Curious to see if anybody else thinks as highly of Soundgarden as I do.

They tend to get lumped together with the "grunge" bands, but I think they have a very distinctive sound, especially in their early albums. Cornell's vocal range was insane back then. Their songs are more complex and interesting than a lot of the "grunge" stuff too. I'd almost put them right up there with the Pumpkins as one of the most original, creative, and talented bands of the 90's.

Thoughts?

I love soundgarden! I totally agree that their early stuff(that no one seems to know about) is way different, it's like a bridge between hair metal and grunge. Not in a cheap 80s way but because of the high vocals and 80s guitar solos and stuff. louder than love and screaming life are great looks back to the begings.

P.S. does anyone care about other early grunge acts like The Melvins, Mudhoney, or Green River?

Never really got into Soundgarden(but I liked Audioslave). I only know their singles and popular songs, so I can't make a complete judgment on the band. They were part of the original grunge movement, so I can see how they can be grouped into that generic category. Sometimes Chris' vocal range, yes it's impressive, annoys on me a bit.

Soundgarden is a most underated band. They are so unique and talented. I just don't think they have ever gotten the recognition they deserve. As being up there with the Pumpkins, no I don't think they got to that level, mainly because I think they were pigeon holed to a large extent by their producers and such which smothered alot of their creativity.
I think they have alot of material that has yet to come to light, and if it were to ever surface the world would be totally taken aback at what they are really all about.

Mdanaher wrote:
I love soundgarden! I totally agree that their early stuff(that no one seems to know about) is way different, it's like a bridge between hair metal and grunge. Not in a cheap 80s way but because of the high vocals and 80s guitar solos and stuff. louder than love and screaming life are great looks back to the begings.

P.S. does anyone care about other early grunge acts like The Melvins, Mudhoney, or Green River?

Hell yeah. Im trying desperatly to get hold of a copy of the Deep Six compilation album featuring allot of early grunge acts
including Soundgarden.

Also Im gutted I didnt get hold of Green river album when I saw it a couple of months back in a local indie record store....cant find it anywhere now

Was just listening to Mother Love Bone yesterday RIP Andrew Wood another guy with amazing vocals.

Back on topic I'd Agree Soundgarden are one of the top bands to come out of the whole seattle scene (which the good old Pumpkins managed to catch a piggy back to fame on )
And yes their earlier stuff was more metal influenced, but help provided that conection to punk that gave the Grunge music its distinctive sound

Yeah Soundgarden are great, as good as SP? Not quite but still awesome, i would have loved to seen em back in the day...

I have to get me some of their earlier stuff, my uncles been at me to haha... and some Green River, Mother Love Bone, etc

Strange, i had a poster sitting in my room as i was getting into grunge signed by Buzz Osbourne and other ppl (poss Mike Patton?) from a sort of 90's grunge/metal/punk "supergroup" that came this way (Aus) a few years back ... my uncle left it there when he went overseas and i never realised until a while ago who they were.

listen to alice in chains, so seatle.

PistolPete wrote:
Never really got into Soundgarden(but I liked Audioslave). I only know their singles and popular songs, so I can't make a complete judgment on the band. They were part of the original grunge movement, so I can see how they can be grouped into that generic category. Sometimes Chris' vocal range, yes it's impressive, annoys on me a bit.

your dead on im not a big fan of soundgarden but i loved audioslave and his voice at times bug me also his solo stuff aint great either if i had to pick my fav song it would be black hole sun.

temple of the dogs, 'say hello to heaven' '91.
The infancy of Pearl Jam.
'Poor stargazer
Shes got no tears in her eyes
Smooth like whisper
She knows that love heals all wounds with time
Now it seems like too much love
Is never enough, you better seek out
Another road cause this one has
Ended abrupt, say hello to heaven'

corganvision wrote:

your dead on im not a big fan of soundgarden but i loved audioslave and his voice at times bug me also his solo stuff aint great either if i had to pick my fav song it would be black hole sun.

Man, to me there's simply no comparisson between old Soundgarden and Audioslave. I'm talking about Soundgarden prior to Superunknown. That album was their first step toward turning into a "radio rock" kind of group. The early albums were edgy, raw, complex, unique, and just flat out rocked.

Audioslave is corporate-ized radio rock for the masses. There's very little (if anything) unique about it. I work in radio and I remember when there was all the build-up to them coming out because of their "supergroup" status...nobody had heard the music but there was a lot of buzz about it...then we got the "Cochise" single and everybody at the station was very unimpressed....I remember the P.D. of the station saying "if that's all they've got, they're not going to go very far." They did have success, but like I said, I don't find anything unique or interesting about Audioslave.