Released: Mar 24, 2009
Genre: Grunge
Number Of Tracks: 17
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.
Featured review by:
TheDissident, on july 09, 2009 2 of 2 people found this review helpful
Sound: Important to note that two different versions of this product exist; the deluxe and legacy editions. Both have remastered the songs from the original as well as including six new tracks. The deluxe includes Pearl Jam's Unplugged concert setlist, including Oceans (which was not originally released on the show). Overall, O'Brien took the original album's mix and took a more direct approach with it. Vedder's lyrics come across in a smoother fashion, his voice much more defined and pronounced than it was on the original album. Jeff Ament's bass riffs and the background guitar rhythms are also more pronounced on the album. Of the six new tracks, Brother and State of Love and Trust possess the arena-rock-riffs-meet-Seattle-Sound that so well defined the original album. 2000 Mile Blues sticks true to it's name, featuring an eerie sounding blues riff/progression that goes along oddly with Eddie's singing style. 2000 Mile Blues actually sounds a little out of place on the album, almost like it was an attempt to show their bluesy side. Breath and a Scream sounds right at home on Ten, an excellent song utilizing the louder-softer method implied by grunge bands during the period. // 8
Lyrics and Singing: The lyrics for the original tracks are the same, but made far more powerful by the excellent remastered delivery. Vedder's screams are more pronounced, and his unique style is nicely complemented in this remastering. The new tracks expand over a wide range of topics, though none of them are new to Pearl Jam fans and certainly represent Eddie's mood during the original Ten sessions. State of Love and Trust rose out of Eddie's viewing of Singles, and is a simple song based on his views of the film. Brother is another Eddie song featuring adversity, and was originally an instrumental track released with lyrics for this remastering. Eddie's singing delivery on the newer tracks are as raw as the original Ten items and fit along very well with them. // 8
Impression: This compilation is a must for all Pearl Jam fans. The CD set runs a little pricey, but for anyone looking to really get into the band (or a true fan who just wants the newer songs and the excellent detailed booklet that comes along with it) the package is a very good buy. In the deluxe set (which runs five to ten dollars more than the legacy one, depending on where it is purchased) contains the Pearl Jam Unplugged concert, which is another excellent reason to buy this album. Overall, the remastering is worth the money. If you've lost the original Ten album, or are just looking for an expansion, the Remastered is worth the buy. // 9
Reviewed by:
Xeron Brigs, on july 10, 2009 1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Sound: "Ten" is without a doubt one of the most influential albums of the 1990's. Having seen initial slow sales, this didn't stop the album from climbing the Billboard 200 to spot number 2, outselling Nirvana's "Nevermind" and as of April 2009 has been certified as thirteen times platinum by the RIAA.
However, while the album was very successful, Pearl Jam was interested in what the album would sound like if it were deconstructed and remixed. The result is the reissue of Ten.
O'Brien went for a "more direct sound" in this version of Ten. While the original seemed to have lots of reverb and the music tended to be quieter, the new album has more of a "raw" edge to it, making it seem much more like a live performance. The entire album is much louder, with Vedder's voice being the centerpiece. Unlike the original, Gossard's rhythm guitar and Ament's bass-lines are much more pronounced, especially in Ament's case, while the lead guitar work of McCready seems to cut through the mix, rather than blend with it.
In addition to the original songs, the reissue of Ten also included a whopping six bonus songs: Brother, Just a Girl, Breath and a Scream, State of Love and Trust, 2,000 Mile Blues, and Evil Little Goat. With the exception of the last two, the bonus tracks fit very well with the overall theme and sound of Ten, making it sound more like a continuation of the album rather than “bonus tracks.”
2,000 Mile Blues showcases Pearl Jam’s ability to play a rocked-up blues song, and while it doesn’t really fit with the other songs, it is a nice glimpse into another often overlooked side of Pearl Jam. Evil Little Goat seems more like a humorous jam session rather than an actual song, with Vedder repeating the phrase “She was an evil little goat, goat, goat” over and over again while occasionally making a few “Baaaa” noises for good measure. // 9
Lyrics and Singing: Vedder's vocals have and continue to be a central part of Pearl Jam's music. His performance on the original songs of Ten has not changed, nor does it need to. His strong vocal abilities along with powerful lyrics make Ten an emotionally strong album.
On the new tracks, Vedder's lyrics do not disappoint, maintaining the same high level of vocals as on the original release of Ten. With his signature use of vibrato and with lyrics that make every song special, Vedder shows no signs of slowing down.
His lyrics fit very well with the music: when a song needs to sound angry and aggressive, his vocals are angry and aggressive. When you need more of a somber sound, Vedder once again delivers. // 9
Impression: Ten is a staple of any Grunge fan’s collection. Pearl Jam has more of a rock feel to them, versus the Punk feel of Nirvana and the Metal feel of Alice in Chains, making this album a refreshing glimpse into another aspect of the Seattle Sound.
Whether you are a fan of Pearl Jam, a fan of Grunge, or just a fan of good music, then the reissue of Ten is right for you! Released alongside the original as a companion album, this makes it easy to compare both the original and the reissue side by side for a difference in sound. The extra songs alone are worth the purchase, but for a few dollars more you can also get the Deluxe Edition, containing an MTV Unplugged performance of Pearl Jam, along with a booklet having a scrapbook feel, showing scenes from the early days when they were still known as Mookie Blaylock.
Check it out, I guarantee that it will not disappoint! // 10
led_zep_1789
: i LOVE this remastered album...they were smart in doing something like this. i honestly didn't think you could do anything else to make this album better but i was proven wrong. POSTED: 07/10/2009 - 12:08 am / quote|
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