 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Ten
- By Pearl Jam
- Genre: Alternative Rock
Common Sense Media says
Smash debut fuses classic rock with aggressive grunge.
Parents say
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that the imagery in the songs on Pearl Jam's debut album, Ten, is fairly disturbing: They are largely peopled with damaged, unloved kids of indifferent parents; there's a bullying victim ("Jeremy") and even the odd mental patient ("Why Go"). There are also a couple of tracks about lost love ("Black," "Porch"), but most are anthems for tense, angry teenagers. Ten was a huge commercial success when it was released in 1991. The sound of the album rests somewhere between classic rock and the hardcore grunge of Nirvana, and the release was well-received by fans of both genres.
What's the story?
At a time when mainstream country acts and boy bands were topping charts, Pearl Jam and other grunge bands were a breath of fresh air for rock 'n' roll fans. TEN, the band's debut, straddled the line between classic rock and grunge with aggressive but melodic guitar-based arrangements, gritty lyrics, and anthemic vocals from lead singer Eddie Vedder. Pearl Jam, along with other acts like Nirvana, ushered in the hugely popular grunge genre. Ten was a No. 2 album in 1992, and several songs on the album cracked Billboard's Top 20.
Is it any good?
Pearl Jam's influences range from punk to metal to psychedelia. Melodies and guitar riffs are strong and catchy, and the band's lyrics tackle some brutal material. The core of Pearl Jam's sound, however, is Eddie Vedder's throaty, passionate singing. Kids who "discover" this band will likely find the lyrics poetic and significant, and be captivated by Vedder's singular voice.
However, the same qualities that made Pearl Jam more accessible than other grunge acts when they broke in the early '90s now make the band seem relatively mainstream. Pearl Jam's musical approach was never as dynamic or provocative as Nirvana's, for example, and this album doesn’t hold up as a life-changer the way the latter band's Nevermind does.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about how Pearl Jam's music is different from, or similar to, other grunge/alt-rock bands that hit in the early 1990s -- Nirvana or Soundgarden, for example.
What is the statement being made about the young man in "Alive"?
Why do you think "Jeremy" -- about a neglected, bullied child who loses control -- was so popular when it was released? (It rose to No. 5 on the charts.)
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AGE
ten
good music that may be inappropriate for young children
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| Topics: | misfits and underdogs |
| Artist: | Pearl Jam |
| Type: | Album |
| Release date: | August 27, 1991 |
| Label: | Sony Music |
| Genre: | Alternative Rock |
| Parental advisory: | No |
| Edited version available: | No |
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