Soundgarden | ||
| Allmusic Biography : Soundgarden made a place for heavy metal in alternative rock. Their fellow Seattle rockers Green River may have spearheaded the grunge sound, but they relied on noise rock in the vein of the Stooges. Similarly, Janes Addiction were too fascinated with prog rock and performance art to appeal to a wide array of metal fans. Soundgarden, however, developed directly out of the grandiose blues-rock of Led Zeppelin and the sludgy, slow riffs of Black Sabbath. Which isnt to say they were a straight-ahead metal band. Soundgarden borrowed the D.I.Y. aesthetics of punk, melding their guitar-driven sound with an intelligence and ironic sense of humor that was indebted to the American underground of the mid-80s. Furthermore, the band rarely limited itself to simple, pounding riffs, often making detours into psychedelia. But the groups key sonic signatures -- the gutsy wail of vocalist Chris Cornell and the winding riffs of guitarist Kim Thayil -- were what brought them out of the underground. Not only were they one of the first groups to record for the legendary Seattle indie Sub Pop, but they were the first grunge band to sign to a major label. In fact, most critics expected Soundgarden to be the band that broke down the doors for alternative rock, not Nirvana. However, the group didnt experience an across-the-board success until 1994, when Superunknown became a number one hit. For a band so heavily identified with the Seattle scene, its ironic that two of its founding members were from the Midwest. Kim Thayil (guitar), Hiro Yamamoto (bass), and Bruce Pavitt were all friends in Illinois who decided to head to Olympia, Washington, to attend college after high school graduation in 1981. Though none of them completed college, all of them became involved in the Washington underground music scene. Pavitt was the only one who didnt play -- he founded a fanzine that later became the Sub Pop record label. Yamamoto played in several cover bands before forming a band in 1984 with his roommate Chris Cornell (vocals), a Seattle native who had previously played drums in several bands. Thayil soon joined the duo and the group named itself Soundgarden after a local Seattle sculpture. Scott Sundquist was originally the bands drummer, but he was replaced by Matt Cameron in 1986. Over the next two years, Soundgarden gradually built up a devoted cult following through their club performances. Pavitt signed Soundgarden to his fledgling Sub Pop label in the summer of 1987, releasing the single "Hunted Down" before the EP Screaming Life appeared later in the year. Screaming Life and the groups second EP, 1988s FOPP, became underground hits and earned the attention of several major-labels. The band decided to sign to SST instead of a major, releasing Ultramega OK by the end of 1988. Ultramega OK received strong reviews among alternative and metal publications, and the group decided to make the leap to a major for its next album, 1989s Louder Than Love. Released on A&M; Records, Louder Than Love became a word-of-mouth hit, earning positive reviews from mainstream publications, peaking at 108 on the charts, and earning a Grammy nomination. Following the albums fall 1989 release, Yamamoto left the band to return to school. Jason Everman, a former guitarist for Nirvana, briefly played with the band before Ben Shepherd joined in early 1990. Soundgardens third album, 1991s Badmotorfinger, was heavily anticipated by many industry observers as a potential breakout hit. Though it was a significant hit, reaching number 39 on the album charts, its success was overshadowed by the surprise success of Nirvanas Nevermind, which was released the same month as Badmotorfinger. Prior to Nevermind, Soundgarden had been marketed by A&M; as a metal band, and the group had agreed to support Guns N Roses on the fall 1991 Lose Your Illusion tour. While the tour did help sales, Soundgarden benefited primarily from the grunge explosion, whose media attention helped turn the band into stars. The band was also helped by the Top Ten success of Temple of the Dog, a tribute to deceased Mother Love Bone singer Andrew Wood that Cornell and Cameron