It was more dud than stud – although the worst of PJ is better than most. Binaural (2000): The band took a huge departure for this album, its sixth, going from rock songs to atmospheric efforts. The fact Pearl Jam is the last of the grunge-era bands still around (and still putting out good music) is a testament to the now nearly 50-year-old rockers. Lightning Bolt (2013): The first seven songs on this new album are dynamic before a sleepy back half. There’s a lot to like on Backspacer, an album in which the band is having fun (which didn’t seem the case in the early 2000s)Ĩ. 1 on the Billboard charts since 1996, Backspacer was another solid effort on the heels of the self-titled Pearl Jam album. Backspacer (2009): The first Pearl Jam record to debut at No. It’s almost as if Pearl Jam’s goal was to prove it still had the goods. This, the eighth studio album, is a return to the band’s rocking roots (perhaps that’s why it was self titled).

The first five albums on this list are great. Pearl Jam (2006): This is the dividing point. It wasn’t the commercial success of the first three PJ albums, but is still terrific from start to finish.Ħ. Pearl Jam’s stadium sound was gone, replaced with garage rock songs and experimental slower-tempo efforts. No Code (1996): This album, the band’s fourth, divided hardcore fans with the peripheral. It was less arena rock than its debut “Ten” and more raw and powerful.ĥ. It scaled back all commercial efforts (limited interviews, no music videos) and came up with a heavy album, offset with some great acoustic work. It’s great from start to finish, a diverse, fun and sonically and lyrically powerful 48-minute journey.Ģ. It contained radio hits “Given To Fly,” “Wishlist” and “Do The Evolution,” but was much more than a few singles. Yield (1998): The most underrated (and, in my opinion, the best) Pearl Jam album. Pearl Jam also is one of Wolf Pack football coach Brian Polian’s favorite bands.ġ. What’s the link to sports? Pearl Jam’s original name was Mookie Blaylock after the former NBA player. The band released its 10th studio album, “Lightning Bolt,” on Tuesday. This week’s list counts down the 10 best Pearl Jam studio albums (because I own more than 350 Pearl Jam CDs and my dog, Lukin, is named after a PJ song). Every Sunday, I'll count down a top-10 list (and post it on the blog Friday afternoon).

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