Reviews (page 6 of 15)
A seminal grunge album, and perhaps Soundgarden's best (although I do prefer Badmotorfinger). Powerful riffs, lots of energy and creativity, and probably the best singing voice of the era in Chris Cornell. I love this era of music so much that it's difficult for me to be objective on these albums, but it's my rating and I don't care. I've sat and listened to more crap than I ever thought I would; this album is great and is better than most of the rest in my ears, so it's getting the nod as my ninth 5/5
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
Solid album, great writing, but probably wont go back with any consistency
Excellent
Good but effin' long
Take, if you want a slice If you want a piece If it feels alright Break, if you like the sound If it gets you up If it brings you down Share, if it makes you sleep If it sets you free If it helps to breath Don't come over here Piss on my gate Save it just keep it off my wave Cry, if you want to cry If it helps you see If it clears your eyes Hate, if you want to hate If it keeps you safe If it makes you brave Pray, if you want to pray If you like to kneel If you like to lay Don't come over here Piss on my gate Save it just keep it off my wave
I can't believe I thought I didn't really like Soundgarden when I was younger. I listened to this for the first time in maybe a decade and it's class They show an impressive range, between rockers like My Wave and Spoonman, more downtrodden tracks like Black Hole Sun and doomier stuff like Mailman and 4th of July. That variety helps maintain interest over a lengthy runtime (along with very good and interesting songwriting, of course) I like how they manage to hide complicated time signatures, they sound catchy or simple but when you dig a bit deeper into how the songs are written they're more complicated than they appear 4.5, just held back from a 5 by a couple weaker moments Edit 12/02/26 - Putting this up to a 5 Highlights: 4th of July, Mailman, Fell On Black Days, Limo Wreck, Let Me Drown
One of the albums of all time
Was listening to this when Joel Asher inadvertently egged the inside of his dad's T-Bird. (He thought the window was rolled down; it wasn't.) I would like to think "Fell on Black Days" was playing, if only to imagine Chris Cornell wailing, "How would I know / That this could be my fate?" as yolk and shell dribbled down the glass.
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.
A classic masterpiece, i love this album so much
I see Superunknown I vote 5.
Very good. Vocals, riffs deep dark sound, really enjoyed.
Guys... I don't think grunge is my thing... or at least this style of grunge in which bands like Alice In Chains, Pearl Jam and Soundgarden fall. I think is quite different from what Nirvana were doing, as the sound of this band is very raw and energetic with the fast pace and chaotic performances; while bands like Soundgarden focus way more on creating slow and moody atmospheres. In theory sounds good, but in practice, I don't think it works that well. I believe some Sludge and Doom Metal acts do very similar things but way more effective. This album has that same atmosphere that I talked about, but the riffs didn't appealed me nor the vocals, and I know that might be blasphemy to some people. I'll give credit where credit is due, Chris Cornell was a very talented singer with an incredible range. However, I never liked this style of singing, which is very used in grunge, so not even Chris Cornell's technicality can change my opinion on it. At least I don't think it is a bad album, but I'll dare to say it is quite mediocre. There are even some moments I liked, like the riff in the chorus of 'Superunkown', 'Black Hole Sun', the haunting tone of 'Limo Wrech' and the punk inspired 'Kickstand'. I also believe I would like way more this album if it wasn't that long (one hour and ten minutes is way too much).
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
Not a huge fan of grunge so wasn't expecting much but liked it more than I thought I would. Favorites: My Wave, Fell on Black Days, Black Hole Sun Would I listen to it again: Probably
Kinda slaps
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
I really want to like this album. The band has such a cool gritty tone, and I really like Chris Cornell. And I love Audioslave, so this should not be too far away, right? But after sitting through it two times, I'm still not convinced. There are some decent songs here and there, but overall its just not good enough for me. Every half decent song is followed up by a not-so-good one. Even 'Black Hole Sun', which probably is Soundgarden's most famous song, is way too long - just like the album. The best parts are basically when Chris Cornell can just do his thing and let his singing shine. Overall I was disappointed by this. Feels wrong to give it a 3, but that's where it ends up for me. Albeit a strong one.
What did rock music ever do to you 90s? 90s mainstream rock is not to my liking and this is no real difference. I just find it quite boring. The vocals are good though. Just your run of the mill 90s grunge. The album length was way too long. Strong 2.
Patiko :P geriausia vistiek black hole sun, bet naujų irgi išsisaugojau.
Crunchy and glorious
I find the vocals grating and each song contains such a similar energy that I skipped through them all. Not the vibe for me despite liking grunge-derived bands and genres. Where is the emotion to make me care? Favourite song(s): Blackhole Sun and Spoonman are the standout classics, of course Least favourite(s): everything else, I suppose… none of it was memorable at all… oops!
FUCK YEAH! The video clip for Black Hole Sun blew my 12-year old brain. Immediately bought the CD single with pocket money. My sister received the album on cassette for Christmas. Tape is harder to skip around, so I’ve listened to this album in full more times than I can count. 5/5 RIP Chris Cornell.
