Reviews (page 6 of 14)
5 stars just for including blackholesun
Klassisk 90s grunge.
I went into this album wanting to like it, as I've always found Chris Cornell (RIP) a very talented singer and while I'm not that familiar with Soundgarden's albums, I've liked everything I've heard from them so far. Initially, I must say I didn't like it as much as I hoped. While lyrically the album is very strong, my first impression of the music on some of the tracks was a bit underwhelming. However, as I kept listening to this, the more I began to enjoy it, and by the time I finished the album I actually really liked the songs on it. I'm willing to guess that this album will grow on me a lot if I give it some time. 3.75/5
On a first time listen, it struck me how much of this album diffused into future rock albums from different bands; this may be why this album is catching accusations of sounding generic. One example of this is the harmonized vocals on "Head Down" sounding very similar to what System of a Down was doing on their Hypnotize/Mezmerize album. (Also, did anyone else notice how the melody of "Black Hole Sun" sounds REALLY similar to "Wicked Little Town" from Hedwig? I'd always thought that musical was purely inspired by Bowie but clearly there is Soundgarden influence as well!) They're also doing interesting things with time signatures in these songs, which could go unnoticed since it's more subdued that the flamboyant time signature switch-ups of bands like Tool or SOAD. Impressive vocal range from Chris Cornell. I love the falsetto on "She Likes Surprises" right before the breakdown. Great guitar riffs throughout. I love the creepy descending riff on "The Day I Tried to Live". "Spoonman" is the song I'd heard before and I still like it just as much. It hits a happy medium of being heavy and interestingly structured while still being a perfect candidate for radio play. I do feel like the album is too long and a bit exhausting for a single session. I started running out of energy at "Kickstand", and the back half of the album started to feel lethargic (other than "Half" coming out of left-field with its Bollywood sound). Breaking the album up into multiple sessions would probably allow you to appreciate the later songs more.
sounds like just ANY straight white male could do it but it's ok just nothing in particular stands out
When I saw Superunknown come up today, I thought it might be my first five on here. I love most of the singles on this album (I would have said all, until learned My Wave was a single). Chris Cornell and Matt Cameron deliver standout performances throughout. Unfortunately, I found the songs to be a little hit or miss. Nothing was terrible but I found myself getting bored several times. Given there are several grunge albums on this list that I think might be "no skips" for me, I don't think I can hand out the five to this one. Very strong 4.
Really like the riffs on this one
fire rock
Pretty much the standard of its time, interesting to hear the influences it led to. Very Radiohead sounding in places
Another day where I can't quite break down each song, and so have just been riding the vibes with this one today. Bias definitely here, as Grunge is one of my favourite genres, with it's angry fuzzy guitars, heavy bass and screeching lyrics. All the reasons for most to hate the genre, but I've always loved how raw the emotion has felt in Grunge. Whilst I am familiar with some of their songs (Black Hole Sun and Fell on Black Days ofc), I haven't ever listened to the entire album. The most standout tracks for me were "Let Me Down", "Mailman", "Head Down", "The Day I tried to Live" and "Flesh Tendrils".
Soubdgarden was one ofnthe few Grunge bands that 16-year-old me wasn't a huge fan of, because I preferred the growly vocals of bands like Pearljam, Alice in Chains and Stone Temple Pilots. But, 16-year-old me was kind of dumb sometimes. The only thing that keeps this from 5 star range is that it's a little overstuffed and a few songs feel like filler.
Ridiiiiiinnnnggggggg you all the way
'Damn the water, burn the wine / I'm going home for the last time.' Grunge is heavy and often cheesy, but at its best, it's also 'real,' however you'd like to disentangle that adjective. It was at its best and its most real w/ Nirvana and Soundgarden, never w/ Pearl Jam, Alice In Chains, or Screaming Trees. Importantly, it's 'real' but not necessarily an exponent of realism: it comes from the marrows of the human condition, it's guttural and lousy, it's spit-up and scummy lunchmeat. It's real b/c you fucking feel it, even if want to get the fuck away from it: 'Hello, don't you know me? / I'm the dirt beneath your feet.' I don't think Chris Cornell was the voice of a generation as Kurt was, but in his relentless darkness, you're pillared: 'Head high, head high.'
Kim Thayil's guitar is just the right mix of support and lead. Love the work on Limo Wreck. Chris Cornell - what an iconic voice. This era of music has some of the best vocalists.
Largely awesome, even if perhaps grating at times. Landmark album. 4.2
Great album!!
Same album with "Blackhole Sun". The rest of the album holds up to the song. Super solid harder rock and a solid album.
8/10
This was great.
Iconic sound and timeless hits. Kickstand and 4th of July on the back half were a little lackluster to me, but there's plenty to enjoy on this record.
These guys certainly know what they're about. Heavy and dramatic throughout, album only drags a little on Mailman and Spoonman
Another album from my depressed teen years. While I was worried that this album would also get worse on an actual relisten, like The White Stripes did, I gotta say it absolutely holds up. Grunge vs Blues Revival for life apparently. This one however is leagues better lyrically than the other and very solid musically. Specifically there is so much more variety and depth present. While some are creatively nonsesical, and most are extremely depressed, there's more to the lyrics than just depression there's thoughts on greed, war, patriotism and a bit of gender going on. Literally a whole song singing about riding the mailman. The only issue is that lyrically and tonally its pretty much 'nothing but rock' and it can get pretty grating after awhile, and the highest points on the album is when they try something new. Overall really great album and clearly immensely influential on modern rock, that holds up entirely today.
Classic of the genre. To be cliche, they don’t make them like this anymore.
Genialitet i gränslandet mellan trad metal och grunge. Utan dem inget Pearl Jam, inget Nirvana. Men detta är fjärde skivan; inte den bästa. En stark fyra.
Hooks and heft. Superunknown delivers a breadth of sounds found on few records. With 60’s psychedelic influences, carried by Cameron’s drumming and experimental and varied time signatures, wonderfully odd bass and guitar riffs, Soundgarden delivered something new. Yet, the hooks and Cameron’s languid phrasing make the music, especially the singles, easily accessible. Released a time when even fans were growing tired of grunge and bands were trying to shed the label, it is a shame that this album received the label because it belies the complexity of this record. Superunknown is great rock and roll.
This was the first album I've listened again as something told me I should give it another go. I've heard it before and like most other American rock on here just found it... a bit boring. But having to listen in two halves helped. For some reason the half after Black Hole Sun (which is great) clicked a bit more for me, with Kickstand, Fresh Tendrils and 4th of July all standing out. I listened again and I'm still not a massive fan of everything including Cornell's voice on this album - even though I like Audioslave or the dirginess of that 90s American rock sound, but it's a strong album.
i just love chris cornell’s voice so much. i can’t believe he’s been gone for 9 years already. I always had a slight preference for Audioslave (maybe because i found them first), but this is great as well.
Pretty rocking. Very 90s.
