Soundgarden - Down on the Upside
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Music CD Cover
Artist: SoundgardenEdition: Music CD
CD Release Date: 1996-05-21
Music Label: A&M
Soundtracks:
- Pretty Noose
- Rhinosaur
- Zero Chance
- Dusty
- Ty Cobb
- Blow Up The Outside World
- Burden In My Hand
- Never Named
- Applebite
- Never The Machine Forever
- Tighter & Tighter
- No Attention
- Switch Opens
- Overfloater
- An Unkind
- Boot Camp
Free Music Notes for Down on the Upside
Free Music Review: Underrated and a Fitting Swan Song to the Career of Soundgarden
Hit: 5 Stars
Some people who love Soundgarden seem to sometimes miss than they have a record in the shadow of Superunknown, even worse is that these people never bothered to give Down on the Upside a chance. Because, as you might expect from the band, it's really, really good. And sure, while it's not as good as Superunknown or Badmotorfinger (especially the latter, which is my personal favorite Soundgarden record), it offers a whole new expansion of their sound again, with some patented Soundgarden trademarks yet not sounding anything like. This is all fresh new music from the band, and sounds excellent all these years later, while Creed sound dated and stale despite being released a healthy years later (but I think we know that already).
If you are familiar with Soundgarden, you know that no record is alike. This record doesn't necessarily jump out at you, but once it sticks with you the rewards are great. Like every other Soundgarden record, it's all over the map while retaining a certain vibe, but then again it can get pretty confusing because the vibe of this record can vary from song to song (ARGH!). It's a bit more acoustic driven than their previous records, and it's much softer at times. Kim Thyall often clashed with Cornell to make some radical experimentation and new guitar sound, and he brings a unique blend of crispness, mellowness, and a rounded alternative sound, and the usual wickedness you would expect. He still wields that axe like a Swiss army knife, turning out plunking, rolling, and wicked guitar work like he does with ever other record. The rhythm section is jazzy, sometimes rocks, but still amazingly intricate and awesome; Matt Cameron just kicks. Cornell himself is pretty much same (like that's a bad thing), but he tunes down his screaming and howling to produce a much more soulful, rich vocal performance, even though there's not a absence of the former. I think the best compliment I can give is that it combines the slow melodic tendencies of Temple of the Dog (mainly vocally) and the Soundgarden sound we all know and love (that's a VERY good thing), and if that sounds like a good starter description to you, than I advise you to stop reading this review and buy this album immediately. Here's the rundown.
1. Pretty Noose-Leading off with a wicked wah-wah inspired guitar melody, this pummeling and rolling song is one heck of an opener. Almost howling guitar riffs, slabs of dissonant guitar squall, and a terrific oceanic atmosphere, well, what more can I say? Great lyrics about
2. Rhinosaur-Awesome song, driven by giant, howling riffs, with a bullish, take no prisoners vocal performance by Chris Cornell. It also breaks down into a faster portion of the song, where Kim Thyall and Cornell unleash a pair of terrific, wailing, abrasive, and wicked guitar solos that seem to offset and play off each other. Such great stuff.
3. Zero Chance-
4. Dusty-One of the best songs Soundgarden has ever done, so much going on in this song. The verses, driven by a splash of acoustic guitar, features Chris swooning over a jazzy back beat (check out the shakers in the background near the end). And the chorus is anthem-worthy and is worth just screaming off the top of your lungs, I've never had the urge to do so since listening to Rancid's Indestructible. Such an impeccable and unbelievable tight and executed, subtle and nuanced song. Perfection
5. Ty Cobb-Continuing Soundgarden's penchant for awesome punk rock songs, Ty Cobb is a melange of Mandolin (!) and raw punk rock filtered through Kim's whirling guitar riffs, with a shout out chorus. The breakdown is sick, with a grungy, dirty guitar riff over somewhat jazzy drums, as rocking and energetic as it sounds. Once again, the playing is just airtight and awesome.
6. Blow up the Outside World-Excellent song that predictable alternates to mellow, subdued angst (in the best, psychology based way possible), to a REALLY loud, expressive and explosive chorus, that features Cornell howling over explosive hard rock. In between there, there's another great guitar solo, and more howling. Nothing too groundbreaking when it comes to the sound of Soundgarden, but you won't be disappointed by this track if you are a Soundgarden fan.
7. Burden in my Hand-
8. Never Named-Easiest the poppiest song that Soundgarden has ever done, or though I would say it is very sunny and catchy. Beach Boys grunge? Maybe that's a little stretching it, but you get the point. Still, it has the hard edge guitars, and the breakdown at the end is clap your hands almost. A highlight would probably be Matt Cameron, who delivers precision and an energetic wallop all in one. I also like it's lyrics regarding taking things for granted that we as children seemed to always have.
9. Applebite-Not very emotionally engaging, as if I had to pick a weak track on the album, it would be this. It's not bad by any means, as I like it's electronic beat and almost dubby bass line, with some tinkering piano. The intro is pretty good, sounding a bit machine factorty esque. Unfortunately, it has a very distant feeling, which unfortunately doesn't equal emotional distance. By the time the song is done, it has diminished into tediousness. Too bad, but forgettable.
10. Never the Machine Forever-
11. Tighter and Tighter-
12. No Attention-
13. Switch Opens-This song is just awesome, being an anthem to breaking out of the mold, at least in my opinion, split into three awesome main sections. The first, with it's chiming guitars, is hopeful and cathartic, while the the second part has this incredibly uplifting, guitar riff, dreamy, melodic, and a totally unique guitar tone. The last, with a sort of repetitive march over this great guitar riff, suggests strength of overcoming obstacles. A masterpiece.
14. Overfloater-
15. An Unkind-A short sweet song, it took me a few listens to let it grow on me, now I love it. Basically alternates from a churning buzz saw riff, and a yearning, sometimes dreamy, but powerful, even spiritual chorus. Epic song, with a sense of the time of, well time. The outro once again gives it a somewhat jazzy end, and there are subtle nuances that add to the whole thing.
16. Boot Camp-While I feel that this song is not the most enjoyable Soundgarden song, this is a song that I really admire the heck out of. Dreamy sound scape of trippy guitars, and ethearal vocals from Cornell speak of hope, wanting more out of life, and a better life. I think one of the other reviewers here captured the greatness of this song, so I won't say much else. This is one of their most poignant songs in their whole catalog, a perfect summarizing of Existentialism that Sound garden always had in their music.
One caveat though: WHY THE HELL DID THEY LEAVE OUT BLEED TOGETHER? That's an amazing song! It would have fit in perfectly. Oh well, you can get it on A-sides, but it should have been on this album. But I digress.
Make no mistake, if you liked Soundgarden for it's much heavier and unfiltered (Badmotorfinger and earlier) alternative rock/grunge, you probably won't like Down on the Upside. Of course, if you only liked them for Black Hole Sun, you won't get much use from listening to this one. However, despite others seeing it as a slightly weak swan song over Badmotorfinger and Superunknown, Down on the Upside is ABSOLUTELY essential for anybody who loves the mighty Soundgarden.
Down on the Upside Poster
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