Several songs in this album contain explicit content.

Most bands don’t create a 13-time Platinum-certified album on their first try.

But Pearl Jam isn’t like most bands.

Pearl Jam’s debut album, “Ten,” is still known today as one of their greatest accomplishments.

The thing that makes this album so special is that you can listen to the entire thing and not come across a single bad song. While some songs may stand out above the others, each track has its own unique soundscape.

May 10, 2024, was a day I’ll never forget. Pearl Jam was on tour for their new album, “Dark Matter,” and my dad and I bought tickets. I remember the exact moment we first spotted Eddie Vedder strutting onto the stage, guitar in hand and a light-colored hat on his head. 

Suddenly, we heard the familiar riff of our favorite song, “Release,” and we instantly began cheering along with the crowd. I remember exactly how inspiring it felt that Pearl Jam chose that song to open their concert. “Release” is a track that many fans wouldn’t mention when talking about Pearl Jam’s greatest hits. 

Compared to other louder, rock-heavy songs throughout the album, “Release” focuses on the slow buildup of the guitar riff — the intro starting gently, gradually building up volume and complexity until the chorus finally hits.

The first time I heard this song with my dad, I thought it was slow for a track on “Ten.” But instead of coming off as mindless noise, the heavier sections revealed themselves to be incredibly raw and emotional.

The lyric, “I’ll ride the wave where it takes me,” adds a deep meaning to the song, implying that life’s path will lead you through both ups and downs, like a wave, and you can navigate through those moments.

The deliberately slow tempo of the drums creates a gentle, steady rhythm that initiates a meaningful and intimate atmosphere.

Vedder’s voice sounds careful and steady in this song, almost as if he’s holding back until he finally reaches the chorus.

Similar to the way that “Release” builds up guitar, “Garden” gradually layers different vocals and sounds, slowly building up to the chorus. 

The song opens with understated guitar and drums, giving the vocals center stage. But this restraint breaks the chorus, where the instrumentation surges to stand eye-to-eye with the vocals.

Despite not making the radio, “Garden” remains one of my all-time favorite songs by Pearl Jam. Every time I hear this song, I recall my first time listening to it with my dad — driving down the highway, blasting it through the speakers, singing along as if Vedder were there with us. 

It was a “hidden gem,” my dad would tell me.

The solo played by Mike McCready in this song really demonstrates the rubato, the push and pull of notes, that Pearl Jam tends to use for their solos — incorporating the time from one note to use on the next and not keeping a strict rhythm. This causes the solo to feel weightless and pliant to the tempo.

The way Vedder exclaims “I will walk,” emphasizes the defiance present in this song — illustrating a powerful message about the choice of moving forward despite what’s been done to you.   

Unlike the slow build-up of “Garden,” the song “Porch” is more focused on heightened mood and boisterous sounds.

As the eighth track in the album, “Porch” might just be the loudest and most chaos-driven song in “Ten.”

In comparison to the other tracks on “Ten,” none could possibly match the restless energy it gifts to its listeners. It’s rapid and rushed lyrics cause you to feel the frantic mood of the song. The lyric “daily minefield” especially highlights the chaos the song is based around.

Vedder delivers the lyrics confidently, his voice strained and urgent, underscoring the volatile atmosphere of the song.

Unlike the usual layering and slow build-up of the chorus Pearl Jam tends to gravitate towards, “Porch” introduces the main aspects of the chorus early in the song, including the riff and tone of the vocals.

The exaggerated solo, played by McCready in “Porch,” allows the earlier tension to snap, creating a feeling of freedom before leading back into the urgency of the chorus.

I feel that the message of this song is extremely eccentric with a twist of guilt. I think it can be understood as trying to express love towards someone before they are gone, while also implying a hint of regret or guilt towards not doing so sooner.

The passionate energy and powerful emotion this song brings to the album as a whole is the reason I keep coming back to it. Despite its loudness, I can’t help but feel drawn to the song whenever I need to boost my mood or motivation.

Similar to the way the main riff of “Porch” can be heard seconds into the song, the iconic riff and melody of “Alive” can be easily recognized. 

When I first listened to “Alive,” I never really paid much attention to anything besides the guitar. But, a specific phrase caused me to pause and pay more attention to the depth behind the song.

“‘You’re still alive’, she said. ‘Oh, and do I deserve to be?’” Vedder sings. “Is that the question?”

I find this lyric captivating, especially because of Vedder’s sensational delivery. His voice is raw with emotion, causing you to pause and question alongside him.

I remember attending their concert and hearing them play this song — every note sounding identical to the original recording, making it even more memorable and impressive to hear it live.

For one of Pearl Jam’s biggest hits, it can be easy to overlook how dark the message behind “Alive” is.

The story follows Vedder through his teenage years, showing his realization that the man he thought was his father was actually his stepfather, and that his real father is dead.

While multiple other songs focus on loss, “Alive” takes the darkness and trauma behind the lyrics and turns it into something more hopeful — the line “I’m still alive” reinforces this message, still offering a hopeful future.

My favorite aspect of this song is the renowned guitar riff — both the heavy distortion and bending notes which tie it together. I can’t possibly count the times that I’ve listened to this song on repeat, strumming the riff on my guitar and getting instant goosebumps. 

While “Alive” takes some thinking to understand the story, “Jeremy” does the opposite. 

Vedder clearly tells the story of a young boy named Jeremy, explaining the trouble he caused during school and the lack of attention from his parents.

The tales of this boy convey the message of the song, demonstrating the consequences of being ignored and isolated, especially in a school setting.

The lyric, “Daddy didn’t give attention / Oh, to the fact that Mommy didn’t care,” gives a bit of backstory to the track, leading up to the echoing message regarding isolation and the issues caused by it. 

When my dad first played this song for me, I wasn’t super into it, but something kept me coming back. A little after the final verse, Vedder cries out in a near-scream but manages to keep it controlled. That small moment catches my attention every time, and I can’t help but replay the song.

The choice of having the main riff on bass is something unique to other songs on “Ten.” 

Most songs just include a distorted guitar riff; however, Pearl Jam ties the drums perfectly with the bass in “Alive,” creating a type of harmony that is effective towards enhancing the atmosphere of the song.

For only being Pearl Jam’s first album, “Ten” has proven that incredible singer-songwriters can rise to the top and accomplish astounding feats through their first milestone as an artist.