Ten by Pearl Jam
1991 Epic Records
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In my mind, a perfect album is one you can start playing at track one and go all the way to the end without wanting to hit skip. That’s no small feat in my book.  Ever since random access became possible with CDs, I developed a serious case of music ADD.  I’ll start a song I like, get to the chorus and want to skip ahead to hear another chorus.  Back in the day of vinyl and cassette you pretty much had to let an album or at the very least a side play through to completion.  For me, Ten is the prime example of a perfect album.  You can set and forget it.  Bonus points because it sounds even better cruising down the highway with the windows rolled down.

I remember the first time I heard Ten — it was in the Sam Goody at the good mall.  I didn’t know what it was, so I asked the clerk.  It sounded like a straight up rock record and that’s what it was.  Early on Pearl Jam got lumped in with grunge Seattle bands, but they’ve always been more Tom Petty than Gruntruck.  They’re an arena rock band and this album proves that.