Nevertheless, we’ve enjoyed every moment of putting this together, and are happy to present it to you as the summer starts. It’s a list we’ve been building since before they were announced as headliners with Hova, and a daunting task we have not taken lightly. To gear up for Made In America and celebrate Pearl Jam’s catalog, we’ve compiled a collection of their 50 Best Songs. They came from a small scene and ended up representing a whole genre. In a lot of ways, Pearl Jam is a lot like Jay-Z. It’s a long way from the Seattle grunge scene they started in, and a testament to how widespread their reach has become.

This September, Pearl Jam will headline the first ever Made In America festival in Philadelphia, along with its curator, Jay-Z. They have inspired us, given us hope, made us think, and grown older with us, and while other bands have come and gone, they have always managed to hold on to their spot. Whether he’s singing about social or political issues, love, or death, Vedder and his Pearl Jam band of brothers- including founding members Stone Gossard, Mike McCready, and Jeff Ament- have provided the soundtrack to our lives. For twenty plus years, Eddie Vedder’s quivering baritone has been the voice of a generation.

All songs by pearl jam