Without a doubt, Pearl Jam is one of the biggest rock groups of the past ten years. But like most era-defining acts, the band's best work is not necessarily its most commercially viable. No Code only sold a tenth of the copies Ten did, but it is easily the group's finest effort to date.

With its fourth album, Pearl Jam finally got over the stigma of fame and transcended the "Seattle" sound they helped define. They kept the post-punk teeth they carved on Vitalogy, as well as the rock sincerity they picked up on the Mirror Ball collaboration with Neil Young,
and created an album worthy of their loyal fanbase. More accessible than Vitalogy, more experimental than Vs. and more lasting than Ten, this is an album that captures a band in its finest hour.