The consistency throughout this is so impressive, I didn't want it to end. It's a rare feat that an album with over an hour of runtime has no real dull moments, and this is it. It's so immersive, with perfect balance between chaos and control. It's dark, heavy, often psychedelic and never one-dimensional. The worst songs on this aren’t even proper songs, more like small interludes. Chris Cornell's vocal performance is immaculate, the range of his voice and the different techniques he uses really sets him apart from most rock vocalists. Best song is impossible to choose, gonna just list my top 5 in no order: Let Me Drown / Fell On Black Days / Black Hole Sun / Fresh Tendrils / 4th Of July Worst song: Kickstand Cover check: Fits perfect, it's abstract and disorienting
De todas as bandas titânicas do Grunge, Soundgarden é de longe a que eu tenho menos afinidade e conhecimento. Na verdade, conheço apenas três canções deles, e todas as três estão neste disco. Uma coisa é certa, e nem precisa ser dita, a voz de Chris Cornell é lendária. Inigualável, e domina essas canções inteiramente. Os hits aqui são muito, mas muito bons, algumas das canções mais memoráveis e icônicas não só do Grunge mas da década de 90 por inteiro. Riffs estrondosos e percussão enigmática complementam perfeitamente o grande prato principal que são os vocais. Mas, apesar de todos os elementos estarem aqui, o álbum nunca se eleva para um patamar superior. Não sei exatamente o porquê, mas é o caso. Primeiramente, acredito que ele seja desnecessariamente inchado com um número abusivo de faixas e uma duração exageradamente alta. Um álbum com uma sonoridade tão obscura e psicoativa não funciona tão bem por mais de uma hora. Enfim, uma banda muito boa, mas um disco um tanto quanto mediano, quando analisado inteiramente. Mas é fácil imaginar um mundo onde esse álbum tem cerca de 40 minutos invés de 70, e 9-10 faixas invés de 15. Nesse mundo, ele pegaria um 4.5 ou até mesmo um 5. Mas no mundo em que vivemos atualmente, vou ter que ir um pouco mais baixo. Uma pena. Ainda gosto de Grunge, e da voz sem igual do Chris Cornell. 3.5/5
Love me some SoundGarden
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.
I know loads of people like this, and I know some of my favourite albums sit adjacent to this - but I just can't get fully on-board. I like a bunch of tracks. I like some of the guitar work, especially when it's really big and bold sounding. But there's also plenty here that just sounds a bit generic rock to me. I want way more melodies and identifiable riffs in my rock. They are in there in places, they're just not popping for me. Also, I'm not as won over by his voice, or this style of singing as a lot of others are, so I'm not giving plus points there. I can still appreciate it when he's wailing away at times, but I'd much rather some strange but interesting vocals personally. I know I'm in the minority there. It's pretty good, but I'm not going to revisit.
Good sound(garden). Recognise a few from back in the day, enjoyed them more than the 'new' to me tunes
OK in places
Feels a bit like a compilation rather than an album, and reading about how it was put together that makes sense. Black hole sun so good that it rescues the album on its own.
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.
hard rock, metal, whatever, it’s fine. black hole sun
This album has a lot of great singles, but overall the album was medicore at best. Especially with the mix on the first track sounding so muddy that you could barely hear Chris's voice.
exhibit three million that the most important aspect of producing a good album is knowing when where and what fat to trim. the second most important is not having a sound that is evocative of a sweaty armpit
Strong 4
Love the sound. Five might be generous but I could listen to this on any day at any time.
Amazing slice of fried golden grunge!
Digger stemmen til Chris Cornell, og Black Hole Sun er en klar sekser. Får ikke samme fot på resten av albumet. I grenseland mellom sterk treer og svak firer.
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
99% bangers
Ploddingly mediocre.
Great, but too long. Favorite song: the day I tried to live
Heavy grunge good gym album
Absolute cinema
Excelente álbum. Soundgarden logró producir un álbum que combina elementos del grunge con aspectos más experimentales y progresivos (compases poco comunes, efectos en las guitarras, experimentación en la grabación) sin ser pretencioso ni aburrido. El álbum dura más de 1 hora, pero no es una duración que perjudique, en tanto que no solo la calidad de la música es consistente de principio a fin, sino que además tiene inercia y diversas atmósferas y elementos que sorprenden en cada tema. La voz de Cornell es muy buena, y menos intensa que en los álbumes de Audioslave, donde el registro tiende a ser más agudo y el timbre más rasposo. En este caso hay momentos en los que no parece el mismo cantante de Audioslave de hecho. Tiene mucha más versatilidad y experimentación. Un álbum que seguramente vuelva a escuchar reiteradas veces.
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.