recorded with members of Pearl Jam. By the spring release of 1994s Superunknown, Soundgardens following had grown considerably, which meant that the album debuted at number one upon its release. (A year before its release, Shepherd and Cameron released an eponymous album by their side project, Hater.) Superunknown became one of the most popular records of 1994, generating a genuine crossover hit with "Black Hole Sun," selling over three million copies and earning two Grammys. Soundgarden returned in 1996 with Down on the Upside, which entered the charts at number two. Despite the records strong initial sales, it failed to generate a big hit, and was hurt by grunges fading popularity. Soundgarden retained a sizable audience -- the album did go platinum, and they were co-headliners on the sixth Lollapalooza -- but they didnt replicate the blockbuster success of Superunknown. After completing an American tour following Lollapalooza that was plagued by rumors of internal fighting, Soundgarden announced that they were breaking up on April 9, 1997, to pursue other interests. During the late 90s and 2000s, each member kept very busy. Cornell released three solo albums, also recording and touring as Audioslave with former members of Rage Against the Machine. Cameron toured his Wellwater Conspiracy project, and also played and recorded with Smashing Pumpkins and Pearl Jam. Thayil collaborated with a wide range of artists, including Cameron, Dave Grohl, Steve Fisk, and Boris. Meanwhile, Shepherd helped out with Wellwater Conspiracy, and also played and recorded with Mark Lanegan of Screaming Trees. Finally, in 2010, the band announced a reunion with a few live shows during the summer (including that years edition of Lollapalooza) which preceded a compilation, Telephantasm, in the fall. Telephantasm was initially available as a double-disc set on September 28, with a single-disc version appearing a week later (the single-disc was also included in Guitar Hero on September 28). In 2011, Soundgarden released their first live album, Live on I-5, which featured material recorded during the bands supporting tour for Down on the Upside. All of this activity would be the prelude to Soundgardens full-on return in 2012, when they released their sixth album, King Animal, in the fall of that year. King Animal debuted at five on the Billboard Top 200 upon its November 2012 release and the band supported it throughout the next year with a tour. Matt Cameron took a hiatus from the band in November 2013 due to commitments with Pearl Jam; former Pearl Jam drummer Matt Chamberlain replaced him for live dates in 2014. That year, Soundgarden celebrated the 25th anniversary of Superunknown with the release of two deluxe editions of the 1991 album: a double-disc set and a seven-disc Super Deluxe box set. During 2015, Chris Cornell mentioned that Soundgarden had started working on material for a new studio set and the band made it official in 2016, announcing that they were beginning to record an album. In the meantime, the band released a deluxe reissue of Ultramega OK in March 2017 and began an American tour that April. On May 17, following the bands concert at Detroits Fox Theater, Cornell was found dead in his hotel room; he had taken his own life at the age of 52. | ||
 | Album: 1 of 14 Title: Ultramega OK Released: 1988-10-25 Tracks: 13 Duration: 42:10 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Flower (03:26) 2 All Your Lies (03:51) 3 665 (01:37) 4 Beyond the Wheel (04:22) 5 667 (00:56) 6 Mood for Trouble (04:21) 7 Circle of Power (02:05) 8 He Didnt (02:47) 9 Smokestack Lightnin’ (05:07) 10 Nazi Driver (03:52) 11 Head Injury (02:22) 12 Incessant Mace (06:22) 13 One Minute of Silence (01:01) |