4 My dad’s a big Soundgarden and Chris Cornell fan, so their music has been with me for most of my life, but I can’t say that I’ve ever actually given this full album a listen until now. Truth is, I hold a lot of respect for the band and quite enjoy a few of their songs, but they’ve never been one of my personal favorites, even within the context of ‘90s grunge (I’m a bit more of a Nirvana and Alice in Chains guy, but I’ll give SG the edge over Pearl Jam). To take it a step further, I’m a bit sick of the group’s radio hits, and while it’s certainly impressive how many are contained here, I didn’t find myself overly excited to listen to them again here. Fortunately, this album is deep cuts galore. It’s hard to say how much of my opinion is chalked up to recency bias or just being jaded with the stuff I knew, but I’m telling you right now, I think Mailman, Head Down, Limo Wreck, and 4th of July are all WAY better songs than Black Hole Sun, Fell on Black Days, or Spoonman. Hell, I would even go as far as to say that 4th of July may very well now be my all-time favorite Soundgarden song - I love how gritty it is despite being about seeing a lot of vibrant colors while on LSD. That said, while not favorites, I can’t say that I was too annoyed hearing the hits within the context of this album, and reading up on them gave me new appreciation for Spoonman in particular. Turns out, Spoonman (short for Artis the Spoonman) is a real dude, famous for playing spoons as musical instruments in streets of Seattle (something I think he still might do today?) If you listen closely, you can hear him play said spoons on the track. However, among the five singles, the real heavy hitters are ironically the least streamed ones, The Day I Tried to Live and My Wave. The Day I Tried to Live is probably the one song I remember my dad playing the most off this album (that and Superunknown), and seeing it performed live with members of Soundgarden and Nirvana at the Taylor Hawkins Tribute Show in Los Angeles helped me develop a new appreciation for it - Taylor certainly wasn’t the only one on the mind in that moment. As for My Wave, I’ll always think of an essay I wrote in like 9th or 10th grade regarding a song that defines us. It probably wouldn’t be my pick if I were given that assignment now (All My Friends by LCD Soundsystem is the first that comes to mind), but I also can’t say the “keep negative vibes out” sentiment has changed much about me. Overall, this is an excellent album through and through, though a touch long - I honestly think you could cut Kickstand, Fresh Tendrils, and Half without losing much. And something I want to touch on but don’t want to dwell on was how dark this album is. I never took Soundgarden as a particularly depressing group, but there’s not a ton of positive energy to be found here, which sort of provides new context for songs like Black Hole Sun and Fell on Black Days in retrospect. That wasn’t something I disliked per se, but given all that’s passed, it evokes certain feelings. But that’s not what this should be remembered for - It should be remembered for great music and unparalleled talent. I picked up a framed photograph of Chris from a booth at NOFX’s final show last year for my dad (shoutout to Punk Rock & Paintbrushes and Steve Thrasher), and I think the accompanying description put it in the best, most succinct way possible: “There will never be another like him.” No, there certainly won’t.
Great album. Soundgarden are probably toward the higher end of the heaviness scale for music I'm able to enjoy listening to, but there's enough of a focus on melodies and structure here to keep me engaged. It's maybe a little on the long side; a couple of the weaker tracks like Fresh Tendrils and Half could maybe have been cut to make the album tighter, but it doesn't detract from the experience that much. Favourite tracks: The Day I Tried to Live, Black Hole Sun, Superunknown
Very good! This rocks, has that skunk anansie/anouk/incubus sound but better. Of course great singing
🥄🥄🥄 ♂️♂️♂️
(82/100)
This album is where metal and grunge collide. A raw testament to this heavy band and Cornell's unmistakable voice.
Soundgarden coaxes a space where pop, rock, punk, and metal can co-exist. That’s one way of describing grunge, I guess. Tuneful songs and Chris Cornell’s voice make it all cohere.
Another classic from my high school days that I never owned or listened to all the way through. I respected Soundgarden but never too into them. Black Hole Sun was constantly on the radio for years and pretty annoying. I get it a lot more now. A lot of really brilliant music on here and less sludge than I was expecting. My Wave, which I haven't heard in forever, is absolutely on point and should have been a huge hit. In honor of that song being in 5/4 time I will award this 4/5 stars.
Actually enjoyed this.
Awesome album
Had no idea that these guys were the ones that did Black Hole Sun, but a lot of really cool sounds and songs on here, really enjoyed. Would round up to a 4.5 if I could but there could have been a little more like ingenuity throughout that I think would have bumped it up.
Really fuckin good
good album, good band
Great album! What a powerhouse voice from Chris Cornell, he is still very much missed. Highlights: "Black Hole Sun", "Spoonman" and "The Day I Tried to Live"
I hate the song black hole sun. Still this is a good album.
Holds up!
Second experience with grunge. I really like the sound of this album. I overall prefer this over Nevermind by Nirvana (my first grunge experience) but that could be becasue of recency bias as well. Some songs do feel like it drags on a bit without changing much, so I would overall rate it like a 3.5/10
hmm so before this, the only soundgarden song i listened to was black hole sun. and so far the vibe is actually different from that song, which is surprising to me i mean i still like it, its my kinda rock [mac demarco reference?!?!] halfway mark, i rlly like it so far, only gripe for a few parts is that they drag on for too long overall, great album, but i would rather listen to their contemporaries, like nirvana [most of the time].
Discazo que me llevo de nuevo a mis queridos 90s
Classic grunge!!
Just a solid album from start to finish. Interesting how melodic Black Hole Sun is compared to the other songs.
Lumped in with grunge, but this band were like the smart kid in class who just keeps quiet. Songs that twist and turn, sludgy stoner rock riffs, face-melter solos, insane vocal acrobatics and yet they don't forget the big choruses that will hook you in. Could it have done with a bit of editing? Yes, but this was in the era of lading as much as you could on a CD. So many bands and groups fell into this trap. Best Tracks: Fell on Black Days; Black Hole Sun; Spoonman
Good but effin' long
Wowwweeeeee! Chris Cornell has an incredible voice, I was thoroughly impressed. I’m not usually a fan of grunge because the vocals aren’t usually up my alley, but this was a great redemption of the genre for me. Great instrumentation!
Won't You Come And Wash Away The Rain? 1001 Albums Generator 168 (11/24/2025) Superunknown and Badmotorfinger are the albums that Soundgarden fans argue about being their best. I am personally partial to Superunknown. As great as hits like Black Hole Sun, Spoonman, and Fell On Black Days are, the quality of an album this long is determined by the quality of its deep cuts. And man, this album has some amazing deep cuts. Let Me Drown is this heavy, alt metal piece with great guitar and My Wave has these great verses in 5/4. Oh yeah, these guys love their odd time signatures. That bridge riff of Black Hole Sun in 9/8 and Limo Wreck, in 15/8, are two of my favorites. Apparently they would just write riffs and then find out the time signature later when they were recording it, which is why it always sounds so natural. Anyway, I have seen some people say this album falls off in the second half, but I think that's just fatigue talking. The run from the criminally underrated Fresh Tendrils to the devastating Like Suicide is amazing. 4th of July in particular has always been a favorite of mine. With all this said, there are a few songs that I don't really like sprinkled throughout the tracklist, so I have to call this a 4.5/5, rounded down to a 4. Favs: Fell On Black Days Spoonman 4th Of July Least Fav: Head Down
Solid album, a few songs that aren't great but mostly really good.
If you ask me about the best voice ever in rock music, my answer will vary depending on the day and my mood. On some days I will tell you it’s Chris Cornell. There are a couple of tracks on this album that could have been left out, but most of it is brilliant. Love it! 4/5
Such a great album. Unreal vocals from Chris Cornell. One of my original CDs, my early collection from Columbia House.
wow, Chris Cornell is amazing
Crunchy and glorious
Banging rock album. Fave track: Black Hole Sun (a given)
I didn't expect to like this that much, but it's very diverse and innovative. A very unique sound.
Superunknown if you just kept the 9 best songs. Let Me Drown Fell on black days Super unknown Black hole Sun Spoonman Limo wreck The day I tried to live 4th of July Like suicide Running time: 46:20 This version gets 5 stars easily. Sometimes less is more.
Strong 4
CD's era with 70+ minutes albums when probably a 50 minutes album would be better. Soundgarden is a special band, but sometimes less is more. No one sings like Chris anymore
Great, but too long. Favorite song: the day I tried to live
I like Stephen Malkmus, who is currently playing an SG because of Kim Thayall. Apart from one or two songs, I'd never listened to the band. It's a bit grungy for my liking. The singing is strong and the guitar work is clever, but a bit too Seattle... A decent outing, that I possibly would have been more into if my teen years had gone differently. Not inspired to buy that guitar yet... 4 star.
Black hole sun
Low 4? Lots of odd time signatures and some solid drum parts, strong ending
first listen super cool
It's alright it is a product of its era.
4.5
Finally, back to some good fucking music. This particular album seems to stand out a bit when poring through the grunge "chapter" of rock 'n' roll. Particularly the distortive, almost psychedelic-like sounds produced here in what is primarily a grunge/hard rock album. Not to mention the plethora of other unorthodox composition choices all throughout, such as alternate tunings and tune signatures. I'm no music expert, but these were certainly noticeable to my ears when listening. Chris Cornell was a compelling lead man, with his gruff voice mixing well with the heaviness of it all. An ambitious and lengthy album, but a grunge staple for sure. Some of the more iconic singles from this era too.
