Pearl Jam Twenty: a Band's Musical Progression

With twenty years under their belt, it is no surprise that Pearl Jam has garnered enough stories and experiences to create a documentary about their journey, titled "Pearl Jam Twenty," which was directed by Cameron Crowe and released this past September. But what would a rock doc be without an accompanying soundtrack? The two-disc compilation features 19 of Pearl Jam's songs, most of which are live versions. Not only does the soundtrack include many of their well-known songs, but it also features some lesser-known tunes that are a real treat for longtime Pearl Jam fans as well as a nice surprise for new listeners.

"Just Breathe," a live recording from the March 3, 2010 episode of Saturday Night Live, reveals a gentle side of Eddie Vedder's compelling voice. Its sweet melody lulls the listener into a relaxing state, while a powerful chorus brings them right out of it. The song flows very cleanly, an example of Pearl Jam's excellent songwriting abilities and harmony as a group. Give it a listen here:



"Black" is a spine-tingling good live recording from MTV Unplugged of March 16, 1992 with a very grunge vibe. Vedder's voice trembles with emotion while the instruments layered underneath his voice mesh together to create the perfect, dark backdrop for the story being told. As artists, this is a great song for Pearl Jam to include on the album because it reveals the grunge roots that they have evolved over the past two decades to create their distinguished sound. Check out their performance of it here:



"Faithfull," a live recording from a Sept. 20, 2006 soundcheck in Pistoia, Italy, is driven by a catchy guitar rhythm and Vedder's raspy voice. The song has different levels of emotion, which are strongly depicted by the instrumental parts and enhanced by the way Vedder sings the lyrics. The music ebbs and flows, taking on an energetic jam session feel. Listen to it here:



"Pearl Jam Twenty" is the quintessential album for a dedicated fan and a great sampling of the band's progression for someone just beginning to listen to this staple of grunge rock. Order the album, documentary or both here.

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