| Ultramega OK : Allmusic album Review : The best expression of Soundgardens early, Stooges/MC5-meets-Zeppelin/Sabbath sound, Ultramega OK is a dark, murky, buzzing record that simultaneously subverts and pays tribute to heavy metal. At times, the band and its recasting of over-the-top 70s hard rock seem smirky (Hiro Yamamotos ridiculous vocal on "Circle of Power"; a "cover" of John Lennons "One Minute of Silence"); a few, like the cover of "Smokestack Lightning," really do sink into turgid metal silliness. But the best moments are startling fusions of classic metal, punk rock, and psychedelia of the fuzz guitar variety, plus the local flavor of Green River and the Melvins. The difference is, Soundgarden are better songwriters, and their feel for memorable riffs and hooks lend greater power to both the rockers and the creepy, dirge-like slow numbers. Its a shame the album as a whole isnt more fully realized, because when separated out from the filler, the numerous highlights show why Soundgarden had such an enormous impact on the development of grunge. It may not be quite as complex or consistent as some of Soundgardens later albums, but Ultramega OK is easily the best document of grunges early, pre-Nirvana days. | ||
 | Album: 2 of 14 Title: Louder Than Love Released: 1989-09-05 Tracks: 12 Duration: 53:15 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Ugly Truth (05:26) 2 Hands All Over (06:00) 3 Gun (04:42) 4 Power Trip (04:11) 5 Get on the Snake (03:43) 6 Full On Kevin’s Mum (03:37) 7 Loud Love (04:57) 8 I Awake (04:21) 9 No Wrong No Right (04:48) 10 Uncovered (04:32) 11 Big Dumb Sex (04:11) 12 Full On (reprise) (02:42) |
| Louder Than Love : Allmusic album Review : Signing to a major label, Soundgarden take a step toward the metal mainstream with Louder Than Love, a slow, grinding, detuned mountain of Sabbath/Zeppelin riffs and Chris Cornell wailing. The production is even murkier than usual -- this time too much so, as the rest of the band tries to poke its way through Kim Thayils guitar squall; additionally, too much of the album drifts along without focus or variety. But there are some essential Soundgarden items mixed in, among them the haunting "Hands All Over," the punky "Full on Kevins Mom," and the stereotypically macho metal stupidity of "Big Dumb Sex," whose ironic intent is often misconstrued. Unfortunately, that irony is missing from the plodding, overblown filler that constitutes about half of the album. Its worthwhile to sift through Louder Than Love, but dont expect consistency. | ||
 | Album: 3 of 14 Title: Badmotorfinger Released: 1991-10-08 Tracks: 17 Duration: 1:23:01 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Rusty Cage (04:26) 2 Outshined (05:10) 3 Slaves & Bulldozers (06:55) 4 Jesus Christ Pose (05:51) 5 Face Pollution (02:23) 6 Somewhere (04:20) 7 Searching With My Good Eye Closed (06:31) 8 Room a Thousand Years Wide (04:05) 9 Mind Riot (04:49) 10 Drawing Flies (02:26) 11 Holy Water (05:07) 12 New Damage (05:39) 1 Into the Void (Sealth) (06:37) 2 Girl U Want (03:29) 3 Stray Cat Blues (04:41) 4 She’s a Politician (01:47) 5 Slaves & Bulldozers (live) (08:37) |
| Badmotorfinger : Allmusic album Review : Bidding for a popular breakthrough with their second major-label album, Soundgarden suddenly developed a sense of craft, with the result that Badmotorfinger became far and away their most fully realized album to that point. Pretty much everything about Badmotorfinger is a step up from its predecessors -- the production is sharper and the music more ambitious, while the songwriting takes a quantum leap in focus and consistency. In so doing, the band abolishes the murky meandering that had often plagued them in the past, turning in a lean, muscular set that signaled their arrival in rocks big leagues. Conventional wisdom has it that despite platinum sales, Badmotorfinger got lost amid the blockbuster success of Nevermind and Ten (all were released around the same time). But the fact is that, though theyre all great records, Badmotorfinger is much less accessible by comparison. Not that it isnt melodic, but it also sounds twisted and gnarled, full of dissonant riffing, impossible time signatures, howling textural solos, and weird, droning tonalities. Its surprisingly cerebral and arty music for a band courting mainstream metal audiences, but it attacks with scientific precision. Part of that is due to the presence of new bassist Ben Shepherd, who gives the band its thickest rhythmic foundation yet -- and, moreover, immediately shoulders the departed Hiro Yamamotos share of songwriting duties. But its apparent that the whole band has greatly expanded the scope of its ambitions. And Badmotorfinger fulfills them, pulling all the different threads of the bands sound together into a mature, confident, well-written record. This is heavy, challenging hard rock full of intellectual sensibility and complex band interplay. And with their next album, Soundgarden would learn how to make it fully accessible to mainstream audiences as well. | ||
