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Album Description
Ten, the debut album that sold 12 million copies and introduced the world to Pearl Jam in 1991, will be reissued in four (4) new and expanded editions on March 24, 2009. The reissue of Ten serves as the launch of a planned two-year catalogue re-release campaign leading up to the band’s 20th anniversary in 2011.
Each Ten package will include two versions of the album: the remastered version of the original album PLUS an accompanying remixed version done by the… More >>
November 16, 2009 at 5:15 am
OK, for starters, I love Pearl Jam. And out of their discography, this is (by far) my favorite album. This album is desert island music. I love that they release every live show. I am not a die hard fan (some studio efforts miss the mark, but I am always impressed with their creativity).
So, overall, I was excited about what was possible with this project.
That said, I always get nervous when I hear about these overblown ultradeluxe items, because it almost always ends up being overpriced junk.
Seeing the results of this project just makes me shake my head in complete disappointment about what could have been, and the epic fail it has become.
But, let’s take things one at a time.
1) Remastered album: Always a great idea. 5 stars.
2) Re-edited album. Interesting concept, but I don’t get it. This album is a classic and needs no messing with. I have no problem with a variety of different edits (long songs getting a sharter radio edit, having a live or accostic version etc). But I never heard anyone clamoring for a re-mix. That said, it sounds OK. But, this really is something that is for the hardcore fans. Casual listeners could care less about this. So, putting this in every version of this release seems unusual. This should have been limited to the ultra-box set (IMO)
3) 6 extra rare and/or live tracks. Wonderful-this is what sets like this should be about-old demos, b-sides, tracks that didn’t quite make the album, and other rarities.
4) Unplugged. This was massively overdue. And a huge addition to the discography. But, why just a DVD? These unplugged concerts make for a great live CD. I will watch the DVD a few times, but a CD would have been played endlessly. This should have been released in both formats.
5) Vinyl. Pearl Jam loves their vinyl. And it is certainly making a comeback. I really don’t have good memories about this format (igrew up with it, and it is rather cumbersome, and I dislike the background hiss it gives). But, if some people like it, then I appreciate PJ issuing it and giving their fans a choice.
6) Momma-Son cassette. Out of all the reproductions in this box, this is the most interesting. That said, I don’t even HAVE a cassette player anymore. Kudo’s for the cool trinket, but the 3 tracks could have been included on one of the CDs (somewhere) so that it could be easily listened to.
7) Book, photos, and various other reproductions. This is the type of stuff that makes me cringe. Yes, it is interesting to see. But these are all reproductions. Books like this routinely sell for under $20 (and typically end up in a bargin bin for under $10). But, when they are included in a set like this, they try to spin it as the holy grail for PJ fans to justify the insane MSRP. Yeah, it’s nice to flip through, but it will then go on a shelf never to be looked at again. Ultra-deluxe versions of movies and CD’s always comes packed with these large usuless trinkets to try to lure collectors and fans.I have been suckered before and I always get a sick feeling in my stomach for having wasted my money. Useless junk.
OK, now let’s look at the different format’s available with this release:
1) Basic. Remastered album. Re-edited album. 6 bonus tracks.
Opinion: Don’t see the need for having both edits one here. This is for the casual fan. This release should replace the old version. Just release the remastered version (with or without the bonus tracks). Keep it simple.
2) Deluxe. Remastered CD, Re-edited CD. 6 bonus tracks. Pearl Jam Unplugged DVD. Expanded booklet.
Opinion: Probably the best release of the 4. But I still believe that the Re-edit is something only hardcore fans will really want. I also think a CD and DVD of Unplugged would have been called for here. If they did that, this would have been a great release.
3) Vinyl. Kudos for giving the option. I can see having the re-mixed album here since vinyl releases attract more the serious music fan.
4) Ultra Deluxe. This is where everything stops making sense. You get a CD and Vinyl version of the original album and the re-mix (why do you need 2 formats in the same box). You get all the trinkets, Unplugged (still DVD only), Momma-son tape (good addition, but the tracks should have been on a CD somewhere) and you get Drop in the Park on Vinyl only. C’mon. This doesn’t make sense. 2 formats in one package is mindboggling. Omitting CD versions of 2 concerts and a demo tape is equally inexcusible. And all it does is inflate the price.
This ultra-deluxe should have had 2 versions: CD and Vinyl. They should NOT have both been in the same box. Each set should have included the following:
Book/photos etc
1) Remastered album
2) Re-edited album (in this edition only)
3) Unplugged CD or Vinyl
4) Unplugged DVD
5) Drop in the Park CD or Vinyl
6) 6 Bonus tracks (plus 3 song demo tape) on CD or Vinyl
7) Demo tape as a cassette
9) MSRP of $99 (after all, you are only getting 4 CDs or albums, 1 DVD, 1 casette, and a book-so $99 would be a very fair price).
