Sobre el álbum
"Ten" es el título del primer álbum en la discografía de Pearl Jam, la banda estadounidense de rock surgida en Seattle en 1190. "Ten" fue lanzado al mercado el 27 de agosto de 1991 por el sello Epic Records, con un claro estilo grunge con influencias de rock clásico.Tras uno estreno vacilante, el álbum se fue afianzando poco a poco en las listas y a finales de 1992 alcanzó el número dos en la lista Billboard 200, su mejor posición. Se calcula que el álbum ha vendido más de 13 millones de copias, siendo el mayor éxito de Pearl Jam.
Producido por el estadounidense Rick Parashar, quien también realizó aportaciones al piano, las sesiones de grabación se realizaron en mayo de 1991. Tras las grabaciones, Krusen dejó la banda para entrar en un centro de rehabilitación por problemas con el alcohol. Su puesto sería ocupado desde entonces por el baterista Matt Chamberlain.
Varios de los temas del álbum comenzaron como composiciones instrumentales hasta que Eddie Vedder se unió a la banda en 1990 como vocalista principal y comenzó a escribir las letras que acompañarían a las melodías.
Las letras de las canciones tratan de temas como la depresión, el suicidio, la soledad o los problemas sociales. Algunos de los temas se inspiraron en historias reales, como "Jeremy", basado en la historia de un estudiante de secundaria que se pegó un tiro frente a sus compañeros de clase.
"Alive", el sencillo principal del álbum "Ten", fue lanzado el 7 de julio de 1991. Compuesto por Eddie Vedder y el guitarrista Stone Gossard y producido por Rick Parashar
La letra de Veddor, entre autobiográfica y ficticia, narra la historia de un hombre que descubre que el que creía su padre es en realidad su padrastro, mientras que el dolor de su madre por la muerte del esposo le provocan deseos incestuosos con el hijo, dado el parecido que este tiene con su padre biológico.
La historia contada en "Alive" tiene su continuidad en otros dos temas del álbum, "Once", en el que el protagonista pierde la razón y provoca una matanza, y en "Footsteps", en el que reflexiona sobre el pasado mientras espera el momento de ser ejecutado.
El video de "Alive" fue dirigido por el realizador estadounidense Josh Taft. Fue rodado en blanco y negro durante una actuación en directo de la banda en Seattle, con sonido en vivo.
El segundo sencillo de "Ten" fue "Even Flow", lanzado el 6 de abril de 1992, con letras escritas por Eddie Vedder y composiciones del guitarrista Stone Gossard. La letra del tema habla de la dura experiencia de ser vagabundo.
Se grabaron dos vídeos de "Even Flow". En el primero de ellos, dirigido por el realizador Rocky Schenck, grabaron varias escenas en un zoo, con imágenes de los animales salvajes y con la banda tocando. El resultado no gustó en absoluto a los miembros de Pearl Jam, que decidieron descartar esta grabación.
Para el vídeo definitivo, volvieron a contratar a Josh Taft, con quien habían granado ya el vídeo de "Alive". En esta ocasión, grabaron escenas de una actuación de Pearl Jam en enero de 1992.
"Jeremy" fue el tercer sencillo del álbum debut de Pearl Jam. Lanzado el 27 de septiembre de 1992, fue compuesta por el bajista Jeff Ament con letras de Eddie Vedder.
El tema estaba inspirado en una historia real aparecida en los periódicos, de un joven llamado Jeremy Wade Delle, un estudiante de secundaria que se pegó un tiro delante de sus compañeros de clase.
El video oficial de "Jeremy" se estrenó el 1 de agosto de 1992, y supuso un gran éxito. La amplia difusión de la que dispuso en la MTV lanzó la carrera musical de la banda, que obtuvo como recompensa cuatro MTV Video Music Awards en 1993, incluyendo el premio al Mejor Video del Año.
"Oceans" fue el cuarto y último sencillo del álbum "Ten". Lanzado el 7 de diciembre de 1992, fue compuesto por Vedder, Stone Gossard y Jeff Ament con letras de Vedder y trata del pasión del vocalista de Pearl Jam por el surf.
El video musical de "Oceans"> fue dirigido y filmado por Josh Taft en Hawái y nos muestra escenas de los miembros de la banda en blanco y negro en las playas de Hawái y a Vedder surfeando con su tabla.