 | Album: 4 of 14 Title: Louder Than Love & BadMotorFinger Released: 1993 Tracks: 24 Duration: 1:51:03 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Ugly Truth (05:26) 2 Hands All Over (06:00) 3 Gun (04:42) 4 Power Trip (04:11) 5 Get on the Snake (03:43) 6 Full On Kevin’s Mum (03:37) 7 Loud Love (04:57) 8 I Awake (04:21) 9 No Wrong No Right (04:48) 10 Uncovered (04:32) 11 Big Dumb Sex (04:11) 12 Full On (reprise) (02:42) 1 Rusty Cage (04:26) 2 Outshined (05:10) 3 Slaves & Bulldozers (06:55) 4 Jesus Christ Pose (05:51) 5 Face Pollution (02:23) 6 Somewhere (04:20) 7 Searching With My Good Eye Closed (06:31) 8 Room a Thousand Years Wide (04:05) 9 Mind Riot (04:49) 10 Drawing Flies (02:26) 11 Holy Water (05:07) 12 New Damage (05:39) |
 | Album: 5 of 14 Title: Superunknown Released: 1994-03-07 Tracks: 15 Duration: 1:10:17 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Let Me Drown (03:52) 2 My Wave (05:12) 3 Fell on Black Days (04:42) 4 Mailman (04:25) 5 Superunknown (05:06) 6 Head Down (06:08) 7 Black Hole Sun (05:19) 8 Spoonman (04:06) 9 Limo Wreck (05:47) 10 The Day I Tried to Live (05:19) 11 Kickstand (01:34) 12 Fresh Tendrils (04:16) 13 4th of July (05:08) 14 Half (02:14) 15 Like Suicide (07:03) |
| Superunknown : Allmusic album Review : Soundgardens finest hour, Superunknown is a sprawling, 70-minute magnum opus that pushes beyond any previous boundaries. Soundgarden had always loved replicating Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath riffs, but Superunknowns debt is more to mid-period Zeps layered arrangements and sweeping epics. Their earlier punk influences are rarely detectable, replaced by surprisingly effective appropriations of pop and psychedelia. Badmotorfinger boasted more than its fair share of indelible riffs, but here the main hooks reside mostly in Chris Cornells vocals; accordingly, hes mixed right up front, floating over the band instead of cutting through it. The rest of the production is just as crisp, with the band achieving a huge, robust sound that makes even the heaviest songs sound deceptively bright. But the most important reason Superunknown is such a rich listen is twofold: the bands embrace of psychedelia, and their rapidly progressing mastery of songcraft. Soundgarden had always been a little mind-bending, but the full-on experiments with psychedelia give them a much wider sonic palette, paving the way for less metallic sounds and instruments, more detailed arrangements, and a bridge into pop (which made the eerie ballad "Black Hole Sun" an inescapable hit). That blossoming melodic skill is apparent on most of the record, not just the poppier songs and Cornell-penned hits; though a couple of drummer Matt Camerons contributions are pretty undistinguished, theyre easy to overlook, given the overall consistency. The focused songwriting allows the band to stretch material out for grander effect, without sinking into the pointlessly drawn-out muck that cluttered their early records. The dissonance and odd time signatures are still in force, though not as jarring or immediately obvious, which means that the album reveals more subtleties with each listen. Its obvious that Superunknown was consciously styled as a masterwork, and it fulfills every ambition. | ||
 | Album: 6 of 14 Title: Supermotorfinger Released: 1995 Tracks: 27 Duration: 2:08:06 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Let Me Drown (03:52) 2 My Wave (05:12) 3 Fell on Black Days (04:42) 4 Mailman (04:25) 5 Superunknown (05:06) 6 Head Down (06:08) 7 Black Hole Sun (05:19) 8 Spoonman (04:06) 9 Limo Wreck (05:47) 10 The Day I Tried to Live (05:19) 11 Kickstand (01:34) 12 Fresh Tendrils (04:16) 13 4th of July (05:08) 14 Half (02:14) 15 Like Suicide (07:03) 1 Rusty Cage (04:26) 2 Outshined (05:10) 3 Slaves & Bulldozers (06:55) 4 Jesus Christ Pose (05:51) 5 Face Pollution (02:23) 6 Somewhere (04:20) 7 Searching With My Good Eye Closed (06:31) 8 Room a Thousand Years Wide (04:05) 9 Mind Riot (04:49) 10 Drawing Flies (02:26) 11 Holy Water (05:07) 12 New Damage (05:39) |
