. After hearing their hits "Lovefool" and "My Favourite Game", they will surprise you with their chameleon of a catalogue. One of the most underrated bands, in my opinion.
This album changed my life when I was 12 in 1992. The prominent echo that gives the whole album a spacey, dark vibe apparently wasn’t liked by the band, so when they re-released it years ago, the reverb was mixed out. I listened to that version once. The original is a top 5 record for me.
I was 12 years old. I stayed up late to watch Saturday Night Live (unbeknownst to my parents). Pearl Jam was the musical guest. I'd never heard of them. They came on and did Alive and my little mind exploded. Core memory for sure. This album was a staple of my transition from middle school to high school and holds a special place in my heart. Quick edit to say: when you have 5 minutes of your own free time, watch the video for Jeremy. It's a masterpeice.
awesome you got to hear this Molly. i remember seeing Pearl Jam for the first time on MTV's Headbangers Ball and this was months before they began getting mainstream constant mtv play. got the cd and a few weeks later, they played a free concert outside my dorm at univ of georgia where i was a freshman. just a great album , the first of many. since you liked this , i highly recommend checking out the soundtrack to the movie Singles, which heavily focused on the Seattle music scene of early 90s. wonderful album with a couple Pearl Jam and Soundgarden songs among others
I'm so glad I finally got to Pearl Jam on my list of bands to check out! They did not disappoint, this debut album is incredible. That's so cool you got a free concert from them early on in their career! And thanks for the soundtrack recommendation, I'll have to check that out.
Us 90s kids would just leave this CD on repeat and the last part just bleeds back into the first track .. i got this and zelda 64 and both stayed on loop for months
I was 16 when Ten became the anthemic album of my life after the first listening. I wish every new generation of music listeners such a life defining moment.
Now that you have listened to both Soundgarden and Pearl Jam, I would highly recommend the song Hunger Strike by Temple of the Dog. It is a culmination of the vocal prowess of both Chris Cornell and Eddie Vedder, one of the greatest combinations of vocals in modern music history imo.
A few others have been suggesting Temple of the Dog as well, I'll definitely have to check it out once I get through more of Soundgarden and Pearl Jam's albums!
In your spare time check out the Jeremy music video. Also Even Flow. It's re-recorded with a different drummer. Dave Krusen played on Ten but had to leave the band for personal reasons. Dave Abbruzzese is the drummer in the music video. He was the 3rd. In the video for Alive is Matt Chamberlain who was their 2nd drummer but left to be in the SNL band at the time.
Hi molly!! I loved your reaction, if you liked this debut album you should really try their second record "VS". It has a whole different sound, less classic rock and more punk/grunge kind of but its a gem too, cheers from argentina
I got goosebumps through this entire video. I agree that this album has a strong theme of water. Water can flow and crash and they captured the varying states of water. Please listen to this again and focus on the lyrics. Very important. I also very strongly recommend Stone Temple Pilots albums. You'll absolutely LOVE them!
I'll certainly be listening to this album again (multiple multiple times lol). I'll try and delve further into the lyrical themes. Lot's to pick up on. And I've got Stone Temple Pilots on my list for the future, thanks for the suggestion :)
If I remember correctly it was in 2009 they re-released this album in a slightly remixed format as Ten Redux with some of the reverb stripped out thus giving the album a slightly rawer sound, perhaps a listen to that to contrast with this would be a cool video.
Yes, Black has been my favourite Pearl Jam song since I heard the album back in ‘91. There was always something really unique and deep about it. Many, many people really like the unplugged version too. I’m still partial to the studio version, but they’re both terrific.
My uncle gave me Pearl Jam's Alive, Soundgarden's Superunknown, and Alice in Chains Dirt for a birthday gift when I was 11. That's when my love for rock and grunge music became solidified.
I'm not as big of a Pearl Jam fan as many people are, but this album in particular is incredible. I'm glad Black hit you on that level because to me that is one of the most emotionally powerful songs ever written.
Spot on, Black is such an incredible track. That line where he says "I know someday you'll have a beautiful life" hits me hard, chills every time I listen to it.
@@mollyesanborn I'm so excited to see you reacting to the rest of their discography, Vs, Yield and Riot Act became into my favorites as much as this one. Thanks for consider our comments. I'm from México and I suggest you a band from here called "Caifanes" 👌 their first album is so well.
What a soaring debut. It was a sliding, fretless bass that gave you some great reactions to the bass lines! Delighted you're keeping going with grunge. Stone Temple Pilots are worth your time; and some unplugged sessions from grunge bands. I take it by the lack of Nirvana reactions that you're already quite familiar with them.
Right? I can't believe this is their debut album! What a bang to start out their discography with this record. Can't wait to hear what else they're going to bring on their follow up albums. And yeah I've been loving the grunge. I've got Stone Temple Pilots on my list, and as for Nirvana I wouldn't say I'm extremely familiar with their music but I've heard enough to not do any reactions.
I remember reading a story about someone in the studio using a screwdriver and a fire extinguisher for percussion on “Oceans”. Hope it’s true! Essential album to say the least.
