Review Summary: You can't resist the louder pull
In 1988 saw Soundgarden release their debut LP Ultramega OK, a decent combination of heavy metal, hard rock and punk music, as well as the band signing to A&M Records, a major label. They were the first grunge band to do so. While most grunge bands at the time were either signed to underground record companies (such as Sub Pop who released Nirvana’s debut album Bleach or Mudhoney’s eponymous debut album), or even nonexistent (Pearl Jam, Love Battery, Hole) It was a big breakthrough for the grunge movement (I’d rather call it a movement than a genre), as a year after Louder than Love saw the light of day, another band of the big four, Alice in Chains, released their debut album-Facelift with another prominent record company-Columbia Records. Eventually this paved the way for grunge’s domination of the early and mid-90s. Enough said about history, let’s see what Soundgarden’s second album has to offer.
While the two songs of this album were accompanied a music video, which is obviously a more mainstream leaning standard, the album sounds quite raw, which nicely captures the spirit of the band. Things start off with the energetic hard rock number called Ugly Truth. With the epic wail of Chris Cornell and interesting guitar riffs it’s a very solid start. Hands all Over is a rather long song about how humanity is killing mother earth, with Cornell’s impressive and very catchy vocals, combining heavier, metalesque riffs with very melodic lines (great work from the largely underrated Kim Thayil, who received writing credits only to this song and Get on the Snake) and the bass flickering through, and overall a stunning energy flowing through this tune, no wonder why it’s the most popular track from the album. Number three- Gun is one of the heaviest track a grunge band has ever made, with slow sludge metal styled riffs, aggressive vocals, epic drum lines (Matt Cameron is no average drummer and he proves it on Louder than Love) and the songs speed up finished with a fast and chaotic solo and an overall frightening atmosphere-this is another amazing track to begin with.
Power Trip shows that Soundgarden are undeniably a Led Zeppelin influenced band, with bluesy guitars, emotional, 70s like vocals from Cornell, this slower track is an interesting (also thanks to its interesting, poetic lyrics) and surprisingly relaxing, but slightly overdraged song. Things get faster and punkier with a tale about the American road (and in a way a criticism of all that the ‘swarms of motor flies’ gives off). Solid riffs and vocals and another good track on Louder than Love. Despite its rather witty lyrics, Full on Kevin’s Mom has some of the more dramatic riffage and beside, an overall punky feel to it. It’s an interesting track despite less ambitious lyrics (compared to the two opening tracks or the poetic Power Trip), although it perhaps would fit more on Ultramega OK.
The second single from this album, also accompanied by a video-Loud Love begins with high sounding notes, reminiscent of a violin. Filled with quite heavy guitars (at times they feel rather Sabbathic) , varying tempos, interesting drum patterns and as always, phenomenal vocals. Another very strong track, greatly illustrating the raw feel of grunge music, at the same times being very catchy and memorable. I Awake is a very dark song based on an equally depressing letter that Soundgarden’s then bassist’s Hiro Yamamoto girlfriend once left him. The track was written by Yamamoto, contrary to most songs on the album which were composed by Cornell . With crushing riffs, this is a great example of Soundgarden’s metal side with a touch of psychedelia in the beginning (combining bass riffs and weird drum lines as well as various guitar noises) and thrilling vocals, especially the chorus where Chris Cornell greatly shows his vocal abilities. Truly chilling track.
No Wrong No Right, also written by the band’s bassist is another gloomy, rather depressing track with lyrics about how are fate is sealed from the moment we’re born. Another dark piece of music, one of the more underrated tracks from the album, with a compelling variation of vocals from Cornell and some of his best lyrics written for Soundgarden material. Uncovered, a lighter song with a bluesy and Led Zeppelin feel to it, while not as haunting as the two earlier songs, it’s a decent tune, however compared to the largely similar Power Trip this track seems to be slightly subpar. Big Dumb Sex is a very good parody of glam metal and it’s lyrical themes, with a bit simpler glam metal styled riffs and vocals, this song still has some peculiar elements more typical to Soundgarden, mainly the atmospheric intro riff and as always, great vocals of the one and only Chris Cornell. Very good parody of all that’s cheesy about 80s pop metal. To wrap things up-Full On, a mix of psychedelic rock and blues with vocals similar to what Cornell showed on Temple of the Dog songs. Despite its messy arrangement and an impression that it was added unnecessarily, in a way it’s atmosphere neatly closes down Louder than Love.
Overall, this album is a very good piece of music. Combining tracks that could easily be labeled sludge metal and the Melvins wouldn’t be ashamed of writing them (Gun, I Awake), a great parody of glam metal and it’s cheesy lyrical content (Big Dumb Sex) , very good tracks at elements of hard rock and heavy metal with great melody (Ugly Truth, Hands all Over, Power Trip, Get on the Snake, Loud Love) as well as very dark tracks (Gun, I Awake, No Wrong No Right). While the album’s first few songs overpower the end of the album, most of the tracks are quite consistent and the songwriting is mostly at a high level (although mostly far from later Soundgarden’s top songwriting abilities). Many riffs here are great and they are some of the best the band has ever written, what’s noteworthy is that many are played in unorthodox time signatures. That’s largely thanks to Cornell, who both composed most songs as well as wrote the lyrics (he still hadn’t revealed his full lyrical potential on Louder than Love) and his characteristic vocals here are simply put fantastic. Kim Thayil threw his two cents here with interesting solos and composing Hands all Over, which beside Gun, Full on Kevin’s Mom and I Awake has the best guitar lines on the entire album. The rhythm section is very tight here, with bass flickering through nicely on most songs, while the drums sound very good and Matt Cameron throws in several interesting drum patterns.
Louder than Love has many tracks that the band can’t surely be ashamed of, and while some tracks seem forgettable and not standing up to the standards of other songs (Uncovered, Full On¬¬), Soundgarden shows that they can make memorable tracks with the raw energy of grunge and punk music and the heaviness of Black Sabbath. A very strong grunge album from the 80s and a good prologue to what’s probably the band’s opus magnum-Badmotorfinger.
Best Tracks:
Ugly Truth
Hands All Over
Gun
I Awake
Big Dumb Sex
