Vs. is Pearl Jam's second album, released on October 19, 1993 through Epic Records. After a relentless touring schedule in support of its debut album, Ten (1991), the band headed into the studio in early 1993 facing the challenge of following up the commercial success of its debut. The resulting album, Vs., featured a rawer and more aggressive sound compared with the band's previous release.
Pearl Jam decided to scale back its commercial efforts for Vs., including declining to produce music videos for any of the album’s singles. Upon its release, Vs. set the record for most copies sold in a week, a record that has since been broken. Vs. occupied the number 1 spot on the Billboard 200 for five weeks, the longest span for any Pearl Jam or grunge album. As of 2007, Vs. has been certified seven times platinum in the United States.