Good
Really solid album with a number of really great songs. Chris Cornell is a legend and he is at peak on this one. More than a 4 but not a 5.
This rips. 4/5
toi album cover on niiin cool. tykkäsin ihan sikana just täydellistä meluisaa rokkia. ehkä vähän pitkä albumi (mun keskittymiskyky tykkää napakoista 40min albumeista) mut saa extra pojoja kans nostalgiasta koska tunnistan biisejä lapsuudesta kun autossa soi aina radio rock :P mut just sellasta musiikkia mistä oon nauttinu viimeaikoina ja ihanasti hiljentää kaikki (kielteiset) ajatukset päästä! varmasti kuuntelen lisää et tarkentuu viel lempparibiisit erikseen mut kokonaisuutena kyl tosi jeps.
Chris Cornell's voice is just raw and powerful, it honestly makes me appreciate rock music even more. I enjoyed the second half of Superunknown. It’s also mixed way cleaner than Nevermind, in my opinion. But if those two albums were to fight to the death, Nevermind would still win by a close margin. It’s got no-skip tracks and a much better flow overall. Favorite tracks: Let Me Drown, I Tried To Live, Like Suicide
I sometimes fantasize that I could go back in time to the 90s and offer some great artists a word of advice: "You don't have to fill up the entire CD. Aim for 40-50 minutes." CDs as a format just made it too easy to put everything on their. We didn't judge artists too harshly because we could skip songs and program playlists pretty easily. But let's be honest, this album is too long to listen to straight through and the band could have easily taken off 5 or 6 tracks. If they had, this would be an absolutely brilliant album and one of the best of the grunge era, after Nirvana. Chris Cornell's voice was something special. The singles "Spoonman" and "Black Hole Sun" are among some of my favorite songs from the 90s and it's deeply nostalgic. Given all of this, I'm willing to ignore a bit of filler and imagine the album it could have been.
-The day I tried to live
4/5
I've always been a fan of their singles, but never heard the rest of the album. Good stuff.
A solid grunge album I had somewhat neglected back in the days. It was nice to hear that unique mid-90s sound again. Even if it's not my favorite track (I'd probably go for Limo Wreck instead), Black Hole Sun remains an essential grunge anthem. The muddy, gritty guitars totally kick ass, and the vocal parts are amazing. There's a wide range of styles and tempos, with some sludgy moments and some downright hard rock tracks, so the album never gets boring despite its length. It only lacks a special little something I can't define to get a 5* - let's say it's great, but falls short of being genius. 8/10
I liked this a lot more than I expected. Great production with lots of dynamics and depth, some interesting guitar tones/effects, evasive lyrics and Chris Cornell had a great rock/pop voice.
On regular repeat throughout my teenage years.
YEEEEEAAAAAH
Fantastic grunge album. Some of their best hits and the album is consistently good. 4/5
Ya know what's not superunknown? How much this album rocks. Would I listen to again? Absolutely.
I got into a huge Soundgarden binge about two years ago that has not abated. The stuff I'm most enamored of is their live albums, where they crank up the tempo, Kim goes nuts on his solos, and Cornell really wails. Some of the studio tracks end up seeming tame by comparison. Examples here include "Let Me Drown", "My Wave", and "4th of July." Both still sound great, but it feels a little overproduced as opposed to just fuckin' letting it rip. That's really my only complaint. This album is great. To be honest, some of it is STILL at a saturation point for me (the "Black Hole Sun" video was so completely inescapable when I was in middle school I can practically run the whole thing in my head). But even some songs I've heard a billion times ("Fell On Black Days" "Spoonman") still blow my wig back. A bunch of the deep tracks ("Head Down" "The Day I Tried To Live" "Kickstand") rate with the hits. Even the weaker spots ("Fresh Tendrils" "Half") are still no-skips for me. Not enough bands go for straight-up hard rock instead of metal, and many that try seem mired in parody. Soundgarden doesn't. Kim Thayil is an all-time great guitarist. Chris Cornell is probably the best frontman of his generation. I wish I had been as into them when he was alive as I am now, I would've loved to see them. Recommendation for folks who dig this: Listen to "Live on I-5", and in particular the back-to-back of their cover of "Search and Destroy" and "Ty Cobb." Will kick your ass in the best way.
Bit overlong but full of bangers
Technical, grunge-y and morose. There's a lot to compliment with Soundgarden but I'm going to call out two: Kim Thayil, a fascinating guitar player who never got his full due (this is his only band that broke big) and singer Chris Cornell -- much has been written of Cornell's work but the single thing that ought to blow your mind as you listen is that Cornell's natural vocal range is that of a baritone, despite his soaring, wailing, gritty falsetto that highlights so many songs. Soundgarden is a little less likely to change your whole life than The Beatles. But they might. 4/5
90s childhood staple, not going to listen to it front to back all the time but gotta add it to the digital collection.
4 stars. Heavy metal meets alt rock and results in an iconic grunge album. The dark lyrical content throughout is sad given what ended up happening to Cornell. Musically a great blend of heavy (lots of guitar with drop D tuning) and melodic and passionate singing. Personal favorite track is "The Day I Tried To Live" but the hits ("Fell On Black Days", "Black Hole Sun", and "Spoonman") are all great.
Nice
RIP Chris Cornell
This was very good. Maybe not as strong and interesting as other big grunge albums, but some bangers nonetheless
Great record from a foundational band at the forefront of the grunge movement.
Soundgarden's Superunknown has a few tracks worthy of Grunge fame, but the album as whole, while solid, doesn't compare to bigger bands in the genre.
Favorite Track: Black Hole Sun
While a lot of grunge artists made references to prog bands in interviews, this influence didn’t appear in the music. Soundgarden was maybe the exception. Stripped of prog's complexity but retaining and building on the heavy sonics and riffs, this record doesn’t shy away from the psychedelic or the hook-laden choruses that wouldn’t be improper in a Led Zeppelin record. The fact that Chris Cornell can really sing also made them stand apart from their grunge compatriots. This record also just sounds great. It’s powerful and energetic without being harsh. It continues to find new listeners for good reason.
Blackhole Sun is one of my favorite songs
Fun album. Lot of crunchy grungy guitars grinding through each track.
Great band, what a voice Chris Cornell had. Although there are some big hits on this album it’s not my favourite of theirs. Something about it doesn’t fully click into gear. 4.3/5.0 Best Song: Fell On Black Days
Those drums and guitar just hit.
cabilla
This is only my second ever listen to what I'm aware is widely regarded as a classic album. I can see why - it's chock full of tasty riffs and has a very dark, moody atmosphere reverberating throughout it. Particularly of interest to me are the songs which take on an almost Middle Eastern feel, such as "Head Down", and the more expansive offerings where the tension and misery shine through the strongest. Vocals are often a bone of contention for me within grunge/hard rock, but Chris Cornell finds himself in that ideal sweet-spot of not being too yarling or overbearing for me, and his lyrics tell profound stories of dealing with depression, isolation, substance abuse and other unrest. Easy to see how this would have struck a chord with the vast audience in which it did. The length is an issue which slightly detracts from the replayability factor for me, though it is a dynamic enough experience to warrant the majority of its stay.
Middle school man
Finally some decent rock music, Chris always delivers with great vocals. Just the one standout hit that I recognised, would listen to again.
very good. 4.5
La banda en su prime. La batería suena del re carajo. Qué viva el grunge loco. 8/10
Great album. One of grunges heavy hitters, and for good reason. That said, It's not my absolute favorite, especially when compared to albums by Pearl Jam or Nirvana.
Chris Cornell is one of the greatest vocalists in Rock and Roll history. Even though I typically prefer Audioslave. Love this album; Black Hole Sun, The Day I Tried to Live, Fell on Black Days all go incredibly hard. Tracks I enjoyed that were newish to me: Like Suicide and 4th of July. It is too long though.