Listado de Canciones
- Once3:51
Letra
I admit it... What's to say... Yeah... I'll relive it... Without pain... Mmm... Backstreet lover on the side of the road I got a bomb in my temple that is gonna explode I got a sixteen gauge buried under my clothes, I play... Once upon a time I could control myself Ooh, once upon a time I could lose myself, yeah... Oh, try and mimic what's insane... Ooh, yeah... I am in it... Where do I stand? Oh, Indian summer and I hate the heat I got a backstreet lover on the passenger seat I got my hand in my pocket, so determined, discreet... I pray... Once upon a time I could control myself Ooh, once upon a time I could lose myself, yeah, yeah... You think I got my eyes closed But I'm lookin' at you the whole fuckin' time... Ooh, once upon a time I could control myself, yeah... Once upon a time I could lose myself, yeah, yeah, yeah... Once, upon a time I could love myself, yeah... Once upon a time I could love you, yeah, yeah, yeah... Once [4x] Yeah... Once, once... Yeah, yeah... Yeah... Yeah, yeah... Yeah, yeah... Oww... - Even Flow4:53
Freezin' Rests his head on a pillow made of concrete, again Oh, feelin' Maybe he'll see a little better, set of days, ooh yeah Oh, hand out Faces that he sees time again ain't that familiar, oh yeah Oh, dark grin He can't help, when he's happy he looks insane, hm yeah Even flow, thoughts arrive like butterflies Oh, he don't know, so he chases them away Oh, someday yet, he'll begin his life again Life again, life again... Kneelin' Looking through the paper though he doesn't know to read, oh yeah Oh, prayin' Now to something that has never showed him anything Oh, feelin' Understands the weather of the winters on its way Oh, ceilings Few and far between all the legal halls of shame, hey Even flow, thoughts arrive like butterflies Oh, he don't know, so he chases them away Oh, someday yet, he'll begin his life again ...Ah, whispering hands, gently lead him away Him away, him away Yeah! Woo, ah yeah... fuck it up Hey man, you got a dollar? Come on, just some spare change, man, I know you got Well, God bless you, man, God bless you Even flow, thoughts arrive like butterflies Oh, he don't know, so he chases them away Oh, someday yet, he'll begin his life again Oh, whispering hands, gently lead him away Him away, him away... yeah! Woo, ah yeah... - Alive5:41
Son, she said, have I got a little story for you What you thought was your daddy was nothin' but a... While you were sittin' home alone at age thirteen Your real daddy was dyin', sorry you didn't see him, but I'm glad we talked... Oh I, oh, I'm still alive Hey, I, I, oh, I'm still alive Hey I, oh, I'm still alive Hey... Oh... Oh, she walks slowly, across a young man's room She said I'm ready... For you I can't remember anything to this very day 'Cept the look, the look... Oh, you know where, now I can't see, I just stare... I, I'm still alive Hey I, but, I'm still alive Hey I, boy, I'm still alive Hey I, I, I, I'm still alive, yeah Ooh yeah... Yeah yeah yeah... Oh... Oh... Is something wrong, she said Well of course there is You're still alive, she said Oh, and do I deserve to be Is that the question And if so... If so... Who answers... Who answers... I, oh, I'm still alive Hey I, oh, I'm still alive Hey I, but, I'm still alive Yeah I, ooh, I'm still alive Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah - Why Go3:19
Letra
She scratches a letter Into a wall made of stone Maybe someday Another child Won't feel as alone as she does It's been two years And counting Since they put her in this place She's been diagnosed By some stupid fuck And mommy agrees Why go home? Why go home? Why go home... She seems to be stronger But what they want her to be is weak She could just pretend She could join the game She could be another clone Why go home? What you taught me Put me here Don't come visit Mommy dear - Black5:44
Hey... Ooo... Sheets of empty canvas Untouched sheets of clay Were laid spread out before me As her body once did All five horizons Revolved a-round her soul As the earth to the sun Now the air I tasted and breathed Has taken a turn Ooh and all I taught her was Everything Ooh I know she gave me all That she wore And now my bitter hands Chafe beneath the clouds Of what was everything Oh, the pictures have All been washed in black Tattooed everything I take a walk outside I'm surrounded by Some kids at play I can feel their laughter So why do I sear? Oh, and twisted thoughts that spin Round my head I'm spinning, oh, I'm spinning How quick the sun can Drop away And now my bitter hands Cradle broken glass Of what was everything All the pictures have All been washed in black Tattooed everything All the love gone bad Turned my world to black Tattooed all I see All that I am All I'll be Yeah Ah huh Ah huh Ooo I know someday you'll have a beautiful life I know you'll be a sun In somebo-dy else's sky, but why Why Why can't it be Why can't it be mine Ooo Aah Yeah ooo Aah... Huh.. Do dodo do dodo [many times until fade] - Jeremy5:18
