Superunknown ( Russian: Excellent Stranger ) is the fourth studio album of the American rock band Soundgarden , released in 1994 , the second album of the group with bassist Ben Shepherd . This album showed a sound different from the band’s earlier work. Soundgarden began work on the album after a tour in support of the previous 1991 Badmotorfinger album.
Superunknown | |||||||
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Studio album Soundgarden | |||||||
Date of issue | March 8, 1994 | ||||||
Recorded by | July-September, 1993; Bad Animals Studio ( Seattle , Washington ) | ||||||
Genres |
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Duration | 70:13 | ||||||
Producers |
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A country | ![]() | ||||||
Language of songs | English | ||||||
Label | A&M | ||||||
Professional reviews | |||||||
Soundgarden Timeline | |||||||
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R s | Position # 336 in the list The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time by Rolling Stone Magazine |
The album was a commercial success and became a breakthrough group. He debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and held high places on charts around the world.
Content
Record
Sessions of the album took place from July to September 1993 , at Seattle 's Bad Animals Studio. Michael Beinhorn was invited as a producer. Regarding working with Beinhorn instead of Data, guitarist Kim Tile said, “We just wanted variety.” [9] Mixed the album Brendan O'Brien.
Work on the album began two months after performing at the 1992 Lollapalooza Festival. [10] Frontman Chris Cornell said band members allowed each other more freedom than previous records. [11] Tile noted that even though the group spent a lot of time writing and discussing new material, as was the case on previous albums, it still took a lot more time to record the songs. [9] Soundgarden worked on the principle of recording one song at a time. [12] First, drum and bass parts were recorded for each song, and then Cornell and Tile layered them superficially. [ten]
Chris Cornell said Beinhorn’s experience contributed to the wise use of time on the album. [13] The group spent time experimenting with various drum and guitar sounds, using the various capabilities of the available technique, resulting in an expansive production sound. [13] In the middle of the recording, Soundgarden took a break in order to play on warm-ups with Neil Young on his ten-day US tour. [14] On the advice of Stone Gossard of Pearl Jam, Brendan O'Brien was invited to mix the album. [15] Tile called the mixing process “very painless,” [15] bassist Ben Shepherd said it was “the fastest part in the recording process.” [sixteen]
Material Features
The songs on “Superunknown” combine the metalic traditions of the band’s previous work and a new sound. Steve Huey, Allmusic , said that "the influence of punk early work has been replaced by surprisingly effective moves in pop music and psychedelia." [17] Chris Cornell described the album as more “challenging” and “universal” compared to the band’s previous albums. [13] [18]
The songs on the album are more experimental and diverse than the previous recordings of the group, some songs have a Middle Eastern or Indian flavor (for example, “Half” sung by Shepard). Some songs, such as “Head Down” and “ Black Hole Sun ”, also show the influence of The Beatles . In a 1994 interview with Guitar World, Tile explained, “In the depths of our souls lived a small Ringo . Well, of course, we like to tell people that it is John Lennon or George Harrison , but when you dive deeper into Soundgarden , this little Ringo craves a way out. ” [15]
Lyrically, the album is rather dark and mysterious, the lyrics raise the themes of substance abuse, suicide, and depression, along with the themes of revenge, destruction, solitude, fear, death, and discovery. At that time, Chris Cornell was inspired by the letters of Sylvia Plath. [nineteen]
Song List
No | Title | The words | Music | Duration | |||||
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one. | "Let Me Drown" | Chris Cornell | Chris Cornell | 3:51 | |||||
2 | "My Wave" | Chris Cornell | Chris Cornell , Kim Tyil | 5:12 | |||||
3 | "Fell on Black Days" | Chris Cornell | Chris Cornell | 4:42 | |||||
four. | "Mailman" | Chris Cornell | Matt Cameron | 4:25 | |||||
five. | "Superunknown" | Chris Cornell | Chris Cornell , Kim Tyil | 5:06 | |||||
6 | "Head down" | Ben shepherd | Ben shepherd | 6:08 a.m. | |||||
7 | " Black Hole Sun " | Chris Cornell | Chris Cornell | 5:18 | |||||
