Reviews (page 9 of 15)
Not too bad.
Yes. Epic Grunge Album. I Like It. :) 3.50-3.75/5
Yes
To my ears, this is simply one of the best albums ever. Heavy music with interesting arrangements taken to the next level by the singular talent that was Chris Cornell (R.I.P.). We were so spoiled by great music in the 90s!
Felt messy
This took a while to get going. Two same-ish tracks to start off and I was starting to lose interest, then it got much, much. better. I'm not quite there yet but I can easily see myself thinking this is "good" after a few listens, so 4/5.
Crazy kickass heavy grunge. Black hole sun is obviously an all timer, but the rest of the album doesn't dissapoint. It's gritty and powerful, great vocals and heavy guitar that punches
I’m loving it
No one sings like you anymore.
juicy
Love this NIN vibe
Essential listening for anyone interested int he rock genre. Chris Cornell may be one of the best singers ever. Kim Thayil is one of the most underrated guitar players. "Black Hole Sun" and "Spoonman" may have become the biggest hits, but the entire album is filled with excellent tracks from the driving "Let Me Drown", "Fell on Black Days", "The Day I Tried to Live", and the haunting "4th of July", which may actually be my favorite Soundgarden song ever R.I.P. Chris Cornell
Was pretty good but was a little long for my liking. This seems like a record you have to invest sometime into and find all the little bits you will eventually Love. “Black Hole Sun” is a classic song and definitely the best on here as far as being an instant ear worm. This will get a 3.5/5 (could move up to a 4 with future listens)
I like this better than some 90s rock but it’s still not really my thing.
I like it. Don’t know that I would listen to it in whole again. Although, I’d love to fuck to it.
Superunknown might be the most diverse album of the grunge. Black Hole Sun is the mega hit but it’s not indicative of the album. There are so much bizarre timing, it’s crazy how radio friendly it is, for lack of a better way. Forgot the singles, The Day I Tried to Live, Like Suicide, the title track are what makes Superknown it is 9.1/10
Sounds like dad rock. Not terrible, not great.
Classic
84% Best: Let Me Drown; Fell On Black Days; Mailman; Black Hole Sun; Spoonman; The Day I Tried To Live; 4th Of July Must-Hear? Sure
Fav: Black Hole Sun Least Fav: Let Me Drown
Klassiker. Svinbra.
Hadn't listened to this album in absolute ages and was prepared to be a bit disappointed. I wasn't. At all. Such a confident statement and so many great tracks.
it is decent 8/10
Fav song: Superunknown What a band. One of the most important bands in the 90’s with a sound so unique that you can EASILY point out when you’re listening to Sound Garden even when you’ve never heard the song before. RIP Chris Cornell, one of the greats of his generation.
For a super group they're more meh then super. Black Hole Sun is a good song.
i think this album has a lot of filler but the songs that aren’t? fucking incredible fav songs: fell on black days, the day i tried to live, black hole sun, let me drown
I don't get their sound. Not a 1 star because some songs are okay.
Not my cup of tea. Gave it a go and quite content to never listen to this again or recommend it to anybody. Although I'm sure there are some out there who may enjoy this, for what it is worth. Lowest score so far at 2 stars.
This sounds like what some dude would blast at full volume in his Impala after he just gay bashed a kid outside a bar in the mid 90s.
Musically, it’s like a hypermasculine, hyperaggressive version of some 90s jam band. Lyrically, it’s like … idk, Christian rock for edgelord video gamers. The vocals are turgid. I particularly disliked ‘Spoonman’.
I feel bad giving this such a low score, but it genuinely put me in a bad mood. 1.5 stars?
An excellent album. Maybe one too many singles, and some missed songs in between, but tons of layers and opportunities to display brilliance.
Great album, hits are good but overall not quite as good as Badmotorfinger.
Not listened to all the way through before. Clearly a really good album in there - the singles are exceptional. But suffers from the curse of the 90s album. It’s too long!
A masterpiece! Chris Cornell’s powerful voice is sorely missed.
Soundgarden's impact on Grunge and greater alt rock in the 90s is often understated in the towering shadow of Nirvana's cultural powerhouse. Truth is, the sounds you hear in Superunknown are stylistic cornerstones that may not have changed the greater culture outside of music, but are still present in the rock music coming out today.
Pretty standard rock fare. A bit samey.
One of my first real rock albums as a kid. Way ahead of its time.
Wow, really enjoyed this one. Heavy but still tuneful. Interesting time signatures and arrangements yet still catchy. Need to listen a few more times!
Ok album, minnet meg til tider om grunge rock.
Ganske bra album, skjønner det har populæriteten det har men det var ikke helt for meg, noen veldig greie sanger som jeg føler alle kan like, men det gjør de ofte litt generiske til ørene mine så selv etter flere listens er det vanskelig å plukke sangene fra hverandre også plutselig er vi i den lange delen av the end
I do love grunge but I don't know if this stood out among other grunges.
First track - i fw this 🙏🙏 3rd track - i cannot LIE all of these kinda sound the same 6th track - THIS IS ALL THE SAME SHIT however this track (superunknown) is better then the last 3 which were BORING AS FUCK black hole sun - i did come black hole sun i did like 8 tracks in this shit is so repetetive The day i tried to live thank you for making this bearable fresh tendrils - very fun but i would not listen again 4th july and half cool
This straight white dude enjoyed this album. Chris Cornell's voice is just wow!
Fantastic album. One that was part of my regular rotation for many years. So many memories are attached to these songs. This, Ten, Core, Nevermind and Dirt are the big five of the grunge era imo.
Hey this is pretty good. It’s too long. It also kinda lacks a bite I’m looking for? Like the production almost feels too nice. I want some more sludge and ugly. This feels A LOT like the precursor to what would become Foo Fighters which makes sense. I dunno Spoonman and Blackhole Sun are still all time greats.
Who knew I’d be vibing so hard to this stuff
This album was fine. I did enjoy but wouldn’t jump to listen to it again
This was my first time listening to Soundgarden, and I was pleasantly surprised. While I dabble in grunge, I wouldn’t call myself a huge fan, but Superunknown really caught me off guard in the best way. Soundgarden’s versatility stands out compared to bands like Nirvana or Pearl Jam.The vocals are captivating, and the guitar solos are absolutely on point—they draw you in and don’t let go. This album has earned its spot in my regular rotation
Not my thing but nothing was bad
Wicked album! Everything was sick. Vocals, guitar, drums. 9 out of 10
Nice album
good
Not overrated. Properly rated. An incredible blend of anguish and agression in the middle of the decade of depression. Grunge was a hangover from the booze, drugs, and sex filled 1980s. In which music actually began to blend melodramatic themes with agressive rock forward elements. Chris Cornell and Soundgarden remain in my hierarchy for bands to be cognizant of in this time period.
I have this album but hadn't listened to it in ages. Was I wrong! It is brilliant. It is grunge I suppose, it refers to metal and post punk, and it is really well made. I like Chris Cornell's (RIP) vocals and the musicianship is good throughout, helped by alternative time signatures (My Wave in 5/4 time signature, Fell on Black Days in 6/4). Very good if you want something a bit heavier/ punchier without resorting to often very simple (but in many cases also excellent) stuff like some early metal or punk. It is a 4 or a 5? Can't find anything wrong with it, and Chris Cornell (and this album) was influential, so...
kim thayil's a cool guitarist and i dug some of the psychier songs, but the rest is mid90s dross.
One of my favorites from the Grunge era
I listened to Black Hole Sun with enthusiasm back then. I always remember how it was played in a store in Los Angeles during a trip. I also bought the album and enjoyed listening to it. I also liked Spoonman. I now find the album a bit tiring, even though Black Hole Sun is still one of my favorites. 4/5
They done good.
File under: yawn.
