| Soundgarden Down on the Upside |
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Full Review | User Ratings (153) |
3 of 3 thought this review was well written
Soundgarden
Down On The Upside
The Band: Chris Cornell- vocals, guitar
Kim Thayil- lead guitar
Ben Sheperd- bass, back up vocals
Matt Cameron- drums
“Down On The Upside" released 1996 was Soundgarden’s fifth album and in my opinion their second best, shortly trailing after Superunknown. Although, unlike Superunknown this album is far more experimental. There lots of different sounding tracks on the album. At times I enjoyed this aspect of the album and at times I didn’t. A couple of the experimental tracks were good like for example “An Unkind" was a very solid track. “Applebite" on the other hand is far from solid. It’s actually one of the most annoying tracks I’ve ever heard, nothing really goes together, the instrumentals lack quality and the vocals are hard to here. Also, the format they chose for the song was just irritating as well. But other than that particular track this was an excellent album. The instrumentals as well as the vocals were superb. Some of Thayil’s best solo work can be found on this album. The rhythm guitar was also splendid for the most part. The bass could’ve had a larger role in the album, but it had its moment here and there. The drums were great and actually quite complicated at times, I found. Cornell did an excellent job with the vocals. They really completed the album. Overall the album is simply spectacular.
This album’s overall feel was kind of dark, depressing even. Although it wasn’t quite as sad as Superunknown. A lot of songs have very steady rhythm and driving vocals, so this makes for a good album to head bang to, even if it is sort of depressing. To give you a small example as to why this album is depressing here are some of the song names “Pretty Noose", “No Attention" “Burden In My Hand". There were some other factors that contributed to the overall eeriness of the album. Some of the songs had a slow steady pace as opposed to a faster more thrashy pace. The slow steady pace sort of brings your mood down, not necessarily making you said just mellowing you out. Then once you start to listen to the vocals they make you feel rather disheartened. Although, if you just listen to one song occasionally it won’t bring your mood down, but if you listen to it all the way through it puts you into a rather sorrowful mood.
I found the guitar to be the high-point of the album. It was nearly flawless throughout. Everything was well-written. The rhythm guitar was very powerful in most tracks. The high amount of gain on Cornell and Thayil’s amps helped with aspect of the album. I enjoyed the majority of the intros as well. For example the intro to “Pretty Noose" was great. Very mellow with some wah used. Also with some nice clean sounding guitar under it. There was too much soloing to be heard, but the solos they had were great. For example the solo in “Pretty Noose". There was a lot of sort of experimental guitar on the album as well. Like in “Ty Cobb", the majority of the song was very fast paced, thrashy even, yet some of the guitar sounded the folk music which is generally slower. The guitar almost sounded like banjo at points. The album is packed full of little things like that. I believe I even heard some piano in a couple of tracks, although it also could have just been a guitar with some strange FX on it. I also liked the mellower tracks on the album like “Blow Up My Outside World". They weren’t quite as great as the heavier tracks, but were still well-written.
The bass was nothing short of marvelous. It was pretty involved in most tracks. Like in the intro to “Switch Opens". I found a lot of the bass lines to be a tad simple, but it did have it’s more complicated moments too. The bass helped give the album it’s eerie feel because well try and make a bass sound happy. It’s got the extremely low pitch, scary feel and is a very soft sounding instrument. It’s generally just a sad instrument. The bass had pretty good rhythm throughout. Although, I believe I caught it off slightly off rhythm for a second or two here and there, but I might just be being kind of picky. I liked the tone on Sheperd’s amp, it sort of reminded me of some Rage Against The Machine bass lines. It was sort of crisp, considering the usual softness of the instrument.
The drums weren’t quite up to par with the bass and guitar, but they were still more than adequate. Cameron spent roughly the same amount of time with simple beats as he did with other beats played on the toms and other lower pitched parts of the drum kit. I thought this was a good thing because it sort of bugs me when drummers rely almost entirely on simple beats and mostly just use their high-hats and snare. Matt’s use of the toms went well with the overall low pitched eerie feel of the album. Also there was some good use of his cymbals in here. Some drummers tend to let them ring for too long which makes the drums sound sort of sloppy and too busy. Mr. Cameron kept most of the cymbal’s beats more staccato, which kept the drums sounding more precise. All in all a splendid job by Matt Cameron.