Great grunge album
It surprises friends to learn that I am not a huge Soundgarden fan. They check all the boxes of what I like in music, but I just never really got into them. However, this was my favorite album of theirs. The hits off this album were everywhere, of course, dominating MTV and radio, but I really like the other songs on here too. Cameron's drumming was really interesting and I still can't believe he ended up as Pearl Jam's drummer for nearly 30 years. This was a great album by a great band (who just never did it for me for some reason.)
Even though I like Nirvana and I had heard a couple Soundgarden songs that I liked before, one of them being Black Hole Sun, I really wasn't into grunge. That may have to change because after listening to this album I need to hear more. Five stars from start to finish. These guys know how to rock. Chris Cornell is an excellent singer. R.I.P.
This was great. It takes a lot of talent to make an album that sounds this good. I wasnt the biggest fan of the songwriting which is the only reason why I left this at a 4. Performance, production, its all fantastic.
ohh, este es un clásico de los 90 y explica mucho de la música que seguiría en las próximas dos décadas.
Parece nirvana. Gostei. Nota 8/10
Superunknown is Soundgarden at their creative peak, a heavy, ambitious record that manages to be both crushing and surprisingly melodic. From the opening riff of “Let Me Drown,” the band set a dark and powerful tone that carries through the entire album. “Black Hole Sun” remains the obvious standout, a surreal and haunting anthem that perfectly balances Chris Cornell’s soaring vocals with the band’s dense, textured sound. Tracks like “Spoonman” and “Fell on Black Days” show their ability to shift between groove, aggression, and introspection without losing intensity. What stands out is how confidently the album explores new territory. The band lean into odd time signatures, layered guitar work, and a mood that’s more psychedelic and atmospheric than their earlier records. “4th of July” is a great example of that slow, hypnotic heaviness, while “My Wave” injects a twisted sense of fun. The production is massive but detailed, giving every instrument space to breathe while still hitting hard. Superunknown feels like the perfect balance between raw grunge energy and ambitious, forward-thinking rock. It’s moody, powerful, and full of songs that stick with you long after the album ends. Soundgarden weren’t just riding the wave of 90s rock here, they were pushing it into stranger, more exciting places.
I remember how revolutionary this album was when it came out — it sounded like nothing else on the radio. I remember waiting all day for the Black Hole Sun video to come on MTV and VH1 and The Box. Superunknown has some stone-cold classics on it: Spoonman, BHS, Fell on Black Days. That said, the album as a whole stands on the backs of those hits.
A good album. Could be shorter a little, but mostly it's all substance and the songs are bangers. Heavy music, introspective, dark lyricism and one of the greatest voices rock has ever seen. 4/5
Good album
This wasnt my thing originally, but i thought it was very good. There was a grand scoundscape and it had a real heft. The guitar sound and the production made it feel epic and there was none of the usual repetitive drivel that can characterise this music.
Grunge essential
Chris Cornell is one of the greatest singers of my generation. I hated “Black Hole Sun” still kinda do because MTV played it every 10 minutes. Then saw Soundgarden at Municipal Auditorium in 1996, he sang it a cappella I was blown away. I’ve always been more Alice In Chains (1a) & Pearl Jam (1a) followed by Soundgarden then Nirvana for the Seattle 4.
Bloody hell it must be well over a decade since I listened to Soundgarden. I thought this would be a sure fire five stars and while I did really enjoy it, it didn’t quite reach that height for me. Top Track - Black Hole Sun
Chris Cornell was a brilliant singer. I always found his voice incredible. It shines on herel. Some tracks seem to foreshadow his end without being obvious, and shows he maybe always had some troubles thoughts and challenges without it being overt. Very few voices that can challenge him in rock. All said, 16 tracks and 70 minutes definitely started to feel too long. Needed slimming down, but some great tracks within it.
Solid album. I don’t care for every song but I at least like most of them and really enjoy a few.
Great 90s grunge album.
Captures that 90s sound
While listening, it finally clicked that theyre like a grunge led zeppelin. Which is awesome! Solid album with a majority of their radio hits on this one.
Fantastic Album. One of the best albums in the 90's.
Isoimmat hitit
Production really jumps out here, especially compared to Badmotorfinger. Everything sounds huge and deep here, great vocal multitracking. Mixed bag on the track list but the hitters hit.
Great album.
They arrived as a combination of punk energy, Sabbath riffs, and Zeppelin vocals, but here they expand their sound, creating probably their best work
As a Seattle person, I never really considered Nirvana grunge. Soundgarden and Alice In Chains really did a lot more for me personally. This is a good album but I like Badmotorfinger better.
Heavy classic
Classic 90's alt rock. The effect-laden guitar tone along with Cornell's vocals create a sound that's unique while still defining an an era.
Vibailen. En ollu ennen kuunnellu mut kuunteleminen tuntu luonnolliselta. Hyvät riffit ja laulajalla hyvä ääni.
Highlights: Let Me Down, Superunknown, Head Down, The Day I Tried To Live, Black Hole Sun, Kickstand. In a nutshell: “easily the best—most galvanizing, kinetic, sensational, catchy—Zep rip in history" Robert Christgau, Village Voice, April 5th 1994. Coming from the POV of “I only know the singles” and after listening to the album, I concur with Christgau. Soundgarden borrowed heavily from Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath here (namely the guitars). Hell, you can argue that Black Hole Sun is the “Stairway of Grunge”. But you gotta admit, this album IS a big deal. What makes SG different is the songwriting, the epic drumming and of course, Chris Cornell. Many songs express moods of alienation, depression and despondence perfectly. Almost uplifting. I think that’s why it was a comfort album to many teens and twenty-somethings at time, and still is. Overall: 7/10
Great album.
I've been meaning to listen to more Soundgarden, having missed them in the 90s. Overall a really solid 4 star album, some really good tracks on here, and Black Hole Sun was just super popular I remember and had heard it a lot before, also Spoonman too.
Black Hole Sun and Spoonman are 5-star songs. The rest of the album is a solid 4 star hard rock album. 4 stars.
Won't you come and wash away the rain?
Me encantó, muy potente, muy grunge. He disfrutado mucho.
A well listened-to all time favorite.
Cornell was one hell of a frontman. Not that Soundgarden is not good, but he definitely elevates everything he is in.
I think Badmotorfinger is their cooler, less mainstream album, but I'm still glad this is on here. I was a in college when this hit, and boy was this everywhere, including friggin' Spoonman. It's been a while since I listened to this, and I think my favorite track is still The Day I Tried to Live. Do yourself a solid and check out Norah Jones's live cover of Black Hole Sun, recorded just days after Cornell passed.
Reminds me of NIN, sameness Fell on black days Black hole sun
definitely one of the best grunge albums i've heard. came at a good time considering i'm listening to a lot of pearl jam and listening to their bandsplain episode. absolutely loved the guitars on this album - they were dark and heavily distorted which is exactly what i hoped to hear. i also really liked the haunted feel a lot of the tracks had - chris cornell's stunning vocals helped this happen. the only reason it's not 5* is because a lot of the tracks weren't very memorable. i feel like they could've shaved 15-30 minutes off this album and made it super tight and compact listen. still an enjoyable listen though.
Classic grunge album, although it is my least fav of the big bands. Still liked it alot, especially my wave, fell on black days, and black hole sun. Gotta give my boy Chris more time since I liked it alot more than the last time I listened
Song for song, they're all really good. As a whole it's kinda one note. Obviously one of the most fundamental grunge albums. My heart says 3.5, but I'll bump it up to 4 for the amount of times we watched the Black Hole Sun music video off of limewire in middle school.
Enjoyed a few of these.
Fell on black days is a banger. Love the bass. Head down 👍 Spoon man 👍
Definitely biased by nostalgia. A huge Chris Cornell fan and used to listen to this + Audioslave whilst studying for college chemistry classes which somehow helped me understand chemistry better. I think I prefer Chris' Audioslave phase better but this still hits.
