Grunge: Top 25 Albums

Grunge: The Top 25 Albums

Grunge was a fusion of punk and heavy metal which originated out of Seattle via bands such as Nirvana, Pearl, Jam, Soundgarden, and Alice in Chains. The movement developed in the latter half of the ‘80s and peaked in the early ‘90s. While its rise and fall was quick, it birthed a revival of interest in guitar-based, alternative rock. 23 best-of lists focused on grunge were aggregated and then any of those albums cited by 3 or more sources were eligible for this list. They were then resorted by overall points on Dave’s Music Database. Check out other best-of-genre/category lists here. 1. Nirvana Nevermind (1991) 2. Pearl Jam Ten (1991) 3. Nirvana In Utero (1993) 4. Smashing Pumpkins Siamese Dream (1993) 5. Nirvana MTV Unplugged in New York (recorded live 1993, released 1994) 6. Smashing Pumpkins Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness (1995) 7. Soundgarden Superunknown (1994) 8. Pearl Jam Vs. (1993) 9. Alice in Chains Dirt (1992) 10. Hole Live Through This (1994) 11. Pearl Jam Vitalogy (1994) 12. Stone Temple Pilots Core (1992) 13. Nirvana Bleach (1989) 14. Stone Temple Pilots Purple (1994) 15. Alice in Chains Jar of Flies (EP, 1994) 16. Bush Sixteen Stone (1994) 17. Soundgarden Badmotorofinger (1991) 18. Singles (soundtrack, 1992) 19. Temple of the Dog Temple of the Dog (1991) 20. Mother Love Bone Apple (1990) 21. Mudhoney Superfuzz Big Muff (EP, 1988) 22. Bush Razordblade Suitcase (1996) 23. Smashing Pumpkins Gish (1991) 24. Alice in Chains Facelift (1990) 25. Green River Dry As a Bone (EP, 1987) / Rehab Doll (EP, 1988) Resources and Related Links: Dave’s Music Database: “Grunge: Top 50 Songs” Dave’s Music Database: other best-of-genre lists First posted 9/2/2024.

Pearl Jam: A Retrospective, 1984-2022

Pearl Jam A Retrospective: 1984-2022

Overview: Pearl Jam formed in 1991 in Seattle, Washington. They became “the most popular American rock & roll band of the ‘90s” STE during the grunge movement. They have “been described as ‘modern rock radio's most influential stylists…’ The band inspired and influenced a number of bands, ranging from Silverchair to Puddle of Mudd and The Strokes. Pearl Jam has outlasted many of its contemporaries in the grunge scene like Nirvana and Soundgarden.” WK However, “compared with the other grunge bands of the early 1990s, Pearl Jam’s style is noticeably less heavy and harkens back to the classic rock music of the 1970s. Pearl Jam has cited many punk rock and classic rock bands as influences, including The Who, Neil Young, and the Ramones. Pearl Jam’s success has been attributed to its sound, which fuses ‘the riff-heavy stadium rock of the ‘70s with the grit and anger of ‘80s post-punk, without ever neglecting hooks and choruses.’” WK “Pearl Jam was criticized early on – most notably by Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain – as being a corporate cash-in on the alternative rock explosion. However, over the course of the band’s career its members became noted for their refusal to adhere to traditional music industry practices, including refusing to make music videos and engaging in a much-publicized boycott of Ticketmaster. In 2006, Rolling Stone described the band as having "spent much of the past decade deliberately tearing apart their own fame.’” WK Lead singer Eddie “Vedder’s lyrical topics range from personal (Alive, Better Man) to social and political concerns (Even Flow, World Wide Suicide). His lyrics have often invoked the use of storytelling and have included themes of freedom, individualism, and sympathy for troubled individuals.” WK The Formative Years (1984-1991): Guitarist Stone Gossard and bassist Jeff Ament were previously in Green River, which formed in 1984. They “toured and recorded to moderate success but disbanded in 1987…Gossard and Ament began playing with Malfunkshun vocalist Andrew Wood, eventually organizing the band Mother Love Bone…[Their] debut album, Apple, was released in July 1990, four months after Wood died of a heroin overdose.” WK “Devastated by the death of Wood and the resulting demise of Mother Love Bone,” WK Gossard and Ament “assembled a new band, bringing in Mike McCready on lead guitar and recording a demo with Soundgarden’s Matt Cameron on drums.” STE “They gave former Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Jack Irons the demo…to distribute…to anyone he felt might fit the lead vocal position.” WK He shared it with his basketball buddy, “a 25-year-old San Diego surfer named Eddie Vedder” STE who “was the lead vocalist for a San Diego band, Bad Radio, and worked part time at a gas station.” WK Vedder “overdubbed vocals and original lyrics and was subsequently invited to join the band.” STE “With the addition of Dave Krusen on drums, the band took the name Mookie Blaylock, in reference to the then-active All-Star basketball player. The band…soon signed to Epic Records. However, concerns about trademark issues necessitated a name change; the band’s name became ‘Pearl Jam.’ In an early promotional interview, Vedder said that the name…was a reference to his great-grandmother Pearl, who was married to a Native American and had a special recipe for peyote-laced jam. In a 2006 Rolling Stone cover story however, Vedder admitted that this story was "total bullshit" (even though he indeed had a great-grandma named Pearl).” WK Before Pearl Jam released their first album, however, Gossard, Ament, Vedder, Cameron, and Chris Cornell, the lead singer of Soundgarden and former roommate of Wood’s, assembled to record a tribute album in honor of Wood. The one-time Temple of the Dog tribute project produced a solitary self-titled album which rose to popularity after the release of Pearl Jam’s debut album, Ten. Sales (in millions): Albums: US: 32.0, world: 85.0 Singles: US: 5.0, world: The Players: Stone Gossard (guitar – Ducky Boys: 1983-84, Green River: 1984-87, Lords of the Wasteland: 1988, Mother Love Bone: 1988-90, Temple of the Dog: 1990, Pearl Jam: 1991-presnt, Brad: 1993, 97, 02) Jeff Ament (bass – Deranged Diction, Green River: 1984-87, Mother Love Bone: 1987-90, Temple of the Dog: 1990, Pearl Jam: 1991-present) Eddie Vedder (vocals – Bad Radio, Temple of the Dog: 1990, Pearl Jam: 1991-) Mike McCready (guitar: Temple of the Dog: 1990, 1991-present, Mad Season: 1995) Dave Krusen (drums: 1991-92) Dave Abbruzzese (drums: 1992-94) Jack Irons (drums: What Is This, Red Hot Chili Peppers: 1984-88, Eleven: 1994, Pearl Jam: 1994-98) Matt Cameron (drums – Soundgarden: 1987-96, Temple of the Dog: 1990, Pearl Jam: 1998-present) Boom Gaspar (keyboards: 2002-present) Links: DMDB Encyclopedia entry for Pearl Jam Top 50 Songs: Pearl Jam et al DMDB Encyclopedia entry for Mother Love Bone DMDB Encyclopedia entry for Temple of the Dog DMDB Encyclopedia entry for Eddie Vedder PearlJam.com (official site) Facebook Wikipedia