At home Drawing pictures Of mountain tops With him on top Lemon yellow sun Arms raised in a V Dead lay in pools of maroon below Daddy didn't give attention To the fact that mommy didn't care King Jeremy the wicked Ruled his world Jeremy spoke in class today Jeremy spoke in class today Clearly I remember Pickin' on the boy Seemed a harmless little fuck But we unleashed a lion Gnashed his teeth And bit the recess lady's breast How could I forget He hit me with a surprise left My jaw left hurting Dropped wide open Just like the day Like the day I heard Daddy didn't give affection And the boy was something that mommy wouldn't wear King Jeremy the wicked Ruled his world Jeremy spoke in class today Jeremy spoke in class today Try to forget this... Try to erase this... From the blackboard. - Oceans2:41
Letra
Hold on to the thread The currents will shift Guide me towards you Know something's left And we're all allowed to dream Of the next time we touch.......... You don't have to stray The oceans away Waves roll in my thoughts Hold tight the ring... The sea will rise... Please stand by the shore... I will be... I will be... There once more......... - Porch3:30
Letra
What the fuck is this world Running to? You didn't leave a message At least I could have Heard your voice one last time. Daily minefield This could be my time How 'bout you? Would you hit me? Would you hit me? All the bills go by And initiatives are taken up By the middle There ain't gonna be any middle any more And the cross I'm bearing home Ain't indicative of my place Left the porch Left the porch Hear my name Take a good look This could be the day Hold my hand Walk beside me I just need to say... Hear my name Take a good look This could be the day Hold my hand Lie beside me I just need to say What can I take? I just want to be I know that I would not ever touch you Hold you Feel you Ever hold Never again - Garden4:58
Letra
She don't wander in, don't wander in here, she She don't wander in here, don't wander in here The direction of the eye, so misleading The defection of the soul, nauseously quick I don't question our existence I just question our modern needs She don't wander in, don't wander in here, she She don't wander in here I will walk with my hands bound I will walk with my face blood I will walk with my shadow flag into your garden, garden of stone And I don't want it After all is done and we're still alone I won't be taken, yet I'll go with my hands bound I will walk with my face blood I will walk with my shadow flag into your garden, garden of stone I don't show, I don't share I don't need, yeah, what you have to give I will walk with my hands bound I will walk with my face blood I will walk with my shadow flag into your garden, garden I will walk with my hands bound I will walk into your garden, garden of stone I don't know, I don't care I don't need, yeah, the need to live - Deep4:18
Letra
On the edge of a windowsill Ponders his maker, ponders his will To the street below, he just ain't nothin' But he's got a great view and he sinks the needle deep Whoa, can't touch the bottom In too deep, yeah, oh, can't touch the bottom Oh, on the edge of a know-nothin' town Feelin' quite superior, the aged come To the sky above he just ain't nothin' But he's got a great view and he sinks a burning knife deep Can't touch the bottom In too deep, yeah, uh huh, can't touch the bottom In too deep On the edge of a christmas clean love Young virgin from heaven, visiting Hell To the man above her, she just ain't nothin' And she doesn't like the view She doesn't like the view She doesn't like the view but he sinks himself deep Oh, can't touch the bottom In too deep, yeah, oh, can't touch the bottom Can't touch the bottom, deep The bottom, the bottom, the bottom, the bottom, the bottom - Release9:03
Letra
I see the world Feel the chill Which way to go Windowsill I see the words On a rocking horse of time I see the birds in the rain Oh dear dad Can you see me now I am myself Like you somehow I'll ride the wave Where it takes me I'll hold the pain Release me Oh dear dad Can you see me now I am myself Like you somehow I'll wait up in the dark For you to speak to me I'll open up Release me Release me Release me Release me