Superunknown

Superunknown is a heavy beast of an album, and what's most impressive is how many different ways it approaches its heaviness. A 70 minute alternative rock album has the potential to start to feel like an absolute slog, but every song here sounds fresh when it comes on. There's the pummeling groove of "My Wave," the simmering ballad "Fell on Black Days," the rhythmic "Spoonman," the sludgy "4th of July." There's just the right about of metal and psychedelia here to give it an edge without getting in the way. The closest thing is the trippy interlude "Half," but as a lead-in to the monumental closer it feels well-placed. Cornell's vocals are a powerhouse, with his highlight being "The Day I Tried to Live." When "Black Hole Sun" is one of the minor songs on your album, you know you've made one of the pinnacles of your scene.

This album is so 90's I sprouted spontaneous flannel

Sååå många bra låtar, men 70 minuter känns nästan lite överambitiöst?

To be honest, Soundgarden was always my least favorite of the big 4 grunge bands. I thought Chris Cornell had a great voice, but the songs never lived up to his talent. So, I was pretty pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed this listen to Superunknown. The tracks I've always loved ("Spoonman" and "Kickstand" especially) still shined, and the tracks I was always a bit lukewarm on ("The Day I Tried To Live" and "Fell On Black Days") I enjoyed much more than I did 30 years ago. I still wish "My Wave" ended a minute earlier, and I have NEVER liked "Black Hole Sun". Solid 4* territory.

TL;DR: Soundgarden's best album. 70 minutes of alt-metal perfection. BEFORE: I went through two cassettes of this as a teenager before finally getting it on CD. It's one of my all-time favourite albums and I already know the rating. AFTER: Still sounds great. The songwriting and playing is exceptional. HIGHLIGHTS: The singles already get their due (I particularly love My Wave, The Day I Tried To Live and Fell On Black Days), so I'd rather talk about the hidden gems. I know Ben Shepherd's songs are polarising, but I love them and think add something really different. Head Down is as good as any song on the album and Half is awesomely weird with a great outro. Mailman and 4th of July are two of the most gloriously dark songs that Soundgarden ever released while being totally different to each other. Limo Wreck and Fresh Tendrils are epic and complex. Kickstand is fast and fun. Like Suicide is one of the best album closers ever. LOWLIGHTS: This is one of my favourite albums, so I don't think it has any real lowlights. I think Let Me Drown and Spoonman are two of the weaker songs on the album but still great. The bonus track, She Likes Surprises, should have been a B-side. It's OK but it's not really part of the album proper. VERDICT: A very easy 5.

Type of music a straight man would play for you to show you “real music” after you say you like sabrina carpenter

Bin eher Audioslave Fan. Find Chris Cornell hat eine fantastische Stimme. Gutes Grungealbum auf jeden Fall. Jetzt erstmal Audioslave ballern

1.0 Did nothing for me. To much metal did not like.

The last of the big four '90s grunge acts that I needed to check out. Overall, I think I enjoy Soundgarden's sound most; the guitars feel less deep, garbly, and sludgey than AIC's, with nicer, twinkling high-end tones, and they're a bit noisier and more dynamic. It fuses the best of a group like Nirvana, but still brings the occasional metal influences of a group like AiC. All that said, for as long as this record is, there wasn't really THAT song. You know Nirvana has 'Come As You Are', AiC has 'Would?', Pearl Jam has 'Jeremy', but no all-timer (FOR ME + YET) on this one. I guess 'Blackhole Sun' was supposed to be that song, but honestly it was one of my lesser favourites here; the core reverby, effect-heavy guitar in the verses here doesn't do much for me, and once the chorus hits, it sounds like the most boilerplate grunge song you can dig up. Not holding it against this song, but it reminds me of all the less interesting imitators of this style. It just feels like a low point in an album filled with far more interesting and visceral ideas. As for great songs, I really liked the final three tracks, especially '4th of July'; it has that deeper sludge feel I mentioned earlier, but I love the way the vocals are overdubbed here; it's such a heavy banger. And really, when you contrast this song with a track like 'Spoonman,' which has this upbeat funky energy, with some superb drumming, you get a pretty good idea of just how versatile this band can be. Ultimately, my favourite track is the opener 'Let Me Drown'; the riff reminds me of something that would appear on a RATM album, just noisy, driving guitar riffs over a much faster-paced punk foundation. And they still manage to squeeze in a softer moment of serenity in the midst of all this madness. Absolute killer song. And the vocals on this one are especially solid, though I generally enjoy them all over this record. Banger record, pretty much enjoyed every song on here to some degree. Just a super ambitious and varied record, definitely a lot to chew on here if you give it the time, something I plan on doing in the future.