Favorite Track: Black Hole Sun
Is this better than not listening to music? Probably. Would I choose to listen to it over almost any other music that I know? Probably not. Black hole sun is a good song though
Not the kind of music I seek out it's a little muddy for me (I know it's grunge). But it's really well done Chris Cornell's vocals are perfect for this kind of music and he's really good. Enjoyed it
meh, by no means bad but just not my type of music
Delicious timbre, my ears drank it like tawny port, yum yum yum. My only question is: are you allowed to "enjoy" grunge?
It doesn't say anything to me, it's repetitive, maybe it's not my type of music but it ended up being boring for me, I value the guitar work but that's it!
i guess it’s good if you’re into grunge but growing up for me, is realising that grunge is not the superior alt music genre. it’s actually fucking boring and so depressing. guess that’s why Chris Cornell killed himself.
it's good, but nothing special. some recognizable tracks. maybe need to grow top tracks: black hole sun, spoonman
Could be edited down a bit, but great album nonetheless.
Starts off great but starts wearing out its welcome by the last three songs
This was great! Totally rocking grooves with fantastic vocals. Must add this CD to my collection!
I guess this is good. I wasn't in the mood for hard rock, but it is pretty decent.
Dull, doofy and oh so ponderous. Vintage '90s grunge seems to get worse with each passing year – who knew it had such a short half-life?
Pretty solid grunge record with dark psychedelic elements to it. Though the length is a little too long in my opinion, or at least, there were some songs that didn’t hold up to most of the others; Thus, I could’ve done without them. But they were nothing egregious. Overall, the album has a heavy and distinctive feel to it, which I can dig. Good stuff. Favorite track: The Day I Tried To Live
"Black Hole Sun" is phenomenal. Rest of the album—not so much. I honestly find most of the grunge genre to be too loud/formulaic :'( The album was also quite long; it was draining to finish it.
Easy 5 The first 3 CD's I ever bought were this, Vitalogy, and Get a Grip. Haven't gone back to listen to this in a long time. Putting it back into rotation
This album stole my mind and soul. I could feel the rhythm in my hands.
Cool
3.5
Maybe my favourite album of the whole grunge scene, this is just a great rock record.
4 out of 5. Almost a five. Despite knowing this band, some of their singles, and Chris Cornell, Superunknown was the first full album of theirs I've listened to. Loved the energy here.
I mean, 'Black Hole Sun' by itself makes this an easy 5 stars, but if it were missing, the rest of the album ('Fell On Black Days' in particular) is strong enough to warrant equal praise as well.
This one straight rocked. The last song was unbelievable too wow
it's a 4.5, it rocked tho. black hole sun is just an incredible song. gotta be in my top 100 songs oat
Same sound from audioslave.. then I realise it’s the same singer. I really like the shouting/screaming vocals as the pitch remains constant and voice doesn’t break. Overall great album.
Classic Grunge
Sådär ja. Nu är det sång, text och melodi i en helig allians. Såhär ska rockmusik låta. Kanske att den var lite bättre förr än jag tycker att den är idag. En stark 3a.
Soundgarden är ett av mina favoritband om inte mitt favoritband. Jag lyssnar faktiskt fortfarande på hela skivor (till och med mer än Pearl Jam). Min stora sorg är att jag aldrig såg bandet live. Tittade, för bara någon månad sen, på live-framträdanden på Youtube. Så sjukt onödigt att han tog livet av sig själv. Och att de inte gjorde fler album över lag. Soundgarden kan allt. Hårt, melodiskt, rytmiskt, vackert, intensivt. Chris Cornell är en favoritsångare. Och Matt Cameron är en favorittrummis. Här kan man jämföra med Slayers trummor, som är helt hopplösa, där det bara bankas i väldigt snabb takt utan "känsla". Matt spelar på trummorna som ett instrument samtidigt som rytmen läggs. Det här är en underbar skiva, med stor variation. Skivan innehåller en av mina absoluta favoritlåtar någonsin i alla kategorier, Like Suicide. En perfekt och episk rocklåt. Like Suicide börjar med härligt trumintro och basgång, som är melodiskt i sig. Sen kommer en skön slinga på gitarr som vaggar en fram till att Chris börjar sjunga. Lugnt, stämningsfullt och melodiskt. Gitarren (som jag normalt inte är besatt av) ligger i bakgrunden som en bomullsmadrass åt Chris. Just kombinationen gitarr/sång är en av Soundgardens styrka. Det märks speciellt mot slutet av sången. Eller när Chirs sjunger "When my last ditch, sas my last brick", så gifter sig gitarren och sången så sjukt bra (men som sagt, det sker typ hela tiden). Vid ca 2 minuter går Chris upp en oktav (eller nåt). Man känner hur intensiteten ökar. Trummorna och gitarren ledsagar Chris änglastämma framåt, vid ”I wield a ton of rage” brukar jag känna rysningar i kroppen. Vid 3.30 ökar även musiken i intensitet. Trummorna blir mer aggressiva och tunga (älskar rytmen och hur de spelas - de blir plötsligt så "stora"). Vid 4.30 får gitarrens sköna riff (underbart i sig) sippra fram tillsammans med Chris sång i perfekt harmoni. Hans röst blir verkligen ett instrument. Det tar oss till texterna för dessa har jag i princip aldrig brytt mig om (just denna låt ”handlar” iaf om en fågel som flög in i Chris fönster, som han tyckte synd om och slog ihjäl med en ”brick” – men som vanligt i grungetexter kan man tolka in vad man vill – jag har som sagt aldrig riktigt brytt mig om texterna). Albumet i övrigt börjar med två stabila låtar. Sen höjs nivån på tredje låten. Fell on black days. Dippar en smula (å då menar jag från högsta nivå) med mailman men höjs till samma höga nivå på titelsången. Fortsätter sen på hög nivå. Och med black hole sun exploderar nivån (6 av 5). Det är ju ett mästerverk (jag tror alla är eniga). Skivan fortsätter stark med spoonman. Även limo wreck. Sen ytterligare en kanonlåt, the day I tried to live. Sen en kort palate cleanser med kickstand. Följt av en kanonlåt. Sen en möjlig dipp på två låtar för att avslutas med en av världens bästa låtar (se ovan). Given femma. Å då tycker jag nog Badmotorfinger (albumet innan) är ännu bättre (som helhet).
Chris röst är fantastisk och det här är en bra skiva rakt igenom, men skulle enligt mig behövas ett par låtar till i samma klass som Black hole sun och Fell on black days för att kunna bli högsta betyg. Nu blir det lite för långt, lite för mycket utfyllnad och lite för repetitivt. Fortfarande riktigt bra dock. Stark fyra.
Chris Cornell was the lead in spirit as well as voice; what a masterful performance! The guitar work is also stellar, and really set the tone for a lot of harder rock that came after (e.g. Foo Fighters). Unsurprisingly, Black Hole Sun is my favorite track. 4⭐️
Ok. Ok ok ok. This was great BUT, and I hate to say this, but it suffers a little from it length. Their sound is so well-defined here, and it's clear that the band knew their strengths, played to them, and turned that shit up to 11. But that's also part of where my issue lies - nearly every track feels like it's so high energy and so high stakes that it does become a little repetitive and boring after a while. Like, "Oh man another heavy guitar riff and another searing vocal from Chris Cornell..." Again, I thought this was great. But I just think that the high energy of each song, combined with the lengths that some of these tracks go to, just makes for an exhausting album. The lyrics, artistry, and technical skill are undeniable. But I just could've used a little less length and little more variety in mood. Four stars. Standout Tracks: Let Me Down, My Wave, Superunknown, Black Hole Sun, Spoonman, Kickstand, Like Suicide
“Superunknown” by Soundgarden is indisputably a grunge classic and a masterpiece of its time. The album, released in 1994, features a rich and well-crafted production, incorporating elements of alternative rock and metal, which solidified the band as one of the most influential in the movement. However, despite its undeniable qualities, the dense sound and the length of some tracks can be challenges for the listening experience. The mix of heavy riffs and more ethereal passages creates an engaging atmosphere, but, at certain moments, this intensity can become excessive and tiring. However, one of the album's highlights is, without a doubt, Chris Cornell's powerful vocals. His ability to mix loudness and softness brings an emotional depth that stands out in songs like "Black Hole Sun" and "Fell on Black Days". Cornell manages to capture the anguish and introspection of the lyrics impressively, making the listener connect viscerally with the message. While the sound and length of the tracks may be a barrier for some, the vocal performance is one of the elements that elevates “Superunknown” to legendary status, serving as a reminder of the talent and expressiveness that characterize this era of rock.
