When music fans debate the greatest bands of all time, of course, names likeThe Rolling StonesandAC/DCwill be in the conversation. However,it’s not too far-fetched to include Pearl Jam in the discussionas well, because they were among the bands that defined the 1990s. This was the period when grunge was taking over, and the more angsty a band could be, the better.
Pearl Jam is famously part of Seattle’s “Big Four,“which also includes Nirvana, Alice in Chains, and Soundgarden. The competition they faced locally was enough to put them in a tough predicament, not to mention all the other bands in the world, but Pearl Jam would not be denied. They have released 12 albums, but they have toured the world many times over, remaining one of the most sought-after live bands.
12Lightning Bolt
Monkeywrench Records - Republic Records (2013)
While Pearl Jam may have started off their career with an album titledTen,their 2013 release,Lightning Bolt, actually was their 10th record. Tracks like “Getaway” and “Mind Your Manners” had much more of a rock vibe and were a welcome step away from the more poppy sounds found on their 2009 album. However,there were plenty of mixed reactions to this record, with most complaining about the album lacking a cohesive sound.
One of the true positives of the album was the fact that it ended up at number one on four differentBillboardcharts. This helped its early sales, but these would soon slump.Lightning Boltfailed to achieve any certification in the United States, which makes it the only album outside their 2020 and 2024 releases not to do so. It has gained some traction in pop culture though, asthe song “Future Days” has been used in different presentations ofThe Last of Usfranchise.
11No Code
Epic Records (1996)
Following their first three albums, Pearl Jam faced a challenging task when releasingNo Code. The band was undoubtedly more open to experimenting with this album beyond just the grunge sound they were known for; however,it wasn’t received with the warmest reception from fans. Many felt the album contained a lot of filler and lacked the elements that had made the band popular in the early ’90s.
In an effort to try and keep prices affordable for their fans, Pearl Jam feuded with Ticketmaster over the service fees on the tickets.
Even the band has admitted that some of the tracks were rushed and were developed from jam sessions, rather than being well-crafted. It is well known thatthey were experiencing some burnout by this point. Additionally, a feud with Ticketmaster meant that there would be no normal touring cycle, which further hurt the promotion. Although it would eventually go platinum, it took a long time to do so, and it wasn’t the immediate success they had hoped for.
10Binaural
Epic Records (2000)
Coming out of the 1990s, it was clear Pearl Jam had found their place in music. Much like Green Day was cemented as punk rock,Pearl Jam was cemented as grunge. After five albums in the ’90s, the band was ready to present the world with their sixth, which was titledBinaural. However, this time around, they were being much more experimental with what they were producing, which drew some criticism.
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Binauralfeatured many different musical styles, and Pearl Jam employed unique recording techniques. The two main hits from the album were “Nothing as It Seems” and “Light Years.“It peaked at number two on the weekly USBillboard200 chart. Ultimately, this album has gone platinum, but for the fans of Pearl Jam’s pure grunge sound, this album may sound a bit different.
9Backspacer
Monkeywrench Records (2009)
As the decade was coming to a close, Pearl Jam ensured they released one more album,Backspacer,in September 2009. This album received much praise for its songwriting and exciting energy. Rather than falling backon the proven ballads, the band focused on faster songs. This certainly heightened the listening experience, as it created some good old-fashioned rock and roll energy.
On the other hand, the faster sound was off-putting to some fans. Not everyone likes change, and, of course,it made some feel that Pearl Jam was going towards a more commercial sound. In some ways, this is true since the band did end up on multipleBillboardcharts. However, the exposure has led to the album going gold. Still to this day, fans enjoy tracks such as “The Fixer” and “Just Breathe.”
8Gigaton
Monkeywrench Records - Republic Records (2020)
The year 2020 is infamously remembered for the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, but it also marks the year Pearl Jam released their 11th studio album. In fact, this came right at the end of March, just as the world was shutting down. The significant part about this being the 11th album is that it places the band in a very prestigious category:Only a few of the most legendary bands have ever made it to that many albumsin their discography.