This album captures the vibe of a 16 year old boy enjoying his weekend break from school. One of the popular boys at school is throwing a house party and everyone is invited. Except for this guy, and a couple of the nerds who wouldn't want to go anyway. The boy is bitter. He would have loved to have gone to the party, and had been excited to get involved in this youth drinking culture that the news is always raving about. Plus he had heard rumours about a lot of girls being invited to this party too, and he was pretty keen to try and hook up. But fuck those posers, if they don't want him there, that is fine. He'll have his own fun. That means watching the rugby with his dad, then staying up late playing computer games. He's got himself a 1.5 litre bottle of Sparkling Duet and a big back of Rashuns. Time to lock in to some Diablo 2. He just found a pretty strong axe that does added cold damage, and this should make him strong enough to take on Mephisto. He's gonna enjoy it, but also on Monday at school he'll lie to his classmates about how he went to a party at someone else's house anyway so he doesn't even care that he wasn't invited to the party.
A classic. Such an amazing voice and great musicianship.
Black hole sun
Low 4? Lots of odd time signatures and some solid drum parts, strong ending
Mid 1990s American alternative rock/grunge album, it's good, nothing too remarkable, and not bad either. I've listened to it as a background music and it was perfect for it. It goes a bit too long, though.
Love this album, absolutely insane vocals in front of some extremely catchy grunge rhythms. No complaints (except maybe it goes on too long)
first listen super cool
Listens: 4 Standout Tracks: Mailman Superunknown, Black Hole Sun, Spoonman Very familiar with Black Hole Sun, but that was about it going into this album. I am acutely aware of Soundgarden, but never got into them for some reason, despite liking a lot of difference shades of Grunge- and by "shades" I guess I mean, grunge bands that are able to cover the range of qualities of singing from straight up screaming to the more melodic tuned in singing qualities found in, for example, Black Hole Sun. I've enjoyed Nirvana, and the Smashing Pumpkins, but found MudHoney to be a little too raw. That's basically what I mean when I say "shades of grunge". Anyways, Chris Cornell has that range. He can get really screamo on the track and then go and belt out a proper singing with Black Hole Sun, or dare I say the Casino Royale title song "You Know My Name". This range elevates the band from run of the mill garage grunge rock to superstar pioneer grunge rock. Not to mention he went on to help form Audioslave, which was a stellar supergroup. There's a diversity of the style of songs across the album and I am onboard with it.
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.
A massive sound
Average American rock
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
Melting Barbies aside this is a slog. I know, I know - “something, something grunge.” But maybe the most interesting part of this is Chris Cornell’s voice? Dude had some pipes.
One of my all time favourite albums and a large part of my youth as I can remember the exact moment I heard it on the radio (unlike almost all the music I currently listen to)... Easily the best grunge album in my opinion.
Pleasant and good background music
The whole Nirvana vs Pearl Jam debate really annoys me for two reasons: Nirvana are obviously better and it's not even close, but also that Soundgarden are a far better comparison, both in terms of the quality of the music, and the band's history. I do overall give the edge to Nirvana still, but there's absolutely no denying that this and even Badmotorfinger are some of the greatest grunge albums ever made.
en kuunnellu kokonaa mut kunnon tämmöst faijarockkii, iha ok taas ja nyt jopa ties pari kipaletta ku oli rockkijärkäle kuten black hole sun mukana
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.
One great song.
-The day I tried to live
not bad, love black hole sun
4/5
I always thought Audioslave where a bad Rage Against the Machine but it turns out they were a good Soundgarden
There is a very real sense in which the entire grunge project was an exercise in attempting to rescue the legacy of Sabbath and Zep from the hair-metal bozos - to return to the deep-in-the-cold-dark-ground *heaviness* those bands exemplified. Chris Cornell (on whom the Mandate of Heaven fell in the form of his Plant-ian vocal aptitude) and his bandmates come the closest of anybody to realizing that ambition here. It all works - suitably gentle-rough production courtesy of Michael Beinhorn, grooves that frequently lurch in odd meters but never in ways that feel unnatural, Kim Thayil's riffs moving at the exact speed they should move. Even the impressionistic lyrics work for them better than they'd work for pretty much anyone else, because Cornell's voice is operatic in the communicative sense - the notes he sings and how he sings them are more important than the words per se. I don't need to know what he's saying to *know what he's saying*. I miss him.
This is one of my favourite albums, it blends perfectly the dark and heavy metal-ish sound of previous Soundgarden albums with more melodic songwritting and production, psychedellic elements and the godlike voice of Chris Cornell in the peak of his amazing talent, perfect album.
Not to keen. Not a top album, maybe appeals to nostalgia I don’t know. Did not finish
I've always been a fan of their singles, but never heard the rest of the album. Good stuff.
FFFFUCKKKYEAHHHHHBLAAACKKHHOOLLLEEESUNNNNNNNNN
Why is the cover Mr. Tumnus screaming?
Not my vibe. A bit too heavy in its hanging smoke and swaying grease and drubbing bass.