Oh man, one of my all-time favorites. I'm from the Seattle area, so these guys were already heroes of mine when this was released while I was in high school. I know Nirvana gets all the attention, but I preferred this album to Nevermind back then, and still do. I was lucky enough to see them at a small venue in Seattle (The Showbox). They were an incredible live band. Still sad to think about Chris all these years later.
fine
Black Hole Sun and The Day I Tried To Live are some of the best songs out there but the album has a little bit too much filler otherwise
Classic albumn that stands the test of time.
I remember buying this album when it came out in '94. There are some great tracks on here, Black Hole Sun and Fell on Black Days being my favorites.
Classic
I never got into Soundgarden too heavily. I appreciate their craft but it never clicked with me. I like all the parts individually. Chris had a great voice. I like the guitars, bass and drums. I appreciate the lyrics etc. Even enjoyed some of their videos. But just not my thing.
teenage memories
Great vocals and good 90s rock.
Good overall, Black Hole Sun is an awesome track.
To use the lingo of the kids, this is a banger. From start to finish, driving and intense guitars, bass and drums with a great voice rising over the top. My complaint is the overly clean production over the distorted instruments. Feels like click tracks and vocoders stripped the soul and optimizing for radio accessibility. I never saw them live, but would bet they weren't this clean as they rose up and built their following.
Just pretty boring. I don’t like Cornell’s voice at all which ruins the whole thing really. Would avoid most of the tunes on there but it’s definitely saved by the musicianship.
This is one of my very favorites, and the crown jewel of the entire 90s grunge period. It is a fucking powerhouse, could not be described accurately without that profanity. Soundgarden's ace is Chris Cornell's vocals. He isn't the most technically gifted singer ever, but he's quite good, and he just gets every ounce out of what he's got. They get it going early - his scream at about 2:30 of the lead track ("Let Me Drown") leading into the solo is the sort of moment other hard rock bands just dream about. The coda of that song shows off what a versatile weapon he is. Cornell uses double-tracks to harmonize and fill with himself in multiple parts of his register and with multiple different timbres, namely his gentler melodic timbre with his unique, one-of-a-kind scream. That diversity in vocal sound just creates an incredibly lush and textured sound palette, even while otherwise using a standard power-trio instrumentation. The lead track is a good example, but it's not the best on this CD, or his best performance. The title track and "Limo Wreck" are two of the very best vocal performances in all of recorded rock music. His vocal solo on the title track, or the final chorus on "Limo Wreck", those moments just send chills down my spine. And this CD is full of them - Cornell puts on a fucking show, repeatedly - on "Fell On Black Days", on "The Day I Tried to Live", he's simply incredible. Soundgarden are a good band, and this CD has other strong aspects, in the end it's quite a cohesive product. But simply put, Cornell is the superstar. In the hands of an average-quality singer giving an average-quality performance, this CD would not be special, it'd be maybe a 3 out of 5. That in and of itself is part of the mystique, because it's so difficult to cover that it remains forever and indelibly Soundgarden's material. So what to say about the other three guys in the band, or about the CD as a whole? They're pretty good - even without Cornell this would be one of the better CDs of that era. Soundgarden was always the heaviest and proggiest of their cohort, and it shows here. Even when they're not good, they're definitely unique, and they show a willingness to experiment with all kinds of weird stuff - odd time signatures on "Limo Wreck", "Spoonman", "Black Hole Sun" and "4th of July", and funny open tunings pretty much everywhere (notably on the title track). They stay really tight on the odd signatures, a sign of a strong rhythm section, and I really like Thayil's guitar style, he's got a very unique (although quite dissonant) sound. His solos on "Fell on Black Days" and the title track are fantastic and truly their own thing, and he does a nice job of mixing subtle evolution into his licks (as on "Fell on Black Days"). This CD is a touch the long side, but that's largely a consequence of being absolutely stacked. In the final analysis, it just has a ton of really great songs on it.
Not my particular genre or sound. Some songs I have heard before such as Black Hole Sun but overall a pretty underwhelming album that I personally wouldn't listen to again as a whole and no songs that I would listen to by themselves. 2/5
Never been a huge fan of Soundgarden outside of the radio hits at the height of this album. Overall, solid sound, but I'm not a fan Chris Cornell's voice screaming at me for an hour (like most are).
Pretty good. Half a star for black hole sun alone.
Hasn’t aged quite as well as I’d hoped. Used to love it as a young’un, but I found this went on a bit. Some absolute classics that do stand the test of time, like of course BHS, Spoonman, Let Me Drown, and Cornell’s vocals are excellent. But half the record blurs into one, and there’s a few that sound like they belong in quite cliche rock bars. Decent though all in all!
Never listened to a Soundgarden song except for black hole sun, I know Chris Cornell better through audioslave and his solo stuff. Really enjoyed it to start with, he has an amazing voice, the best 'rock' voice there is really. The album was far too long though and the sound isn't varied enough. I thought the songs that were less grungy were best but that just be because they stood out. Overall it was decent but not a classic, 3.5 but more a 3 than 4.
Chris Cornell had such an excellent rock voice - I preferred his later work which emphasised his talents with his vocals. This album is absolutely fine. Nice to have on in the background. Nothing stood out.
Never listened to Soundgarden before, but know Chris Cornell from audioslave. He's got a great voice for rock. I know this is considered grunge, but not what sound comes to mind when I think of grunge. I know black hole sun from the video being on mtv2 all the time when I was a teenager. Remember it pretty vividly. I thought I would enjoy this more than I did based on that. Thought that was the best track though. Spoonman was good too. I think at least 3.5
"Superunknown", more like "Superboring". Hablando en serio, creo que no soy fanático del "post-grunge" (o música alternativa pesada lanzada luego de la muerte de Kurt Cobain). Demasiado inflado, demasiado largo, demasiado intenso sin ningún propósito. "Black Hole Sun" es la mejor canción del disco. Chris Cornell no era tan talentoso como todos querían creer. Yada yada yada, no merece estar en esta lista. Sálteselo si puede.
Listened only to 5 songs here (i.e. a third) before dipping to spare myself from the boredom.
What a great listen! This was one of the albums that defined Grunge.
Dont like it this heavy actually
Grungey alternative rock. I love this stuff. Black Hole Sun followed up by Spoonman is just fantastic. The album was a little too lengthy and the sound half dragged a bit.
Too much for me.
Dear 11 year old Ben, great news, this album still fucking rocks
What a voice. RIP.
weird but good
This is a great album. Admittedly my musical tastes have changed so it's not really like what I'm going to grab to just put on and listen to, but I used to listen to this album a ton. Great musicianship, and it was such a solid sound at the time.
This was a mega hit album full of guitar blasting hard rifs and gritty lyrics.
Solid band. Solid album. RIP Chris Cornell.
RIP Chris Cornell. One of the OG Grunge defining albums. Killer vocals and heavy bass/drums that don't let up the entire album.
Great!
There’s a song or two on here that weren’t bad. Mostly not my taste at all.
The only known song is 'Black Hole Sun', without it they would still be 'Superunkown'.
I like soundgarden, but between spoonman and black hole sun i can only give this record as a whole 1 star.
Hands up if you forgot just how rocking this album is? Holy moly
I'm not typically a fan of 90s harder rock, but this is just great across the board.