The later half of the album is what ups it to a 4 for me

With so many things I could say I will keep it simple. Thank you to this album for helping me decide my first screen name for AOL.

Great lyrics and voice but notwithstanding a couple incredible songs the music parts never grabbed me.

too grungy

solid rock, never heard of them but i liked it!

First Listen Favorites: Black Hole Sun Spoonman Let Me Drown Honorable Mentions: Mailman The Day I Tried To Live Head Down 4th of July

Great spin. Brought back a lot of memories. Lots of great tunes here

Great album ..just squeaks in a four as it’s in tough company

A pretty hard-rocking grunge album. I like it, especially Black Hole Sun, but the rest is decent.

Серьезная такая музыка. Сложная, но интересная.

Not totally my vibe, liked Head Down and 4th of July. Pretty good listen Ming experience though just not my preferred genre of music. Jett does like this band and knew quite a lot of the songs prior.

I got really tired of grunge in the early 00’s (Nirvana excepted) as the radio was still putting it in heavy rotation. But I’m pleased to find Soundgarden feels pretty fresh again after not listening to them for 20 years. Anyone else remember when playing spoons was cool for like 4 months?

4/5 https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/soundgarden/superunknown/ Still needs to grow a bit for me, but predict this might very well happen. Some songs are absolute standouts (of course Black Hole Sun), but upon first listen, most songs blend together a bit too much. However, I do like the blend it creates quite a bit.

Forgot how much I loved this album

Damn Chris Cornell has the juice. Rocking 90s grunge. I will say the album is a bit bloated at 70 minutes, but 4 stars nonetheless.

Boring and not very much fun.

Good energy! Some cool work with asymmetrical meters as well.

(4/7) grungy

Soundgarden was the fourth on my rankings of the Grunge Godhead (PJ, AiC, Nirvana), but I absolutely loved Badmotorfinger and the relentless overplay of Black Hole Sun (and the horrible CGI additions to the original video) kept me away from this album for a long time. I'm so glad that it showed up again. I forgot what a master Kim Thayiil was with that sludgy groove throughout this album -- and it was good to hear Chris again. Not the greatest album from the Seattle Sound days, but certainly a worthwhile one.

The wall of screechy, distorted sound gets really tiring after a while. Extremely repetitive and long. Doesn't really go anywhere. Black Hole Sun being the only redeeming feature in contrast to the rest of the album. 2/5

A ridiculously good album from Seattle's 2nd-to-4th most popular band. The grunge output of the 90's was unmatched.

Listened before? i'm almost certain i've listened to this in full at least once in the past. i don't listen to Soundgarden much, and it's been so many years since i've listened to this that i only remember a few tracks by heart (Black Hole Sun, Spoonman, Fell on Black Days, etc). i'm sure it'll be just as good as i remember it being though, at least 4.5 stars Let Me Drown - 5/5 My Wave - 4/5 Fell on Black Days - 5/5 Mailman - 5/5 Superunknown - 5/5 Head Down - 4/5 Black Hole Sun - 5/5 Spoonman - 5/5 Limo Wreck - 5/5 The Day I Tried to Live - 5/5 Kickstand - 3/5 Fresh Tendrils - 4/5 4th of July - 5/5 Half - 3/5 Like Suicide - 4/5 Average score: 4.5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Soundgarden weren't as popular in the UK and I missed them first time round, only after hearing Audioslave 10 years later did I go back and listen to them.

Two tracks in and it could only be Seattle Grunge Rock like so many others at the time. I didn't dislike it but there is only so much sameness you can live with. The odd track is OK but an album full of them and with having Pearl Jam a few days early I'm done with this sound,

Soundgarden was one of my favourite bands in my teens. I was in a lot of emotional pain in those years, and bands like Soundgarden, Nirvana, Nine Inch Nails, Pearl Jam, and Tool managed to get to those feelings I did not understand. I still absolutely love them. Bonus points to Soundgarden also for being on the Road Rash soundtrack. Superunknown is the album that really contains those classics. Rating: 9/10

I'm gonna take this moment to call out the cheaters. You know who you are. I was ten minutes into Soundgarden's "Superunknown," and I had a pretty good idea what my score would be. But I was still open to being surprised, to being proven wrong. This rarely happens. This did not happen here. But when the sun goes down on my last day (of this project, of my life) I want to be able to tell my great-grandchildren that I listened to every last album to the very last minute. I endured. I persevered. And now I know I can tolerate an hour and ten minutes of sludge, samey, over the top 90s rock. And if I can do that, I can do anything. Some of these reviews like "I couldn't get through the first track." Weak. Weak. Weak. Because this project isn't about finding music you like. This project is about pain. It's about listening to "Superunkown," and when you can't stand it any longer, cranking that shit louder. Embracing the pain. The pain is a Black Hole Sun. Won't you come? Won't you come.