 | Album: 7 of 14 Title: Down on the Upside Released: 1996-05-13 Tracks: 16 Duration: 1:05:56 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Pretty Noose (04:12) 2 Rhinosaur (03:14) 3 Zero Chance (04:18) 4 Dusty (04:34) 5 Ty Cobb (03:05) 6 Blow Up the Outside World (05:46) 7 Burden in My Hand (04:50) 8 Never Named (02:27) 9 Applebite (05:09) 10 Never the Machine Forever (03:36) 11 Tighter & Tighter (06:06) 12 No Attention (04:26) 13 Switch Opens (03:52) 14 Overfloater (05:08) 15 An Unkind (02:08) 16 Boot Camp (02:59) |
| Down on the Upside : Allmusic album Review : Superunknown was a breakthrough in many ways. Not only did the album bring Soundgarden a new audience, it dramatically expanded their vision, as well as their accomplishments. If Down on the Upside initially seems a retreat from the grand, layered textures of Superunknown, let it sink in. The sound of Down on the Upside is certainly more immediate, but the band hasnt returned to the monstrous, unfocused wailing of Louder Than Love. Instead, theyve retained their ambitious song structures, neo-psychedelic guitar textures, and winding melodies but havent dressed them up with detailed production. Consequently, Down on the Upside is visceral as well as cerebral -- "Rhinosaur" goes for the gut, while "Pretty Noose" is updated, muscular prog rock. Down on the Upside is a deceptive album -- it might seem like nothing more than heavy metal, but a closer listen reveals that Soundgarden havent tempered their ambitions at all. | ||
 | Album: 8 of 14 Title: A-Sides Released: 1997-11-04 Tracks: 17 Duration: 1:18:49 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Nothing to Say (04:00) 2 Flower (03:26) 3 Loud Love (04:57) 4 Hands All Over (06:00) 5 Get on the Snake (03:43) 6 Jesus Christ Pose (05:51) 7 Outshined (05:10) 8 Rusty Cage (04:26) 9 Spoonman (04:06) 10 The Day I Tried to Live (05:19) 11 Black Hole Sun (05:19) 12 Fell on Black Days (04:42) 13 Pretty Noose (04:12) 14 Burden in My Hand (04:50) 15 Blow Up the Outside World (05:46) 16 Ty Cobb (03:05) 17 Bleed Together (03:53) |
| A-Sides : Allmusic album Review : For an act that was one of the definitive album artists of the late 80s and 90s, Soundgarden was a surprisingly effective singles band. Their singles effectively conveyed all of their best ideas, from their sludgy early Sub Pop recordings to the elaborate, post-metal psychedelia of their last two albums, Superunknown and Down on the Upside. Thats the reason why the 17-track compilation A-Sides is such a successful overview of the bands too-brief career. Most of their peers wouldnt be well represented by a compilation that concentrated solely on singles, but Soundgarden are, because their singles do capture what theyre all about. There are many great songs left off A-Sides, from "Big Dumb Sex" to "My Wave," but its hard to argue with whats here. Each single from every album -- from the 1987 debut EP Screaming Life through SSTs Ultramega OK, to their four records for A&M -- is here, with the Down on the Upside outtake "Bleed Together" added as an enticement for collectors. Almost every one of the groups best-known songs are here, including "Hands All Over," "Loud Love," "Jesus Christ Pose," "Outshined," "Rusty Cage," "Black Hole Sun," "The Day I Tried to Live," "Spoonman," "Fell on Black Days," "Pretty Noose," "Burden in My Hand," and "Blow Up the Outside World," resulting in a near-definitive summary of one of the most important and influential bands of the 90s. | ||
 | Album: 9 of 14 Title: Badmotorfinger + Superunknown Released: 2010 Tracks: 27 Duration: 2:08:06 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Rusty Cage (04:26) 2 Outshined (05:10) 3 Slaves & Bulldozers (06:55) 4 Jesus Christ Pose (05:51) 5 Face Pollution (02:23) 6 Somewhere (04:20) 7 Searching With My Good Eye Closed (06:31) 8 Room a Thousand Years Wide (04:05) 9 Mind Riot (04:49) 10 Drawing Flies (02:26) 11 Holy Water (05:07) 12 New Damage (05:39) 1 Let Me Drown (03:52) 2 My Wave (05:12) 3 Fell on Black Days (04:42) 4 Mailman (04:25) 5 Superunknown (05:06) 6 Head Down (06:08) 7 Black Hole Sun (05:19) 8 Spoonman (04:06) 9 Limo Wreck (05:47) 10 The Day I Tried to Live (05:19) 11 Kickstand (01:34) 12 Fresh Tendrils (04:16) 13 4th of July (05:08) 14 Half (02:14) 15 Like Suicide (07:03) |