I remember the day I got this CD I was in the car with my mom and we were on our way home but when Black came on we had to loop around the street a bit and play it loudly and vibed tf out lol
Aww man, to be able to hear Black again for the first time would be something. It's always hard to believe people haven't heard Jeremy with as much as it was played but I keep forgetting it's been over 30 years. This album still kicks ass, great production, great energy, love the guitar tones, and Eddie kills it from front to back. Glad you enjoyed it!
To be able to hear Ten again. Sheesh.
Black is a very special song, it has such a transfixing sound to it, although the entire album is so amazing. Pearl Jam really created an entire atmosphere with their sound on this record that you completely sink into when listening to it.
@@mollyesanborn Now go watch the MTV Unplugged live version of the song Black and have your mind blown again.
I've lived with all of these songs for 30 years. It's insane to think of someone hearing it for the first time.
@@KhalidQuesadaSame .. I really enjoyed seeing her big smile listening to it for the very first time. And it’s great to see the younger generation seeking for music which has a soul and is not made with auto-tune
If you loved Black, you absolutely have to check out their MTV Unplugged version. That is the quintessential version of the song! Eddie's raw emotion with his delivery of the vocals is heart wrenching. It's become known as one of the best live performances of a song, not just by Pearl Jam, but of any band! I can't recommend it enough! I think it's so special that you should do a one off reaction video of it. I think we'd all love to see that!
Good to know, I'll definitely have to check that out! Would love to hear what these tracks sound like live.
@@mollyesanborn I've seen them 4 times live & they are amazing!
But here's the version you need to check out. Would love to see your reaction to this!
ruclips.net/video/uETeeMyrlkQ/видео.htmlsi=vLqJDjdkz-5-dYZV
@@mollyesanbornyesss
This song (Black)was on the radio for months
I was just going to say the same thing. MTV Black was transcendent
I am so glad you mentioned Garden as a 'stand-out' because I always thought it deserved more attention, based on its melody and lyrics!
same it’s my favorite one after Black it’s very underrated in that album
Yes, such a beautiful track!
This is how you make an album. This album has a distinctive mood throughout but still it is very varied and dynamic. And I really like it, it is a album, not just a collection of random songs. One of the best rock albums ever made.
Hell Yeah! Pearl Jam's Ten really defined my Teenage years. My favorite song on that album is Black. Though every track kicks major ass. Pearl Jam 's Ten is indeed one of my all time favorite albums.
This debut album was fantastic! Definitely excited to hear more from pearl Jam. And yes Black is my favorite track as well, such a beautiful song.
Only great songs on this album, but if I had to choose, "Porch" would be my favourite.
@@_Shadoh_ porch is good, ocean is amazing, garden is awesome as well.
@@mollyesanborn in that case, VS is good, vitalogy isn't bad either (with the exception of Bugs, that song is ass) Yield is decent as well.
VS, their second album is where everyone would say go next. It's 50/50 chance any PJ fan will pick either Ten or VS. After their 3rd album Vitalogy, they turned into more of a rock band and left a lot of the heavy harder stuff behind. Their whole catalog is very much worth exploring. The band just knows how to make great songs@@mollyesanborn
I always think of Ten as a perfect album, it demonstrates the art of an album, a connected collection of great songs.
For me the best three Pearl Jam albums are Ten, Vitalogy and Lightning Bolt.
Well said, this album is indeed connected so well from one track to the next. Such a great flow and cohesion to it. Can't wait to hear more of Pearl Jam's music now!
I really hope you react to Temple of the Dog. They were a supergroup made up of members of Soundgarden and Pearl Jam back in the early 90s. They only put out one album, but it was amazing, and is worth experiencing.
Seconded. Temple of the Dog is easily my favourite grunge album.
Was gonna say this now MUST be heard after Soundgarden and PJ.
Of course, a demo tape followed by his idea for dual vocals on the failing Hunger Strike, was Vedder's ticket to the future of his career.
She needs to do Mad Season after TOTD
I'll definitely have to check out Temple of the Dog once I get through some more of Soundgarden and Pearl Jam's music. Thanks for letting me know!
Yes it is!! One of THE BEST albums of the 90's!!!
This album and Core by STP were the influence that made me become a guitarist. I was born in '82 and had never purchased many albums, I didn't know that you could love every song on an album, i thought you only bought it for the one or two you liked.
Ten was a monumental acheivement in rock and the only reason Kurt dissed them was because he knew they were a better band.
Pearl Jam was a late entry into the Seattle scene - with Soundgarden and Alice in Chains already having albums out. But most of Pearl Jam were veterans of the scene having been in other bands - including Green River and Mother Love Bone, so knew how to craft songs. They added an little-known singer from San Diego, and created Ten - which was a huge hit.
Loving you discovering the 90's great bands!
Me too! So so many great albums came out in the 90's, glad I'm finally discovering them :)
The emotion in Release always gets me
Yes, such a beautiful track!
Release, Oceans, and Once are my favorite songs on this album.
Although the singular lyric from Black kills me every time. "I know some day 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, can't it be mine?" Said with such heart and feeling and passion behind it. Incredible.
That line from Black stood out to me as well, there is just so much emotional delivery behind it. But yes this whole album is incredible, Pearl Jam really delivered on every aspect with this debut and I can't wait to hear more music from them now!