Incredible album that’s slightly overrated. And so long.

So much grit, feeling, heaviness. An undeniable classic for me. Chris Cornell’s voice is incredible. The instruments are heavy and oily and hit you like a brick when listened on high volume. Just beautiful.

Its soundgarden

Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in with some proper grunge. Perhaps not as well-known as "Nevermind" or "Dirt", but still worthy enough to stand on its own two feet. Chris Cornell's powerhouse vocals elevate this album to a whole new level, especially during such songs as "The Day I Tried To Live" and the titular track. On top of that, there's the use of unique key signatures for the subgenre which manages to give the whole thing a real melodic nature that you wouldn't usually get from grunge, and I found myself even more invested because of this. Overall, "Superunknown" is an album I already had a lot of love for, but listening to it again has given me a new appreciation for what it's doing.

A bit inconsistent around the edges, but when it hits it hits so hard. The run from Fell On Black Days to The Day I Tried to Live is incredibly strong.

This is really good grunge to me.

Är svag för chris cornell

excellent motivation music, the intruments are going freaking crasy and they live up to their name

This sounds so 90's and I'm not complaining

Amazing album all the way through. Though I may be biased about that :P

Fell On Black Days

goeie zanger, goeie gitaren ... niet allemaal goeie songs

On Superunknown, Soundgarden phone it in effortlessly. Bland, uninteresting songs from a band that once reigned supreme. 2/5.

Blandgarden

As a gay dude, it amazes me how much I gravitate towards 90's rock music...

Schweinerock

New found appreciation for this band. Honest to goodness rock and roll legends. I knew CC was a once in a generation talent, but I did not know how heavy these guys were! Sludgy but tight, fill of despair and incredible musicianship. Also the title track hearkens to Jimi Hendrix in the best way. Glad I finally listened.

🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘 Great to hear it again in full.

WE LOVE SOME PEAKGARDEN

Very much my sort of thing. Found the latter half better than the start.

The edgy grunge I've come to know and love

Well... OK. Nothing crazy about it. 6/10

Just a bit too dark. Not mad on grunge but some good tunes

Fun

tja.

YESSSSSSSXSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2.4/5 For the longest time I couldn't stand Chris Cornell's voice but the hate has been worn down over time..I'm actually surprised at how much I didn't mind this as I thought I would hate it.

Pretty good album, i like the vibes of it. My favorites off this album were Let Me Drown, Fell On Black Days, Superunknown, Black Hole Sun, The Day I Tried To Live, 4th of July, and Like Suicide

This album sounds great and still sounds very modern, while there were some songs that I did enjoy, I couldn’t get into this album, not saying it was bad just that it didn’t really connect with me. I also did find it dragged on for quite a bit

If “Black Hole Sun” won’t get you to four stars, what will? Still, the cover of “Black Hole Sun” by Steve & Eydie (yes, really) may be the definitive version.

For me this is THE definitive grunge album. More melodic and wide ranging than some of the others, a wider emotional range, and Cornell is the best singer of the genre. One of the easiest 5s I’ve handed out.

Meh

Love this album.

Give me grunge! great album!

It's good, worth a shot to listen another album

not as good as Joni Mitchell’s Blue

music is love

Spoonman

Damn, this was a good palate cleanser after the new wave trash heap I had yesterday. It is a little longer than needed, but I don’t really care because it’s got grooves and riffs and Chris Cornell can belt it. I think of Fell on Black Days all the time and one time I watched a total solar eclipse to Black Hole Sun, so this is an easy 5/5 for me.

Это просто восхитительно, все 70 минут альбома от начала и до конца слушаются на одном дыхании, такая драйвовая музыка и её очень интересно слушать, проходных песен вообще нет, сыграна музыка безупречно, а какой здесь вокал, мелодии бесподобны, есть небольшой налёт грусти на альбоме, но это всё так прекрасно сочитается..альбом точно встаёт рядом с альбомами нирваны в списке лучших гранж альбомов

Superunknown best song so far. Has a chill rhythm and cool vibe. The singers voice is awesome Head Down is nice and hypnotic. 4th of July was kinda my least favourite.