 | Album: 10 of 14 Title: Telephantasm Released: 2010-09-23 Tracks: 12 Duration: 59:44 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Hunted Down (02:41) 2 Hands All Over (05:58) 3 Outshined (05:11) 4 Rusty Cage (04:26) 5 Birth Ritual (06:05) 6 My Wave (05:13) 7 Spoonman (04:08) 8 Black Hole Sun (05:19) 9 Fell on Black Days (04:39) 10 Burden in My Hand (04:50) 11 Blow Up the Outside World (05:46) 12 Black Rain (05:24) |
| Telephantasm : Allmusic album Review : Since so much of Soundgarden’s legacy lay in the years before their superstardom, their major label-oriented 1997 A-Sides compilation didn’t quite do them justice. Although it contained cuts from the years before they signed to A&M;, A-Sides downplayed the first act of their story, so the 2010 compilation Telephantasm is quite welcome, at least in its double disc incarnation where there’s enough room to capture the entire arc of the group’s career. Not only is there a heavy dose of their SST and SubPop recordings but there is a strategic deployment of live cuts, BBC sessions, single versions and rarities, including the previously unreleased outtake “Black Rain,” all of which capture the band at their heaviest, a shift that’s particularly notable toward the end of their career, with “Pretty Noose” and “Blow Up The Outside World” present in rawer versions than their studio incarnations. This may not satisfy a casual fan who wants to hear versions played on the radio, but the entirety of Telephantasm winds up being something better than a hits collection: it captures the essence of the band, why they were important and why they still sound powerful some twenty years later. [This deluxe set also includes a bonus DVD containing all of Soundgarden’s music videos, including several alternate versions of familiar clips.] | ||
 | Album: 11 of 14 Title: The Classic Album Selection Released: 2012-05-17 Tracks: 73 Duration: 5:28:38 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Ugly Truth (05:26) 2 Hands All Over (06:00) 3 Gun (04:42) 4 Power Trip (04:11) 5 Get on the Snake (03:43) 6 Full On Kevin’s Mum (03:37) 7 Loud Love (04:57) 8 I Awake (04:21) 9 No Wrong No Right (04:48) 10 Uncovered (04:32) 11 Big Dumb Sex (04:11) 12 Full On (reprise) (02:42) 1 Rusty Cage (04:26) 2 Outshined (05:10) 3 Slaves & Bulldozers (06:55) 4 Jesus Christ Pose (05:51) 5 Face Pollution (02:23) 6 Somewhere (04:20) 7 Searching With My Good Eye Closed (06:31) 8 Room a Thousand Years Wide (04:05) 9 Mind Riot (04:49) 10 Drawing Flies (02:26) 11 Holy Water (05:07) 12 New Damage (05:39) 1 Let Me Drown (03:52) 2 My Wave (05:12) 3 Fell on Black Days (04:42) 4 Mailman (04:25) 5 Superunknown (05:06) 6 Head Down (06:08) 7 Black Hole Sun (05:19) 8 Spoonman (04:06) 9 Limo Wreck (05:47) 10 The Day I Tried to Live (05:19) 11 Kickstand (01:34) 12 Fresh Tendrils (04:16) 13 4th of July (05:08) 14 Half (02:14) 15 Like Suicide (07:11) 16 She Likes Surprises (03:18) 1 Pretty Noose (04:12) 2 Rhinosaur (03:14) 3 Zero Chance (04:18) 4 Dusty (04:34) 5 Ty Cobb (03:05) 6 Blow Up the Outside World (05:46) 7 Burden in My Hand (04:50) 8 Never Named (02:27) 9 Applebite (05:09) 10 Never the Machine Forever (03:36) 11 Tighter & Tighter (06:06) 12 No Attention (04:26) 13 Switch Opens (03:52) 14 Overfloater (05:08) 15 An Unkind (02:08) 16 Boot Camp (02:59) 1 Spoonman (04:23) 2 Searching With My Good Eye Closed (04:12) 3 Let Me Drown (04:10) 4 Head Down (06:25) 5 Outshined (05:12) 6 Rusty Cage (04:38) 7 Burden in My Hand (05:02) 8 Helter Skelter (02:09) 9 Boot Camp (03:16) 10 Nothing to Say (04:24) 11 Slaves and Bulldozers (09:15) 12 Dusty (04:32) 13 Fell on Black Days (04:54) 14 Search and Destroy (live) (03:09) 15 Ty Cobb (02:42) 16 Black Hole Sun (03:00) 17 Jesus Christ Pose (06:23) |