One of the most beautiful albums ever made
Ten is a top 10 of all time for me. Amazing band and story. Pearl Jam went on to become one of the greatest rock bands of all time. They got me into so many other artists like Bruce Springsteen, The Who, Neil Young, The Doors and Jimi Hendricks. Like Nirvana, they changed the sound of rock music for a long time with hundreds of bands mimicking and being inspired by them. The industry changed as so many record labels were trying to find the next Pearl Jam after they blew up. The song Black maybe the 90's "break-up" song. Powerful and emotional. I would suggest you listen to the MTV Unplugged version of it if you want chills. Jeremy was also an anthem for Gen X, mental health issues and gun violence which has only gotten worse. This album is lightning in a bottle and means so much to millions of people.
Would you say that Ten is #10 on your list?... haha just joking! But seriously this album is amazing, the sound that Pearl Jam encapsulated on this record is so nuanced and well developed. Very impressive for their debut. I'll definitely have to give their MTV Unplugged session a listen, and I can't wait to go through more in their discography as well.
Bitch Ten is top 3 album.
"Like Nirvana, they changed the sound of rock music for a long time with hundreds of bands mimicking and being inspired by them" Yeah but not in a good way lmao. I like Pearl Jam enough but every single Pearl Jam-sounding band from the 90s to early 2000s was awful.
Probably the greatest American rock band still going, thank you for doing this album. Please continue on with your journey of them. Next album Vs., and the one after that Vitalogy, are both required listening. These guys have been my favorite band for over 30 years now.
I will absolutely check out more from Pearl Jam! I loved this first record from them.
there are quite a lot of American bands better than Pearl Jam currently going.
Now you gotta do Temple of the Dog. That album was mostly written by Chris Cornell as tribute to dead singer of Mother Love Bone, Andrew Wood (2 Members of PJ were in that band ). But he, along with Soundgarden Drummer, hired the backing band that became Pearl Jam ( Before they recorded their first album Ten) and went on the studio to create the masterpiece of an album to remember their fallen brother . Its a very soulful album and will fall right into place as you are continuing through Soundgarden and Pearl Jam discography. Its an essential listening.
Hopefully you haven’t forgotten to do ‘Badmotorfinger’.
I will definitely do a Badmotorfinger reaction as well! Can't wait to hear it. I'll keep Temple Of The Dog in mind too for the future, thanks :)
Alice in Chains, Soundgarden, and now Pearl Jam. Love your reactions Molly. I hope you can continue your grunge journey and listen to Stone Temple Pilots.
NIRVANA!!!!!
Yeah, Core and Purple are a required listen.
Ugh... 'grunge.'
A bunch of great bands that came out around the same time, some from the same area, that sounded nothing alike. Yet they're all lumped together under a stupid name like grunge ( I'm pretty sure some ad exec came up with that silly moniker)
In the early eighties they had NWOBHM (New Wave of British Heavy Metal, at least those guys had some musical common ground) but grunge is what it's known as... 😞
I'm absolutely loving the grunge! The 90's rocked (pun intended). I'll definitely consider some Stone Temple Pilots for the future, thanks :)
@@claymccoysongs from the big chair isn't too bad either.
Omg yes! This was the first album I ever bought in my life as a teen when it came out in 91. Could have chosen a worse one 😄 it's still in my top TEN albums ever 😍
Nice! Yeah this album is amazing, such a great debut for Pearl Jam's discography.
Aaah, Pearl Jam - Ten. Man, how many times did I listen to this through my teenage years and twenties?? And I am still counting. Really enjoyed your commentary. The best track here is probably Black, but my personal favorite has grown to be Release through the years. Be sure to watch their MTV Unplugged performance. A really strong performance of Black on that one. They play most of these songs + a really great b-side called State of Love and Trust. Their next album ´vs´ is probably my favorite of theirs. Indifference just melts my soul every time.
Thank you for watching, glad you enjoyed the reaction! This album was incredible from start to finish. Pearl Jam definitely created something special. So nuanced and layered with the instrumentals, and then so much emotion and an amazing vocal delivery to boot. I'll definitely have to give their MTV Unplugged a listen as well, and can't wait to hear Vs. too!
@@mollyesanborn Yes, not a bad song on here. You touched on many reasons why I love this record. The guitars and music are of course fantastic, but it has to be the vocals that ultimately drew me in. Soft and angst ridden at the same time. Desperation, and like you say, the passion and believability. The lyrics are part of that as well. Eddie is a great storyteller.
I can remember listening to this album in middle school! This album has so many good songs. Eddie Vedder has a unique voice and Pearl Jam revolutionized 90’s grunge movement. Love your reactions! Definitely check out temple of the dog!
Thank you for watching! Such a great album, really glad I finally gave this one a listen. I'll be sure to keep your Temple of the Dog suggestion in mind :)
One of the very best rock albums, ever.
100%. This one was fantastic!!
This is my favorite PJ album with VS (verses) being second! I never get tired of hearing both albums! Love your reactions and insights Molly! Keep up the great work!