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 wrote a long piece trying to explain what this album means to me, but I’m giving up on that. It’s a much more ambitious record than it first seems, and way harder to grasp than most of its peers’ earlier releases. Coming off an uneven beginning in the 80s, the music here feels heavier, more mature, grounded, and thoughtfully put together… and I just love it, flaws and all.
I love Black Hole Sun, so was really looking forward to this album. It was a disappointment. The songs have some nice guitar work, but nothing else really works for me. My Wave starts out ok, but then devolves into this weird repetitive noise section. The next few tracks are mostly forgettable. Then Black Hole Sun kicks in and I'm fully vibing with it, wonderful song. Spoon man keeps that energy going, also a great song. Limo Wreck has some really good music. Then the album dips back down and just loses steam for the rest of it. And its also way too long to be this meh. Best song: Black Hole Sun
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.
I really blackl hole sun, great song the rest is terrible grunge noise.
Never been too sure about this album, it's alright but ultimately just a bit bland and unexciting, boring even, and somehow not grungey enough.
A bit tedious.
On regular repeat throughout my teenage years.
YEEEEEAAAAAH
Fantastic grunge album. Some of their best hits and the album is consistently good. 4/5
I really was expecting the whole album to sound more like "Black Hole Sun"
Ya know what's not superunknown? How much this album rocks. Would I listen to again? Absolutely.
Ach, Grunge das war schon eine tolle Zeit, musikalisch sehr prägend und sooo lange her inzwischen. c
Surprisingly enjoyable classic hard rock album. Kinda basic and didn’t need to hear before I died at all but that’s ok ig, I already know this list sucks anyway.
This was such dad rock droning noise. Literally nothing memorable to speak of.
This stands up as a solid grunge album. Consistent sound from the very beginning - however the only memorable sounds are Black Days, Black Hole Sun and Spoon Man.
Legendary album by Soundgarden, this album brought a different composition of songs, being slower and heavier, but still bringing the level of brilliance in song writing. Black Hole Sun and Spoonman are the standouts, but it has many more gems like Superunknown and Kickstand. Essential listening.
This album is not bad, but not much of my taste. I don't like grunge music that much, and this album in some way portrays those things I don't like of this genre, even though some songs are pretty interesting, and I have to admit I liked them. So it is nice, but not my cup of tea.
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.
I love Chris Cornell and Soundgarden in general, but this was a little too much of the same for me.
Bit overlong but full of bangers
Great album with cool melodies and heavy riffing. I always liked how Soundgarden leaned into a more stoner/doom sound than other grunge bands and that element is still here even as they sound more "commercial". 4.5/5.0: Excellent
R.I.P. Chris Cornell. i'd never heard this full album but was familiar with half the songs already so i had high expectations and they did not disappoint
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
Обычный альтернативный рок. Кому-то, наверное, нравится
Tonight, on a very special edition of me writing about music or something, I am completely losing it. I've had an ear infection for the past couple of days and it's driving me insane. My right ear is ringing. It's in constant pain. I can't go to sleep. Just a lovely combination of pure, unbridled suffering. To add extra stakes to this review, I have rigged my neck up to the Guillotinator 5000 and I WILL behead myself if things become too unbearable. Soundgarden is a vaguely familiar name, though I'm confident I've never listened to a single second of their discography. I'm pretty sure this is a rock group, so I'm hedging my bets on alternative. An hour-tenner. Fuuuuuuuck meeee. Grunge, too. I shoulda known. I'm not swayed by this one. On the bright side, the guitars have a nice sound at times, though the vocals are pretty weak and the songs become a bit of a sludgy mess as the album progresses. This album is also way, way too long, though I'll refrain from bitching about that any longer. "Let Me Drown" is pretty cool. I dig the punchy, weightless guitars. I like the vocal melody on "Head Down". "Black Hole Sun" is a song I've heard before thanks to the Cibo Matto cover. It's a pretty decent tune. The echoey guitars have a nice sound to them and the chorus is pretty good. "4th of July" has a bit of an ominous sound going for it, which I enjoy. Book time. Experimental. That's about it, really. Wikipedia reveals that this album sold well, topped a lot of charts, won a few awards and has a warm critical reception. Yeah, solid pick. I cosign.
RIP Chris Cornell
Soundgarden delivered a record with the raw energy of their roots, but had also matured as songwriters and musicians.
This was very good. Maybe not as strong and interesting as other big grunge albums, but some bangers nonetheless
while black hole sun is great, queens of the stone age autoplayed after this and it was a lot better
Great record from a foundational band at the forefront of the grunge movement.
Strong album. I had forgotten how much I enjoy the tracks (particularly the singles) off of this one. It's a pure hit of grunge nostalgia for me all the way through.
Know and love this album. Absolutely perfect album.
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
6 I think this list is making me realise I don’t love grunge
Goddamn I love this album, the guitar tones, Chris Cornell vocals are incredible, the productions, peak grunge. All timer.
Music made for straight white men.
Usually not a fan of grunge and its effects on rock, but there are some banger songs on this album like 4th of July. Love how much they go outside of the standard 4/4 too, they don’t overdo it to a proggy degree but they have fun with it.