Awards:

Studio Albums: This page covers the following studio albums and EPs from Green River, Mother Love Bone, Temple of the Dog, Pearl Jam, and Eddie Vedder. Compilations: LD Lost Dogs (Rarities & B-Sides) (archives, covers 1991-2003, released 2003) RM Rearviewmirror (Greatest Hits) (anthology, covers 1991-2003, released 2004) 20 Pearl Jam Twenty (soundtrack/archives: 1990-2011, released 2011) Immediately below is a list of this acts’ top songs as ranked by the DMDB. The codes beside the songs indicate which compilations the songs appear on. In addition, you can scroll farther down the page to see a snapshot of the individual albums with the singles from each indicated. The songs are again followed by the codes, but also for those songs that charted, the date of the song’s release or first chart appearance and its chart peaks are noted in parentheses. Click for codes to charts. Top 50 Songs Dave’s Music Database lists are determined by song’s appearances on best-of lists as well as chart success, sales, radio airplay, streaming, and awards. In addition to Pearl Jam songs, this list includes work by Mother Love Bone, Temple of the Dog, and Eddie Vedder as a solo artist. Songs which hit #1 on the following charts are noted: Billboard album rock tracks (AR), Billboard alternative rock tracks (MR), Billboard adult alternative (AA), and Australian pop charts (AU). DMDB Top 1%: 1. Jeremy (1991) 2. Alive (1991) DMDB Top 2%: 3. Black (1991) 4. Daughter (1993) #1 AR, MR 5. Better Man (1994) #1 AR 6. Even Flow (1991) DMDB Top 5%: 7. Hunger Strike (Temple of the Dog, 1991) 8. Yellow Ledbetter (1992) 9. Last Kiss (1998) #1 AU 10. Just Breathe (2009) #1 AA DMDB Top 10%: 11. Chloe Dancer/Crown of Thorns (Mother Love Bone, 1989) 12. Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town (1993) 13. The Fixer (2009) 14. Say Hello 2 Heaven (Temple of the Dog, 1991) 15. Given to Fly (1997) #1 AR 16. Corduroy (1994) 17. Sirens (2013) #1 AA 18. Wishlist (1998) 19. Animal (1993) 20. Who You Are (1996) #1 MR DMDB Top 20%: 21. Rearviewmirror (1993) 22. I Got Id (1995) 23. Dissident (1993) 24. Not for You (1994) 25. Hard Sun (Eddie Vedder, 2007) 26. Crazy Mary (with Victoria Williams, 1992) 27. I Am Mine (2002) 28. Spin the Black Circle (1994) 29. Nothing As It Seems (2000) 30. Off He Goes (1996) 31. Go (1993) 32. Dance of the Clairvoyants (2020) 33. Hail Hail (1996) 34. World Wide Suicide (2006) #1 MR 35. Long Road (1995) 36. Rockin’ in the Free World (live, 1992) 37. Mind Your Manners (2013) 38. Glorified G (1993) 39. Love Reign O’er Me (2006) 40. Do the Evolution (1998) 41. You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away (Eddie Vedder, 2002) 42. Dream a Little Dream of Me (Eddie Vedder, 2011) 43. Masters of War (Eddie Vedder and Mike McCready, live: 1992) 44. My City of Ruins (Eddie Vedder, live, 2009) 45. Once (1991) 46. Man of the Hour (2003) 47. Gone (2006) 48. Saying No (live, 1992) Beyond the DMDB Top 20%: 49. Long Way (Eddie Vedder, 2021) 50. Immortality (1994)

Come on Down (EP) Green River

Released: 1985 Peak: -- Sales (in millions): -- Genre: grunge rock Rating: 3.000 out of 5.00 (average of 1 ratings)

Tracks: Come on Down New God Swallow My Pride Ride of Your Life Corner of My Eye Tunnel of Love About the Album: Green River formed in 1984 in Seattle, Washington. They are considered one of the first grunge bands. Come on Down was the first of three releases by the band before its members went on to bigger fame with other bands. Guitarist Stone Gossard and Jeff Ament went on to form Mother Love Bone and Pearl Jam. Singer Mark Arm and guitarist Steve Turner went on to form Mudhoney.

Dry As a Bone (EP) Green River

Released: June 5, 1987 Peak: -- Sales (in millions): -- Genre: grunge rock Rating: 3.625 out of 5.00 (average of 2 ratings)

Tracks: Unwind Baby Takes This Town P.C.C. Ozzie (Tales of Terror) About the Album: This was the second EP released by Green River.