Soundgarden was always kind of an afterthought in the grunge discussion behind Nirvana and Pearl Jam. I think I like them more than Nirvana though. Chris Cornell has a rock star voice. They sound like Stone Temple Pilots on some songs. I never got into Soundgarden, I liked Pearl Jam the best out of the grunge bands, but this album is good. Black Hole Sun is probably why I never got into them...it was the hit and I don't really like it that much. The Day I Tried To Live is the best song on the album. Chris Cornell has a throwback rock star voice, there's a Robert Plant like quality to the way he sings, not that their voices are similar. There's something to their delivery that is similar or the way they approach the songs. There are some weaker songs on the album, but this is better than I was anticipating and a new found appreciation for Chris Cornell.
Nodding my head saying “hell yeah brother”
I've heard this before. Interesting listen. I recognize Soundgarden for the technical talent, and Cornell does have a great rock and roll voice. But I've just never enjoyed Soundgarden as much as others do. Rating it a 4 star for its impact and quality but I probably won't listen to this again anytime soon.
I was really surprised at how many songs I know and like on this album. I guess I don't listen to Soundgarden enough.
I'm just going to ignore the last three songs (especially that last one) and call this a five star album. I used to own this CD, but listening again I'm impressed by some of the lesser known songs like Superunknown and Head Down and how inventive and rhythmic they were. And ... Chris Cornell's vocals... five stars alone for that.
One of the better grungy rock albums of the 90's
One time through the 90s was enough.
Classic
Love it.
4th of July is one of the best songs ever made.
Perfectly fine. Has been since 1994.
It stinks
I do really like Soundgarden, I love me some weird time signatures and great riffs, full albums always feel a bit stretched out though. There are a few 5/5 certified bangers on here but the middling rest of the pack drag it down slightly.
5 stars
OK
Probably my favorite Soundgarden album. It feels like the best produced. Not as hard-edged as their earlier albums but much more mature and with more universal appeal. It’s no wonder that they became superstars after this release. Favorite songs are Fell on Black Days, Spoonman and The Day I Tried to Live. least favorites are Half, Kickstand and Limo Wreck.
4/10 - I liked Black Hole Sun probably just because I had heard it plenty of times before and the rest were not my style. It was loud and just did not sound very good.
Was expecting this to be better than it was
I like it well enough to listen again
Ugh.. one of my favorite albums of all time. An easy 5 stars
Ok so I know this album is well regarded so was looking forward to giving it a listen. For a genre of music I don’t usually seek out it was more enjoyable than I was expecting. Probably not one I will re listen to a lot but certainly wouldn’t discard it out of hand. 3.2 from me.
Min ungdom. Jag har växt från som men black hole sun kommer alltid vara en anthem
really good 90s grunge. the latter half drags a little bit for me, but this is super solid overall.
Superunknown exudes cool, doesn't it? It's just enough ahead of the early 90s grunge scene to not be an utterly boring copy of what preceded it but also pushes the boundaries into what the latter half of the 90s would sound like in this and adjacent genres. It's huge, it's dark, it's full of emotion from one of the best singers ever, it's a strong 4 that misses a 5 because a) it's a little bit too long and b) therefore it has a bit too much filler in it, but it's quality.
This is the best album we've had in a while - it's a level up in sophistication from the grunge that it came from, the sound is well put together and the guy can actually sing (which is a big step up from a lot of the stuff from that era!). It's definitely too long - almost all the songs are 5 minutes plus, which is a bit much, and could've done with losing four or five of them. But I think it still squeaks a 4 for me.
Couple of big tunes
loved
whatever
wILD AND SHIIIIIIIIIIII
Have to be a hard rock fan. Unique sound.
A true great, and the classic example of grunge sound. A distinct development of their early albums - I still think Badmotorfinger is better, and full of great songs. His vocals are superb. Top track: The day I tried to live
"Black Hole Sun" is used in the show "For All Mankind" in a montage as three missions launch towards Mars, and reminding me of that high makes the album worth at least three stars.
Black Hole Sun is legendary.
Good album but boy is it long
Actually quite liked it. Badger music
Great grunge album so diverse and not a bad song on it. A worthy memory. RIP Chris Cornell
I love Soundgarden
C’est ben correct
There's no voice out there like Chris Cornell's. That alone makes this album fantastic.
This album would have been good if they took half the songs from it and deleted them forever. This was a gruelling 70 minutes and did not need to be this long, I got the gist of the album by like track 3 and after that it felt more of the same over and over. I was itching for this to end as I got after the halfway point. Obviously Black Hole Sun is a fantastic song, but that's probably the only song from this album I can say I 100% was into and enjoyed.
Kind of a bloated album. For 70 minutes you would hope there would be enough to distinguish what's there and keep the music a bit more fresh but there's a few tracks that just felt redundant compared to better and similar tracks on the album. Chris Cornell's excellent vocals on the standout tracks really carry the more middling songs, it feels generous to give this a 4 but would also feel like a disservice to give a 3.
The thing I most appreciate in a hard rock/metal album is actually having a groove, which this album has in spades. The instrumentation here I fantastic, groovy riffs and driving drum beats. Chris Cornell’s vocals are pretty great I just wish he’d sing about something less depressing. I wonder whatever happened to that guy. The downside to this album is that it’s extremely long. I checked in around Spoonman thinking the album must be over and Spotify just started an artist radio for Soundgarden or Audioslave. Nope, album is only halfway done. Could probably slice a few tracks off this and it would be a flat improvement even though I wouldn’t say any of them are particularly bad except Fourth of July.
Fake ass dad rock enjoyers will say they love the stuff and then when REAL gen x Dad rock walks in they'll rate it poorly 7/10 Fav tracks - Let Me Drown, Superunknown, Head Down, Limo Wreck, The Day I Tried to Live, Kickstand, 4th of July, Half, Least Fav - Fell on Black days
First time listening to a whole Soundgarden Album, I enjoyed it, the instrumentals are great but i found alot of the songs kinda blended together. Only exception being Black Hole Sun which may or may not be why thats one of Soundgardens well know songs, because it doesn't sound like the rest of their stuff. Vocals were alright but guitar riffs were the star of the show for me. 3/5
Pretty inconsistent quality, this album feels like it was made to fill airtime on a “classic rock” radio station. It slaps when it’s good and it’s just forgettable most of the time. Wouldn’t put this album on as a whole any time soon but I never skip Black Hole Sun when it comes on. Highlights: Fell On Black Days, Head Down, Black Hole Sun
One of my favorite Soundgarden albums. Cornell had such a recognizable and great voice.
Such a legendary band, and I forgot that some of their best songs were on there. Definitely, they were influential in the grunge era
I don't care if you don't like grunge, you have to admire Chris Cornell's voice. He had one of the best voices in music, one of the absolute best to ever do it, may he rest in peace. This album is just fantastic. It has everything that is key to grunge, the angst, the pounding guitar, hammering bass line, driving drums, fiery guitar solos, and of course a superb frontman. Album has solid variety, love how vulnerable Chris is on some of the songs with the lyrics. Just a fantastic album from start to finish, absolutely bulletproof in my opinion. "The Day I Tried to Live" is one of my all time favorite songs.
fantastic album-Cornell's lyrics and voice blend so well with driving guitar, drums, and bass lines. his lyrics are understandable, and expressive. great variety of sounds within the album. only flaw is Spoonman-it just doesn't fit on album (yes, I'm biased-didn't like it when it came out & still don't now). My Wave & Kickstand are excellent tracks. 4.5 stars
GOOD
Overall: as much as I liked some small parts of this album, and it had good moments, it also had sections that were unbearable to listen to, as well as just plain boring. The songs felt very long and I feel like some of them really could have been streamlined to cut sections out that were repeated. If perhaps the album was closer to 40-50 mins I might have enjoyed it more. Despite all that, I think it was decent and it sounded better than I expected, so it's a 2 favs: fell on black days, limo wreck, kickstand
Soundgarden kind of passed me by but listening to it now there's an integrity to their sound. Chris Cornell was a great singer. Such power.