Spooooon maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan
Tufft! Speciellt Black Hole Sun.
This is like a superior version of pearl jam, incredibly heavy and Chris Cornell is a great vocalist, probably the best i’ve heard for this genre of heavy grunge. Great riffs, vocals, drums and production was clearly on point to make it sound as heavy as it did. Maybe a little bloated as it was a little samey but it had a clear sound it was aiming for and maintained it throughout so i guess that’s only a small nitpick (although it did have 1 song which changed it up a bit “half”). I thought the vocal delivery and lyrics were very much like Kurt Cobain in some aspects, like a heavier version of nirvana. Favourites: Let me down, New wave, fell on black days, Superunknown, kickstand, 4th of July and like suicide. I did feel like all of the songs were consistently good though. Overall, 8/10.
One of those albums that at times feels underrated due to its genre's exceptional product. A dark opera that bleeds, before the scab can seal. Guitar work that is both jarring and equally harmonious with Cornell's vocal echos.
More like black hole fun
Really great. Strong consideration for a 5, but just shy. Definitely an album where it feels like “they don’t make music like this anymore”
I too wanted to make the joke Black Hole Fun, but I am late to it. I enjoyed
loooove that the album cover is an orc.
90s hardrock. Breakthrough album. Very cool nostalgic grunge flavour. Some very iconic songs.
Enjoyable music, singing not bad, a little hard to understand, but that may just be listening for the first time. Didn't think I liked grunge, but perhaps I was wrong. 4 stars.
Awesome, very fun listen. Just a bit too long tho.
Zajebiste. 4/5 Taka kwintesencja grunge razem z Alice in Chains i Nirvaną. Kilka klasyków. Dołujący klimat
Great grunge, but a bit long, and tad repetitive. It's got Spoonman and Black Hole Sun, so obviously a classic, but my own appetite for Soundgarden perhaps keeps it from 5.
Awesome, energetic grunge record that is on the heavier side. Nice vocals, great riffs, many banger songs. Not much more to say.
This is a great album. Loved it then… love it now!
7.5/10
Especially love the vocals on this one. Part of my regular listening.
it's peak
Actually some pretty good rock. 7/10
Soundgarden was instrumental in introducing a new “modern metal” sound that broke away from the traditional heavy metal of the late 80’s and early 90’s. This album represents that new metal sound perfectly.
"Let Me Drown" is a pretty bad ass way to open an album up... admittedly, the grunge genre is not my cup of tea... usually... i think Nirvana were ok, and i never liked Pearl Jam at all... Soundgarden on the other hand... seems to have a lot more of the older influences that it takes to get my fancy... The title track is a highlight... if you like Led Zeppelin you will appreciate this band... they have some of that moxie... Chris Cornell, RIP, handling the vocals with a wide range... of notes and emotional rage... a lot of the songs on this album pre-date bands that would do this kind of sound... Alice in Chains springs to mind... all the players in the band are mofos at their instruments... i must admit... the pounding of John Bonham... the everywhere guitar stylings... like Jimmy Page, etc... "Black Hole Sun" is the big hit of the record... unfortunately, for me, it sounds the most like a Pearl Jam song... lol... but it also has elements of early Elton John in the vocals... "Spoonman" is like a Zep song... "Limo Wreck" is like a full out rock operea in six minutes, reminding me a bit of "Dazed and Confused"... punk, hard rock, and other merriments ensue... to grunge fans this MUST be one of the top albums to you... and you would give it five stars... for me, a curmudgeonly older fellow, i'll play nice... and give them FOUR... Five for when they sound like Zeppelin... deduct one for the ones that sound like Pearl Jam or Alice in Chains... ; ))"
Aged superbly -nice to revisit
Great grunge album that reminds me of working in a restaurant kitchen.
Oon luullu et en pitäis just soundgardenista yms enkä oo koskaa kuunnellu mitää albumia tai kuullu vaa muutaman biisin ja sillee mitä sattunu mutta Toihan oli bängeri!!
Dad- 6 Mom- 8 Mike- NA Lori- 7.5 Michael- 8 Miles- 8 Cole- NA Avg- 7.5
Kinda cool, never heard the whole thing. Super immersive, and impeccable Chris Cornell voicings
Great album! Grunge but not Nirvana. Will listen again.
a bit heavier than my usual listening but it was good while driving
Great grunge introduction, though it gets outshone by their later works.
good album a great rock reference
Soundgarden's breakthrough album. Having cut my teeth on Badmotorfinger, I originally found this to be too polished and commercial to really enjoy, but my feelings have softened over the years. Incredible album and highly influential in 90s rock.
Black Hole Sun is such a good song.
So I have a cute little backstory with this album. When I was a kid my mom was super into garage sailing, and every summer we would drive down a lot of the same neighborhoods and streets. There was this house that I would get excited about cause they must’ve had a son who was just alittle older than me and I ALWAYS found the coolest things at their sales. I got expensive skate shoes my parents wouldn’t have bought if they were store prices, I got skateboards, and video games from this house. And one magical day they had a big stack of cds, and the only one I can vividly remember getting was “Superunknown”. This album blew me away. It was heavy and dark but not overly depressed by like a lot of grunge tends to be. And Chris’s voice is once in a lifetime. But that’s also a small thing that hasn’t aged well, which is that his songs about suicide are not enjoyable. They have become overtly depressing. But that’s also just a recent take. Had you asked me a few days after I bought this cd as a kid I would’ve told you it’s one of the best ever. So even though I know the kid in me wants to give this album a perfect score, I just can’t cause that last track (and frankly some of the other lyrics throughout the album) are so depressing and sad that it has tainted the album slightly. But it’s still Soundgarden’s biggest radio success cause this album is a no skip album full of some of their biggest hits. Definitely give this album a chance.
El jardín sonoro besó a la psicodelia y terminaron escupiéndole la cara. Superunknown, para los pretenciosos, es el peak del grunge de los '90. El género ya no sabía qué tipo diferente de depresión diagnosticarse para seguir evolucionando. Todos los sonidos ya habían sido usados, Nirvana ya quería descansar, y los chicos ya habían llegado a ese punto de la moda circular donde lo que donaste te vuelve. Soundgarden lanza este disco y demuestra que riffs de guitarra pesados mezclados con psicodelia, y una canción colada de lo que después será Audioslave, pueden ser la banda sonora de tu próxima recaída emocional. Odiá si querés odiar, llorá si querés llorar, o rezá si te gusta estar arrodillada o acostada, pero no te metas en la ola del grunge si no estás dispuesta a sentarte en su pozo y entender su emocionalidad. Porque esta experiencia sonora es sentarte al lado de la cama de tu primo adolescente mientras te explica por qué la está pasando mal. Tenés que escucharlo, entenderlo y penetrar la ficción de que lo que le pasa es trascendental para el género. Los chicos de Soundgarden se organizaron, escucharon bien a Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath y al metal setentoso, y levantaron la vara de sus proyectos anteriores. Podaron el jardín trayendo cosas que están buenas. Pero la felicidad duró poco, porque ¿cuánto podés ser un rockero irreverente con dos premios Grammy encima? La rosa más linda del jardín sonoro es "Spoonman": compases irregulares y sonidos de cucharas en la producción. El inicio con "Let Me Drown" es una gran elección, así como el cierre poético de "Like Suicide". "Black Hole Sun" es un pedazo de canción, pero parece pertenecer a otro proyecto—Audioslave—porque acá queda descolocada, como un treintañero introvertido en una matiné. Es un proyecto sólido, pero que no escupa para arriba, que va a terminar empapado... y no precisamente por andar llorando. Como la depresión de tu primo adolescente (y el grunge noventero): se va a pasar. Es solo una etapa. Parte de la vida. Para que tu jardín sonoro se llene de otros sonidos.
Haven’t listened to this album in years. It’s heavier and sludgier than I remember. Chris Cornell’s voice always stands out but on this album surprisingly I didn’t grow tired of it. A few of the guitar riffs could have been lifted off a Tool album.