Initial reaction. Tedious Led Zep style rock... More than ever they sound like they just happen to have been formed in Seattle. Positive - Cornell is way better than Robert Plant. Then Head Down comes along which is something a bit different, Black Hole Sun (I admit is better than the Moog Cookbook version) is great, then back to the grind. Am I really only halfway through this? Double check this isn't some extended reissue version... no, it really is 70 minutes long. Kickstand is like a tea break, then back to work for another 20 minutes. Is this what you had when we were were listening to Britpop?
I was a 15yo in an Austrian hotel room when I first knowingly heard Soundgarden and it was the video for _Black Hole Sun_ which, along with _Basket Case_, I watched several times a day on MTV. I hated that holiday, I didn’t want to be there and so I barely left my room. Sad in retrospect but at least I got _Dookie_ and ***Superunknown*** out of it! And I was obsessed with Soundgarden for many years after, and I still am! The dark brooding nature that underpins the muscular riffs and beautiful melodics is probably what ultimately lead to Cornell’s early demise but it makes for an utterly compelling record and one that never feels anywhere near its well over an hour of length. Although he becomes the focus, It’s not just the Cornell show. Kim Thayil’s melodies and solos are unmistakable. Ben Shepherds aggressive, expressive and melodic bass and Matt Cameron’s precision, power and groove behind the drums. Their chemistry as a 4 piece just works. Along with _Badmotorfinger_ this is up there with my fave albums of all time. Easiest 5 stars yet!
I love Chris Cornell's voice and some of the tracks, but overall the record should have been edited.
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
Impossible to not love Chris Cornell’s voice, but most the songs are pretty boring tbf. It’s sounds very of its time, like a lot of grunge albums, but unlike the great grunge albums it not in a good way. Fell on black days and black hole sun do an incredible amount of the heavy lifting on this album, but they are so good. X
90s grunge is a genre where my enjoyment of swings overtime, but this album today has got to be 5 stars.
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
I can do without Kickstand, Fresh Tendrils and Half, but otherwise this is a solid grudge record. I don't Badmotorfinger edges it out from the band's catalog.
not my fave .
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
Pretty kick ass album. It has few flaws and no weak moments, and rocks the 90’s era west coast sound with the best. Cornell can bring the pipes, and while I never saw these guys live, i was lucky to catch his excellent solo set in Austin about 11 years ago. Miss him. This is top notch grunge, and as a dude born in Seattle before it went Tech-Bro shitty, I approve!
La banda en su prime. La batería suena del re carajo. Qué viva el grunge loco. 8/10
This sounds like nothing. Or an amalgam of early 90's sounds. Like a compilation, field recordings, or someone's best guess as to what will move records. Directionless. Formless. Tasteless. More of an aesthetic than a serious band. I have never understood their appeal and many years later still don't.
6/10 i lowkey do not like soundgarden
meh,couple of good tracks, but a muddy listen
Me ha entretenido lo justo, pero este estilo de rock no es mi preferido.
some good ones but mostly too noisy
I do enjoy grunge at any and all times
Not sure about this album although I listened to it 3 times. Good songs are good but feel like they could easily have cut 4-5 songs off it and make it a 45 minute album instead of 70 mins.
As close to a 5 as you can get.
Mixed feelings about this one. Chris Cornell is one of the greatest vocalists of our generation and this album is full of radio hits - Spoonman? C’mon it's in my top 50 songs of all time. But this album comes off disorganized and should have shed 2-3 songs. My ears and musical tastes have changed since 1995. The hard driving wall of sound (similar to Bush and Smashing Pumpkins) belong to that era. I crave greater variety, shifting tempos, and complex time signatures now. I want to rate 4 for nostalgia's sake but honestly it's a 3. 3/5
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.
I expected more.
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.)
At first it was fine, it played in the background and neither really grabbed me or really annoyed me. But the longer it went on the more annoying it got. I listened to the 20th Anniversary release, maybe that was linger than the original? Anyway, by the end it got in my nerves and dropped a star as a result.
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.
Only decided to listen to this after the news of Chris Cornell’s death. Should have listened sooner. Amazing riffs and incredible vocals throughout. Soundgarden’s magnum opus and one of the defining albums of the grunge era.
No mikä ettei. Onko tämä rokkia vai mitä, menevää meininkiä kuitenkin
I never really got Soundgarden. I still don't.
A bit Foo Fighters, a bit Nirvana, a bit average. I think I prefer Chris Cornell’s work with Audioslave…
Like Foo Fighters if you took away anything that made them good.
I liked that there was a mix of metal and softer melodies. Not offensive to listen to, but not my type of music either. 3.1
One of my favorites!
Shocked to see the hate for this one, but I shouldn't be surprised. Soundgarden were massive in the 90s, and rightly so. Musically great and Chris' vocals are top. This is a great album with some classics.
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.