Rehab Doll Green River

Released: June 1988 Peak: -- Sales (in millions): -- Genre: grunge rock Rating: 3.200 out of 5.00 (average of 2 ratings)

Tracks: Forever Means Rehab Doll Swallow My Pride Together We’ll Never Smilin’ and Dyin’ Porkfist Take a Dive One More Stitch Queen Bitch (bonus track) About the Album: Green River went right back in the studio in August 1987 after releasing their second EP. This time, they fleshed out a full-length album, but it would turn out to be their swan song. Their was in-fighting amongst the band as guitarist Stone Gossard and bassist Jeff Ament wanted to pursue a major label and singer Mark Arm wanted to remain independent. Before the album was released, Gossard, Ament, and guitarist Bruce Fairweather announced their desires to quit the band.

Shine (EP) Mother Love Bone

Released: March 20, 1989 Peak: -- Sales (in millions): -- Genre: grunge rock Rating: 1.908 out of 5.00 (average of 5 ratings)

Tracks: Thru Fade Away Mindshaker Meltdown Half Ass Monkey Boy Chloe Dancer/Crown of Thorns (3/20/89, --) About the Album: After Green River disbanded, guitarist Stone Gossard, bassist Jeff Ament, and guitarist Bruce Fairweather formed Mother Love Bone with singer Andrew Wood, who had a style reminiscent of Led Zeppelin’s Robert Plant. The band also included drummer Greg Gilmore. The group was one of the first of the new crop of Seattle bands to have a major label release. They released an EP in 1989 and album (Apple) in 1990. In 1992, the two were packaged together as Mother Love Bone. The Shine EP included “Chloe Dancer/Crown of Thorns,” which would be featured on the soundtrack for Singles, a 1992 movie by Cameron Crowe, a rom-com which was set with the backdrop of the early grunge movement in Seattle.

Apple Mother Love Bone

Released: July 19, 1990 Peak: 77 US Sales (in millions): -- Genre: -- Rating: 2.664 out of 5.00 (average of 11 ratings)

Tracks: This Is Shangri-La (single) Stardog Champion (single) Holy Roller Bone China Come Bite the Apple Stargazer (single) Heartshine Captain Hi-Top Man of Golden Words Capricorn Sister (single) Gentle Groove Mr. Danny Boy Crown of Thorns 20 About the Album: On March 19, 1990, Mother Love Bone singer Andrew Wood died from a heroin overdose. The group was set to release their debut album, Apple, within days. It was postponed until July. In 1992, the Shine EP and Apple album were packaged together as Mother Love Bone. Review of the Album by All Music Guide’s Alex Henderson: “Fair or unfair, Mother Love Bone is destined to be described as ‘the band Jeff Ament and Stone Gossard were in before Pearl Jam.’ But in fact, Apple is a solid offering that can stand on its own merits. Even if Pearl Jam had never come about, Apple would be well worth obtaining.” “Though MLB proudly declared its allegiance to Seattle in a 1990 interview with Cash Box, Apple really doesn’t fall into the alternative rock category or inspire comparisons to bands like Nirvana, Alice in Chains, or Soundgarden. Rather, MLB were clearly Led Zeppelin and Aerosmith devotees, and it’s hard to miss the influence of Zep’s Robert Plant and Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler when lead singer Andrew Wood tears into such intense yet melodic hard rock boogie as Capricorn Sister, Stardog Champion, and Captain Hi-Top.” “This was a band with great potential, but sadly, one can only speculate on what would have happened had it had a chance to develop.”

Temple of the Dog Temple of the Dog

Released: April 16, 1991 Peak: 5 US, -- UK, 11 CN, 56 AU, 12 DF Sales (in millions): 1.0 US, -- UK, 1.1 world (includes US + UK) Genre: grunge rock Rating: 3.871 out of 5.00 (average of 11 ratings)

Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

Tracks: Say Hello 2 Heaven (11/7/92, 5 AR, 9 DF) 20 Reach Down Hunger Strike (7/18/92, 4 AR, 7 MR, 51 UK, 50 CN, 7 DF) Pushin’ Forward Back (single, 28 DF) Call Me a Dog Times of Trouble 20 Wooden Jesus Your Saviour Four Walled World All Night Thing About the Album: After the death of Mother Love Bone’s Andrew Wood, his fellow bandmates Stone Gossard and Jeff Ament recorded a tribute album with Soundgarden members Chris Cornell and Matt Cameron. The project also featured guitarist Mike McCready and singer Eddie Vedder, who formed Pearl Jam with Gossard and Ament. a href="https://davesmusicdatabase.blogspot.com/1991/04/temple-of-dog-release-only-album.html">Read more on the DMDB page about this album.

Ten Pearl Jam

Released: August 27, 1991 Peak: 2 US, 18 UK, 1 CN, 11 AU, 14 DF Sales (in millions): 13.0 US, 0.6 UK, 18.0 world (includes US + UK) Genre: grunge rock Rating: 4.400 out of 5.00 (average of 35 ratings)

