Reflecting on Pearl Jam’s Ten
This album holds a special place in my heart from my college years. I listened to it on repeat for quite some time, and while I wasn’t deeply immersed in the grunge scene, Ten became a significant part of my musical journey. It represents a specific moment in my life, and although I don’t play it as often anymore, I still find immense joy in it. Whenever a song from the album comes on the radio or shuffles through my playlist, I can’t help but turn it up and reminisce about those days, even if it’s just for a fleeting moment before I return to the present.
My Introduction to Ten
My first encounter with this album was through the song “Jeremy” on MTV. Back then, the network actually played music videos, and I vividly remember the era when they attempted to broadcast live Spring Break events. I was captivated by the energy of the performances, especially when I saw Primus take the stage. But back to “Jeremy”—initially, I really disliked the song. The overexposure it received at the time made it hard for me to appreciate it fully. Grunge was just starting to emerge, and we hadn’t even coined the term yet; it was simply a wave of bands from Seattle making their mark.
Nirvana was undoubtedly the first band to break through, but many others followed quickly, and I still enjoy much of this music today. Pearl Jam was the band that opened the door for me into this genre, but I quickly moved on, especially after being blown away by Primus on TV.
Learning the Album
Ten was one of the first albums I attempted to learn from start to finish. I remember grappling with a lot of pentatonic scales, but aside from the iconic bass riff in “Jeremy,” I can’t recall much of the rest. I still cherish this album, even if it doesn’t get much playtime these days. It remains a nostalgic reminder of my college years and the music that shaped my early experiences.