Versus
Ooh, can't wait to hear Vs too! I'm sure it'll be great. Thanks for watching the videos and am glad you're enjoying the channel :)
When this first came out my 13 year old little brain was f'n blown! By far my favorite band of all time! I've seen them in concert 6 times and every one was a masterpiece.
One of the best things about Pearl Jam is they continued to grow and evolve with each album, coming up with fresh sounds and concepts.
That's fantastic that you got to hear this album right when it came out! I am very excited to continue on with their albums and hear how they evolve as a band.
@@mollyesanbornalso, to address your comments about water themes reoccurring. That is definitely intended, or at least a product of the way this album was made. Without writing a complete Wikipedia entry about how the band was formed, when Eddie Vedder auditioned for the band he was living in California surfing when not working. He received an instrumental demo tape through mutual friends of some songs the band was working on. He wrote and recorded lyrics to go with them, notably the songs that would become alive, once, and black (eventually others were released on future albums and singles). Vedder continues to be an avid surfer.
@@archwayportraits that's really fascinating, yeah that water/ocean influence is so strong on this record. I love that he pulled that aspect of his life into the sound that Ten has.
That instrumental that wraps the album is called Master/Slave
You should watch their whole Unplugged show, on your own time or as reactions, to see just how good these guys are live. They only performed 7 songs but they absolutely knocked every one out of the park. They're still putting out albums and selling out stadiums all over the world, some 32 years later.
Yeah a lot of people keep suggesting their MTV Unplugged show, I'll definitely have to give that a watch!
This and Siamese Dream by SP are probably my two favorite albums of the 90's. Well, and every 90's Tool albums.
Soooo many good albums released around this time period, huh? Hard to pick a favorite! Ten and Siamese Dream are both extremely solid choices for the best though, two amazing records!
Add Candlebox by Candlebox.
Super underrated album
Pearl Jam's second album "Vs." is a must listen as well imo!
I'll plan a reaction to that one as well! Looking forward to hearing it.
I’ve got a cool story about Eddie Vedder. First I worked for an insurance company back in the day in the special lines field and remember actually speaking to Eddie about his boat policy! He said enjoyed calling instead of his agent! Very down to Earth and later we were able to meet at a Seattle Pearl Jam show so he was able to put a face to the voice on the phone 📱. ILL NEVER FORGET IT! RIP CHRIS CORNELL. The Seattle scene in the early 1990’s is unsurpassed by anything going on today!
Every track on this album is incredible and so full of energy, and their live shows around this time were on another level. The guitar riff on Deep hits so hard every time, Stone and Mike are such an awesome guitar duo.
I'll definitely have to look up and watch some videos of them performing live!
One of the best debut albums
This was the first album I ever heard on CD. Man I feel old. The chorus of Even Flow echoes in my mind to this day. If there is anything that transports me in time it's that.
Hi Molly, it's really cool you're going back and listening to some of the old grunge albums. Here's a couple more obscure, but must listens:
1. Mad Season - Above
2. Singles: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (no really, you have to listen to this album!)
Mad Season was a side project including Layne Staley on vocals and Mike McCready from Pearl Jam on guitar. It came out in 1995 (late grunge era), but it has Layne Staley on it so you must hear it.
"Singles: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack" is one of the best movie soundtracks ever assembled, and includes originals from Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, and Smashing Pumpkins that you won't hear on any other albums! It also includes Chris Cornell's song "Seasons", which if you're a fan of Chris Cornell you must hear! The theme of the movie and the album is the grunge music scene in Seattle in the early 90's. The album was released in June of 1992 and was the first time we heard the song Would? by Alice in Chains, as the album Dirt wasn't release until September of that same year. So as you can imagine Singles made quite an impact.
cool reaction. There are a few iconic concerts in modern music. Pearl Jam in 1992 at Pinkpop is one of those sets. I cannot reccommend it more strongly.
I'll have to check it out if I can find a video of it on RUclips or something, thanks for letting me know!
yw, there is, just search youtube for PEARL JAM PINKPOP 92, the whole set@@mollyesanborn if you thought he had energy in studio versions..... anyways, enjoy your reactions. peace.
Pinkpop is all over RUclips. It's an amazing show for numerous reasons. Highly recommend seeking it out. I was a fan before 10 came out because a really cool friend insisted that I go see this band. They're live shows are phenomenal.
If I remember right the Pinkpop festival was one of their first live shows. They were 100% committed to giving it all they had. Amazing energy performance.
SOOO glad you are finally doing Pearl Jam, one of my fave bands of all time, Ten is such a phenomenal debut, it's insane how strong their songs were right from the very start, cant wait for you to get to the next album of theirs ('Vs') which is probably my fave album of their discography.
I know, it's amazing that this is their debut. Such an incredible start to their discography. I'm very excited to hear Vs. next!