Damn near perfect, and the quintessential grunge album. This is an absolute goliath of an album with zero misses and one of the hardest hitting sounds in the genre. Chris has a legitimate claim to the best vocal chops in the history of music, the range that he shows on some of these songs is ridiculous. The riffs are amazing, the drumming does not get nearly enough credit but Matt Cameron is a beast as well. Songs like Spoonman, Fell on Black Days, Mailman, My Wave and The Day I Tried to Live are part of why I fell in love with grunge music. This is their magnum opus. Badmotorfinger deserves a spot on this list as well. If you loved this, go and check it out.

3.75 One of the big 4 of Seattle's grunge scene in the late 80s/ early 90s. Of the four, Nirvana was always the number 1 with a bullet to me. However, the other three (Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, and Alice in Chains) have switched in and out of the number 2 spot. Soundgarden has the best singer in Chris Cornell and its not even close. This album is considered their Masterpiece. Im in the minority on this but I actually like the albums that come before and after this one (Badmotorfinger and Down on the Upside, respectively (will always drop a respectively whenever I can)). Thats not to say I dont love this album too, just like the others slightly more. The singles off this one are all good ( Spoonman, Black Hole Sun, The day I tried to live, My Wave and Fell on Black Days) and theres some other great ones like the slidge of 4th of July and the faster Kickstand. This album doesnt really have much of a "low point". However, it doesn't have a zenith as well. Its a solid record but doent quite reach perfect, for me. Would accept as a gift on vinyl or buy it if it was a crazy good deal. Would recommend it.

I knew pretty much every word of every single from this album strictly from hearing them countless times on 90's-00's rock radio, but I honestly couldn't name the band. I just knew their hits from repeat exposure. The hits are hits. The vocals are quite good. There's a fair amount of filler in the album, but this is quintessential grunge.

nah

I don't know if I can have a big boy opinion about this record. It seems like something I should hate right off the bat. It's that 90's alt-rock (oft labelled grunge) with the dreadful, overblown vocal that is dripping with what was deemed to be acceptable male emotion for the time. With that said, the gloom-laden tracks in here sound like there actually is emotion contained within the vocal performance. Soundgarden doesn't depend on bravado like some other guys. Well, let's just put our cards on the table; Soundgarden is what Pearl Jam fans think Pearl Jam sounds like. Spoonman is one of the more prominent singles off of this record and is of particular nostalgic import to me. I feel like I was primed for heavy music from a very young age as I listened to Living Colour in conjunction with my Raffi tapes as young as 2 years old. Black Sabbath was introduced not long after, and I was forever doomed to have a warm association with angry, bleak music. Spoonman fit that mould for me at 8 or 9 whenever I heard it first. The pounding drums and stark pauses creating a deep trench across my brain that music still travels down to this day. Sure, I can hear the dumb spoons on the latter half of the song, and I can cringe at the vocals in general, but I can't fully disconnect from my own memories of that song. This is smart music for dumb guys. That's maybe the best way I can put it. Although if you've read any of my writing, the best way I can put something is usually just about the worst way it can be put. Proceed with caution. And fuck Eddie Vedder. 2.5-3 HIGHLIGHTS: Thanks for not being 2 hours (Smashing Pumpkins, I'm looking in your direction)

i get the hype for the album, but it's just not something i enjoy, and it massively overstays its welcome. 70 minutes is just too long not to be incredible.

Just a superb album. I thought I was going to give it a 4 but honestly every song is class and Chris Cornell is an all timer in terms of vocalists. Loved it.

Um dos grandes álbuns da década de 90, formando um do quarteto do grunge que fizeram história. Esse é um pouco mais refinado, não tem aquela sonoridade crua específica do grunge, há elementos mais eruditos assim por dizer, e conta com a voz lendária de Chris Cornell. Gosto bastante deste.

Boring. So goddamn boring. I've tried my whole life and can't get Chris Cornell. The guitars, the lyrics, the exhaled grunt at the end of most every bar. Spoonman is fine after a couple decades not hearing it

Cool sound, nice guitar

Listen to this one again. Kinda just sounded like man music on a first listen, but there's definitely something else going on. Favorite Songs: Black Hole Sun, Like Suicide

Great album.

Great album, probably their just commercial but that's also just them getting better at writing songs. Drags at the very end but overall quality

sounded like dad rock to me

I don’t like it, too electric guitary for me

BLACK HOLE SUN, WON’T YOU CUM!!

Generieke rock, zit geen flare aan maar het is gewoon oke. 2 bangers

6 - AVERAGE

This is just pristine and wonderful!!!!

Not bad at all

Not my thing

solid 4.0.

It's Soundgarden, Brother.

Not for me, but props to the lads for this assemblange of grunge.