Tracks: Once RM Even Flow (4/6/92, 3 AR, 21 MR, 27 UK, 74 CN, 22 AU, 3 DF) RM Alive (7/7/91, 16 AR, 18 MR, 16 UK, 9 AU, 2 DF) RM, 20 Why Go 20 Black (12/26/92, 3 AR, 20 MR, 5 DF) RM, 20 Jeremy (8/17/92, 79 BB, 70 BA, 5 AR, 5 MR, 15 UK, 32 CN, 68 AU, 1 DF) RM Oceans (4/6/92, 25 DF) Porch Garden 20 Deep Release 20 Master/Slave (hidden track) Bonus Tracks: Alive (live) * Wash (7/7/91, B-side of “Alive”) * LD Dirty Frank (4/6/92, B-side of “Even Flow”) * LD I’ve Got a Feeling (recorded 9/30/91) ** Brother (3/7/09, 5 AR, 1 MR) *** LD Just a Girl (Mookie Blaylock 1990 demo) *** Breath and a Scream (Mookie Blaylock 1990 demo) *** State of Love and Trust (released 6/30/92 on Singles soundtrack) *** RM 2,000 Mile Blues *** Evil Little Goat *** * bonus tracks on European edition ** bonus tracks on Japanese edition *** bonus tracks on reissue Outtakes: Yellow Ledbetter (1/2/92, B-side of “Jeremy”, 97 AR, 26 MR, 8 DF) RM Alone LD Footsteps (1/2/92, B-side of “Jeremy”, 1 DF) LD Hold On LD Breath (released 6/30/92 on Singles soundtrack) RM About the Album: “Ten, which was “named after Mookie Blaylock’s jersey number,”WK “didn’t begin selling in significant numbers until early 1992, after Nirvana made mainstream rock radio receptive to alternative rock acts. Soon, Pearl Jam outsold Nirvana, which wasn’t surprising – Pearl Jam fused the riff-heavy stadium rock of the ‘70s with the grit and anger of ‘80s post-punk, without ever neglecting hooks and choruses; Jeremy, Evenflow, and Alive fit perfectly onto album rock radio stations looking for new blood.” STE “Ten stayed on the Billboard charts for more than two years and has gone on to become one of the highest-selling rock records ever.” WK Ten is featured in the DMDB book The Top 100 Albums of All Time. For other awards and a more extensive review of this album, see the DMDB page for Ten.

Vs. Pearl Jam

Released: October 19, 1993 Peak: 15 US, 2 UK, 11 CN, 11 AU, 16 DF Sales (in millions): 7.0 US, 0.1 UK, 10.6 world (includes US + UK) Genre: grunge rock Rating: 4.123 out of 5.00 (average of 20 ratings)

Tracks: Go (10/25/93, 3 AR, 8 MR, 22 AU, 5 DF) RM Animal (4/4/94, 21 AR, 30 AU, 8 DF) RM Daughter (11/2/93, 97 BB, 33 BA, 23 CB, 24 RR, 1 AR, 1 MR, 18 UK, 16 CN, 18 AU, 1 DF) RM Glorified G (7/2/94, 39 AR, 8 DF) Dissident (5/16/94, 3 AR, 14 UK, 9 DF) RM W.M.A. Blood 20 Rearviewmirror (6/6/95, 15 DF) RM, 20 Rats Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town (10/25/93, 21 AR, 17 MR, 1 DF) RM Leash Indifference 20 Hold On (acoustic demo) * Cready Stomp * Crazy Mary (with Victoria Williams) (8/7/93, 26 AR, 8 MR, 1 DF) * * bonus tracks on reissue Outtakes: Real Thing (with Cypress Hill, featured on 1993 Judgment Night soundtrack) About the Album: Dave Krusen left Pearl Jam shortly after the release of Ten and was replaced by Dave Abbruzzese. “Pearl Jam headed into the studio in early 1993 facing the challenge of following up the commercial success of its debut…Second album, Vs., sold a record 950,378 copies in its first week of release and outperformed all other entries in the Billboard top ten that week combined…Paul Evans of Rolling Stone said, ‘Few American bands have arrived more clearly talented than this one did with Ten; and Vs. tops even that debut.’” WK Still, at the same time, the band was growing “uncomfortable with their success.” WK “The band decided…to scale back its commercial efforts. The members declined to produce any more music videos” WK despite winning MTV’s Video of the Year for Jeremy. They also “opted for fewer interviews and television appearances.” WK “On their spring 1994 American tour, the band decided not to play the conventional stadiums, choosing to play smaller arenas, including several shows on college campuses. Pearl Jam canceled their 1994 summer tour, claiming they could not keep ticket prices below 20 dollars because Ticketmaster was pressuring promoters to charge a higher price. The band took Ticketmaster to the Justice Department for unfair business practices.” STE “The Justice Department eventually ruled in favor of the ticket agency.” STE “Pearl Jam’s initiative to play only at non-Ticketmaster venues effectively, with a few exceptions, prevented it from playing shows in the United States for the next three years.” WK Read more on the DMDB page (including awards) for this album.

Vitalogy Pearl Jam

Released: November 22, 1994 Peak: 11 US, 4 UK, 11 CN, 11 AU, 13 DF Sales (in millions): 5.0 US, 0.1 UK, 10.0 world (includes US + UK) Genre: grunge rock Rating: 3.967 out of 5.00 (average of 22 ratings)

Tracks: Last Exit 20 Spin the Black Circle (11/8/94, 18 BB, 16 AR, 11 MR, 10 UK, 3 AU, 25 DF) RM Not for You (2/13/95, 12 AR, 38 MR, 34 UK, 29, AU, 9 DF) RM, 20 Tremor Christ (11/8/94, 18 BB, 16 AR, 16 MR, 30 DF) Nothingman (11 DF) RM Whipping Pry, To Corduroy (12/10/94, 53 BA, 22 AR, 13 MR, 23 DF) RM Bugs Satan’s Bed Better Man (12/3/94, 13 BA, 24 RR, 1 AR, 2 MR, 1 DF) RM, 20 Aye Davanita Immortality (6/6/95, 10 AR, 31 MR, 62 CN, 51 AU) RM Hey, Foxymophandlemama, That’s Me Outtakes: Hard to Imagine (on 1998 soundtrack for Chicago Cab) LD Out of My Mind (2/13/95, B-side of “Not for You”) About the Album: In the spring and summer of 1994, Pearl Jam recorded a new album. When it was finished, they fired Dave Abbruzzese over political differences between him and other members, specifically his disagreement regarding the Ticketmaster boycott. They hired Jack Irons, who was the drummer who put the band in touch with Eddie Vedder in the beginning. Vitalogy “became the second-fastest-selling in history, with more than 877,000 units sold in its first week…Many of the songs on the album appear to be based around the pressures of fame.” WK Read more on the DMDB page (including awards) for this album.