| The Classic Album Selection : Allmusic album Review : The 2012 box set Classic Album Selection rounds up all the albums Soundgarden released between 1989 and 1996 -- Louder Than Love, Badmotorfinger, Superunknown, Down on the Upside -- and adds the 2011 live album Live on I-5, which itself is comprised of recordings from the 1996 tour supporting Down on the Upside. All five of the albums are presented as mini-LPs in paper sleeves, making this a handsome, easy way to acquire the prime of Soundgardens career. | ||
 | Album: 12 of 14 Title: King Animal Released: 2012-11-09 Tracks: 16 Duration: 1:03:04 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Been Away Too Long (03:36) 2 Non‐State Actor (03:57) 3 By Crooked Steps (04:00) 4 A Thousand Days Before (04:23) 5 Blood on the Valley Floor (03:48) 6 Bones of Birds (04:22) 7 Taree (03:38) 8 Attrition (02:52) 9 Black Saturday (03:29) 10 Halfway There (03:16) 11 Worse Dreams (04:53) 12 Eyelid’s Mouth (04:39) 13 Rowing (05:08) 14 Worse Dreams (demo) (03:20) 15 Black Saturday (demo) (03:16) 16 By Crooked Steps (demo) (04:23) |
| King Animal : Allmusic album Review : Soundgarden split acrimoniously after the 1996 release of Down On the Upside, but they always seemed a band ripe for reunion, and not just because Chris Cornell flailed through his new-millennial solo career. Soundgarden always seemed a band built for the long haul, destined to have their love of 70s metal roots overtake their punk roots. Thats what happened with their 1994 breakthrough, Superunknown, and thats where Soundgarden return on their 2012 reunion King Animal, acting like nothing -- not even the murky Down On the Upside -- happened in the ensuing 18 years. As heavy as it is -- and it is, the slower songs either being dirges or semi-psychedelic swirls; the burnished introspections of Cornells solo work have been banished -- King Animal is a big, bright album, executed with precision and professionalism. The bandmembers sound older, not quite as loud, and possess a keener sense of good taste, and it sounds as if theyve aged together, which is a testament to their innate chemistry. Simply put, Soundgarden sound like they belong together; Cornell sounds richer, fuller when anchored by drummer Matt Cameron, bassist Ben Shepherd, and the deceptively sinewy and brainy guitarist Kim Thayil, whose presence has sorely been missed over the past decade. Apart from the occasional lapse of smutty humor, all of Soundgardens signatures are in place, and its a pleasure to hear Cornells modulated wail, just as it is to hear Thayils brawny riffs tangle with Cameron and Shepherd. All this is apparent upon the first listen, and if it does take some time for the songs of King Animal to sink in, that doesnt diminish the album in the slightest: this is a surprisingly strong reunion, one that puts the band back on the track they abandoned long ago. | ||
 | Album: 13 of 14 Title: Echo of Miles: The Originals Released: 2014-11-21 Tracks: 14 Duration: 1:02:03 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Heretic (03:49) 2 Fresh Deadly Roses (04:54) 3 H.I.V. Baby (04:51) 4 Cold Bitch (05:01) 5 Show Me (02:47) 6 She’s a Politician (01:47) 7 Birth Ritual (06:05) 8 She Likes Surprises (03:18) 9 Blind Dogs (04:38) 10 Bleed Together (03:53) 11 Black Rain (05:24) 12 Live to Rise (04:40) 13 Kristi (05:32) 14 Storm (05:24) |
| Echo of Miles: The Originals : Allmusic album Review : Mere months after Superunknown received an extravagant, super deluxe box came Echo of Miles: Scattered Across the Path, a triple-disc collection of rarities from Soundgardens prime. Divided into three thematic sets -- "Originals," containing stray songs and B-sides; "Covers," including B-sides, Peel Sessions, various live performances, and, strangely, things that popped up on Ultramega OK, and "Oddities," which contains more B-sides, remixes, and previously unreleased cuts -- Echo of Miles nevertheless plays like a clearinghouse, where its imperative for the listener to sort out the gems from the dross. It is worth taking time to find the keepers, many of which do arrive on the first disc where the band not only indulge in thick, crawling sludge but dont hide their perverse sense of humor, a trait they often suppressed on their full-length records. Thats one of the nice things about Echo of Miles: like many rarities collections, it gets to the heart of the groups character through its mess, through how it sets their impishness alongside their muscle. Originals is the best of the batch, particularly in how it illustrates their growth from malicious underground rockers into arena titans, and it contains such highlights as "Heretic" and "Birth Ritual," their contribution to the Singles soundtrack. | ||
