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Since the beginning of the Alternative Rock scene, two bands emerged as pioneers to the genre: Pearl Jam and Nirvana. As with any movement that has two bands with similar, yet contrasting styles, a rivalry is sure to occur. It is this rivalry that brings us to the question, which was the better Alternative Band?
I grew up with an undeniable fact that, while I loved Pearl Jam, Nirvana was the clear leader of the two bands. But as I've gotten older, and have gotten to appreciate "Ten" and "Nevermind" even more, I find my views shifting.

This issue is very similar to the issue that has been around Rock-n-Roll forever, who is the best Rock band of all time: Stones or Beatles? Well, my opinion, and I think that of most music lovers, is this...The Beatles were the greatest Rock band of all time, yet The Rolling Stones had the greatest Rock "song" of all time, with "Satisfaction".

Infusing this logic into the Alternative dilemma I believe we can see more clearly of how this debate turns out. There is no doubt in anyones mind that Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" is the greatest Alternative song of all time. It wasn't just a great song, it was THE anthem of the whole movement. But when you look at the body of work as a whole, it's hard to say that any Alternative band was greater than Pearl Jam.

How can this be? Why is this true? My brother summed it up best to me one day while we were discussing this same topic. He said, "I've always felt that Nirvana was the best, but if you go look in my CD collection, I have 3 copies of "Ten" and I'm not sure where "Nevermind" is. See, this is the point, the answer to this debate sneaks up on us all. We have been ingrained to believe that Nirvana was #1 by a long shot. In retrospect though, when we sit back a have a glass of "Pennyroyal Tea", we see that Pearl Jam is the true "Ten" and that our beloved Nirvana reached its peak with a 9.999.

Learn more about this author, Mark Majors.
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