Pearl Jam Songs Ranked
Pearl Jam is an American rock band formed in 1990 in Seattle, Washington. The band’s 2020 lineup consists of founding members Eddie Vedder (lead vocals, guitar), Mike McCready (lead guitar), Stone Gossard (rhythm guitar), and Jeff Ament (bass) as well as drummer Matt Cameron, who joined in 1998. Keyboardist Boom Gaspar has also been a session/touring member with the band since 2002. Drummers Jack Irons, Dave Krusen, Matt Chamberlain, and Dave Abbruzzese are former members of the band. Formed after the demise of Gossard and Ament’s previous band, Mother Love Bone, Pearl Jam broke into the mainstream with its debut album, Ten, in 1991. One of the key bands in the grunge movement of the early 1990s, its members often shunned popular music industry practices such as making music videos or giving interviews. Here are all of Pearl Jam’s songs ranked.
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20. Immortality (Vitalogy, 1994)
“The instrumentals of this song are amazing. Pearl Jam for me is a perfect mix of protrusive messages and imminent shivers down your spine. This song is just the epitome of just that.”
19. Porch (Ten (Redux), (1991)
“The MTV Unplugged performance of this song changed everything for me when it comes to music. I was absolutely mesmerized by the passion and energy that Vedder brought to this song during that performance. That performance alone is without a doubt my all time favorite from PJ. Just phenomenal.”
18. Leash (Vs., 1993)
“One of the most energetic songs from pearl jam. Eddie’s vocals are excellent here, it feels like he transmits the teenage spirit, the spirit of the youth. Makes you wanna jump, mosh and scream out loud!”
17. Given to Fly (Yield, 1998)
“It’s such an inspiring song that lifts you every time you hear it. The ways Vedder builds slowly up to the chorus then lets it all go… Gets to me every time. Amazing song!”
See more: Pearl Jam Albums Ranked
16. Animal (Vs., 1993)
“Incredible live version. Ridiculous energy. Not as epic as Alive but so energetic and great to headbang and just generally go wild too! Potentially my favorite Pearl Jam track!”
15. Nothingman (Vitalogy, 1994)
“Perfect Because it is meaningful, beautiful, moving… just as much as a song of this kind of style could ask… I can listen to this song every day.it never gets old for me.”
14. Why Go (Ten, 1991)
“Most remember the more commercial songs from this album, but this song is among their best. I hear Jeff Ammette’s girlfriend every second I listen to this song! “
13. State of Love and Trust (Ten (Redux), 1991)
“Listen to the MTV Unplugged version of this, and then argue that this isn’t the best Pearl Jam song. Vedder’s vocals are top class, and the instrumental is extremely underrated’
12. Corduroy (Vitalogy, 1994)
“Such a good song, really its fantastic I think the best from vitalogy and one of the best from Pearl Jam, the intro, the verse and chorus are fantastic, great works in the guitar and the lyrics are awesome… Corduroy its full of energy, the first time I heard it I thought it would be special and it this, excellent song long live Pearl Jam!”
11. Last Kiss (Lost Dogs, 2003)
“A truly bittersweet memory that shows PJ can be as intelligent as anything out there and touches the soul unlike much of the new crap being force-fed to us. Last Kiss is as real as it gets.”
10. Once (Ten (Redux), 1991)
“It is an amazing song. Beautiful bass and guitar lines, the drummer plays very strong, Eddy is a real front man. This song is so powerful in the chorus!”
9. Rearviewmirror (Vs., 1993)
“This beautifully captures exactly how I feel and the build up in this song, is the best out of any song – ever! Towards the end it sounds like it’s going to explode. So much emotion and energy on this song. Starts out with an amazingly catchy riff, then builds to a climax with Eddie Vedder’s vocals on this song being one of his best ever.
8. Release (Ten, 1991)
“This song is about Eddie finding out about his real dad, and I too found out my dad was actually my stepdad all this time and that I had never actually knew my biological dad, so this song is the one song of all time that really resonates with me deep and heartfelt. But aside from any personal connection, the song is productionally a masterpiece in its atmospheric building, simplistic instrumental style and perfectly crafted lyrics. Release builds up to become such an amazing outburst of human feeling; a song of true words from the heart. All you have to do is listen to any live versions of this song, and you’ll understand how magical it truly is, not just to Eddie and the band members, but to the audience who break out into becoming louder than Eddie himself on a microphone. Pearl Jam have a large arsenal of universally hard-hitting songs, but Release is by far their biggest bullet. An absolute gem of a creation”
7. Yellow Ledbetter (Lost Dogs, 2003)
“My god the way Mike Mcready plays the way Hendrix use too with the mumbled lyrics of Eddie. Any P.J. fan can tell you what this songs relating to but you can come up with different lyrics to make it what you want.”
See more: Janis Joplin Albums Ranked
6. Daughter (Vs., 1993)
“Classic Pearl Jam in every way. It’s hard to make a list of the ten best anything, but I’m glad to see that many of their best songs are represented on this list. Incredible vocals, great guitar part, really goes to show how amazing Pearl Jam was. Inspiration from this song is tremendous.”
5. Better Man (Vitalogy, 1994)
“This song is a pure delight. Eddies lyrics and the two parts of the song (starting easy and then evolving in the second part) add the needed rising of tension on what the lyrics are all about… It’s a perfect connection between music and lyrics… And if you see them live in interpretation… This is what PJ is all about!”
4. Alive (Ten, 1991)
“The outro is some of the best music I think has ever been made.. Seriously, other songs by them are solid, but come on, just give Alive a listen and you’re sure to like it.”
3. Jeremy (Ten (Redux), 1991)
“Such an amazingly repeatable song shouldn’t be seated behind Even Flow. If you show anyone what Pearl Jam sounds like, you don’t have to show them anything but this before they love the band. Represents the kind of talent that few see in the band and is so lyrically brilliant that humming it is actually painful.”
2. Even Flow (Ten (Redux), 1991)
“A complete Pearl Jam song from their best album, Black is a good song but it’s overrated and over-played. Awesome lyrics by Eddie with a super catchy chorus, True Grunge”
1. Black (Ten (Redux), 1991)
“Black is by far the most emotionally powerful song I have heard. It touches your soul and your emotions flows with the beats and vocals. This song becomes the integral part of my feelings, like it is being played within my head, my head moves uncontrollably with the beats and eyes remains closed. Truly magical!”
