Interestingly, sludge is all but missing on Ten – oh, you can hear traces of it in Alive, Why Go, and Deep, but these musicians have made their point with that style by now and are more inclined to create texture and mood.
That doesn't mean Pearl Jam can't rock. Stone and second guitarist Mike McCready let fly with some searing riffs and leads, creating a blazing counterpunch to the LP's more laidback pieces. And Jeff Ament leads the rhythm section with muscular, occasionally R&B-based grooves that work at both a high boil and a low summer.
If anything, Ten could use a little more fire in the proceedings, but that's probably not where Pearl Jam's heads are right now. Nevertheless, they rock in a unique, spontaneous fashion that promises many great things. Mother Love Bone and Temple Of The Dog, rest in peace.