4.5
Solid solid metal rock work , def rocked with it
Gripping lyrics, sometimes lost beneath the wash of the slamming guitar; hard-alt rock to dance naked to.
It was fine, good instrumentals, just not my cup of tea.
Superunknown is the fourth studio album from Soundgarden, and is their most successful work, critically and commercially. Their third album, Badmotorfinger, did well, and was very well received critically, but not as well as expected. Chris Cornell's and Matt Cameron's involvement in tribute project Temple of the Dog added to their notoriety, and help to build the anticipation for Superunknown. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 The success of the album helped make he band's metal version of alt-rock part of the sound of the 90s. The album produced five charting singles, include what may be their best-known, "Black Hole Sun." Chris Cornell's wailing vocals helped define the band's sound, and Kim Thayil's driven guitar adds effects to create their grandiose, heavy sound.
Overall: 3/5 Notes: All songs first time listen except 'Black Hole Sun' and 'Spoonman.' 1. "Let Me Drown" 2/5 2. "My Wave" 2/5 3. "Fell on Black Days" 4/5 4. "Mailman" 4/5 5. "Superunknown" 2/5 6. "Head Down" 7. "Black Hole Sun" 5/5 8. "Spoonman" 5/5 9. "Limo Wreck" 2/5 10. "The Day I Tried to Live" 1/5 11. "Kickstand" /5 12. "Fresh Tendrils" 3/5 13. "4th of July" 2/5 14. "Half" 1/5 15. "Like Suicide" 3/5
a vibe, but not my vibe. personally, i thought it was a bit too long, like some of the songs seemed stretched out. again, pretty mid, was okay.
Am…am I grunge??
Wow. Chris Cornell is awesome. Never listened to this album all the way through and 100% understand why it is on this list now. A fantastic grunge album that tackles so many different genres and has amazing theming throughout the whole album. Every track was spectacular. 9/10
[Artist42165], a band led by [Artist4953]'s guitarist in the 90's, are allegedly named after the tendency of heavy metal musicians who don't scream or growl to go "whuaaaough" really high like Robert Plant. i call it "whoa momma imma love you" voice, but the following fact doesn't change: i gave up on [Album3800] because of Chris Cornell's tendency to do this. why is it so well used here, then? you could probably attribute it to real life psychopath and occasional producer Michael Bienhorn's slick, anal retentive production essentially swallowing Chris. on any given track, he's more often fighting than singing. it makes the wails excusable -- of course he's gotta hoot n' holler, have you [i]heard[/i] the guitars? poor guy's drowning. special mention goes to how the songs are constructed as complex as you could get them by complete mistake. how do you accidentally write a song in 15/8? you've gotta be either naturally talented or just extremely lucky to do that. something tells me Soundgarden are both. one concession: Tom Scharpling is right. "Spoonman" is really dumb. good, but dumb. i think a lot of grunge could be understood by this criteria.
I dont think I like Grunge. It's like the mid 90s American mirror of Britpop. Rock retreating to small c conservatism. By my definition Nirvana aren't Grunge. They don't sound like they have anything to do with these groups.
Superunknown is a timeless classic that cemented Soundgarden's legacy as one of the most influential bands of the 90s. From the iconic opening riff of "Limo Wreck" to the haunting melody of "Black Hole Sun," Superunknown is packed with memorable tracks that showcase the band's prowess. Chris Cornell's power vocals, combined with the intricate guitar work of Kim Thayil, the driving rhythm section of Matt Cameron and Ben Shepherd, create a unique and captivating listening experience.
Well this one certainly hits with a fist, soul crushing lyrics and all. Cornell’s vocals are excellent, but what’s somehow extra special is that they’re never the main show here. Not every track is standout, but more than enough are deeply devastating in a way that very few works can even hope to compare to.
Listen to it in the background. I like soundgarden. I did not change my life.
I really like Chris Cornell's voice (even though I liked it better in Audioslave) and this is a good album, but not great. It drags on a bit too much and in typical grunge fashion, it's leaning a bit too heavy on the heavy for my taste. Still, it features some highlights and overall cool tunes.
Spooooon Mannnnn
I wasn't the biggest Soundgarden fan back in the day -- I knew and enjoyed the singles, and owned a copy of their "A Sides" compilation. This was my first full album listen. I must say I'm surprised at the quality of the entire album. It's very long like many albums of the era, but it's pretty great from beginning to end.
#350. I've never listened to an entire Soundgarden album before, and I didn't realize I already had heard that much of it before. I guess that just goes to show how much power and influence radio djs have over your musical knowledge and experience. I dig it, but not so much that I'd want to buy the album. 4/5: great Song added to playlist: Black Hole Sun I've created a playlist on Spotify that consists of the best and/or my favorite song from each of the albums in this book. This list can be found here if you are interested: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7MAXDGLWlwLkFLb8veGfkA?si=FqkQQPgZTFWG0jAUJXLFZA&utm_source=copy-link
4 - Pretty good for hard rock, I might come back if I’m ever VERY angry
I was pretty content well before it ended, but it's not bad. Spoonman, Black Hole Sun, 4th of July, the title track, Fell On Black Days, all very good songs. I won't return to the full thing too often, but I respect it, and if I'm in the mood for grunge, this will be a frequent option.
I honestly don't remember this one being this good. Maybe I was too Nirvana centric at the time, but this one 1) absolutely holds up and 2) has some HUGE highlights. Really liked My Wave and Fell on Black Days. 4.5/5
Look, I love Nevermind and Ten as much as the next guy, but…this night just be the best grunge album ever recorded. Monster hooks, cutting lyrics, and a generational talent in the late Chris Cornell.
This is over an hour long but honestly feels like it glides by. Brooding, moody - there's such a great constant groove riding through it all. Chris Cornell is the star of the show, the vocals are incredible. There's lots of moments where he's obviously belting and really letting that rasp go, but he finds such a great balance between being more tender and somber, which a lot of similar vocalists in this kind of realm I feel can lack. Fell On Black Days, My Wave, Suicide... so many great moments where his voice just gives you goosebumps. Rhythm section are doing bits as well - the whole band just propels forward together and never loses any momentum over 70 minutes. Great stuff. 8.5/10
I thought of them as a one hit wonder, but it's actually a very nice album.
Very grand and moody. One of the best grunge albums of all time. Killer vocals. Key tracks: Let Me Down Black Hole Sun Spoonman 4th of July
I was just a little disappointed. Great album, but expected more. It suffers from being longer than it needs. Still willing to give it a 3.5/5
Grunge is weird for me, because if you were to ask me if I liked it, it would be a resounding yes. Then I remember that the only grunge band I've ever loved is Nirvana. Every other grunge band from that era that I've listened to just doesn't hold a candle to Nirvana. Soundgarden's Superunknown has plenty of quality tracks, namely the big hits, but even the lesser known songs are well produced rock music. My problem is that so many tracks here sound too much like slightly updated hard rock tracks from the two decades prior. Nothing wrong with that, but it leaves me feeling like I've heard it all before. This came out pretty deep into the grunge movement too, so I would have expected a more contemporary sound. *Heard before.
Take Spoon Man, leave the rest
Chris Cornell is hands down one of the most talented musicians in rock. With his bands, Temple of the Dog, Soundgarden, and Audioslave, as well as a large catalog of his own solo works, the dude had a hell of a career! His voice is so recognizable, and powerful! Black Hole Sun and Spoonman are such awesome songs!! An absolute treat of an album today. Easy 5. Phenomenal! Favourite songs: Black Hole Sun, Spoonman, Mailman, The Day I Tried to Live, Superunknown, Let Me Drown, Kickstand, Fell on Black Days, My Wave Least favourite songs: Half, Head Down 5/5
Inte min stil vanligtvis, men kan ändå se varför hur det blev ett populärt album. Black Hole Sun var en banger
Ok!
