Ten by Pearl Jam (CD, Aug-1991, Epic Associated)

I first heard Pearl Jam's Ten on a copied cassette way back in the early 90s. It was well before the album became a hit since it had been out nearly a year before the rest of the world heard its greatness. Anyway, I grew up in a rural community that didn't even have a Wal-Mart, but despite this, there was a group of people who would buy alternative tapes, dub them, and share them with friends. This was my first experience with Pearl Jam.
Ten has been in my life ever since. I've worn out about four CDs, and continue to keep this album in regular rotation on my ipod. It's a brilliant album from beginning to end. While some may argue that it's front loaded, I find that each and every song has something to offer. Sometimes, I prefer to hear the lesser-known gems like "Porch," and "Release" over the still fabulous but overplayed Jeremy or my favorite rock-out song "Alive." My most beloved track on the album is "Black," a song I consider to be the most earnestly beautiful love song ever written.
This is a perfect album, and certainly one every rock music fan should own. At ebay prices, Ten is worth every penny. Once you play it, you'll want to relive the experience again and again.