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This record truly showcased their evolution, with a lot of fans crediting it for displaying maturity. It takes a step beyond the band’s grunge roots and has more of a rock vibe. The one criticism the record received was the feeling that some tracks were much better than others.This created a more uneven listening experience for some, but commercially, it still performed excellently. It ended on four differentBillboardcharts, placing number one three times, and fifth once.
7Riot Act
Epic Records (2002)
After taking a break in 2001 to reconvene, Pearl Jam came back together to createRiot Act. This wasn’t a record that was filled with happiness. Instead, the band was said to be influenced bythe September 11th attacks and by their own personal trauma from the Roskilde Tragedy. This led the themes to revolve around mortality and existentialism. While some fans enjoyed this, many found it off-putting.
The Roskilde Tragedy involved a crowd surge, resulting in the deaths of nine people who were crushed and suffocated. This occurred in June 2000 during Pearl Jam’s show in Denmark.
It was the darker themes that made many feel the album was an outlier in the band’s discography. The record’s sound is described as muddy, matching the dark place they were trying to write from. Nonetheless, it serves as an important piece of their history, and the fact that it is an outlier gives it character. Over the years, it has become gold-certified, but most importantly,it is a record fans can play to tap into raw, authentic Pearl Jam.
6Dark Matter
Monkeywrench Records - Republic Records (2024)
Seeing Pearl Jam still around over 30 years after their debut was a treat, but seeing that they could still be the band fans have come to love was even better. It had been four years since their last album, butDark Matterdelivered.It received a warm reception when it was releasedand ended up on twoBillboard charts,including for Top Rock & Alternative Albums. This showed that the band could still hang with today’s new artists.
Seeing Pearl Jam still around over thirty years after their debut was a treat, but seeing that they could still be the band fans have come to love was even better.
Although it’s too early to tell what this album will mean for the band’s legacy, so far, it has drawn few criticisms. For the most part, anyone who has an issue with it seems to come more from a matter of personal preference rather than true technical flaws.Some found the album predictable, but others enjoyed it for what it wasand even praised the continued strong vocals of Eddie Vedder.
5Pearl Jam
J Records (2006)
Although a longer break would come later in their career,the four years between 2002’sRiot Actand 2006’sPearl Jamwas the longest period fans had to waitfor new material. Before even hitting play, the album was already memorable simply because of its cover. This wasn’t the first time, nor would it be the last, that the band ensured their work stood out. Things got even better when they pressed play, as many fans felt this was a return to form for the band.
The subject matter was very heavy, as tracks like “World Wide Suicide,” “Life Wasted,” and “Inside Job” would indicate. The band has always been willing to speak their mind when they feel it is necessary and this was no different. If there were any drawbacks,some of the fast tempos made fans feel like the band was trying to go toward the arena rock genre, but many just saw that as a natural element of the times. Overall, the cover remains memorable, and the album is gold-certified.
4Yield
Epic Records (1998)
SinceNo Codein 1996 wasn’t everything fans wanted it to be, there was some trepidation as to what would become of Pearl Jam. Although they had built their legacy, another lackluster album in the fans' eyes could have left them as just a great band of the ’90s, instead of the legends they have become. To avoid any more strife,they truly took the recording ofYieldas seriously as possibleto ensure they were getting everything just right.
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While the band continued to move away from their earlier sounds, this album was crisper and diversified. Throughout many tracks, such as “Wishlist” and “Brain of J.,“it was easy for fans to see that the core songwriting elements that made Pearl Jam popular in the first place were still present. This was yet another platinum album for the band, and it helped them end the ’90s on a positive note.
3Vs.
Epic Records (1993)
To follow up one of the greatest debut albums ever, Pearl Jam first ensured that the album cover was unforgettable. It has become one of the most iconic in rock history, helping the band stand out beyond just their songs. Of course, the other factor that has helped this record stand out is the raw energy it brings.It represents everything fans loved about the band in the early daysand captures an aggressive nature.
Given thatTenwas so great, the song choices on the album drew some criticism, but that’s not to say they were bad. It’s just that the band spawned so many hits right away that there were high expectations to live up to. Regardless, it was still loved andhas become 7x platinum in the United States. The record even finished at 46 on the decade-end USBillboard200 chart, proving its appreciation continued to grow over time.