No Code Pearl Jam

Released: August 27, 1996 Peak: 12 US, 3 UK, 12 CN, 12 AU, 13 DF Sales (in millions): 1.4 US, -- UK, 3.5 world (includes US + UK) Genre: grunge rock Rating: 3.615 out of 5.00 (average of 21 ratings)

Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

Tracks: Sometimes Hail Hail (9/14/96, 69 BA, 9 AR, 9 MR, 31 AU, 35 DF) RM Who You Are (7/17/96, 31 BB, 27 BA, 18 AA, 5 AR, 1 MR, 18 UK, 4 CN, 5 AU, 23 DF) RM In My Tree Smile Off He Goes (8/26/96, 34 AR, 31 MR, 36 CN, 46 AU, 16 DF) RM Habit Red Mosquito (9/14/96, 37 AR, 38 DF) Lukin Present Tense Mankind I’m Open Around the Bend Outtakes: Leaving Here (3/9/96, appeared on Home Alive: The Art of Self Defense various artists collection, 24 AR, 31 MR, 17 DF) LD Dead Man (8/29/96, B-side of “Off He Goes”) LD Black, Red, Yellow (10/21/96, B-side of “Hail Hail”) LD Olympic Platinum (fan club Christmas single, releases 12/31/96) Gremmie Out of Control (on Music for Our Mother Ocean Vol. 1 various artists collection) LD All Night LD Don’t Gimme No Lip LD About the Album: Before releasing their fourth album, No Code, members of the band embarked on various side projects. In the spring of 1994, Vedder toured with Hovercraft, his wife Beth’s experimental band. Gossard formed an independent record company and McCready became a member of Mad Season, a supergroup formed with other grunge musicians including Layne Staley of Alice in Chains. They released one album, Above, in the spring of 1995. In early 1995, the band backed Neil Young, whom they had noted as an influence, on his album, Mirror Ball. WK In the fall of 1995, they also released a single, I Got Id backed by Long Road, which emerged from the sessions. STE No Code, released in 1996, “was seen as a deliberate break from the band’s sound since Ten, favoring experimental ballads and noisy garage rockers…The lyrical themes on the album deal with issues of self-examination…Although the album debuted at number one on the Billboard charts, it quickly fell down the charts.” WK “The record’s performance was also hurt by Pearl Jam’s inability to launch a full-scale tour, due both to their battle with Ticketmaster and a reluctance to spend months on the road.” STE “A European tour took place in the fall of 1996.” WK Review by All Music Guide’s Stephen Thomas Erlewine: “A strange phenomenon with anthemic hard rock bands is that when they begin to mature and branch out into new musical genres, they nearly always choose to embrace both the music and spirituality of the East and India, and Pearl Jam is no exception. Throughout No Code, Eddie Vedder expounds on his moral and spiritual dilemmas; where on previous albums his rage was virtually all-consuming, it is clear on No Code that he has embraced an unspecified religion as a way to ease his troubles. Fortunately, that has coincided with an expansion of the group’s musical palette. From the subtle, winding opener, Sometimes, and the near-prayer of the single, Who You Are, the band reaches into new territory, working with droning, mantra-like riffs and vocals, layered exotic percussion, and a newfound subtlety.” “Of course, they haven’t left behind hard rock, but like any Pearl Jam record, the heart of No Code doesn’t lie in the harder songs, it lies in the slower numbers and the ballads, which give Vedder the best platform for his soul-searching: Present Tense, Off He Goes, In My Tree, and Around the Bend equal the group’s earlier masterpieces. While a bit too incoherent, No Code is Pearl Jam’s richest and most rewarding album to date as well as their most human. They might be maturing in a fairly conventional method, but they still find new ways to state old truths.”

Yield Pearl Jam

Released: February 3, 1998 Peak: 2 US, 7 UK, 2 CN, 11 AU, 15 DF Sales (in millions): 1.6 US, 0.6 UK, 3.5 world (includes US + UK) Genre: grunge rock Rating: 3.641 out of 5.00 (average of 21 ratings)

Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

Tracks: Brain of J. Faithful 20 No Way Given to Fly (12/22/97, 21 BB, 1 AR, 3 MR, 12 UK, 24 CN, 13 AU, 28 DF) RM, 20 Wishlist (5/5/98, 47 BB, 39 A40, 9 AA, 6 AR, 6 MR, 30 UK, 48 AU, 1 DF) RM Pilate Do the Evolution (10/10/98, 40 AR, 33 MR, 33 DF) RM, 20 Red Dot MFC Low Light In Hiding (2/21/98, 14 AR, 13 MR, 38 DF) Push Me, Pull Me All Those Yesterdays Outtakes: Leatherman (12/22/97, B-side of “Given to Fly”) Happy When I’m Crying (12/31/97, fan club Christmas single) U (5/5/98, B-side of “Wishlist”) LD Whale Song (8/10/99, on Music for Our Mother Ocean, Vol. 3) LD About the Album: By the end of 1997, “Pearl Jam had completed a new, harder-rocking record entitled Yield.” STE “Lyrically, Yield continued with the more contemplative type of writing found on No Code, with Vedder saying, ‘What was rage in the past has become reflection.’ Yield debuted at number two on the Billboard charts, but like No Code soon began dropping down the charts.” WK “Pearl Jam supported the record with a full-scale arena tour in the summer of 1998.” STE “For this tour and future tours, Pearl Jam once again began using Ticketmaster in order to ‘better accommodate concertgoers.’” WK “Jack Irons did not participate due to poor health, and was replaced by ex-Soundgarden drummer Matt Cameron.” STE The band issued “the concert LP Live on Two Legs at the end of the year.” STE Also of note during this era – “the band hired comic book artist Todd McFarlane to create an animated video for the song Do the Evolution from the album, its first music video since 1992.” WK Read more on the DMDB page for this album.