Some songs can get repetitive
the thing i kept coming back to was 70s metal, particularly black sabbath. idk if its a strange comparison, but in addition to some iommi-esque riffage, theres just a kind of elemental darkness that defines the whole vibe of this thing, like being up to ur neck in some kind of supernatural tar. ive heard grunge on the whole described as an introversion of punk...not the only such case i suppose, but certainly an often human-level exploration of what it means to live through the world punk takes a critical birds eye view of. that makes some sense applied to this record, but much like metal, the impression is often less human level and more Cosmic and Primal...perhaps the predictably sorta bloated cd-era tracklist even aids in this impression, certainly because while it could be trimmed and better paced ig there is nothing on here even close to bad. an album to drown to, as it makes clear up front
klasik
Love love love - in my regular rotation
Noen bangers, men mye vas. Sjuk stemme, og mange fete riff trekker kraftig opp.
8/10 hehehe
A classic of the genre, but not limited by grunge
Amazing record. A must!
Very good rock music
This was a really good surprise. I like grunge, I like his voice. Some songs' lyrics were weird but I still HAVE TO listen to this one again
This is a great record! I liked it a lot.
Countless bangers here, amazing guitar sound, a bunch of amazing hits here like Black Hole Sun, one of the best albums in grunge
Thin White Duke but more louder and fuzzier. 8/10
What a solid and cool album this is! My issue with it is that its lenght makes it impossible to enjoy it as much as I would if it were shorter. By the end of the album, I was pretty tired and it affected my experience. The instrumental aspect is amazing and it harmonizes with Cornell's voice perfectly. As someone who only knew two or three tracks by Soundgarden, I was really surprised at the quality demonstrated in here. Great work from the Grunge era, but it's unfortunetly below Nirvana's Nevermind and Pearl Jam's Ten. -- Que álbum sólido e legal! Meu problema com ele é que a duração torna impossível apreciá-lo tanto quanto eu faria se fosse mais curto. No final do álbum, eu estava bem cansado e isso afetou minha experiência. O aspecto instrumental é incrível e harmoniza perfeitamente com a voz de Cornell. Como alguém que só conhecia duas ou três faixas do Soundgarden, fiquei realmente surpreso com a qualidade demonstrada aqui. Ótimo trabalho da era Grunge, mas infelizmente está abaixo do [Álbum 126] do Nirvana e do [Álbum 134] do Pearl Jam. --- 8,5/10
Echt zo'n plaat die mijn vader vroeger plat draaide en daarom onmogelijk los is te koppelen van jeugdsentiment, maar dat hoort er ook gewoon bij. Mooie gateway album geweest naar zwaardere muziekstijlen. Chris Cornell (R.I.P.) klinkt op deze plaat het beste wat hij ooit zal doen en ook instrumenteel is dit toch wel het hoogtepunt van Soundgarden. Binnen het genre zullen bands als Alice in Chains, The Smashing Pumpkins & Nirvana altijd een streepje voor hebben op Soundgarden, omdat die bands in het algemeen een sterkere discografie hebben en hun invloeden nog steeds te horen zijn, maar de highs van Superunknown doen absoluut niet onder voor het beste werk van die bands. Ik vind het geven van 5 sterren voor dit album net iets te ver gaan, maar het is absoluut 4 sterren met een asterisk.
Tough crowd, eh? Just because an album is beloved (maybe even a little too beloved) doesn't mean you have to give it 2 stars to balance out all the 5-stars. This music has a lot going for it in terms of sheer musicianship and songwriting. Nice vocals. Headstrong, emotive, and heavily influenced by 70s/80s metal-rock. The singer's best vocals are probably in the megahit Black Hole Sun, though they're pretty consistent throughout the album. In various songs you can also hear Soundgarden's intense grunge sound. Fell On Black Days and The Day I Tried To Live are textbook grunge tracks, mirroring works from the other members of the Big Four (Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Alice In Chains). The guitar solo at the end of the title track is great – chaotic, rocking, rampaging, wild. Until that point, the song kind of lacks anything "grounding" or memorable, but the solo definitely sells it. In fact, very few tracks here have what I believe to be the most important determinant of a "good" song: a hook (of any kind). Black Hole Sun has it in the chorus - almost like the track was made to be a hit. Most of the others sound fantastic but lack any hook, riff, or something similar to really sell it. Fun back-and-forth between various instruments and riffs in the song My Wave. Melody-wise, there isn't all that much - but everything else is spot-on. The bass at around 4:20 starts to play independently of the guitar and you get to hear that tasty bass wah-wah. Spoonman is similarly a formidable track for its bassline, with additionally excellent percussion and vocals to bolster it. There's no filler at all, and I could see myself giving this a 5 on a good day. 4/5 Key tracks: Fell On Black Days, Black Hole Sun, Spoonman
solid album. moody, kind of aggressive, fun to listen to. definitely on the metal side of grunge but still enjoyable to me, although i'm not huge into metal or grunge.
Knew Blackhole Sun and Spoonman. The rest of the album is similar. Album is pretty heavy and aggressive.
Already love this one 8/10
Surely one of the beat grunge albums out there. A bit too long, like a lot of albums at that time, but almost every songs are good, Chris has a great voice and it’s packed with cool riffs. I hear some Sabbath influence on some of these songs
I was surprised by how many great songs can be found on that one... I enjoyed it despised it being a little too long winded. I love the few subtle psychedelic and doomy moments during the album.
Love a few songs just not the whole album
Big fan of Soundgarden and Chris Cornell RIP. Great record.
I've owned this one for a long while, and every time I listen to it I wonder why I don't listen to it more often. These guys master setting up an infectious riff and then building on it, layer after layer, the emotional intensity of the vocals and the tight interplay builds the tension throughout, giving the riff enough space to breath and surge until its all released. This is hard rock done about as "professionally" as it can be done without losing the attitude that makes it Rock.
Very nice blast from the past. Several certified bangers here, and it would be impossible to talk about the music in the decade without this band and album coming up in the first 5 min if not sooner. It’s not as deep as I expected, but still lots of great licks here.
Impossible to think of the 90s without this album or band. Admittedly I did not give this album a fair listen when it was released, most likely due to the over and over and overplaying of Black Hole Sun. I mean that song was everywhere. Upon revisiting, I found the album pretty darn awesome. Great musicianship, interesting tunings, and even more incredible lead vocal delivery. As a drummer, I especially dig the odd time signatures throughout. Their ability to play an effed up time sig all while still maintaining groove is pretty hard to do. The biggest negative I have is overall length. Shave 3-4 songs and this probably becomes a 5er.
Pretty much a master class of the genre, led by probably the most talented/versatile front man of his class. Also happens to include one of the more iconic songs of the decade. This album is pretty loaded, but for sure goes long with 15 tracks (almost all of which could be 20-30% shorter).
Good lord black hole sun was massive! I’ve seen that music video so many times and freaks me out just thinking about it and those creepy smiles. Black days, my wave, spoon man are all great. Never listened to the full album so found a few more I liked. Man Chris is great. RIP
Flashback to 10-year old me seeing the music video for Black Hole Sun on MTV over and over and over and over again... I've struggled to listen to that song all the way through ever since. There's obvi some great stuff here, but the album feels a bit overstuffed. Didn't stop me from favoriting four tracks, and that doesn't include the aforementioned Black Hole Sun. That said, this is too big and important an album for me to go with anything less than a 4 bomb. 4/5
Black hole sun still rocks
I enjoyed it quite a decent amount however its really not the music I prefer from them. Audioslave does a lot of these themes a lot better in my opinion. The strongest tracks for me are the slower ones like black hole sun
Let Me Down 3.8 My Wave 4 Fell on Black Days 4.3 Mailman 4.2 Superunknown 4 Head Down 3.8 Black Hole Sun 4 Spoonman 4.4 Limo Wreck 4 The Day I Tried to Live 4.1 Kickstand 3.6 Fresh Tendrils 4 4th of July 4 Half 3.4 Like Suicide 3.7 Score: 3.953333333
Not quite as great as Louder Than Love of Badmotorfinger, but still a really good album.
