The definitive Pearl Jam playlist

When putting together a playlist like this, starting strong with a piece that builds is important. One can't go wrong with the most popular song off of 1998's Yield. It's long been a live favorite, complete with crowd participation, and one that's often opened shows over the years (like the rain-soaked second night at Chicago's Wrigley Field in 2018). Frontman Eddie Vedder wrote the lyrics, while Mike McCready's opening guitar riff has been self-described as a repetitive wave that continues to build before crashing.

Vs., the follow-up to Pearl Jam's critically acclaimed and commercially massive debut Ten (1991), was rawer and edgier. "Animal" encapsulates that. Right off the bat, "Animal" is an assault on the ears yet exceptionally tight, especially regarding the guitar abilities of Mike McCready and Stone Gossard. 

The opener of the band's self-titled eighth studio album gets lost in the shuffle amid an extensive catalog. It's also one of Pearl Jam's more guitar-laden tracks. According to Pearl Jam legend, Eddie Vedder was inspired to write the tune following the death of Johnny Ramone, who became a friend over the years. It's about not taking life for granted and pushing forward with purpose.

This was the first single off Pearl Jam's 2020 release Gigaton, though the coronavirus pandemic delayed fans from enjoying it live. A progressive track, it was a collective effort at experimenting with a sound that resembled something similar to what alternative rock fans might expect from, say, Radiohead. Artists never stop maturing, and "Dance of the Clairvoyants" is a quality example of the band's continued progression.

"Corduroy" was never released as a single from the band's third studio record, Vitalogy, which went five-times platinum. That did not keep it from becoming a favorite among Pearl Jam fans regularly played in live settings. The track features a more mature, polished sound than what was heard on the previous album Vs. It's a song that continues to stand up today.

A mellow track that has an almost country vibe to it. The song of a woman working in a small town, who runs into a lost love passing through the community, touches on reflection — something Vedder likes to do with his lyrics. While far from the other heavy, distorted songs on Vs., the stripped-down sensibility of the tune fits in with the overall conceptual sound of the record.

Ten will go down as one of the great debuts in music history. The record produced four singles, including this, and remains one of the group's most recognizable cuts. Some die-hard Pearl Jam fans can probably go without hearing "Even Flow" at every live show, but it hit No. 3 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, so it's important nonetheless. It's one of the faster numbers off Ten, and the band tends to speed the tempo and pace up more in concert.

Another Eddie Vedder relationship song. This is about being true to your partner, or you'll be left with nothing. The tune showcases Vedder's talent as a lyricist and the emotion his voice can pack. It's one of the band's more mellow tracks that stands up well in a live setting.

The first of back-to-back songs featured on the soundtrack to Cameron Crowe's Seattle-based, grunge romantic comedy Singles. Thanks to its inclusion on a CD practically issued to incoming first-year college students in 1992 and '93, "State of Love and Trust" is one of Pearl Jam's most popular songs. According to the band, Eddie Vedder wrote the lyrics after watching a film cut that deals with twenty-somethings trying to find love amid Seattle's burgeoning alternative music scene.

It's a special concert experience when fans get both "State of Love and Trust" and "Breath" on the same setlist. The other popular Pearl Jam track from the Singles soundtrack was one of the first tracks demoed when the band was first formed. It's not as pop-tinged as "State of Love and Trust," but more in line with the drawn-out, melodic sound we depended on during the band's early days when the grunge movement became a mainstream musical force.

Arguably the most popular song to come out of the Vitalogy project. "Better Man" spent eight weeks sitting atop Billboard's Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. According to Pearl Jam legend, Eddie Vedder wrote "Better Man" as a high school student in San Diego. Who would have thought it would be one of Pearl Jam's biggest hits? In addition to its catchy flow, the song is regularly praised for its intricate chord progressions.

The most recognizable song off Vs., "Daughter" was Pearl Jam's first top-40 hit. It also reached the top of Billboard's Album Rock and Modern Rock charts and earned a Grammy Award. While the tempo is upbeat, the song, as told by Eddie Vedder, details a young girl struggling in school and being abused at the hands of her family. In concert, Vedder often preaches during the tune about female empowerment and the importance of women's issues and rights while also covering Dead Moon's "It's OK" in the process. 

Lightning Bolt might actually be Pearl Jam's most underrated record (give a listen to "Sirens"). The rollicking title track is one of the group's better offerings in recent years and an example of a song that sounds even better when played live. Though, there is nothing wrong with the studio take. The song also features some solid guitar contributions from Mike McCready, Stone Gossard, and Eddie Vedder.

