What is Each Album's Major Flaw?: Ten

[stip]

old thread archived here

This is a multi-part series for each album. We'll move on to the next album when it seems like it's been discussed enough. I'd like to reiterate that the aim of these discussions is to hear opinions on what you think is the single most significant flaw for the album being discussed. We're not looking for general album bashing, but rather a critical look at the single biggest weakness for each record.

Example of a poor post:
There are so many things that suck on this album. Track 4, 8 and 9 are terrible and the lyrics for such and such a song a really bad. Not only that, but the cover is stupid.

Like I said, we're not looking for general album bashing. What I suggest is to go give a listen to the album being discussed. For some of us, it's been a while listening to these older albums all the way through, and it helps you think and take that critical view before you post. Try and be insightful and give good reasons why you believe the flaw you're pointing out is the biggest flaw of the album.

[stip]

Time to resurrect this chestnut from the old board. Ten first!

[stip]

Well obviously the album cover.

[Lament]

High-fiving is so 1990.

[Norris]

[stip]

Ten is tricky because depending on the day its flaws can work quite well. It is definitely the pearl jam album that feels the most out of place and has the hardest time cohering to the rest of the catalog. But I'm not sure that's a flaw.

The production sometimes feels a bit too dated, but on the other hand the big, spacey feel to the songs fit the grandeur and the ambition of the music. This is an album where each song tries to out anthem the one before it, and the tighter, blistering focus of the production on, say, Vs. may not do these songs justice (although I do think Alive in particular benefits from the RVM remix treatment).

The songs occasionally feel a little juvenile (Why Go and Once) or are reaching a bit too hard for some faux wisdom (Garden). But, on the other hand, they're delivered with such commitment it is easy to forgive them this sin. The songs may feel young, even immature, but never petulant


There are clearly a number of b-sides from the sessions (wash, ledbetter, Alone, SOLAT, Breath) that were better than some of the tracks that made it onto the record.

Overall these all feel like minor flaws, though--ones that the album easily transcends.

[stip]

I like the hurr durr.

[Lament]

If you had the chance to invite four other RMers over to recreate the cover of Ten, who would you choose?

[stip]

Chud, doc, platy, and sarge

[Lament]

It's gonna look pretty silly with you and chud trying to reach up to meet Jorge on that high five, stip. I expected your answer to be more thought out.

[stip]

I'm going to be sitting on his shoulders

[Lament]

In that case, you need one other RMers since you and chud are combining to make one super RMer.

[Norris]

i can't believe i fell for RMer man

[bodysnatcher]

I always felt like Ten was overreaching a little bit. A caricature of the band, so to speak. Probably not a fair – and completely hindsighted – assessment given that it's the band's first album, and they had never established anything whatsoever about who they were. But sometimes it's just a little TOO over the top. It's the complete opposite argument that a lot of people have about Riot Act.

But, given the fact that it IS the band's first album... their first reach into wanting to be a rock band... you can't blame it whatsoever.

There's not a lot to pick at with this album, for the most part. It's not perfect at all. But it's an incredible look at a band starting out.

[stip]

I love the reach here, precisely because I don't think it's much of an overreach. that's what's so remarkable about. The whole thing is full of grand, sweeping, overwrought gestures, yet it somehow all works.

Then again, I'm a bigger fan than most.

[Jorge]

Reverb.

And grunty yabadabadoo Eddie.

[Norris]

yep

[@SkitchP]

Chud, doc, platy, and sarge

[stip]

I would make sure we thanked John Stamos and Dave Coulier in the liner notes

[BurtReynolds]

The fact that its so loved by music snobs is its biggest flaw.