Mirror Ball

Dubbed the Godfather of Grunge in the early ‘90s for his crunchy, gnarled work with Crazy Horse—and for choosing distortion lovers like Sonic Youth as concert openers—Neil Young proved his nickname outright with *Mirror Ball*, a 1995 collaboration with Pearl Jam. Opening with the crackling, shanty-like riffage of “Song X,” the players tear through one thundering steamroller after another, with tracks like “I’m the Ocean” sounding more massive than anything either band has done.

Check out our album review of Artist's Mirror Ball on Rolling Stone.com.

Neil Young uses Pearl Jam on Mirror Ball much as he has used his perennial backup band Crazy Horse, looking for feel and spontaneity.