So, yeah, big disappointment for me. And, it just seems to miss the mark of what a big fan would want. And, a very high price in this economy.
So, before you buy into the hype, take a close look at what you are getting…
Rating: 1 / 5
November 16, 2009 at 7:28 am
Check The Vinyl For Mold Release A WHITE SUBSTANCE ALONG THE EDGE OF THE VINYL, To get it off you need two use isoproply alcohol. I have 3 copies of the gatefold release plus the collectors box they all had this problem
The substance is used so the vinyl does not stick two the stamper when pressed
Rating: 4 / 5
November 16, 2009 at 8:42 am
Don’t let it bother you that the “Drop in the Park” is just on vinyl. Inside there is a code that you can redeem to download the concert on mp3. Very nice!
Rating: 5 / 5
November 16, 2009 at 11:25 am
When I heard about this release I was excited… but even then I was having trouble justifying the price tag for this set. It just didn’t seem to have enough substantial value (i.e. actual music) to justify the price, especially when the meat and potatoes of the set (the remastered album, the redux w/ bonus tracks and the Unplugged DVD) is available separately for under $30.
But I just had to get it… I knew I wouldn’t be happy unless I did. I’m a Pearl Jam fanatic. They’re my favorite band of all time. No other group has ever recorded music that I can relate to as much as PJ. I love all the albums and I have bought countless concert bootlegs. I have seen them live a number of times as well. So I suppose you could say that I would be the target audience for this set… and you’d be right because I begrudingly bought it.
After reviewing all of the material, my initial summation proved correct. There just isn’t enough value in this set to justify the price tag. Especially considering the omission of important b-sides of the era such as “Yellow Ledbetter,” “Wash,” “Dirty Frank,” “Footsteps,” “Let Me Sleep,” etc. True, all of those tracks are available on “Lost Dogs” but the spine of the set does proudly proclaim “PEARL JAM: 1990-1992,” does it not? Omitting these seminal PJ tracks seems like an odd move.
Also disappointing was the lack of a CD for the Unplugged show. For years we fans have been listening to shoddy bootleg versions of the concert. Don’t get me wrong, the DVD is awesome to have, but since they already went to the trouble to partner with MTV for the DVD, could a CD really have been that difficult to produce?
The composition book and other printed materials were interesting but there was hardly anything that made a die-hard like me drool. A lot of pictures of the band and live performances. The “Place/Date” book is probably more interesting but that’s a matter of opinion. The vintage “Ten” poster is very cool, but I’m too old to be hanging up posters!
Now onto the records. I have fond memories of vinyl from childhood. Up until I was ten I was perfectly content with records. Then my brother brought home a CD player and that was the end of that. Audiophiles always claim that vinyl sounds better than CDs. I went retro in college and bought a $200 Sony turntable and a small collection of records. I wasn’t impressed. Flipping back and forth between the same song on vinyl and CD, it was clear to me that the CD was infinitely superior. A brand new, never-before-played record sounded muddy and without punch. The CD sounded dynamic and full. Anyway, as a hardcore PJ fan and procurer of their fan club singles, I was prepared for the vinyl in the set. I dusted off the turntable and hooked it up to my component CD recorder to make a nice copy.
So i was about halfway through transferring the vinyl to CD… I took the second record out of the gatefold and a little scrap of paper falls to the floor. It reads: “While we recommend you listen to Drop in the Park as it was meant to be, on glorious 180 gram vinyl, we have provided high-quality mp3s for those more comfortable in the digital world.” All you have to do is enter the download code on the website to get a nice copy of the concert. A very nice touch indeed! If only they had also provided mp3s of the Momma-Son tape. I dusted off my old Walkman and enjoyed the three demos. The quality was decent but basically what you would expect from a demo. If you’re like me, you’ve always wondered what that fateful demo tape sounded like and now we know. It’s no wonder that Vedder was soon on a plane to Seattle.
The Drop in the Park concert was excellent… a lot of raw early girder-climbing PJ energy. It was pretty short (under an hour) but a very fun listen. Does it stand up to their best concerts today? Definitely not but it’s a great timepiece of the band in that era.
So was I disappointed with the set? Not really. I knew what would be in it (except for the mp3 bonus of Drop in the Park) so I had no reason to be disappointed. Is it worth the price tag? Probably not, but if you’re a die-hard PJ fan like me and you have the money to burn, you have no choice but to buy it.
Rating: 3 / 5
November 16, 2009 at 2:06 pm
For the ultimate collector! If you love this album as much as me, this is definitely worth your time and money. You do need at least a record player to experience the most of this package, but most of Pearl Jam’s hardcore fans I’m sure already own one. Kudos to the band for making the ultimate love letter to an already timeless record.
Rating: 5 / 5