I will keep this short as I tend to go on and on about 90s music. In 1994 I loved this album as well as the previous two albums by Soundgarden. Used to listen to the cassettes over and over back in the day. I felt the band was becoming very commercialized with this one, and very much so after. I did not listen or collect after Superunknown. In 1994 this was a 5 star album for me. I still hold some love for it, but now it's a solid 4 star album.
Great grunge album, a bit too long tho
I really enjoyed this, maybe could cut a couple songs
Tuff
Niet helemaal mijn stijl. Maar zeker een goed album
Great songs. Can’t explain it but somehow it never quite comes together. Still damn good.
I remember the first time I saw the Black Hole Sun video. I think I was in high school, and I loved how surreal it all was. Later, I got a hold of this album and, for whatever reason, felt like it was rubbish. I remember saying to people at the time that I’d yet to find a grunge band that I enjoyed outside of Nirvana. However, listening again today, I’m truly at a loss for what I didn’t enjoy all those years ago. This is a really nice sounding album from front to back, and I’d even go as far as to say that Black Hole Sun is far from the best track here. I’ll be the first to admit when I’m wrong, and I was very wrong about this album. The music, the vocals, the everything all sound so good.
Standard grunge rock
Listened on Wednesday June 4, 2025 1. "Let Me Drown" 3:51 2. "My Wave" 5:12 3. "Fell on Black Days" 4:42 4. "Mailman" 4:25 5. "Superunknown" 5:06 6. "Head Down" 6:08 7. "Black Hole Sun" 5:18 8. "Spoonman" 4:06 9. "Limo Wreck" 5:47 10. "The Day I Tried to Live" 5:19 ***** 11. "Kickstand" 1:34 12. "Fresh Tendrils" 4:16 13. "4th of July" 5:08 14. "Half" 2:14 15. "Like Suicide" 7:01 Total length: 70:13
This album was everywhere. The sound still holds up. Chris Cornell’s voice is amazing. I will be listening only to the non radio hits as I’ve heard those enough. The stuff I don’t know on this album is great so far. Love the opening on fresh tendrils. “Half” is a must listen.
Not as good as Badmotorfinger but still solid
El primer CD que tuve en mi vida. Para mí algo generacional y que sólo ahora empiezo a escuchar con objetividad. Es una maravilla musical.
Really good groovy songs near the end of the album
There are some straight classics here like Fell On Black Days, Black Hole Sun, and Spoonman. They really hold up a really strong 1st half of the album. The 2nd half (last 7 tracks specifically) gets away from the hard rock and more into the sludge/grunge rock. Not everything worked for me and it made the album really drag out. 4th of July was one song in particular that I was into, but not much else. I might be a basic bitch for just liking the hard rock radio hits, but I think if they cut 5 or so songs from this album and made things tighter I might've been into the 2nd half stuff more. I would say this is still a 4, but maybe on the lower end then it should've been. I'll still come back and listen to this one for sure.
Despite seeing this album from my youngest days in my mom's CD catalog, I'm not sure I've ever listened to this one straight through. This album has several of my favorites from my youth though: Black Hole Sun, Spoonman, and Fell On Black Days. I'll be honest this was not a careful listen, but I enjoyed it start to finish. Some high quality grungy alt-rock. I really enjoyed a number of songs outside of the radio hits already described. The sludgier tracks worked for me: Mailman, Limo Wreck, 4th of July. Also enjoyed more poppy Superunknown built around a solid guitar riff. Only song that I really didn't vibe with here was Kickstand. Not that it was bad, I just didn't think it fit among the rest. Delightfully crusty with some solid work from Cornell in the front -- he is certainly one of the better front men to come out of the grunge movement. Solid to high 4 / 5.
Chris Cornell with the wildest voice range I have ever heard. This album is a nice upbeat grunge album and I am very happy it came up because I have never listened to it fully. Great change up in genres too. Great songs all around, especially Fell on Black Days.
Never listened to much Soundgarden outside of the hits, but I do love Chris Cornell's voice from Audioslave. Damn this is duuuuurty and sludgy all the way through and I am into it. Easy 4 and will be jamming to this for the foreseeable future.
A slow, dull start, followed some excellent tracks. There are some amazing tracks that you can really feel the band had faith in, and then the rest of the album is interspersed with some very generic music, which is still competent but just very uninteresting
Great album, not my favorite Soundgarden album, so I'm saving that full score for badmotorfinger
Pretty cool grunge
solid vibes, similar genre but if i had a cd or vinyl of this i would absolutely put it on. lots of the songs i wanted to learn how to play, sounds fun a couple classics but i really liked my wave and 4th of july as well
Probably should have already listened to this before now, but I kind of already had the picture. Its really good, I feel like Soundgarden can capture a quite wide range of different emotions/feelings, by still very much sounding like themselves. Black hole sun for example is very conventional, yet incredibly unconventional at the same time, while capturing a very specific feeling, Its not just that one which feels like that. Guitars are great, I love how huge they sound, with the double-tracked panned chords. The weird effects like rotary speakers and wahs give it real character. Vocals are prefect for what they're trying to do, the slightly strained yelling works in some places more than others, but it is generally good, he's also got a really good regular singing voice, which can add a lot of depth when the different singing styles are combined. Downsides are than some songs are just ok. Favourite songs: let me drown, fell on black days, head down, black hole sun, limo wreck, the day I tried to live, 4th of July, like suicide Overall around 8/10 (very close to 9)
Solid grunge. Some great tracks. I feel that as a Seattlite I can't give it less than a 4.
If you want to know what it sounds like when a band hits their absolute peak, just put on Superunknown. While the rest of the 90s Seattle scene was busy being moody and lo-fi, Soundgarden decided to turn into a high-powered, psychedelic machine. This isn't just a grunge record; it’s a massive, 70-minute fever dream that manages to be incredibly heavy while still sounding like it belongs in a different dimension. The first thing that hits you is how ridiculously tight the band is. Matt Cameron and Ben Shepherd are basically the MVPs here, locking into these weird, "mathy" time signatures that should be hard to listen to, but they make them groove like crazy. Then you’ve got Kim Thayil layering on these thick, trippy guitar riffs that feel like they’re melting your speakers. It’s surgical, it’s loud, and it sounds like every single note was placed with a purpose. But let’s be real: we’re all here for Chris Cornell. His vocals on this album are just otherworldly. He had this "string-like" quality to his voice. it was incredibly flexible, stretching from a low, haunting croon to that legendary, sky-high screech without ever losing its grit. In songs like "The Day I Tried to Live," he sounds like he’s pouring his entire soul through the microphone. It’s the kind of vocal performance that makes you realize why he’s consistently ranked as one of the best rock singers of all time. The only reason I’m giving it a 4 instead of a 5 is that it’s a lot to take in. It’s 15 tracks long, and by the time you get to the end, it can feel a little exhausting because every song is so dense and intense. Some of the weirder experimental tracks in the middle might not be for everyone, but even those have a cool, dark energy to them. Honestly, even with the bloat it’s still a masterpiece of technical rock that hasn't aged a day.
hey if everyone made grunge like they did in this album... i think i'd like it a bit more. BLACK HOLE SUNNNNN. WON'T YOU COME (?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!)
A staple of grunge
Amazing album. Not a perfect one (the album finishes on a lesser note), but still a great time listening to it.
What a sick band. I think what struck me most about this album is how 70s metal inspired it is. It really sounds like Sabbath in a lot of songs. It has that heavy blues tone with the guitars and bass, which feels really unique for a lot of the music coming out of the grunge era. I guess Pearl Jam does that a bit but in the realm of grunge, this feels more inspired by sludge metal and blues than punk or hardcore. The blues elements are really strong, especially in the vocals. Its kind of crazy full circle, because of a lot of country artists (and even bad country artists) kind of do this grungy bluesy vocal style. Its like blues > rock > grunge > country > blues. Black Hole sun will always be one of my favorites!
bordering a 5. idk. EITHER 4 OR 5 BUT IDK WHICH ONE TO RATE IT ON HERE BUT ITS A 4.5 FUCK THIS PLS ADD HALF STARS
Good album, it rocks and you have to give it that. Cracking guitar riffs that are a bit metal and a bit grunge, but there are also some more atmospheric moment, it has some variety. And Chris Cornell is just one of the great rock vocalists. Incredible. The hits such as Spoonman and Black Hole Sun still sound amazing I feel like the album loses a bit of steam in the last few tracks, I guess this is a symptom of trying to fill out a CD. Love the solo of the last track but I was ready for it to end by then. Still, a good 4
I love some Chris Cornell. This album has a few bangers, and I can't wait for an audioslave or STP album.