Love your channel and content, Molly. As someone that grew up when a lot of these records were popping off and on the forefront of my attention, it’s really cool to experience them again for the “first” time through someone as appreciative and articulate as you. Thank you 🫡
Thank you so much! This comment made me really happy to read, I'm glad that you're getting to relive this music in a way through the reactions :)
Thank you. I hadn't listened to Ten track by track in a while. This album changed everything for me. I love almost all the bands that hit the scene at this time but Pearl Jam is special. I absolutely love that they're fan boys of a bunch of bands I adore. This band has been the soundtrack of my life through good and bad times. As excellent as Ten is, there's so much more. Thank you! I enjoyed this. 💕👍
It was VERY COOL to see someone obviously REALLY appreciate hearing Ten for the first time. I'm not quite through your video, but the word you might be looking for that I've always used to describe the overall mood of the album is "ethereal." I've been a HUGE PJ fan since I was 14 and this album was new. If you liked Oceans, Eddie Vedder continues to sing about the ocean A LOT! And the sun, and the moon, and the wind, etc. That "ethereal" thing is VERY IMPORTANT to the overall "theme" of Pearl Jam's entire career!
Yup. Watching more and you're ALREADY picking up on the water themes! KEEP LISTENING! You just might become one of "The Faithful." (You'll find out on Yield.)
Yeah Ten is such a beautiful album, ethereal is a very appropriate word to describe its sound. I'm very excited to continue on with their discography and see what I'll think of the rest of their albums.
@@mollyesanbornVedder is a surf bro and used to live IN A VAN DOWN BY THE BEACH! So references to the ocean and waves are often apparent in his lyrics.
3 quick thoughts:
- I love your reactions, very honest and insightful
- Didn't hear you get into the lyrics much on this, which I think they are fantastic and tell the mood perfectly
- This is my favorite album of all time, a perfect TEN, if you will
Thanks for watching, I'm glad you enjoyed the reaction! I'm generally pretty bad at picking up on lyrical themes with one listen, the music/production/overall feeling I get from the music is usually what my brain chooses to focus on. I will definitely be giving Ten some more listens and will try and delve deeper into the lyrical themes on it. And yes, a 10/10 album for sure!
My two favorite tracks from Pearl Jam are on the Singles Soundtrack. You should react to that it may be the best soundtrack ever - epic grunge compilation with tracks that are not on other albums. Soundgarden, Smashing Pumpkins, Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains and more.
"Satete of Love and Trust" ans "Breathe"! Such good songs that perfectly express the vibe of those times!
Thanks so much for the suggestion! I'll definitely have to give it a listen.
This album blew me away when it first came out. So many great sounds came out of Seattle. And yes, please continue with Pearl Jam's discography. 👍💯
So cool you keep noting the echoey, atmospheric quality of this album. It's always been my favorite thing about it. It's almost haunting. The band hated that by the way. They thought it was overproduced and 80s-sounding and wanted just the sound of a band in a room, much drier and tighter.
That's so interesting! Yeah I love the way they produced this album, that sort of floaty, dreamy feeling that it has. It would be interesting to hear a different version sounding the way the band had wanted it.
Now THIS album changed my life at 17 when it came out. Finally music for me!
Killer album! So glad I finally got to hear this one.
@@mollyesanborn You should check out Bob Mould. He was in Husker Du who were the godfathers of all these grunge bands. He did some amazing solo albums in the late 80's early 90's then came out with the band Sugar, perfect power pop. Check out Copper Blue and Beaster for the highlights of that era. He's been doing great solo work ever since and is an icon of the early punk-pop genre.
Yes!!! Legit, just react to their discography in order of release. They grow, they flex, but they're my all time favorite for the span of their career and abilities. If you ever get the chance to see them live, GO. Love your channel and insight. Keep up the great work 🤘
Edit: before going to their next album 'Vs', react to their MTV Unplugged performance 💙
Yeah this debut album from them was fantastic! Definitely looking forward to hearing more from Pearl Jam.
Molly, I’m a bit older than u. Back in the early 90s this was my FAVORITE album! I still like it a whole bunch! I got the biggest kick out of you digging it! (I hope u did anyway). I’ve always liked Pearl Jam and feel that this was their best piece!
Watch “Out of the Furnace” with Christian Bale, Woody Harrelson, and Zoe Saldana. The song “Release Me” is featured in that…INTENSE!
Black still blows me away 3 decades later..saw them 2x in September..phenomenal as always. Mikes guitar solos on Black are mind blowing
Fort Worth or Austin? I went to all 4 shows. It was surreal.
@PearlJamFanLV I was in Austin. Mikes side both nights
I like how you include the song titles in the timeline
Thanks! :)
Your water theme analogy is right on point. Eddie is a surfer and often incorporates a theme of waves in the songs.
LETS GOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!
This is one of those rare albums that for me has 0 skips, great track after great track.
I agree, every track brings something unique to this album!
I love your videos so so much (i found you today!) mainly those of the bands of my youth (smashing pumpkins, system of a down, incubus, korn, slipknot). I shared them with old friends from school and thanks to that i reconnected with them. I appreciate your subtle reactions, they made me rediscover known worlds and fall in love again with that music. You touched my soul. Cheers from Argentina!
Oh wow, thanks! Glad to hear that you're enjoying the channel. That's so cool that you were able to reconnect with old friends through the videos. I really appreciate you watching and glad you dig this music as much as I do haha! ❤️
@@mollyesanbornwaiting for a new video from a channel. That's new for me. Thanks to you, Molly.