Binaural Pearl Jam

Released: May 16, 2000 Peak: 2 US, 5 UK, 2 CN, 11 AU, 12 DF Sales (in millions): 0.72 US, -- UK, 2.0 world (includes US + UK) Genre: grunge rock Rating: 3.457 out of 5.00 (average of 20 ratings)

Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

Tracks: Breakerfall God’s Dice Evacuation Light Years (7/10/00, 17 AR, 26 MR, 52 UK, 64 AU) RM Nothing As It Seems (4/25/00, 49 BB, 3 AR, 10 MR, 22 UK, 7 AU, 17 DF) RM, 20 Thin Air Insignificance Of the Girl 20 Grievance Rival Sleight of Hand Soon Forget Parting Ways (includes hidden track “Writer’s Block”) Outtakes: Letter to the Dead (aka “Sad”) LD Fatal LD In the Moonlight LD Hitchhiker LD Education LD Sweet Lew LD About the Album: “In 1999, Pearl Jam scored an unlikely pop radio smash with their cover of the J. Frank Wilson oldie Last Kiss, originally released as the seventh in a series of fan club-only singles that had also featured several incongruous covers in the past. Demand from fans and radio programmers resulted in the nationwide release of ‘Last Kiss,’ and it eventually became the band’s highest-charting pop hit to date, peaking at number two and going gold.” STE “The group returned in 2000 with the Tchad Blake-produced Binaural.” STE “Binaural was the first album since the band’s debut not produced by Brendan O’Brien, although O’Brien was called in later to remix several tracks.” WK “The title is a reference to the binaural recording techniques that were utilized on several tracks.” WK “The album is lyrically darker than the band’s previous album Yield…The album sold just over 700,000 copies and became the first Pearl Jam studio album to fail to reach platinum status.” WK “In order to circumvent bootleggers, their subsequent European and American tours were recorded in full and released in an unprecedented series of double-CD sets, each of the 72 volumes featuring a complete concert.” STE Pearl Jam “set a record for most albums to debut in the Billboard 200 at the same time.” WK “Pearl Jam’s 2000 European tour ended in tragedy on June 30, with an accident at the Roskilde Festival in Denmark. Nine fans were crushed underfoot and suffocated to death as the crowd rushed to the front. The band stopped playing and tried to calm the crowd when the musicians realized what was happening, but it was already too late. The two remaining dates of the tour were canceled, and the band seriously considered retiring after this event. Pearl Jam was initially blamed for the accident but was later cleared of responsibility.” WK Read more on the DMDB page for this album.

Riot Act Pearl Jam

Released: November 12, 2002 Peak: 5 US, 34 UK, 4 CN, 11 AU, 12 DF Sales (in millions): 0.51 US, -- UK, 1.5 world (includes US + UK) Genre: grunge rock Rating: 3.380 out of 5.00 (average of 19 ratings)

Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

Tracks: Can’t Keep Save You (2/11/03, 23 AR, 29 MR, 17 CN) RM Love Boat Captain (2/24/03, 16 CN, 29 AU, 31 DF) Cropduster Ghost I Am Mine (10/8/02, 43 BB, 3 AA, 7 AR, 6 MR, 26 UK, 2 CN, 12 AU, 28 DF) RM Thumbing My Way 20 You Are Get Right Green Disease Help Help Bushleaguer 20 1/2 Full Arc All or None Outtakes: Last Soldier (12/31/01, live version released as fan club Christmas single) Down (10/8/02, B-side of “I Am Mine”) LD Undone (10/8/02, B-side of “I Am Mine”) LD Other Side (2/11/03, B-side of Save You”) LD 4/20/02 LD About the Album: “Pearl Jam commenced work on a new album following a year-long break…Vedder said, ‘There’s been a lot of mortality…Roskilde changed the shape of us as people, and our filter for seeing the world changed.’” WK 2002’s Riot Act “featured a much more folk-based and experimental sound, evident in the presence of B3 organist Boom Gaspar.” WK “In 2003, the band embarked on its Riot Act Tour, which included tours in Australia and North America. The band continued its official bootleg program, making every concert from the tour available in CD form through its official website. A total of six bootlegs were made available in record stores.” WK Read more on the DMDB page for this album.

Lost Dogs: Rarities and B-Sides (archives) Pearl Jam

Covers: 1991-2003 Released: November 11, 2003 Peak: 15 US, 91 UK, 70 CN, 19 AU, 11 DF Sales (in millions): 0.5 US, -- UK Genre: grunge rock Rating: 3.774 out of 5.00 (average of 17 ratings)

Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

Tracks, Disc 1: (1) All Night (2) Sad (3) Down (4) Hitchhiker (5) Don’t Gimme No Lip (6) Alone (7) In the Moonlight (8) Education (9) Black, Red, Yellow (10) U (11) Leaving Here (12) Gremmie Out of Control (13) Whale Song (14) Undone (15) Hold On (16) Yellow Ledbetter Tracks, Disc 2: (1) Fatal (2) Other Side (3) Hard to Imagine (4) Footsteps (5) Wash (6) Dead Man (7) Strangest Tribe (8) Drifting (9) Let Me Sleep (10) Last Kiss (11) Sweet Lew (12) Dirty Frank (13) Brother (14) Bee Girl (15) 4/20/02 (hidden track) Tracks Not on Previously Noted Albums: Let Me Sleep (released 12/30/91, fan club Christmas single) LD, 20 Bee Girl (recorded on 10/18/93 during appearance on Rockline, 15 DF) LD Last Kiss (12/31/98, 2 BB, 4 RR, 5 A40, 5 AA, 5 AR, 2 MR, 42 UK, 2 CN, 1 AU, 1 DF) LD, RM Strangest Tribe (12/31/99, fan club Christmas single) LD Drifting (12/31/99, fan club Christmas single) LD About the Album: This collection gathers B-sides, outtakes, and fan club Christmas singles. The collection was released by Epic Records after Pearl Jam announced in June 2003 that they would be leaving the label at the end of their contract. The Live at the Garden, which featured the band performing a concert at Madison Square Garden on July 8, 2003, was also released that year. In addition, the live album Live at Benaroya Hall was released.