eight. | Spoonman | Chris Cornell | Chris Cornell | 4:06 | |||||
9. | "Limo Wreck" | Chris Cornell | Matt Cameron , Kim Tayle | 5:47 | |||||
ten. | "The Day I Tried to Live" | Chris Cornell | Chris Cornell | 5:19 | |||||
eleven. | Kickstand | Chris Cornell | Kim tayil | 1:34 | |||||
12. | Fresh Tendrils | Chris Cornell , Matt Cameron | Matt Cameron | 4:16 | |||||
13. | "4th of July" | Chris Cornell | Chris Cornell | 5:08 | |||||
14. | "Half" | Ben shepherd | Ben shepherd | 2:14 | |||||
15. | "Like Suicide" | Chris Cornell | Chris Cornell | 7:01 | |||||
70:13 |
Bonus track with LP and European Edition | |||||||||
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No | Title | The words | Music | Duration | |||||
sixteen. | "She Likes Surprises" | Chris Cornell | Chris Cornell | 3:17 |
Exit and reviews
After being released in March 1994, Superunknown debuted in first place on the Billboard 200 . [20] This album brought the group worldwide acclaim. Superunknown has a five-time platinum status from RIAA , USA , [21] three-time platinum status in Canada , [22] and gold status in the UK , [23] Sweden , [24] and the Netherlands . [25]
Steve Hooey, Allmusic , gave the album five out of five stars, saying, "Obviously, Superunknown was deliberately designed as a masterpiece." [17] Q gave the album five out of five stars. The review said, “ Soundgarden played hard rock: heavy guitar sound, drumming .... However, Superunknown also includes more balanced moments, such as the famous single Black Hole Sun. " [26] Rolling Stone rated four out of five stars, saying that “Superunknown shows such a wide range that not every group can show something comparable.” [27] The New York Times columnist said that "Superunknown has actually expanded the group's audience by breaking down the heavy metal barriers that Soundgarden used to take." [28]
For all five singles from the album clips were shot. Also, all five singles hit the Mainstream Rock and Modern Rock charts . Black Hole Sun is the album’s most successful song, with a total of seven weeks in first place on the Mainstream Rock chart and second place on the Modern Rock chart . “Black Hole Sun” was released in the summer of 1994 and became the band's most recognizable and popular song. The clip for this song hit the rotation on television. The video won the Best Metal / Hard Rock Video Award at the 1994 MTV VMA ceremony. [29]
In 1995, Soundgarden received two Grammy awards. Black Hole Sun won the Best Hard Rock Performance , Spoonman won the Best Metal Performance. [30] Black Hole Sun was also nominated for Best Rock Song. [30] Superunknown was nominated for "Best Rock Album." [thirty]
In 2003, the album was given the number 336 on the Rolling Stone magazine's list of “ 500 Greatest Albums of All Time ”.
In November 2011, Superunknown finished fifth on the Guitar World Magazine's Top Ten List of Guitar Albums of 1994. [31]
Unreleased material
The singles included three B-Sides recorded during Superunknown sessions - Exit Stonehenge, Kyle Petty, Son of Richard, and Motorcycle Loop. “Exit Stonehenge” as the Bee Side got into the single “Spoonman”, and the Bee Parties “Kyle Petty, Son of Richard”, and “Motorcycle Loop” included various versions of the single “Fell on Black Days”. "Kyle Petty, Son of Richard" is featured on the 1996 compilation album Home Alive. The song “Flutter Girl” was written during Superunknown recording sessions, but did not appear on the album. Instead, she appeared on Chris Cornell's 1999 solo album, Euphoria Morning . The songs “Tighter & Tighter”, “No Attention”, and “An Unkind” were recorded during the Superunknown sessions and were featured on the 1996 album Down on the Upside . [32] [33] Matt Cameron said the band was not happy with the recording of the “No Attention” song that came out during the recording sessions. [34]
Honors
Year | Publication | A country | List | Position |
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1995 | Muziekkrant oor | "The 100 Best Albums of 1991-1995" [35] | 49 | |
1998 | Kerrang! | “100 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die” [36] | 70 | |
Alternative press | “The 90 Greatest Albums of the 90's” [37] | 18 | ||
1999 | Spin | “Top 90 Albums of the 90's” [38] | 70 | |
Pause & play | The 90's Top 100 Essential Albums [39] | eleven | ||
2003 | Rolling stone | “The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time” [40] | 336 |
Record Members
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Notes
- ↑ The 30 Best Grunge Albums of All Time . Loudwire
- ↑ Matt Melison. May 18, 2017. The Top 10 Grunge Albums of All Time . Consequence of Sound .
