Pearl Jam

Vs.

First released1993

Vs. was recorded at four different studios in 1993 and 1994: One on One Recording Studios in North Hollywood, California; RKCNDY Studios in Seattle; Pachyderm Studio in Minnesota; and Bad Animals Studio in Seattle. The album was produced by Pearl Jam themselves alongside renowned producer Rick Rubin, who brought a more raw and organic approach to the recording process compared to their debut. The band intentionally moved away from the polished production of Ten, opting for live recordings and minimal overdubs to capture a heavier, grittier sound. Nigel Godrich served as an engineer on the project, and the diverse studio locations reflected the band's desire to work in various environments to influence the music's character. The recording sessions took place during Pearl Jam's rising success, and the album was released in October 1994 as a deliberate artistic shift toward a darker, more distorted aesthetic.