Some of Pearl Jam's better songs were introduced as B-sides to bigger hits. "Footsteps" is one of them. The song is part of a longer conceptual story arc found on Ten, but parts of the music have roots back to guitarist Stone Gossard's days in the popular Seattle outfit Mother Love Bone, which also included Pearl Jam bassist Jeff Ament. Though it did not make the final song list for Ten, "Footsteps" remains a cut that long-time fans of the group hold in high regard.

Part of the two-song Merkın Ball EP, featuring rock legend Neil Young, who was a major influence on Eddie Vedder. The intended title of this song was "I Got S*@#," which is how Pearl Jam fans in the know usually refer to it. The tune has a Vitalogy feel. While it would be considered a deep cut to the casual fan, it's celebrated and cherished by Ten Clubbers around the globe. 

Another gem from Vitalogy. It's one of the more emotional songs on the record, and upon its release in June 2005, various parts of the Pearl Jam fan base thought the lyrics were about the death of Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain. Eddie Vedder, however, confirmed the song was not about Cobain. Regardless, the track has always been among the band's best. It's frequently played live to temporarily reduce the temperature of its usual high-spirited shows.

Another cut from Yield, "Wishlist" reached as high as No. 6 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock and Modern Rock charts. Eddie Vedder's tale about wishes that didn't — or maybe did — come true is one of the band's more mellow, pop-tinged tunes. As with other Pearl Jam songs, Vedder often changes the lyrics to "Wishlist" during live performances.

Inspired by the story of Jeremy Wade Delle, a student who shot himself in front of his high school English class in January 1991, the song is one of Pearl Jam's biggest hits and most controversial. And thanks to MTV and the Best Video of the Year at the network's Video Music Awards, the song became a staple of the early 1990s alternative movement. It's usually one of the highlights of Pearl Jam live shows, featuring some active crowd participation, complete with Eddie Vedder's famous scowl. 

"Leash" was never released as a single, which was a massive shame, and clocks in at just over three minutes. Yet, it's one of the heaviest songs Pearl Jam has recorded. Eddie Vedder's gritty vocals combined with a solid guitar presence by Mike McCready make it, perhaps, the most underappreciated cut on the Vs. album. It's always a treat when the song is part of any Pearl Jam live set, which is sadly not too often.

With the music written by guitarist Stone Gossard and Eddie Vedder providing the lyrics, "Black" is another personal song on the Ten record. This time, it deals with the end of a relationship and moving on. The band never really intended to release it as a single but eventually did as the album remained prominent. One of the better performances of the song came during Pearl Jam's acclaimed MTV Unplugged session in 1992. It's also another highlight of the band's live sets.

To the casual Pearl Jam fan, "Porch" is probably considered a deep cut. We like to think of it as the underrated Ten gem. It's enjoyed a nice history with the band, and its overall composition has a little something for everyone. It might be the most aggressive and, dare we say, "grungiest" song on Ten. It's also important to single out Mike McCready's stellar guitar work. McCready and bassist Jeff Ament enjoyed a heavy metal influence, which can be sensed on "Porch."

This is the single that started it all. "Alive" was released nearly two months before Ten debuted. The track truly introduced rock and alternative music fans to Pearl Jam. Along with Ten opener "Once" and the aforementioned "Footsteps," "Alive" is part of a storyline conceived by Eddie Vedder. In this case, loosely based on the singer finding out that the man he thought was his biological father was not. Stone Gossard wrote the music for "Alive" while with Mother Love Bone, and Mike McCready's guitar solo has been lauded as one of alt-rock's all-time best.

Nobody will argue that Pearl Jam's heyday came during the 1990s, but this is one song from the 2000s that is among the most beloved in the band's history. It's Pearl Jam's first song that was certified platinum and perhaps the band's most poignant. "Just Breathe," which has been featured in television shows such as Castle, Grey's Anatomy, and iZombie, is usually a highlight of the band's live sets. It has even been associated with on-stage fan wedding proposals.

From the thundering intro to the punishing conclusion fit for head-banging, "Rearviewmirror" is among the best Pearl Jam has to offer. The studio version is probably best known for then-Pearl Jam drummer David Abbruzzese throwing his sticks in frustration (reportedly due to the pressure placed on him to complete the track by producer Brendan O'Brien). The tune is even more powerful live.

One of Pearl Jam's most popular songs that regularly closes its live shows (alternating at times with covers of "Baba 'Riley and "Rockin' in the Free World"). After failing to make the cut on Ten, "Yellow Ledbetter" found a home as the B-side to the "Jeremy" single. According to the book Five Against One, the title is somewhat of a tribute to Eddie Vedder's friend Tim Ledbetter. Though Vedder tends to change the lyrics during live performances, it's been reported that the song's overall theme is one with an "anti-war" message. It also highlights some of Mike McCready's best guitar work.