Black is the song I discovered Pearl Jam on and it will always be my favourite. You're right, it absolutely is mind blowing.
Seeing you enjoying every note of this Masterpiece is a visual masterpiece in itself
1991 was an amazing year for alt rock/grunge! In March REM released Out of Time, featuring their hit songs _Losing My Religion_ and _Shiny Happy People;_ in May The Smashing Pumpkins released their debut album Gish, which you reacted to previously and which IMO was a pretty awesome debut album; in August Pearl Jam released this album, again IMO was a pretty awesome debut album; then in September Nirvana released Nevermind, which made pretty much everything else released that year irrelevant because they basically couldn't keep copies on the shelves of record stores, and the hit tracks were almost constantly playing on the radio and MTV. Oh yeah, and I guess Soundgarden also released Badmotorfinger in Octorber. But like I said, Nevermind.
Personally, I was pretty young when this album came out, so I didn't discover it until a few years later. I usually picked up albums by bands that my friends liked when they were on special at the record store (when I had the money), but this one blew me away when I first heard it. Obviously I'd heard some of the songs on the radio before, but I was shocked by how many great tracks were on one album! I was kind-of used to listening to my Dad's old records which might've had the hit track that most people bought the album for plus one or possibly two other good tracks, but Ten is banging pretty much from end to end.
But watching Pearl Jam live is where it's at. I've been to a bunch of their shows, basically whenever they toured Australia, and it's always an awesome experience. Check out the music video for _Even Flow_ if you want to get an idea of what it's like.
Great comment! Thanks for taking the time to write it. Man 1991 was indeed fantastic for music, so many great albums came out. I've still gotta get to a Badmotorfinger reaction, can't wait to hear that one. And Nevermind I've already heard a lot of the tracks from, Nirvana being the one grunge band I was semi-familiar with before starting this channel. I'll have to watch some of Pearl Jam's live performances, along with the Even Flow video as you suggested.
One of the greatest debut albums
I grew up to this playing constantly, so it had a big impact on me and my friends.
What an album, still easily one of the best debut albums of all time, and one that marked my teenage years. I'll be honest, I can't really listen to it anymore but it'll always have a special place.
I consider Ten to be my favorite and a perfect 10/10 album (no pun intended), because it speaks to me, it delivers what I want to hear in rock music. It has the perfect guitar sound, perfect snare drum sound, perfect bass sound, and even perfect vocals. What I also love about this album is that each song has their own identity, in terms of sound, because they’re pretty distinctive from each, and also in their lyrics. They are very powerful songs in many different ways, and I love that so much. Highly recommend to people who haven’t listened to this album, and also Vs
Oh yeah- here it is. The record that hooked me in to all things rock. This right here is pure sonic PERFECTION. Even though I do have to admit hearing this stuff brings memories to me that remind me how old I'm getting, but getting back on track; this band, this album really inspired me as a drummer. The grooves are so strong that they might be illegal in 24 states if I recall correctly. Welcome to PJ's discography. So glad you got to hear this greatness!
Thanks for the comment! I can see why this was the album that got you hooked on rock. It's amazing. They really developed such a detailed sound across this record, it's so cohesive and the tracks just flow perfectly from one to the next. I will absolutely check out more from Pearl Jam now, can't wait to really dive into their catalog as a band!
This album spoke to me so much as a kid/teenager when the grunge movement was in full effect but as a San Diego kid something about Eddie’s lyrics (many of which were written while he lived here) spoke to me
I wasn't a fan of Pearl Jam when they first came out, but listening to this album now takes me back to junior high and I like it.
This was such a huge album. One of the biggest bands of the era, based on this first album. I've owned it on cassette, CD, and vinyl. Their next two are also incredible as they go darker and weirder.
Hearing that they get darker makes me really excited to hear more of their discography!
The first half of the last track is Release. The instrumental bit at the end is called Master/Slave. Release is a very common opener at Pearl Jam concerts, especially in dark arenas.
Love the reaction and channel! And I could listen to a compilation of you saying “acoustic” on loop. Love it and I don’t know why it’s subtly so different from how I say it.
Picked up the CD on its release date and it immediately went in my player at work. Incredible album.
I was so happy to see you have this positive of a reaction to this album. I loved Pearl Jam so much that in the late 90s I was able to completely fill my 50-CD changer with Pearl Jam and Metallica albums and singles.
One of my favorite albums! I always play this on road trips and sing along
Hi Molly, I enjoyed your reaction. The music sounds great. It has that early 2000’s style to it
I agreed with that assessment when it came out in 1991!
Glad you enjoyed the reaction! And yes this album is indeed great, such a deep and complex sound to it. The production is really well done.
Stone Gossard plays a fender
Strat and Mike McCready plays a les paul. That's why there's that great blend of chunky low end and crystal highs on the guitars.
"Porch" live hits in an amazing way that the album version can't deliver. Either way, Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains, Soundgarden, Nirvana, and Smashing Pumpkins ruled the world for a handful of years, and I'm so happy I was a teenager during that moment on this planet.
I will have to check out a live version of Porch, I know a lot of people have been suggesting I give their MTV Unplugged a listen. And yes I have been loving the grunge lately! The 90's were ripe with all of these talented bands popping on the scene.