This is simply my favorite album of all time. Out of all the of the grunge bands, it was Soundgarden that really took hold of me when I was younger and I think this is their real peak, though I like all of their work. Soundgarden have always been the most talented of the big time 90's grunge bands, musically anyway. You can hear it in the odd time signatures this album starts with; My Way alone is already in 5/4 with odd breaks in between, Fell On Black Days is in 7/4, and later on you get to the really wacky shit like Limo Wreck being in 15/8. That's not even mentioning the tuning. If I remember right, 4th Of July is in CGDG or something equally low and strange. To someone who really enjoys the technicalities of music, all this stuff just makes for a wonderful listening experience, and it's not so obtuse that it's "math metal" and becomes unlistenable to most people. The performances or up to the task as well. Chris Cornell was always one of the rock singers with the most range and he has it all over this album. His voice is not only vocally wide ranging but the emotion he conveys with it is all over. From anger (obviously) to despair, to just a good time, he can hit it all. Thayil, Shepard, and Cameron are all immensely talented in their own rights and they write some really spectacular parts. I don't think the bass work on this album is quite as good is it is on the follow up, Down on the Upside, but the guitar solos and drums on this album are the best Soundgarden ever did. Thayil's solos in particular always make me smile. The production is excellent, the mastering is excellent, the artwork is excellent, etc, etc. It's just so good. Bury me with this album.
Heavily nostalgia tinted but Soundgarden was ALWAYS around. Blackhole sun is one of the first music video's I remember. Chris Cornell has one of my favorite voices of all time, (rest in peace funky spiderman). And the album is hit after hit after hit. In the early 90's battles between Pearl Jam and Nirvana, Sound Garden will always come out on top to me.
ohh, este es un clásico de los 90 y explica mucho de la música que seguiría en las próximas dos décadas.
My heart says 4 but my ears say 2. I think I'll split the difference, give it a 3 and move on as easily as I apparently did from my obsession with playing Spoonman on guitar in high school. Nostalgia is a powerful drug but even in my inebriated state I couldn't help but notice that Chris Cornell spends a good part of this album wailing in a fairly unappealing way.
This album came on and immediately I thought WOW - now this is a well produced album with tight songs and Chris Cornell’s AMAZING voice! I rocked out to this while wandering around London Drugs having a fabulous time which continued as I partied all the way home. GREAT album!
Parece nirvana. Gostei. Nota 8/10
Not my cup of tea. Smooth production makes it less interesting. Not so keen on polished noise. Never really listened to them in the past. That’s not going to change. Enjoyed the opening track and , change in tempo, Head Down also decent. Mailman / Limo Wreck just plodding rubbish. Title track also dull. And Black hole sun is overrated imo.
I've never really understood how good stuff like Nirvana, Mudhoney, Screaming Trees can be classed as Grunge as well as piss boring standard rock like this.
I was surprised how much I enjoyed some of the earlier grunge-adjacent offerings (Pearl Jam and Alice in Chains) so had some optimism, but found this one a real trudge in the sludge.
Ok, so black hole sun is a great song. Beyond that, and the track towards the end that sounds like it’s from a modern Bollywood cop movie where the protagonist is about to break out into a choreographed dance move with a bunch of honeys, this could be a dozen other grunge albums of the era. Yes this list has too many Britpop inclusions, but I’ve also discovered that I also really don’t have to listen to many Seattle influenced albums before I die. The best of the rest? Possibly. Mediocre all the same.
I'm a fan of Soundgarden and the grungy sound of the '90s. Love the atmosphere, the guitars, the voice, the lyrics. Not much to add. This is a 9.3 out of 10 for me.
Making psychedelic grunge metal as poppy as possible, this album is a favorite of my mid-twenties, and I still love it today.
Not as good as their previous
interestingly I don't particularly enjoy this type of music, I thought I did but i guess not that much.
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.
Mid
Good album. Didn’t listen enough when released but had some great tunes on it. They were not a band I loved at the time but Chris voice is phenomenal.
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.
This is Dad Rock. I know Chris Cornell is supposedly a fantastic vocalist but I'm really not feeling it. Just long and boring and all blending together. I was really tired of it by the end. I can see where it's not bad by any means but it actually made my day worse.
maybe just a bit too long ?
Another 5 star classic, and one of the Mount Rushmore of grunge albums. Admittedly, I spent more time with Pearl Jam and Nirvana through my teens but there’s no denying the quality here. Chris Cornell’s vocals can’t be praised enough. I never saw Soundgarden live but I was fortunate enough to see Audioslave.
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
Iconic
3,5
Was never a fan of Soundgarden. I’m still not.
On paper this should be right up my street. But it just didn't grab me at all. Just ok
Good album
RIP Chris Cornell, one of the four major grunge kings
Chris Cornell has a great voice but once Black Hole Sun and Spoonman have come and gone there isn’t much more to get that excited about. Dare I say, a little boring?
