Soundgarden was responsible for several definitive songs of the 1990s. “Black Hole Sun”, “Fell On Black Days”, “Outshined”, “Rusty Cage”, and “Spoonman” all helped define an era of Seattle alternative rock bands and grunge music.
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The band borrowed from heavy metal, punk, and classic rock to create a unique blend of noisy and experimental sounds. With songs rooted in blues, they were presented with the anti-rock star ethos of underground music scenes. But as abrasive as the music could be, the tunes were also melodic with guitar riffs and hooks that became ubiquitous on modern rock radio and MTV. So, to celebrate the band’s recent induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, here are some lesser-known cuts from Soundgarden’s catalog.
“Hunted Down”
The Screaming Life EP arrived via Sub Pop in 1987. Its first track, “Hunted Down”, is Soundgarden’s debut single, showcasing how the band transformed dissonant noise into slow, heavy blues. The song clocks in at less than three minutes, but the essential elements of Chris Cornell’s voice, Kim Thayil’s guitar, and Matt Cameron’s drumming were all there. The EP features bassist Hiro Yamamoto, who was later replaced by Jason Everman, and eventually Ben Shepherd.
“Loud Love”
Mötley Crüe released Dr. Feelgood in 1989. It was a massive album, yet A&M Records released Soundgarden’s Louder Than Love the same year. The two albums couldn’t be further apart at every level. At the time, there was no end in sight for glam metal’s popularity, but “Loud Love” was an early warning shot to those glossy bands. Watching footage of Soundgarden with Cornell shirtless, stomping around in combat boots and duct-taped shorts, and shrieking like a punk rock Robert Plant, made the Sunset Strip bands feel immediately irrelevant.
“Searching With My Good Eye Closed”
Soundgarden’s third album, Badmotorfinger, is best remembered for the grunge hits “Outshined” and “Rusty Cage”. In 1991, those two songs aired endlessly on MTV alongside Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” and Pearl Jam’s “Alive” during a period of grunge cultural dominance. But “Searching With My Good Eye Closed” may be one of Cornell’s best songs. It begins with an extended intro and a dark reading inspired by the old Farmer Says toys. Then, a wall of Cornell screams cues the band for a sludgy groove Black Sabbath would have been proud to call their own.
“Jesus Christ Pose”
Taken from the same album as above, this track showcases Cameron’s relentless drumming. After hearing this pummeling groove, it’s no wonder he has been a member of two iconic bands: Soundgarden and Pearl Jam. “Jesus Christ Pose” recalls the band’s early period. You can hear several genres—punk, metal, noise, and classic rock—all coming together in an explosion that formed grunge. Even before a single lyric gets uttered, the feelings of Gen X alienation and despair are felt in Thayil’s anxious guitar bends. Meanwhile, Cornell reaches for the upper limits of his voice to criticize messianic rock stars.
“Ty Cobb”
Down On The Upside was Soundgarden’s final studio album for 16 years, before releasing King Animal in 2012. By 1996, grunge had waned, and Soundgarden experimented with new sounds. “Ty Cobb” is a sped-up punk rock jam with mandolin. Not exactly what you’d expect from Soundgarden or anything described as punk. Shepherd wrote the music and suggested adding a mandolin. He and Cornell tracked the parts, bringing Appalachian bluegrass to the Pacific Northwest.
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