5 reasons to worship Soundgarden

My sister recently asked me for my take on Soundgarden. Obviously I haven't been writing enough about one of the best rock bands of the past 20 years.

Anyone with a remotely passing interest in rock n' roll needs Superunknown, Soundgarden's 1994 masterwork. (L-R) Kim Thayil, Matt Cameron, Chris Cornell and Ben Shepherd streamlined their sludgy, metallic grunge just enough to dominate the airwaves, but singer/songwriter/guitarist Cornell hadn't (yet) lost the aggression and integrity that made earlier albums like Louder than Love grab America by the ears.

"Black Hole Sun" is one of my very favorite songs. The video still gives me the creeps.



For dark, soul-searching music, there's little outside of "Paint it, Black" than can compete with this one. Thom Yorke must've been taking notes on the peculiar, alienated wordplay and ominous guitar work.

The very next song on Superunknown is "Spoonman," an ode to a famed Seattle street performer, who graces the track with some otherworldly spoon tricks.



God, this song absolutely slays. That drop D, 7/4 hook must've come from another planet. If "Black Hole Sun" was Soundgarden's aim at Pink Floyd, then they're all over Led Zeppelin here, with a fast, complex and melodic riff over Cornell's primal yet controlled vocal stunts. Even if he never wrote a good song, Chris Cornell would be an electrifying lead singer.

I don't know where to stop with how great this record is. "My Wave" didn't even make Soundgarden's "best-of," but for a band like L7 or Stone Temple Pilots, it would've been a career-definer.



There's a saying in the fight world, that every boxer has one match where they fight better than they ever have before or ever will again. The same goes for music, whether it's Who's Next, Houses of the Holy or Superunknown.

Superunknown is pretty unbeatable, but its predecessor comes tantalizingly close. Pompous music critics will tell you that Badmotorfinger was overshadowed by Peal Jam's Ten, Nirvana's Nevermind and Alice in Chains' Dirt. But anyone who's listened to all of those albums will tell you that Badmotorfinger is as good as any of those, maybe even better (if not quite as good as In Utero or Vs.)

Case in point: "Jesus Christ Pose," a grunge-metal monster before most people believed that the two could co-exist. Allegedly the song is mocking Perry Farrell, but who could even care when it rocks so hard?



As much as I like all of Badmotorfinger, I usually have to listen to "Outshined" two or three times in a row before I go on with the rest of the album.



Unfortunately, Soundgarden broke up in 1997. Since then, Cornell has increasingly streamlined his music, resulting in some tedious solo records and a forgettable stint in Audioslave. It's Matt Cameron who still makes good music, drumming for Pearl Jam. But I bet Chris Cornell still brings it live.

I have to stop myself before I indulge on the merits of "Rusty Cage" and Johnny Cash's excellent cover, "Blow Up the Outside World" and its awesome video, choice covers from their underground years or even more from Superunknown. But if the songs above didn't convince you that Soundgarden rules, there's always John Mayer.