Rearviewmirror (Greatest Hits) Pearl Jam

Covers: 1991-2003 Released: November 16, 2004 Peak: 16 US, 58 UK, 10 CN, 2 AU, 11 DF Sales (in millions): 1.0 US, 0.1 UK Genre: grunge rock Rating: 4.304 out of 5.00 (average of 14 ratings)

Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

Tracks, Disc 2: (1) Once (2) Alive (3) Even Flow (4) Jeremy (5) State of Love and Trust (6) Animal (7) Go (8) Dissident (9) Rearviewmirror (10) Spin the Black Circle (11) Corduroy (12) Not for You (13) I Got Id (14) Hail Hail (15) Do the Evolution (16) Save You Tracks, Disc 2: (1) Black (2) Breath (3) Daughter (4) Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town (5) Immortality (6) Better Man (7) Nothingman (8) Who You Are (9) Off He Goes (10) Given to Fly (11) Wishlist (12) Last Kiss (13) Nothing As It Seems (14) Light Years (15) I Am Mine (16) Man of the Hour (17) Yellow Ledbetter Tracks Not on Previously Noted Albums: I Got Id (12/5/95, 7 BB, 2 AR, 3 MR, 25 UK, 78 CN, 2 AU, 13 DF) RM Man of the Hour (from the Big Fish soundtrack) RM About the Album: After Pearl Jam announced their departure from Epic Records, the label released the Lost Dogs archival collection and this more conventional greatest-hits collection. This marked the end of the band’s commitment to Epic.

Pearl Jam Pearl Jam

Released: May 2, 2006 Peak: 2 US, 5 UK, 2 CN, 2 AU, 13 DF Sales (in millions): 0.71 US, 0.06 UK, 1.81 world (includes US + UK) Genre: grunge rock Rating: 3.643 out of 5.00 (average of 27 ratings)

Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

Tracks: Life Wasted (8/28/06, 13 AR, 10 MR, 30 DF) World Wide Suicide (3/14/06, 41 BB, 2 AR, 1 MR, 26 DF) Comatose Severed Hand Marker in the Sand Parachutes Unemployable Big Wave Gone (10/7/06, 40 MR, 1 DF) Wasted Reprise Army Reserve Come Back Inside Job About the Album: “Clive Davis announced in February 2006 that Pearl Jam had signed with his label, J Records, which like Epic, is part of the Sony BMG group. The band’s eighth studio album, Pearl Jam, was released on May 2, 2006. A number of critics cited Pearl Jam as a return to the band’s early sound…Current socio-political issues in the United States are addressed on the album.” WK Read more on the DMDB page for this album.

Into the Wild (soundtrack) Eddie Vedder

Released: September 18, 2007 Peak: 11 US, 183 UK, -- CN, 39 AU, 12 DF Sales (in millions): 0.37 US, -- UK, 1.0 world (includes US + UK) Genre: rock Rating: 3.444 out of 5.00 (average of 13 ratings)

Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

Tracks: Setting Forth No Ceiling Far Behind Rise Long Nights Tuolumne Hard Sun (9/16/07, 4 AA, 13 MR, 1 DF) Society The Wolf End of the Road Guaranteed (9/18/07, 1 DF) About the Album: In 2007, Eddie Vedder released his first solo effort, the well-received soundtrack for the Sean Penn-directed film Into the Wild. Read more on the DMDB page for this album.

Backspacer Pearl Jam

Released: September 22, 2009 Peak: 11 US, 9 UK, 11 CN, 11 AU, 12 DF Sales (in millions): 0.5 US, -- UK, 0.73 world (includes US + UK) Genre: grunge rock Rating: 3.824 out of 5.00 (average of 20 ratings)

Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

Tracks: Gonna See My Friend Got Some (10/31/09, 30 CN, 38 DF) The Fixer (7/20/09, 56 BB, 5 AA, 10 AR, 2 MR, 93 UK, 14 CN, 22 AU, 17 DF) Johnny Guitar Just Breathe (10/31/09, 78 BB, 20 A40, 1 AA, 36 AR, 6 MR, 14 CN, 1 DF) 20 Amongst the Waves (5/17/10, 17 MR, 75 CN) Unthought Known Supersonic Speed of Sound Force of Nature The End About the Album: That same year, “Pearl Jam recorded a cover of The Who’s Love, Reign O’er Me for the Mike Binder film, Reign Over Me; it was later made available as a music download on the iTunes Music Store…The band released a CD box set in June 2007, entitled Live at the Gorge 05/06, that documents its shows at The Gorge Amphitheatre, and in September 2007 a concert DVD, entitled Immagine in Cornice, which documents the band’s Italian shows from its 2006 tour was released.” WK In 2009, “Pearl Jam’s debut album, Ten, was reissued in four editions, featuring such extras as a remastering and remix of the entire album by Brendan O'Brien, a DVD of the band’s 1992 appearance on MTV Unplugged, and an LP of its September 20, 1992 concert at Magnuson Park in Seattle. It is the first reissue in a planned re-release of Pearl Jam's entire catalogue that will lead up to the band's 20th anniversary in 2011. A Pearl Jam retrospective movie directed by Cameron Crowe is also planned to coincide with the anniversary.” WK In 2009, Pearl Jam also released Backspacer, “the group’s first album to be produced by Brendan O’Brien since Yield.” WK “The music on the record features a sound influenced by pop and New Wave.” WK The band “reached a deal with Target to be the exclusive big-box store retailer for the album in the United States.” WK Read more on the DMDB page for this album.