Yes! The first band and the first album I ever became obsessed with. I liked music before…this album made me LOVE music! So glad you checked it out!
I can talk about this album for hours(you know me, LOL)…but here’s a fun fact, Oceans is a love song Eddie Vedder wrote to his surfboard. 🏄 So cool!
That's so awesome that this record was one of your inspirations for getting into music. I can see why, I was blown away by this one. Can't believe I've never thought to check out Pearl Jam before now, boy was I missing out. And that's a cool fact about Oceans! Would have never guessed it was written about a surfboard haha!
@@mollyesanborn yup, this is the one. This is the album that converted me from a casual listener of music to the obsessed, crazed music nerd that I am today. Check out Temple Of The Dog someday. It’s Eddie Vedder and members from Pearl Jam/Mother Love Bone together with Chris Cornell and members of Soundgarden. That was such an amazing era for music!
@@shaunstermonster a few others have mentioned Temple of the Dog as well, I'll definitely have to check them out!
I love black's studio version... the echo, the piano... i haven't seen pearl jam capture that vibe in their live concerts... it's kinda watery, industrial, progressive, artsy...
Interesting, a lot of people in the comments have been praising the live MTV unplugged version of Black. I'll have to listen to it and see how it compares to the original. I love the studio version too though, I honestly can't imagine another rendition of it being better but who knows.
I loved the sound of ten, thanks to rick parashar and ament/gossard. A shame they didnt sound like that again, Brendan o brien gave them an angrier vibe in vs and vitalogy
What a treat you get Molly, to be able to listen to Ten for the first time.
This is one of those albums that is wall to wall solid tracks all the way through. Pearl Jam had a lot of good albums but they never quite reached the level of this magnum opus again. This is a 90s masterpiece.
90's masterpiece for sure. It's hard to believe this was their debut, such an amazing start for them as a band. As you said every track is amazing, and they flow together so perfectly.
@@mollyesanborn Absolutely.
Alive is about childhood trauma and abuse. Black, a broken relationship, Jeremy is based on the true story of troubled kid in Texas who took his own life and Release is so personal about his father, Eddie won’t perform it live.
Please do yourself a bonus and check out the videos that accompanied this album.
Alive, Even Flow, MTV Unplugged performance of Black and the music video for Jeremy.
@@mollyesanborn To Molly:
After a bit of thought and recollection, I think it’s important that you please allow me to convey to you and everyone else that Vs is a great album with some very strong shining moments, and Vitalogy is not to be discounted as it is one of their greatest masterpieces.
From what I remember, Ten, Vs and Vitalogy are my three favorites, and probably widely considered top 3 by the general listening public. For what it’s worth.
Side note: Please consider checking out some of The Cardigans albums. After hearing their hits "Lovefool" and "My Favourite Game", they will surprise you with their chameleon of a catalogue. One of the most underrated bands, in my opinion.
This album changed my life when I was 12 in 1992. The prominent echo that gives the whole album a spacey, dark vibe apparently wasn’t liked by the band, so when they re-released it years ago, the reverb was mixed out. I listened to that version once.
The original is a top 5 record for me.
This album is part of the soundtrack of my youth. I love PJ and this album will forever be one of my favorites! Thanks Molly.
I loved every second of this beautiful album! I can see why it was a favorite for you growing up. Thanks for watching the reaction :)
@@mollyesanborn You should definitely check out Vs. their second album. It is a little more raw but has great tracks too. Take care Molly!
Smooth and Buttery is the best description i have ever heard about Pearl Jam. Agreed!!
Try Blind Melon’s debut album. Similar to this record in the way it is a defining 90’s album but with a very 70’s rock sound.
I love your positivity/enthusiasm and your in depth analysis!
Thank you so much, I appreciate that! Glad you enjoyed the reaction :)
I was 12 years old. I stayed up late to watch Saturday Night Live (unbeknownst to my parents). Pearl Jam was the musical guest. I'd never heard of them. They came on and did Alive and my little mind exploded. Core memory for sure. This album was a staple of my transition from middle school to high school and holds a special place in my heart. Quick edit to say: when you have 5 minutes of your own free time, watch the video for Jeremy. It's a masterpeice.
That's fantastic, glad you had this amazing record to grow up with! I'll definitely have to check out the Jeremy video, thanks for suggesting it.
awesome you got to hear this Molly. i remember seeing Pearl Jam for the first time on MTV's Headbangers Ball and this was months before they began getting mainstream constant mtv play. got the cd and a few weeks later, they played a free concert outside my dorm at univ of georgia where i was a freshman. just a great album , the first of many. since you liked this , i highly recommend checking out the soundtrack to the movie Singles, which heavily focused on the Seattle music scene of early 90s. wonderful album with a couple Pearl Jam and Soundgarden songs among others
I'm so glad I finally got to Pearl Jam on my list of bands to check out! They did not disappoint, this debut album is incredible. That's so cool you got a free concert from them early on in their career! And thanks for the soundtrack recommendation, I'll have to check that out.
