Home News Classic Rock News We’re Still Alive: Pearl Jam’s “Ten” Turns 25, “No Code” Turns 20

We’re Still Alive: Pearl Jam’s “Ten” Turns 25, “No Code” Turns 20

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Epic RecordsPearl Jam will be celebrating a double anniversary today, as both Ten and No Code were released on August 27, albeit five years apart. Ten, Pearl Jam’s debut album, turns 25, while No Code, originally released in 1996, turns 20.

Upon its original release in 1991, Ten didn’t sell too well. But by the summer of 1992, as the grunge movement continued to explode, the album reached number two on the Billboard 200. Ten has since sold 13 million copies in the U.S., and has been certified diamond.

Ten also boasts some of Pearl Jam’s best-known singles, including “Even Flow,” “Alive” and the controversial “Jeremy.” The video for “Jeremy,” which was awarded Video of the Year at the 1993 MTV VMAs, shows a young student killing himself in front of his classmates.

Meanwhile, No Code, Pearl Jam’s fourth studio album, debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, but did not sustain a strong sales presence, as many fans and critics found it to be inconsistent. While it did reach one million in U.S. sales, No Code was the first Pearl Jam record to not receive multi-platinum certification.

Additionally, Pearl Jam did not tour a lot in support of No Code, as the band was still embroiled in their infamous boycott against Ticketmaster in protest of the ticket vendor’s service charges.

Still, No Code produced big singles in “Who You Are” and “Hail Hail.” While the album is not a mainstream favorite, it did illustrate where Pearl Jam was willing to go with their sound as the grunge era was ending.

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