3/5
Klasika meho dospivani
What a wonderful album. Quintessential grunge. The overall feel of the album is fantastic. It's got such a dark tone, musically speaking, but the roundness of the tone knocks the edge off it, prevents it from sounding harsh.
Frickin awesome!
Meh...
Solid and interesting
A really solid rock record. It's on the slightly-too-heavy side for my liking, though. I can absolutely agree this is a classic for its genre, and it's deserving of a 4 for that reason, but unfortunately it just doesn't emotionally move me, so I'll have to downgrade it to a 3 based on my feelings.
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.
Arguably one of the greatest voices of grunge, if not the greatest. Absolutely loved "Fell on Black Days". 9/10
This is one of those that I felt like I was supposed to like more than I did. It’s good, but largely forgettable. The big surprise is that “Black Hole Sun”, a great track, was not my favorite. I loved “Head Down”, maybe because it didn’t sound like most of the rest. 3/5
Soundgarden are in my top ten favorite bands. It’s raw, loud, emotional, heavy. Pure rock and roll that would put hair on your chest
Okay dad rock
THIS IS PEAK
Not awful but got bored of this quickly
I’m gonna be honest…I only knew Black Hole Sun, and the only reason that song stuck out is because we are banned from singing it in our DnD campaign. Maybe we should’ve banned the rest of the album it’s from too…
Never a fan of grunge and this type of rock. I never really listened to this album when it came out, but I had heard enough to know I would not like it. I listened to this very objectively, but confirmed that I do not like this. It is not terrible, but I groaned a bit to see how far I was while listening to the album and I was only on track 4. The best song by a far is Black hole Sun, but that is it, the rest just sounds the same. a 3 Stars (barely)
More grunge! Another half decent rock band with a few too many cliches from the genre. Not a favourite but not terrible by any means.
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.
I think this will be my first 1 star. Pretty hard to look beyond the terrible vocals. Hoobastank for the 90s.
His voice grates on me, a few cool riffs but essentially not for me
His voice is wicked and I do like the bouncy riffs but it was very samey. Liked it but that’s about it.
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
Didn't listen to this in the 90s. Keen to give it a go, got bored 2/3 in. All a bit one note. 2-3 good songs
Soundgarden’s Superunknown finds the Seattle titans trading in some of the blunt-force heaviness of Badmotorfinger for a swirlier, more expansive sound that weaves in psychedelia and even some shiny pop instincts. The result is an ambitious sprawl of 15 tracks that occasionally buckle under their own weight—too many cuts linger thirty or sixty seconds longer than they should, a byproduct of the CD-era indulgence. Still, when the band hits, they hit hard: “Fell on Black Days” showcases Chris Cornell’s dynamic voice as he shifts from croon to wail, the title track rides a muscular riff and hooky chorus, “Spoonman” wrings intrigue out of its oddball inspiration, and “Like Suicide” fuses inventive percussion with a vaguely Eastern vibe. Elsewhere, “Head Down” pushes Cornell into unrecognizable upper registers while chasing Indian textures, and “Half” hands the mic to bassist Ben Shepherd—a bold choice, but one that reminds you how singular Cornell’s presence really is. It’s a big, messy, fascinating record that captures Soundgarden trying to stretch beyond grunge without quite trimming the fat.
One of my all time faves, and arguably the best grunge album (fight me). I was always a bigger Pearl Jam fan, but these days I always find myself revisiting Superunknown more than any PJ or Nirvana album. I just love the heavy, sludgy, psychedelic guitar sound, mingled with Chris Cornell's incredible voice. He was one of the best ever, such a sad loss for humanity. I can see the argument that it's maybe a bit too long, but that's just the way with 90s albums isn't it? There's only 2 or 3 tracks I could see dropping...maybe Limo Wreck, Kickstand and Half. Everything thing else on here is essential though IMO.
Solid rock album. Should be on the Top 100 of all time.
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.
Has some good songs, but Louder than Love and Badmotorfinger absolutely blow it out of the water. Yes I know I'm an insufferable "I actually prefer their earlier stuff from before you plebes had even heard of them" guy but in this case I'm entirely right.
Fine, but not really my cup of tea.
As a teenager of the 90s I was hugely influenced by the Seattle Sound! I never got the chance to see Chris Cornell live, for me he is the greatest alternative/grunge vocalist!
Chris Cornell had such an amazing voice! Not my favourite grunge album, songs do bleed into one another after a while.
Not sure why I never got this band. Everyone seems to like them, including folks who's music opinions I really value, but they just don't seem to be for me. I never noticed how he looks like Bat Boy on the cover. I'm finding a bit of a slog to get through but it's a solid "okay". If I could give it 2 1/2 stars I would, I just find it really boring.