 | Album: 14 of 14 Title: Echo of Miles: Scattered Tracks Across the Path Released: 2014-11-24 Tracks: 50 Duration: 3:29:25 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Sub Pop Rock City (03:16) 2 Toy Box (05:40) 3 Heretic (03:49) 4 Fresh Deadly Roses (04:54) 5 H.I.V. Baby (04:51) 6 Cold Bitch (05:01) 7 Show Me (02:47) 8 She’s a Politician (01:47) 9 Birth Ritual (06:05) 1 She Likes Surprises (03:18) 2 Kyle Petty, Son of Richard (04:06) 3 Exit Stonehenge (01:21) 4 Blind Dogs (04:38) 5 Bleed Together (03:53) 6 Black Rain (05:24) 7 Live to Rise (04:40) 8 Kristi (05:32) 9 Storm (05:24) 1 Swallow My Pride (02:18) 2 Smokestack Lightnin’ (05:07) 3 Everybodys Got Something to Hide (Except Me and My Monkey) (John Peel BBC Sessions) (02:25) 4 Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin) (05:04) 5 Come Together (05:51) 6 Stray Cat Blues (04:41) 7 Into the Void (Sealth) (06:37) 1 Girl U Want (03:29) 2 Touch Me (02:50) 3 Can You See Me? (Friday Rock Show BBC Sessions) (02:38) 4 Homicidal Suicidal (Friday Rock Show BBC Sessions) (04:21) 5 I Cant Give You Anything (Friday Rock Show BBC Sessions) (02:14) 6 I Dont Care About You (Friday Rock Show BBC Sessions) (01:53) 7 Waiting for the Sun (live) (04:27) 8 Search and Destroy (live) (03:09) 9 Big Bottom (live) (04:53) 10 Earache My Eye (live) (05:47) 1 Twin Tower (03:21) 2 Jerry Garcia’s Finger (03:25) 3 Motorcycle Loop (short version) (01:33) 4 Night Surf (05:23) 5 A Splice of Space Jam (04:06) 6 The Telephantasm (02:58) 7 Black Days III (04:03) 8 Karaoke (06:00) 1 Fopp (Fucked Up Heavy dub mix) (06:28) 2 Big Dumb Sex (dub version) (06:10) 3 Spoonman (Steve Fisk remix) (06:57) 4 Rhinosaur (The Straw That Broke the Rhino’s Back remix) (03:43) 5 Dusty (Moby remix) (05:08) 6 The Telephantasm (Resurrection remix) (04:55) 7 One Minute of Silence (01:01) |
| Echo of Miles: Scattered Tracks Across the Path : Allmusic album Review : Mere months after Superunknown received an extravagant super deluxe box came Echo of Miles: Scattered Across the Path, a triple-disc collection of rarities from Soundgardens prime. Divided into three thematic sets -- "Originals," containing stray songs and B-sides; "Covers," including B-sides, Peel Sessions, various live performances, and, strangely, things that popped up on Ultramega OK, and "Oddities," which contains more B-sides, remixes, and previously unreleased cuts -- Echo of Miles nevertheless plays like a clearinghouse, where its imperative that the listener sorts out the gems from the dross. It is worth taking time to find the keepers, many of which do arrive on the first disc where the band not only indulge in thick, crawling sludge but dont hide their perverse sense of humor, a trait they often suppressed on their full-length records. Thats one of the nice things about Echo of Miles: like many rarities collections, it gets to the heart of the groups character through its mess, through how it sets their impishness alongside their muscle. Originals is the best of the batch, particularly in how it illustrates their growth from malicious underground rockers into arena titans, but Covers has many of the same strengths: this is a band that pummeled funk into a paste ("Thank You [Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin]), tapped into the Satanic strut of the Stones "Stray Cat Blues," tightened up "Search and Destroy," and then played "Big Bottom" and "Earache My Eye" without a smirk. If Oddities slows a bit -- the remixes in the back half meander and a lot of the earlier cuts are either instrumental or unformed (or sometimes both) -- the ragged ends nevertheless capture the restlessness that made Soundgarden a continually fascinating band. | ||