- ↑ Soundgarden: Superunknown (Eng.) // Q : magazine. - Bauer Media Group , 1994. - November ( no. 98 ). - P. 122 .
- ↑ Pareles, Jon . Lightening Up On the Gloom In Grunge (March 6, 1994). Archived on October 14, 2014. Date of treatment March 23, 2008.
- ↑ 10 Best Hard Rock Albums of 1994 . Loudwire
- ↑ Browne, David . Superunknown // Entertainment Weekly : magazine. - 1994 .-- 11 March. Archived on October 17, 2015.
- ↑ Weiss, Jeff. "There Was No One Else on Earth Like Chris Cornell . " Noisey
- ↑ Powers, Ann (1994). "Soundgarden: Superunknown." Blender (New York).
- ↑ 1 2 “Let's Make a Grunge Album!” Raw . December 8, 1993.
- ↑ 1 2 MEAT Magazine March 1994
- ↑ “I Slept With Soundgarden and Other Chilling Confessions” Alternative Press. March 1994
- ↑ Soundgarden's Matt Cameron: Breaking New Ground. Modern Drummer . June 1994
- ↑ 1 2 3 “Garden of the Unknown”. Melody Maker November 27, 1993.
- ↑ "Into the Superunknown" Rolling Stone . June 16, 1994
- ↑ 1 2 3 Sleepless in Seattle Guitar World . May 1994
- ↑ Making Music. May 1994
- ↑ 1 2 Superunknown album review. Allmusic . March 21, 2009.
- ↑ "Interview with Soundgarden." Mesa Boogie. 1996
- ↑ "In Search of the Monster Riff." Pulse !. March 1994.
- ↑ “Changing of the Garden” Entertainment Weekly . March 25, 1994
- ↑ “Gold and Platinum Database Search” (link not available) . Date of treatment February 18, 2012. Archived July 13, 2012.
- ↑ Canadian Recording Industry
- ↑ British Phonographic Industry
- ↑ IFPI Den Svenske Hitlista
- ↑ NVPI
- ↑ Q. Superunknown Album Review. November 1993
- ↑ "Soundgarden - Superunknown." Rolling stone. July 31, 1997
- ↑ RECORDINGS VIEW; Lightening Up On the Gloom In Grunge The New York Times. March 6, 1994
- ↑ 1994 MTV Video Music Awards
- ↑ 1 2 3 37th Grammy Awards - 1995
- ↑ "Top Ten List of Guitar Albums of 1994" . Guitar World. November 2011
- ↑ “Soundgarden in the Studio.” Livewire 1993
- ↑ "Upshot on 'The Upside' from Kim Thayil." Metal Edge August 1996
- ↑ "Matt Cameron of Soundgarden: Balance of Power & Grace." Drum !. September 1996
- ↑ The 100 Best Albums of 1991-1995 . Muziekkrant OOR . Date of treatment May 6, 2008. Archived June 27, 2012.
- ↑ 100 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die . Kerrang! . Date of treatment May 6, 2008. Archived June 25, 2012.
- ↑ 90 Greatest Albums of the '90s The 90 Greatest Albums of the 90s . Alternative Press . Date of treatment May 6, 2008.
- ↑ Top 90 Albums of the 90's Top 90 Albums of the 90s . Spin Date of treatment May 6, 2008.
- ↑ The 90s Top 100 Essential Albums . Pause & Play . Date of treatment May 6, 2008. Archived June 25, 2012.
- ↑ The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time . Rolling stone . Date of treatment May 6, 2008. Archived April 15, 2008.