Us 90s kids would just leave this CD on repeat and the last part just bleeds back into the first track .. i got this and zelda 64 and both stayed on loop for months
Aloha Molly! Nice reaction to this! I've only heard a few songs by Pearl Jam so this was cool to watch. Have a great weekend!
Thanks for watching! Hope you get to enjoy Ten as much as I did :)
I was 16 when Ten became the anthemic album of my life after the first listening. I wish every new generation of music listeners such a life defining moment.
Now that you have listened to both Soundgarden and Pearl Jam, I would highly recommend the song Hunger Strike by Temple of the Dog. It is a culmination of the vocal prowess of both Chris Cornell and Eddie Vedder, one of the greatest combinations of vocals in modern music history imo.
A few others have been suggesting Temple of the Dog as well, I'll definitely have to check it out once I get through more of Soundgarden and Pearl Jam's albums!
If she;s going to check out Temple of the Dog she should check out their whole album, not just Hunger Strike!
In your spare time check out the Jeremy music video. Also Even Flow. It's re-recorded with a different drummer. Dave Krusen played on Ten but had to leave the band for personal reasons. Dave Abbruzzese is the drummer in the music video. He was the 3rd. In the video for Alive is Matt Chamberlain who was their 2nd drummer but left to be in the SNL band at the time.
Thanks for letting me know! I'll have to give it a watch.
Hi molly!! I loved your reaction, if you liked this debut album you should really try their second record "VS". It has a whole different sound, less classic rock and more punk/grunge kind of but its a gem too, cheers from argentina
I'll definitely be checking Vs out as well, really looking forward to hearing it!
Such an amazing album! Great review as usual. :)
Yes this album was far beyond anything I was expecting. What a fantastic debut for Pearl Jam! Can't wait to hear more of their discography now.
I didn't remember this Pearl Jam's album had all these good songs, thanks for remembering me Molly!
And yes Black hits right in the feelings...
I know, the track lineup on this record is insane. So many incredible songs.
Perfect timing! I just ordered this record on vinyl today
Nice! That'll be some great listening once you get it.
I got goosebumps through this entire video. I agree that this album has a strong theme of water. Water can flow and crash and they captured the varying states of water. Please listen to this again and focus on the lyrics. Very important. I also very strongly recommend Stone Temple Pilots albums. You'll absolutely LOVE them!
I'll certainly be listening to this album again (multiple multiple times lol). I'll try and delve further into the lyrical themes. Lot's to pick up on. And I've got Stone Temple Pilots on my list for the future, thanks for the suggestion :)
If I remember correctly it was in 2009 they re-released this album in a slightly remixed format as Ten Redux with some of the reverb stripped out thus giving the album a slightly rawer sound, perhaps a listen to that to contrast with this would be a cool video.
Thanks for letting me know!
Yes, Black has been my favourite Pearl Jam song since I heard the album back in ‘91. There was always something really unique and deep about it. Many, many people really like the unplugged version too. I’m still partial to the studio version, but they’re both terrific.
My uncle gave me Pearl Jam's Alive, Soundgarden's Superunknown, and Alice in Chains Dirt for a birthday gift when I was 11. That's when my love for rock and grunge music became solidified.
That's an awesome birthday gift!
YES!!!!!! Release!!!!
I'm not as big of a Pearl Jam fan as many people are, but this album in particular is incredible. I'm glad Black hit you on that level because to me that is one of the most emotionally powerful songs ever written.
Spot on, Black is such an incredible track. That line where he says "I know someday you'll have a beautiful life" hits me hard, chills every time I listen to it.
So glad see you reacting to this musical jewel, love your facial expressions in many moments. Thanks a lot for you existing Molly. ☺️☺️☺️
Thank you for the sweet comment! So glad you enjoyed the reaction :)
@@mollyesanborn I'm so excited to see you reacting to the rest of their discography, Vs, Yield and Riot Act became into my favorites as much as this one. Thanks for consider our comments. I'm from México and I suggest you a band from here called "Caifanes" 👌 their first album is so well.
What a soaring debut. It was a sliding, fretless bass that gave you some great reactions to the bass lines!
Delighted you're keeping going with grunge. Stone Temple Pilots are worth your time; and some unplugged sessions from grunge bands. I take it by the lack of Nirvana reactions that you're already quite familiar with them.
Right? I can't believe this is their debut album! What a bang to start out their discography with this record. Can't wait to hear what else they're going to bring on their follow up albums. And yeah I've been loving the grunge. I've got Stone Temple Pilots on my list, and as for Nirvana I wouldn't say I'm extremely familiar with their music but I've heard enough to not do any reactions.
Ten is the best PJ album. It's where it all began for me. The epic live shows when they played all these tracks live take me back.Eddie was so wild.
I remember reading a story about someone in the studio using a screwdriver and a fire extinguisher for percussion on “Oceans”. Hope it’s true! Essential album to say the least.
I realized yesterday that "speediness" has crept into my vocabulary since I started watching Molly's reactions
The album blew me away. Pearl Jam was one of my favorite grunge bands ever
I remember the day I got this CD I was in the car with my mom and we were on our way home but when Black came on we had to loop around the street a bit and play it loudly and vibed tf out lol