🗯 My ears began to change in 1991. By 1994, they were ready for this grunge masterpiece. Superunknown is where Chris Cornell became a vox god and Matt Cameron proved himself one of the all-time drum heroes. It’s not just heavy — it’s strange, ambitious, and sprawling, the record that lifted Soundgarden above the pack and cemented their place as one of the era’s true giants. I first met it through ‘Black Hole Sun’ on rage — weird, unsettling, and strangely alluring to a young Benny. That song became inescapable, but it still glows as the centrepiece here: a pop single wrapped in a dreamlike, psychedelic shadow. And the rest of the album? Just as strong. Spoonman is jagged and muscular, Fell on Black Days is pure existential ache, The Day I Tried to Live is stadium doubt disguised as defiance, and 4th of July is molten doom psychedelia. Cornell’s voice could do it all — banshee wails, soulful croons, whispers that still cut. Cameron’s drumming is restless and precise, jazz brain powering thunder. Together they made a record that feels alive, urgent, and 30 years later, untouchable. Verdict: Essential (a crown jewel of grunge that transcends the tag) For fans of: Alice in Chains, Led Zeppelin, Queens of the Stone Age, screaming into the cosmos with a wah pedal
For me, one of the best Rock albums ever recorded. As simple as that
Solid album. I don’t care for every song but I at least like most of them and really enjoy a few.
A lock as one of my desert island albums.
Perfect blend of grunge, psychedelia and metal.
Awesome music.
3 or 4 really good tracks, but the rest is fairly nondescript. I say that as someone who really likes Chris Cornell's voice.
Dad rock haha. Classic but a little monotone.
Great 90s grunge album.
Captures that 90s sound
A straight man taking off his at a rave
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.
How to describe the sound? Like blues rock melded with grunge. Overall result sounds kinda generic. Spoonman is like QOTSA meets Pearl Jam. Best track - Superunknown, Spoonman, Half 3 stars
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.
Genuinely liked this. Relatively heavy rock with good bass lines and vocals. Nirvana-esque at times. Black Hole Sun and The Day I tried to Live the highlights. Voted 3* but it's a 7/10.
Great album.
7/10 I should like this, but too many songs didn't really connect. Also it's too long. Highlights: Black Hole Sun Fell On Black Days Head Down
decent ig alt heard rock with kris cornel all kinda sounds the same, black hole sun is a great song though
They arrived as a combination of punk energy, Sabbath riffs, and Zeppelin vocals, but here they expand their sound, creating probably their best work
I always knew the name of this band, but never heard any of their songs. So I was surprised to find out they make ACDC style dad rock? Kind of unexpected tbh, thought they'd make electronic music or something. Well the album itself was pretty alright.
raw!!!
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
Its ok
heavier than i thought
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.
Never was a huge fan. Black hole sun is great though
Reminds me of dad
Grunge classic
Heavy guitar and dark lyrics so have to be in the mood.Really liked his voice
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?
Classic. Songs that stick in the head.
This is great. Reminds me of riding around in my friends car in high school and college. Black hole sun sounds like it’s from a totally different album.
yeah not bad. hit and miss A high 3
Of the big Seattle bands Soundgarden is the least interesting. By the time they were known they were .asking .id tier, generic hard rock. They are only considered "grunge" because they're from Seattle and this album is the epitome of their mid tier hard rock. It owes more to Boston or Journey than to the punk and metal that inspired grunge.
that’s enough of that.
Felt like a semi-toxic blue collar guy who drinks a lot of monsters
5-
Me encantó, muy potente, muy grunge. He disfrutado mucho.
Not for me
It feels like I should really like Soundgarden, but it just doesn’t hit right. However Black Hole Sun is amazing. Maybe a 4 on a better day
Gar net meins
A well listened-to all time favorite.
Brilliant album from start to finish with its odd guitar tunings, blending of grunge/psychedelics, and above all Chris Cornell's vocals.
I love Chris Cornell's vocal's because they are really easy and fun to sing along with. I think I would have loved this album in high school. It is the encapsulation of 90s grunge metal. Black Hole Sun is the crown jewel of the album, stunning. Only giving a lower rating because of the lack a variety.
Cornell was one hell of a frontman. Not that Soundgarden is not good, but he definitely elevates everything he is in.
There aren’t 1001 albums you need to hear before you die, not really, but this is one of the few that actually lives up to the claim that you need to hear it before you die.
Harder rock than I'd expected having only been familiar with the single Black Hole Sun.
Listened in the truck via YouTube music. Soundgarden was great, but I’m more of an Audioslave guy. This album has a lot of great tracks though.
I bet this was the bomb.com in the 90s, but today it sounds so generic. I'm guessing a bunch of groups have aped this band or something
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.
My review is totaly biased because when I was a teenager I was afraid of Black Hole Sun (song and video clip). Nevertheless it is a relevant album and there is good rock and roll in it.
Into the category of albums that I don't mind listening to but will never put on for myself.
Either my headbanging days were over so quickly I never noticed them, or they have not arrived yet, but I couldn't get into this 😐
Good, with some solid tunes, but lacking some of the juice.
This is too similar to Nirvana while being less good so it comes off unfavourably even though it's decent. I'm sorry 😭
Reminds me of NIN, sameness Fell on black days Black hole sun