I’m a grunge hater, but this was so good. The intervals and progressions they use really go beyond the basic “grunge” stuff and actually come close to being progressive rock. 70 minutes flew by.
Végre song of my people! Megéri az öt csillagot, de igazából csak azért, mert eszembe juttatta a Nirvanát, szóval utána egész nap az szólt. Azért a Soundgarden nincs olyan jó... de legalább nem egy Earth Wind and Fire, meg kell tanulni értekelni az apróságokat.
Pont kívül volt annyira a komfortzónámon, hogy nagyon izgalmas legyen, de még pont volt olyan dallamos hogy genuinely élvezzem, szóval yay! Csak azért négy, mert nem látom, hogy elindítanám magamtól az egész albumot megint, de ettől még kiváló.
I went into this album with a bunch of ideas about it already in my head. I used to like it a lot years ago but I expected it to not hold up as well listening to it now. It's still pretty great. I mean name another band who writes a song in 15/8 time (Limo Wreck). I love a song with an odd time signature and weird tuning and there's a lot of that on this record. Apparently by mistake, from what I understand they just wrote songs they thought sounded cool and didn't worry about the time signatures. Just goes to show what an amazing drummer Matt Cameron is for being able to deal with that. I feel like music could use more of that kind of experimentation now. While it's recorded and produced well, I do feel like some of the actual instrument sounds are a little generic sounding now. Back in 1994 they definitely were cutting edge but if you told a guitar player now to dial in a generic grunge tone, this is the sound you would get. That's not necessarily bad I guess but looking back it doesn't really stand out among the rest of the genre. Vocals are a different story - Chris Cornell was one of the best and most unique vocalist ever. I love that he was one of the 90s guys that didn't just try to sound like Eddie Vedder. So I liked this one more than I thought I was going to. I'd listen to it again for sure. Not all the time but if I saw it in the record store I'd buy it and play it every now and again. 4/5 not least for the song in 15/8. Because damn, man.
gets a 5 for like suicide on it's own Limo Wreck, Day I tried to live, Spoonman, Kickstand - great album
Was good, some bangers I knew but those I didnt I liked as well
buenardo
Mm, nice. Does get a bit same-old-grungey as it goes on ...but it's a good'un.
Meh.
I am not a grunge fan. I find the music all very generic and moany. i can see why this album is top of the pile for grunge but it’s not for me. Its wrestling music!!!! I couldn’t pick a favourite or a song I dont like, the album was just very meh! Album artwork: Cool cover
Songs too long. Kinda felt repetitive. Really loved the guitars and drums. Couldn’t hear much of the vocals. Dropped mid way
Not a genre I typically gravitate towards but I can appreciate the talent. Black Hole Sun was a pleasant surprise.
Great album. This is peak Grunge. I especially like 'Like Suicide' because it has the riffs, bass, and drums that marked a change from the 80s for me. I know that Grunge was a catch-all, but this was always THE grunge album for me.
instrumentation rlly good but i keep getting bored…….black hole sun is def highlight
Chris Cornell had a great voice. But that alone can't carry something as dull as this.
One of Mike’s faves - the second I heard Chris Cornell’s voice I thought - that’s the new best male voice in rock and roll thayil always a force !
I listened to this over and over when it first came out. Not one throw away track on this. Top to bottom just an outstanding album. Amazing songwriting, musicianship, and production. It transcends the grunge genre and is a master work from a band that was peaking. Sadly their next album would be their last.
There are bands from this genre that have much more staying power. This feels dated and doesn’t transcend.
Suffers from 90s bloat the the killer tracks are killer and oddities like Half underscore how these guys were more like Led Zeppelin than any of their Emerald City piers - though there is still plenty of Sabbath/Stooges here. A better listen than expected. Amazing production. And with a little editing...
3.9 Hadnt listen to this in 10 years. The hits are still the hits and really really good. The other songs, meh, they sound a bit formulaic (Silverchair anyone!?). They were probably fresher 30 years (yeesh) ago. Cornell and Thayil's guitar tone stands out
Vette muziek, paar hele vette nummers, iets te lang
3 Chris Cornell has one of the best voices in history but soundgarden has never been super interesting to me
Absolute peak grunge. The memories of Chris Cornell still echo to this day.
Chris Cornell had such a voice.
I think it's a great album, but a little heavy for my personal tastes.
Disappointed to say it’s a 3 from me. Love Chris Cornell’s voice, Black Hole Sun is a classic obviously, but it’s just overindulgent and goes on far longer than it should. In all honestly I prefer Audioslave, has that bit of punch that this lacks
Sentimental favourite. My first concert was Soundgarden and Nine Inch Nails on the tour for this album. This record moves around stylistically but all hangs together. Musicianship and vocals all come together perfectly. Definitely a top album.
I thought I didn't really like grunge bands other than Nirvana, but I actually really enjoyed this. Some of the songs were a bit samey and it was slightly overly long, but all in all a very good album. Fav tracks: Like Suicide, Black Hole Sun, Fresh Tendrils
A hard rock album I like, which is not often the case. The opener is a little too close to metal for my tastes but things gradually change to styles more to my liking. The album has a more melodic and psychedelic style, as evidenced on the hit Black Hole Sun, that I very much like. This stylistic metamorphosis begins with Fell in Black days which has a nice mid tempo gait. My favourite is Head Down with its beautiful guitar figure, beautifully melodic Chris Cornell vocal and powerful drumming - it's my favorite song. Other highlights; Limo Wreck, The Day I Tried to Live and Half with its Eastern feel. Overall a very accomplished album that I will revisit. 4 stars
One of faves
Good
Happy to have this one on the list. My son also loved hearing it, which was also pretty cool. Fell on Black Days is such a good song. 4/5
I have fond memories of playing Black Hole Sun on Guitar Hero 3. Or whichever one it was. Good grunge rock album. Vocalist has some chops. Lyrics didn’t stick out too much for me. Band is always there with just enough sound. Felt rich and dense. Standouts: Fell On Black Days, Mailman, Head Down, Black Hole Sun, The Day I Tried To Live, and 4th Of July.
One or two great tracks where it all comes together buried in over an hour where it seems pretty tired.
Great album cover. Great vocals, instrumentation, production, writing, and lyrics. The length should have been cut to make for more focus on their better tracks, but still a very enjoyable album. 4/5
Great, of course!
Certamente uma peça fundamental na história do rock, uma obra-prima que captura a essência do grunge e a transforma em algo ainda mais profundo e complexo. Ao combinar elementos de metal pesado e psicodelia de uma maneira única e cativante. A sonoridade escura e sombria da banda cria uma atmosfera opressiva e inquietante, que reflete os temas de alienação, depressão e angústia existencial presentes nas letras.
Det her album fandt jeg først 10år efter det blev udgivet, men som 15 årig sprang det min musik forståelse i luften. Soundgarden, og System of a Down, blev lyden af mit første efterskole år. Ægte Gateway metal. 😜
Der er alt alt for få ske-soloer i moderne rock! Heldigvis er det en af de mange højdepunkter der er at finde på Superunknown. Cornells tekster og særligt vokallevering, Thayils guitar riffs, og ikke mindst Camerons eminente trommer er med til at gøre dette til et af rockmusikkens stærkeste værker. Det er tung Seattle-sound men med hooks der giver sing-along kvalitet. Det siger noget om kvaliteten på dette album, at monsterhittet ikke er i top-3 af de bedste numre. Måske ikke engang i top-5
Some good songs, but the rest of the tracks didn't really live to do the singles.
Yeah, this one wasn't for me. It was too grungy and gave "40 year olds living in their parents basement but we're gonna make it big with our garage band one day" vibes.
Still good.
The obvious comparison is with Nirvana, but I detected hints of Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath in some of the songs. Liked it.