Pearl Jam 20 (soundtrack/archives) Pearl Jam

Covers: 1990-2010 Released: September 19, 2011 Peak: -- US, 47 UK, -- CN, 14 AU Sales (in millions): -- Genre: grunge rock Rating: 3.816 out of 5.00 (average of 6 ratings)

Tracks, Disc 1: (1) Release * (2) Alive * (3) Garden * (4) Why Go * (5) Black * (6) Blood * (7) Last Exit * (8) Not for You * (9) Do the Evolution * (10) Thumbing My Way ** (11) Crown of Thorns * (12) Let Me Sleep * (13) Walk with Me (with Neil Young) * (14) Just Breathe * Tracks, Disc 2: (1) Say Hello 2 Heaven ** (2) Times of Trouble ** (3) Acoustic #1 ** (4) It Ain’t Like That (5) Need to Know ** (6) Be Like Wind (7) Given to Fly ** (8) Nothing As It Seems ** (9) Nothing As It Seems * (10) Indifference * (11) Of the Girl ** (12) Faithful * (13) Bushleaguer * (14) Better Man * (15) Rearviewmirror * * live recording ** demo or alternate recording Tracks Not on Previously Noted Albums: It Ain’t Like That (1990 Mookie Blaylock demo, Alice in Chains cover) 20 Acoustic #1 (1991 Vedder & Gossard demo) 20 Be Like Wind (2007 Matt Cameron demo) 20 Be Like Wind (2010, Mike McCready score) 20 Walk with Me (live 10/23/2010 with Neil Young at Mountain View, CA) 20 About the Album: Pearl Jam Twenty (named for the band’s 20th anniversary) was a documentary film directed by Cameron Crowe. The accompanying soundtrack featured archival recordings such as demos and live recordings.

Ukulele Songs Eddie Vedder

Released: May 30, 2011 Peak: 4 US, 49 UK, -- CN, 6 AU, 12 DF Sales (in millions): -- Genre: rock Rating: 3.463 out of 5.00 (average of 11 ratings)

Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

Tracks: Can’t Keep Sleeping by Myself Without You (single) More Than You Know Goodbye Broken Heart Satellite Longing to Belong (4/16/11, 4 AA) Hey Fahkah You’re True Light Today Sleepless Nights (with Glen Hansard) Once in a While Waving Palms Tonight You Belong to Me Dream a Little Dream of Me About the Album: 2011 saw the release of another official live album, Live on Ten Legs. The title referenced the band’s first official live album, 1998’s Live on Two Legs. Vedder also released his second solo album, Ukulele Songs, which is, yes, an unlikely collection of Pearl Jam’s emotive front man dropping into an acoustic vein with a collection of ukulele-driven tunes that work surpisingly well. Read more on the DMDB page for this album.

Lightning Bolt Pearl Jam

Released: October 15, 2013 Peak: 11 US, 2 UK, 11 CN, 11 AU, 13 DF Sales (in millions): -- US, 0.06 UK Genre: grunge rock Rating: 2.378 out of 5.00 (average of 7 ratings)

Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

Tracks: Getaway Mind Your Manners (7/11/13, 2 AR, 12 MR, 55 CN, 54 AU, 16 DF) My Father’s Son Sirens (9/18/13, 76 BB, 34 A40, 1 AA, 6 AR, 4 MR, 31 CN, 1 DF) Lightning Bolt (3/4/14, 5 AR, 15 MR) Infallible Pendulum Swallowed Whole Let the Records Play Sleeping by Myself Yellow Moon Future Days About the Album: Coming five years after previous studio album Backspacer, Lightning Bolt would end up being Pearl Jam’s only studio release of the decade. Their next album didn’t come until 2020 with Gigaton.

Gigaton Pearl Jam

Released: March 27, 2020 Peak: 5 US, 6 UK, 5 CN, 3 AU, 13 DF Sales (in millions): -- Genre: grunge rock Rating: 3.349 out of 5.00 (average of 21 ratings)

Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

Tracks: Who Ever Said Superblood Wolfmoon (2/18/20, 4 AR, 29 DF) Dance of the Clairvoyants (1/22/20, 2 AA, 17 AR, 15 MR, 21 DF) Quick Escape (3/25/20, --) Alright Seven O’Clock Never Destination Take the Long Way Buckle Up Comes Then Goes Retrograde (5/14/20, 9 AA) River Cross About the Album: Seven years after Lightning Bolt, Pearl Jam were finally back with the new studio album Gigaton.

Earthling Eddie Vedder

Released: February 11, 2022 Peak: 29 US, 36 UK, 27 CN, 8 AU, 12 DF Sales (in millions): -- Genre: rock Rating: 3.544 out of 5.00 (average of 10 ratings)

Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

Tracks: Invincible (5/9/22, --) Power of Right Long Way (9/8/21, 7 AA, 15 DF) Brother the Cloud (1/14/22, 7 AA, 16 AR, 38 MR) Fallout Today The Dark The Haves (11/18/21, 26 DF) Good and Evil Rose of Jericho Try Picture (with Elton John) Mrs. Mills On My Way About the Album: Comments here.

Resources and Related Links: DMDB encyclopedia entry for Pearl Jam Dave’s Music Database: Acts’ Profile Pages and Best-of Lists STE Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide WK Wikipedia First posted 6/3/2011; last updated 12/14/2023.