4/5
Dope
Soundgarden, yeah!
Really great album!
Already one of my faves, didn't disappoint on a re-listen. Forgot how many bangers were on this one - Fell On Black Days, Black Hole Sun, Spoonman, The Day I Tried to Live. Was surprised by Limo Wreck's catchy guitar riff
Never been a huge fan of Soundgarden, but I can appreciate their music. Feel like they deserve a higher rating.
Enjoyed this a lot more than I expected to! 70 minutes of grunge/hard rock seemed like it would get old fast, but the songwriting on here kept me going the whole way through - and of course, "Black Hole Sun" is an all-time great.
I had only ever previously heard Black Hole Sun, which is an all timer. Really solid overall album. Chris Cornell’s voice was sometimes overpowering, but at the same time, I love it. Some really great guitar riffs (specifically Spoonman, which was a fantastic song), and Like Suicide, which was a great way to close out the album. I didn’t like it *as* much on second listen as I did on the first. But I’m still giving it a 4 because it had some really good songs.
A more complex grunge album, excellent writing and riffs. One star dropped for preference.
This album is so legendary. I grew up on this album, loved this album still do. I'd say one of the better albums out of the grunge genre.
Standouts : like suicide, 4th of July , limo wreck, head down , black hole sun. Last favourite : Fresh Tendrils Thoughts on full listen : - enjoyed this album much more when It went down hard rock or psychedelic rock route - strong, and consistent album through out not much about any of the songs I can fault - black hole sun Is iconic and so is he music video - wish we got more full songs in the style of the song 'half' -
Great album containing banger like "Fell On Black Days", "Spoonman" and above all "Black Hole Sun". An absolute standard in grunge! Unfortunately some weaker numbers here and then ("Limo Wreck", "4th Of July", "She Likes Surprises"...) blow it up to over 70 minutes.
Solid.
It's rare that I immediately like a metal album so quickly. Will listen to this many times
I knew the singles and I knew Chris Cornell from pop culture and Casino Royale, but I had never really given Soundgarden much attention in full before today — loved this! The weird bass-strumming, off-tuned, meticulously articulated reckless abandon is something hard to encapsulate but it’s all here. I dig Nirvana, etc., but this album was quite possibly the first time “grunge” has fully clicked for me as a genre. Don’t tell anyone!
I found some of the sounds slightly boring - slightly too poppy maybe. However some huge tunes in Black hole sun and other. RIP Chris Cornell
Damn this is a great album. Perfect 90s alternative.
4.5
I listened to the "20th Anniversary Edition" on Spotify. Maybe not quite what I would listen to normally. I've never been into grunge, but there is no denying that Chris Cornell has a great and distinctive voice. He puts a lot emotion to the lyrics that he's singing. The themes are quite dark. For me I see as an album about self-exploration and self-discovery of especially the more darker sides of yourself. Besides "Black Hole Sun" (which is obviously a classic) it's the first time hearing the songs on the album. I really didn't like "Kickstand" and "Half". Those could easily have been left out. 8/10 Favs: - Black Hole Sun - Fell on Black Days - Limo Wreck - The Day I Tried to Live
Classic very nice album. Some perfect all time listening songs but sometimes monoton.
One of the best of the '90s. Exceptional vocals and songwriting. Truly a classic.
Despite the yelling, surprisingly chill for an album cover with a frenzied batboy.
In retrospect this was a really good album but not Soundgarden’s best. Still, they had several of their biggest hits and at least 10 of the 15 tracks here are certified bangers. It’s a little over cooked as an album, missing some of that edge that made them the most metal of all the grunge bands. But Chris Cornell is incredible and I can’t give this less than a 4.
Better than I thought!
I've always thought Soundgarden was "just okay". They have a few songs I like. 30 years later I think I have new appreciation for their music (especially the guitar work). I like it more with every listen! Cornell's vocals are powerful & poetic. Spoonman has been a favorite of mine for a long time. I figured it was either about heroin or a guy playing the spoons. Probably not some kind of spoon guy in a cape saving people from having to eat soup with a fork. Yes, it's about a guy who plays the spoons. https://loudwire.com/what-soundgarden-spoonman-about/
I love days like this when the album is one that I know well and have a strong relationship with. Superunknown is a powerhouse record of the 90’s grunge scene that has aged REALLY well. I recall thinking then that it was a generally depressing record even by grunge standards but now, in light of what has happened, it feels like a more detailed look into Chris Cornell’s troubled mind. He was one hell of a songwriter, talented beyond belief and along with Kurt Cobain, central figure to the entire scene. These songs groove hard, have desperate emotive pleas for understanding, and they most importantly rock in a classic, thunderous 90’s by way of the 70’s way. There’s not a single bad song on here. I wouldn’t have rated this as high as other albums from the time 30 years ago, but listening now I realize how much I miss BIG rock records like this being released on a regular basis.
Cool accessible grungy 90s surf rock album. If a bit long.
Big, groovy, fuzzy, catchy and hard hitting. Loads of soul. Filthy guitars. What a voice. Favourite tracks: Let Me Drown, Fell On Black Days, Mailman, Black Hole Sun (of course), Spoonman, Kickstand, 4th of July
4.2 3x
Chris Cornell and grunge. What a combo.
Best early 90s grunge type album I've heard. Black hole sun and spoon man especially good.
Great album with a decent song variety and length. 8.5/10
a pure sonic orgasm 8/10 fave: superunknown
Once you get past Chris Cornell's voice, the album is actually much more musically interesting than most of the grunge era.
i'm kinda sad i still liked black hole sun the best. good album though
Very much as predicted, nothing superunknown about this one. Louder rather than grungier. Ok album to me, but nothing superexciting. Black Hole Sun and Spoonman are two excellent and fairly unique rock songs, but most of the rest of the album is quite generic. Fave Tracks: Head Down, Black Hole Sun, Spoonman, 4th of July 3.7/5
Classic 90
Grossartiges Grungealbum. Immer noch hörenswert!
Another where the good songs are great, and the mediocre are very much so.
84/100. Superunknown by Soundgarden is a dark and emotionally intense album, tackling themes of isolation, depression, and addiction. Blending heavy metal and grunge, the record delivers a powerful mix of heavy riffs, haunting melodies, and raw emotion. Overall, it’s a great record.
Of all the various post-Nevermind releases coming out of the Seattle scene (think In Utero, Vitalogy, Dirt), this might be the best.
I’m not a big grunge guy, but Soundgraden leans more towards the grunge I do like. Chris Cornell was such a great frontman and really elevated this band with his voice. I was only really familiar with Black Hole Sun before going into this album (the video of which used to terrify me as a kid), but there’s some great stuff to be found here. Runs too long like all 90s rock albums.
I can really appreciate this as a blend of the old punk sound and the 90s rock sound of the time. Very unique, really nice change of pace.
-okay, so this is one of these albums where I can’t pinpoint WHY I like it so much, but I just do -all the songs flow really well and make me feel like I could run ten miles. i truly have nothing bad to say about this, I’d love to listen to it again soon -also today is the album’s birthday apparently! waow -Favorites are Let Me Drown, Superunknown, and Black Hole Sun
ja fein, direkt vom ersten Ton an hörbar
This has the problem with a lot of other albums, in that when the big hit song comes on it completely takes me out of the album purely based on the notoriety of the song (and also Black Hole Sun being like twice as good as any other song on this). Still, it's very good.
Chris Cornell is incredible. Great record