20240817 Superunknown – Soundgarden 3.5/5 With only knowing Black Hole Sun before listening to Superunknown and being not much into Grunge apart from Nirvana and some more songs, this listening has been an interesting one. Clearly marked by a 90’s rock sound, Soundgarden earn a lot of points thanks to Chris Cornell’s voice, probably one of the best on the scene. However, the sound gets kind of repetitive through the songs, and makes a continue session with the album a bit boring. Despite that, I have saved it for a future deeper listen. Onto the positives, its clear how Soundgarden has been one of the pillars of Grunge in the 90’s, but developing a deeper and heavier sound, probably influencing Alternative Rock and Nu Metal bands formed later. Again, Cornell’s voice is fantastic, and is probably what elevates their sound to the next level. Additionally, the instrumentation but specially the guitars create a nice bed of sounds that generate full heavy songs. On the other hand, as I mentioned before, this heavy sound makes the songs in Superunknown difficult to differentiate, and to really dive into them in a quickly first or second listen. The album needs a slow digestion to be fully appreciated, because 70 minutes of them clogs your brain a bit. On top of that, a very consistent “strong six - light seven” quality through the album makes it difficult to pick any highlights, apart of course from Black Hole Sun, the best song by far. Favourite songs: Black Hole Sun, Let Me Drown, Superunknown Least favourite songs: My Wave, Kickstand, 4th of July
Classic.solid that still stands strong today. I’d love to go back to my younger self and ask why I didn’t like this when I was a kid.
I remember riding a single speed bicycle a very long distance to buy this CD at K-Mart.
i love this album!!! it has the same kinda vibe of metal and rock music that i love and listen to sometimes. i would definitely listen to it again. the album is perfect really, not a single bad song
Solid album. Chris Cornell is great but def not my favorite. Feeling light 8 Fav songs: Let me drown, Fell on Black Days, Super Unknown, Black Hole Sun, Spoonman and 4th of July
Soundgarden rocks. Plain and simple. Black Hole Sun and Spoonman are obviously jams. This album actually has a lot more range than I would have given them credit for. Happy to have listened to the whole thing.
I think Soundgarden have done a really good job of being “hard” rock without it being overwhelming. This album is pretty easy and enjoyable to listen to all the way through. Black Hole Sun is a great song and definitely the best on the album, but I also really like Spoonman and several others.
Solid 3! Too long but some hidden gems throughout. Really glad it made the list!
Spoonman will always remind me of playing Rock Band for hours on end, even if it wasn’t a song we chose very often. There are three really good songs on this album and one all-timer, the rest just kinda leaves me wanting a little more. Half is also strange and doesn’t really fit with the vibe of the rest of the album. Overall, a decent listen that felt like a slog towards the end but gets a bump for the hits.
Awesome album! I've always known "Black Hole Sun" but I've never listened to more Soundgarden. Great album that reminded me of high school weightlifting. It is too long though.
Not my style but I liked it and would listen to it on occasion.
Miss the fuck out of Cornell’s voice. He sounds so great on Fell on Black Days. Forgot how much I loved this song. His voice was always best when he just sang. He could scream with the best, but he sang better than most. 4/5
rock n roll, more like stone and tumble. Black Hole Sun is the hit.
Superunknown is the fourth studio album by Soundgarden, originally released in 1994. This album would mark a pivotal moment in the career of Soundgarden. This fourth studio album catapulted the Seattle band to mainstream success, showcasing their evolution from their heavy metal roots to a more nuanced, genre-defying sound. The album's 15 tracks, including hits like "Black Hole Sun" and "Spoonman," demonstrate the band's musical maturity and willingness to experiment with unconventional time signatures and tunings. At the heart of "Superunknown" lies Chris Cornell's extraordinary vocal prowess. His voice soars through the album, infusing each song with raw emotion and power. The introspective songwriting delves into themes of alienation, depression, and existential dread, resonating deeply with listeners (like me) and cementing the album's place as a defining work of the 1990s. Guitarist Kim Thayil's innovative riffs and psychedelic textures, combined with the tight rhythm section of bassist Ben Shepherd and drummer Matt Cameron, create a dark, brooding atmosphere that perfectly complements Cornell's lyrics. The album's production, helmed by Michael Beinhorn, strikes a delicate balance between polished accessibility and the band's trademark heaviness. This approach allows Soundgarden to retain their artistic integrity while reaching a broader audience. "Superunknown" not only represents the peak of Soundgarden's commercial success but also stands as a testament to their artistic vision and technical prowess. Its influence on rock music continues to be felt decades after its release. It still feels fresh in my opinion.
Impressive album Not my taste though Black Hole Sun be timeless
Tim gives it a 3; for me it barely scrapes into 2 territory.
I've heard a few of the hits on this album before, nostalgic music takes me back to riding in the rear seat of my parents' vehicle jamming out.
Very well made. Cornell’s vocals stand out on every track. Quintessential ROCK singer.
Liked this more than I expected to. I’m a sucker for weird time signatures like the 7/4 in Spoonman and whatever is going on in Fell On Black Days. Especially in grunge, which otherwise can be dreary and monotonous. Cornell’s voice grates on me after awhile. The day I tried to live is another highlight.
Not a single album sleeper. Lots of fun time signatures and an absolutely incredible 1h+ album. Ive heard the hits on this before, but it was well worth diving through it. Let me drown, my wave, mailman and half were great discoveries for me. All around, super impressive. Favorite grunge album now
Cornell has a great voice but I can’t seem to get into this. Feels like every song is the same on this very long album, musically and lyrically not very interesting.
How to even capture my relationship with this album? This was a life soundtrack for me, a time of freedom and excess and immortality and confidence and a constant battle against tides of cynicism that come from living and loving through uncertain times with uncertain people. This music, this album, was a friend, a shield, an ingredient in self-definition and defiance, a symbol of evolution and the beautiful surprise of novelty and unpredictability. It still holds all of that weight. Cornell's voice was an inspiration. Rock and roll could survive and feed the soul through anything. This album still makes me want to just get in my car and drive. Without a sense of destination, but full of the desire for motion and adventure....
The sweet spot for sound garden- I liked parts of their previous album but the production was muddier and darker. This album was released at the perfect stage in my life when I was just picking up a bass and a guitar for the first time. Biking around somerset listening to this on a walkman in August of 94 are some of the happiest memories of my teenage years.Almost all of the songs hold up and Cornell’s voice is on fire throughout.
Kind of a difficult one for me. I remember getting this album from the library and being into the stand out songs which were initially: Black Hole Sun, Let Me Drown, Spoonman and Superunknown. Listening today, I definitely think the deeper cuts are not as stand out with the exceptions of Limo Wreck, Half and the Day I tried to Live. Some parts of this record lean too much on popular alternative rock tropes for the time with just enough personality to get by. That being said, when it hits it really does hit. Interesting but not overly technical plaing. Sometimes weird sonic noises coming out of the guitar. Great singing. Just barely a 3 for me which is wild as this is the most I've had to write about a record in awhile.
Pretty good sound
Some really good songs and riffs, and Cornell's vocals are some of my favorites. The only issue I have is a lot of the songs sounded very same-y - but they were still good and the singles were standouts. Not a group I'd listen to on the reg but still killer when the time/mood is right.
I was 18 going on 19 and attending my first year of college when this album dropped. Everyone I knew loved this album and band, and rightfully so. Chris Cornell's voice paired with a super talented band meant instant MTv and radio success. What a great visit down memory lane. Some of these songs will forever burned into my memory. Oh, and the Blackhole Sun video was trippy as hell. Great times.
Fantastic album from a great time of my life. Lots of memories here.
