It's hard to imagine that it's been 18 years since a little band in Seattle released a small album called Ten. We look back now at a catalogue from Pearl Jam that is impressive indeed. No one could have predicted during it's recording that Ten would be a monster hit and send the quintet into the rock stratosphere.
Now, apparently it's time to re-release the album. I'm not sure why the record company didn't hold off for two more scant years and make it a 20th anniversary package, but hey, smarter people than me make these decisions.
The album hasn't changed in 18 years, and I'm sure you all have a copy of it buried deep in your closet somewhere. Don't deny it. I know you still pull it out every couple of years to have a good old-fashioned rock out. It won't hurt your cred any to admit it.
The big changed is the remixing done by uber-producer Brendan O'Brien. By skimming off much of the grunge and cleaning up the mix, O'Brien has made each instrument more distinct on each track. This has helped breathe a new vitality into tracks that, let's be honest, have not aged particularly well.
An assortment of live material is also included. Two songs come from the "Drop In the Park" concert, while three more are culled from the band's MTV Unplugged session. Songs from that episode have never before been available legally.
The album quality "Brother" is the best of the studio tracks included here. We've heard "Breath" and "State of Love & Trust" before (originally on the Singles soundtrack). The remainder of the tracks are studio cast-offs for a reason.
Ten (Reissue) is by no means going to convert those who staunchly feel they are "too cool" to enjoy Pearl Jam. However, the new mixes do pull the record kicking and screaming into the 21st Century. Pearl Jam fans will lap up this material as they await a new studio album which, according to Eddie Vedder, is about half complete.
Best tracks: "Why Go (Brendan O'Brien remix)", "Brother"
1 praise/complaints:
Arguably, these guys have not yet made a bad album. I really liked the direction they moved in after "Ten".
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