Overall Rating: 4.5/5
Pros: Vocals, instrumentally very sound, well produced
Cons: Some tracks blended together
Overall this isn’t the kind of album you want to listen to every day because of its sad nature. But when you’ve had a tough day this is a good listen. It won’t help you to get out of your bad mood by any means, but it will certainly suite your mood. This is also good for the occasional listen no matter what kind of mood you’re in, as long as you like the band. I myself just don’t like to listen to it too often because like I’ve mentioned several times it depresses me, but I enjoy listening to the occasional track. Also, I would recommend (if you play an instrument) learning a couple of the songs. They’re pretty fun play. Until next time keep your stick on the ice.
Metallicaman
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| Recent reviews by this author | | |
Album Rating: 5
seriously, let Red Green use his own catch phrase. It looks pathetic at the end of a review.
Digging: Miles Davis - The Complete In a Silent Way Sessions | | |
I am okay with the nod to Mr. Green.
I dig:
Pretty Noose
Ty Cobb (still don't know what it's about)
Blow Up The Outside World
Burden In My Hand
Rhinosaur
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Well you have written another good review. Burden In My Hand is the balls as far as Soundgarden songs go.
Til next time dont poop in the slurpee machine.
The Sludge
Digging: Katy Perry - One of the Boys
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Great review dude, and I shall vote. ANd you know my views on your "catch phrase".
Digging: ratatat remixes vol. 1 GHOSTFACE - Mogwai and Brian Eno
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Hmm. Good review. I still need to get (and find) this album, and I've only heard Blow Up the Outside World, and I think it's an awesome song.
Digging: The Evens - Get Evens
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
Hmm, people seem be somehwhat angsty towards my signature ending. Oh well, it's not like you can neg me just for the ending, so I intend to continue using it.
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Angsty? I think not. And if it is indeed Red Green's catchphrase, it's not your signature ending. But yeah, as I said good review and crap.
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
Well, Jimmy seemed angsty. And I suppose it's not my signature thing, but whatever I'm still using it.
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
I think Pretty Noose is the best Soundgarden song written!!!
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Pretty noose :thumbs up:
| | | Album Rating: 5
is this album out of print?
| | | Album Rating: 4
This albums is really solid at the begining, and as it progresses it gets a little wierd, in a good way. Just like Superunknown they were able to get moody without tiring out the album. Fine work, Soundgarden!
| | | Album Rating: 2.5
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Originally Posted by activista-anitmtv
]Ty Cobb (still don't know what it's about)
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Ty Cobb=Hall of Fame Baseball Player
Digging: Built To Spill - Perfect From Now On | | | Album Rating: 4.5
I see this album everywhere. I don't know what you guys are talking about.
But yeah, it's great. Even though my review for it sucked.
Much better job.
Digging: Iron And Wine - The Shepherd's Dog | | | Album Rating: 4.5
Quote:
I see this album everywhere. I don't know what you guys are talking about.
But yeah, it's great. Even though my review for it sucked.
Much better job.
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Ah, don't worry dude. Yours wasn't too bad. Just kind of lacking an introduction and there were some minor errors.
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
I still haven't really...learned how to write reviews very well.
| | | Album Rating: 4
Well, i have to say this is an ingenious CD and well arguably...hell i say it is better than Superunknown, i mean to improve on such an album is extremely difficult and this attempt is highly commendable esp considering the direction they took with it.
One point on the review, in reference to "applebite" it is a very cleverly produced song to do with the Garden of Eden. Once you determine the lyrics you will maybe understand.
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
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One point on the review, in reference to "applebite" it is a very cleverly produced song to do with the Garden of Eden. Once you determine the lyrics you will maybe understand.
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Regardless of what it has to do with I didn't like it. I won't get into why, as that is stated in the review.
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I still haven't really...learned how to write reviews very well.
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Ah, buck up lad. You'll improve in due time.
| | | Album Rating: 4
It's too bad these guys get eclipsed by the other 3 of the seattle four. This is a very good album. Superunknown is better.
| | | Album Rating: 4
Badmotorfinger & Superunknown are much more solid and varied albums IMO. DOTU has some amazing songs that are a lot more solid rock then ever before and a very unique, cathartic feel to it that is not reflected on any of their other work.
Favourite songs wise, the first few tracks do it for me nicely. Towards the middle are some great songs, like Burden in My Hand and Applebite. The last few songs taper off for me, as good as they are they just don't cut it as well as everything else on here for me.
Ty Cobb isn't about the famous baseballer as such, but womanising crazy behaviour which Ty Cobb was famous for.
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