I loved this album when I was only expecting to enjoy it on a normal level. I wouldn't specifically call myself a grunge fan, which is why my expectations weren't super high. Superunknown is super good, if you'll forgive the pun (that I'm sure others have made before). I admire the creativity on this album. The frequent distortion is badass and Chris Cornell's vocals are everything. There's a South Asian influence in "Half" that sets it apart. Though grunge straddles metal and punk rock, sometimes Soundgarden went harder into heavy metal and it plays so well. Different time signatures in the same song, the emotive lyrics, it's all so satisfying.
Another grunge top tier staple, check. There are some excellent displays of guitar riffs and songwriting on this album. Plus, Chris Cornell was just a stellar grunge vocalist, and really, a stellar rock vocalist in general -- it's grating, it's deep, it's howling. His voice hits all the right points. The combination of music, vocals, and songwriting is important in grunge; it should all be done with a dark edge that leaves the listener feeling a bit grimy. I think Chris Cornell and Soundgarden understood that intimately, and it is what makes them one of the grunge greats. This album in particular nails all of that. There really isn't a single song that drags this album down; it is banger from start to finish.
While grunge is not my go to genre of music, there was more tk this album than I thought there would be. Great guitar work and vocals. Definitely worth a listen because of Soundgarden's and Chris Cornell's legendary status. Solid 3 and would rate higher if I appreciated grunge more than I do..
Heard Black Hole Sun before, but never really heard anything else of Soundgarden. Ok album, but wouldn’t listen again 3/5
I love Soundgarden, but this isn’t the best release they have. There’s a bunch of great songs on here, but the runtime is a bit too long and there’s a number of filler tracks on it. Badmotorfinger also had the better hit singles and deepcuts imoz
Cool stuff but not really my thing.
The album in which the Grunge took so much of a presence that some consider this to not even be Alt-Metal & Grunge but only Grunge even when a huge majority of the songs show to be some sort of Alt-Metal. Still, Grunge is the main genre of the album and should therefore be the main focus point. Soundgarden had easily the best studio Grunge album. Sadly, or luckily (depending on how you view it), Nirvana had their legendary MTV Unplugged album released the same year. But the achievements that this album brought to the table make this an essential album even 30 years later. The album opens on 'Let Me Drown', a perfect example of the heavy and Stoner Rock inspired metal sound the band is so good at creating. It starts with loud and catchy layered guitar riffs and an incredible vocal delivery. The song just makes you want to headbang. It's an energetic and sonically perfect intro into the album. The next song 'My Wave' is much less Metal, even if it's still a very heavy song. Interestingly is this a much more psychedelic sound and I think the guitar pedal effects that is sometimes sprinkled throughout makes this really interesting. The chorus also works really well, it's just that I think that the song streches a bit too much near the end. It should've been cut to 4 minutes max as the last minute doesn't really add more to the song. 'Fell on Black Days' is one of the best known songs here and it most resembles the Grunge sound most people are familiar with through Nirvana. It's a really good songs but it doesn't really reach the edge that I loved so much with the opener. Compared to most of the album, this seems much more conventional and basic and I personally am not greatly interested with most of what the song does. With 'Mailman' they get back to the heavier sound and there is a lot of heavy and "sludgey" guitar on here. In return the song comes out much more interesting and formed than its predecessor but unlike that, this is feels a little stretched towards the end of it and there isn't much of a catchy "something" that makes the song stick. The title track 'Superunknown' follows with a very Hard Rock and Blues Rock inspired instrumentation that really drives the song and works much better as a point of focus. The vocals are killer and the chorus is simply epic. I absolutely see why this was chosen as the song to name the album after as it does summarize the album pretty neatly. 'Head Down' removes a lot of the heaviness and replaces it with a more psychedelic approach that works within the context of the time. The dreamy vocals and the washy guitars make this a noisy and dense but lovely and dreamy song that flows within itself. Even if I mainly prefer the more metal sounding songs on the album, this is easily one of the best they ever put out. The song that everyone knows, 'Black Hole Sun', shows an even more Neo-Psychdelia rooted sound than before and like before it works perfectly. It starts with the legendary and dreamy guitars and the melodic and surprisingly clear vocals that seamlessly blend into the chorus that is even better. Even if it's a basic opinion, this is the best song on the album or at least in the Top 3. The whole song works and feels much less streched than most songs here. I absolutely adore every second from the guitar solo, the slightly changed chorus in the second half, the background vocals and the general structure. The albums second half starts with 'Spoonman', a song that is much more complex in comparison to most of stuff you find on here. It has multiple, seemingly random, additions thrown in that make this together with the abstract lyrics a very weird but great listen. 'Limo Wreck' sounds like a very early Doom Metal song with the thick, slow and atmospheric guitar riff that goes the whole way through the song. It's dark, unsetteling and really feels like something Black Sabbath could've cooked up if they had Grunge back then. But the song suffers a little bit from a lack of focus near the end. With 'The Day I Tried to Live' was the albums lead single and is therefore another pretty well known song. And although I prefer it over 'Fell on Black Days', I have similar criticisms towards it. It doesn't interest me for the most part and feels too basic and average. Of course it has some great moments but they are not worthy. It's a good song but just nothing more. The short and not even 2 minute long 'Kickstand' is one of the few instances of a Punk sound that gets through. And although Punk isn't what they are used to do, it is a very solid song and is actually really interesting and does not feel like an Interlude at all. 'Fresh Tendrils' keeps a small amount of the Punk energy from before but turns it into a more Metal sounding track again. And unlike before, this doesn't work really well. It is still a good song but it feels very unfocused and unsure about itself. To my ears the song is either uninteresting or a little bit annoying. A really underrated song is '4th of July'. It is easily the most Doom Metal the album gets. It is heavy and dark and the slight hints of Psychedelia make this an even more atmospheric and anxious listen. A perfect blend of all genres they are capable of using. The short 'Half' that is another left-turn with the introduction of Raga-Rock (Indian Classical music inspired Rock) and hints of experimental parts. And although that might sound like it would derail the whole album, I think it works pretty good right before closing the album. And the album closes with the dark and depressive 'Like Suicide'. The title pretty much says what the song is about and it gets the anxious and suicidal feeling very intensely across and closes the album with another perfect song even if it is the longest one but this time it definitely needed that length. favourites: Black Hole Sun, Head Down, Like Suicide, Let Me Drown, Superunknown, 4th of July least favourites: Fresh Tendrils, Mailman, Fell on Black Days, The Day I Tried to Live Rating: light 9 https://rateyourmusic.com/~Emil_ph for more ratings, reviews and takes
Never was a fan but respected them more than most of the other grunge bands. Not sure why, honestly. Not bad but a bit monotonous. I feel like my garden would have more variety.
A freebie for today, as I own this album and love it. It's too long by about 30 minutes--some of the songs really don't do all that much--but such a great sound overall and several fantastic songs ("Fell on black days", "Mailman", "Black hole sun", "Spoonman", "The day I tried to live", "Just like suicide", to name just a few). To me, the album brings me back to my days in Seattle and a pretty powerful period in its music history. The only sad part is that it makes me think of Chris Cornell and his untimely death many years later...
I respect them and their sound but it's just not for me.
Not going to listen to this again any time soon!
Felt like I'd missed out on Soundgarden - loved Temple of the Dog and a couple of their singles but had never listened to any albums. Cornell's voice is amazing but the album didn't blow me away - maybe a band where I prefer to listen to the odd song rather than whole albums.
Black Hole Sun is one of the best songs of the 90s. Fell on Black Days is a solid alt-rock radio staple. Yelling SPOOOOOONMAAAANNN is about as fun as grunge gets. The rest is very consistent - heavy detuned riffs with a bit of a groove to them, high-caliber vocals, and some cool guitar stuff - but it's all a bit samey and there's too much of it. Very butt-rock. They've become pretty overrated in retrospect: their best stuff is great, but it's spread out over a bunch of CDs with tons of filler.
This might be the best grunge album of all time. I know Nirvana apologists will kill me for that but I stand by it.
Var väl som jag mindes den, lite dålig mix - speciellt för en 20-års-utgåva?