Feb 11, 2009 12:41 PM
1799 Views
Band History: Pearl Jam is an Alternative Rock\Grunge band from Seattle, America formed in 1990. They are considered as the pioneers of Alternative Rock\Grunge along with bands like Nirvana, Alice in Chains, Soundgarden etc. Pearl Jam sensationally announced their presence in the Grunge movement with Ten, their first studio album followed by successful albums like Vs, Vitology, No Code and so on.
Music style:Alternative Rock was the kind of music associated with modern style of Rock music adopted by the youth and Grunge is directly derived from it. The playing style is use of high distortion guitars, slow tempos, harmonic riffs and melodies.
The songs in the record could be divided into categories like Power ballads, Hard Rock and Classics for convenience.
Power Ballads: “Garden”, “Deep” and “Release” are slow and soothing tracks. They form a calm atmosphere meant for relaxation, and the occasional step up in the tempo makes it all the more interesting. These tracks are sure to play in your mind if you listen to them just before you go to sleep and the only thing you remember the next morning are these wonderful ballads.
Hard Rock: “Once”, “Oceans”, “Why Go” and “Porch” are tracks that usually start on a slower note and eventually blend into hard hitting mix of riffs and beautifully executed solos. The lyrics are shorter with more emphasis on the chorus and gives ample space for the music to grow.
Classics: “Evenflow”, “Alive”, “Jeremy” and “Black” are the tracks which make this album a masterpiece. If you consider the different parts of the song, the intro, bridge, chorus, solo or outro, everything is just a mark of excellence. Music of this kind can probably be made once in several years and each of these can become instant favorites of any music lover.
This album is good without a doubt, but it is Eddie Vedder’s powerful vocals that make it great. His ability to write dark lyrics and sing the melodic and flat sections of any scale with intensity, makes him a legend. The guitarists Mike McCready and Stone Gossard have played the lead and rhythm sections like champions and easily remind you of legends like Jimi Hendrix and Jimmy Page(Led Zeppelin). Jaff Ament on bass and Dave Krusen on drums have been spot on to say the least.
The music in this record is a declaration of triumph. The lyrical themes are an outburst of depression, suicide, abuse and remorseful aspects of human life. Another surprising fact is that, the product we get isn’t half as morbid as the themes. Every track has a special offering for the listener and leaves a lasting impact in the end. The tempos have been consistent throughout the album and balances perfectly between the extremes. The perfect blend of guitar chords and solos, rolling bass, active drumming and brilliant vocals make Ten arguably one of the best albums of all time.
