From: somms@mit.edu To: somms-digest@mit.edu Subject: Soundgarden Digest, Friday, 10 May 1996 Reply-To: somms@mit.edu Date: Fri, 10 May 1996 02:42:25 EDT Sender: saperl The Soundgarden Digest: Friday, 10 May 1996 listadmin: saperl@mit.edu list archive: http://www.sgi.net/soundgarden/archive/ TO UNSUBSCRIBE: email saperl@mit.edu Today's Topics: Re: Hello, don't you know me? tracy bonham, exit stonehenge, et cetera *PLEASE* Help Listening Party, Brisbane Re: Thoughts and Comments Re: UK Pretty Noose single RE: Soundgarden Double CD DOTU reviewed in Spin and Details aksljgbksdjbgkdfsngkdfngdj Pretty mantis? NORML The list Rolling Stone's DOTU review Re: Rolling Stone's DOTU review Re: Thoughts and Comments Rolling Stone review of DOTU Black Hole Ride RE: Movie Re: Thoughts and Comments The Matt Article - Part 1 Pretty Noose in Europe Chicago Radio wow! all these DoTU release date accusations... spider moving up your wall... Band History Re: Rolling Stone's DOTU review/it's too noisy... Down on the upside! all these DoTU release date accusations... part II (?) The coolest thing just happened... Re: The coolest thing just happened... Re: The coolest thing just happened... STuFF Re: Rolling Stone review of DOTU ------------------------------------------------------------ From: Greg Bensimon Subject: Re: Hello, don't you know me? I think Mailman pretty much sums up my life. Not that I'm going to go out and kill anyone, I just feel ignored an taken for granted most of the time... Greg ------------------------------ From: Fleur Weinstock Subject: tracy bonham, exit stonehenge, et cetera ok, yeah, tracy bonham. does anybody know who wrote "exit stonehenge" and who sings it? hi fellow sommsers, luuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuv, fleur ------------------------------ From: Foxymophandlemama <76345.3722@CompuServe.COM> Subject: *PLEASE* Help the only way i can get dotu in vinyl is if i order it from cd now. except, i don't have the number. could someone, anyone, puleeeasee send it to me? thanks. mop ------------------------------ From: ar303921@student.uq.edu.au (DEFsonic) Subject: Listening Party, Brisbane Hey all, Well it's sort of more directed to the ppl in Brisbane, but if anyone is bored enough go ahead and read on.... Got the new Rave this week and read about the Listening party at 'Crash 'N Burn' wondering if anyone is planing on going?? It's on the 16th, with lot's of free stuff it seems :) Bungee Jumps...what the hell has that to do with SG?? Anyway, I think i might just turn up to this...anyone else?? AND the release :) Midnight, Sunday the 19th :) With the first 60 ppl getting a free limited edition T-shirt :) I wonder who will be in that first 60 :) It's at HMV which sucks a bit, what happened to Skinny's ?? I would rather support the independant shops then places like HMV.....oh well. - -SG listening Party thursday, RHCP concert Friday, SG album Sunday, sounds like a good weekend- seeya Lee _/_/_/_/ _/_/_/_/ _/_/_/_/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/_/_/_/ _/_/_/_/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/_/_/_/ _/_/_/_/ _/ SONIC E-mail ar303921@student.uq.edu.au Turn it UP and Play it LOUD!! Let the blood rush to your head!! CD I'm listening to this week: "Pretty Noose" single by Soundgarden ------------------------------ From: "Steven Russell Jr." Subject: Re: Thoughts and Comments >Sommsters, sounds like people should be feeding us lettuce and carrots :-) :-) Or maybe...yeah..wasnt some guy walking on a wheel in the Outshined vid? Yeah...He's a Sommster!!! :-) > insane mailman he said quote "I'm sorry they killed you chris" later on > the tour at a concert in texas Chris said "this song is about killing your > fucking boss" just to clarify..and Erin can back me up...Chris said, "this song is about killing your fucking boss" at the Rochester, NY show. At the San Jose or Berkley show (I forget) he said "this (song) is about the good kill". The song, without question, is about someone going *postal*. Steve - - swr@acsu.buffalo.edu - - http://www.acsu.buffalo.edu/~swr (now listed in Yahoo!) - - SG Web Alliance ------------------------------ From: "Limo Wrecker" <9551219@EIGG.SMS.ED.AC.UK> Subject: Re: UK Pretty Noose single I think Brian Swift sent you a message anyway and he's decided to join the mailing list asap. I 've just laid out my poster flat under some books so it should be okay to put up soon, that is if I find some space on my already soundgarden infested wall. Cheers, Andy @@@@@LIMO WRECKER@@@@@ ------------------------------ From: NWA Subject: RE: Soundgarden Double CD I have both these Double CD's, one is the one you mention and the other is BMF and LTL, they came out on 241 Series, but don't have any of the lyrics in them. It's a budget idea so that you can buy two albums for the price of one, this is possibly a UK only deal. Nigel. First, I would like to introduce myself to all you SOMMSTER'S out in Soundgarden land, my name is Eileen. I have just been added to the SOMMS mailing list. SG is my FAVORITE band, and I have been a huge fan since '89. Anyway, with regards to an email that was sent from a person on this list (sorry, I don't know the name of the sender, I have already deleted that email) -- this person had mentioned that she received the double CD boxed Soundgarden album for her birthday that included both Badmotorfinger and Loud Love. I myself own the copy of the double cd which includes BadMotorfinger & Superunknown. I have never seen this double cd (BMF & LL), is this a mis type( perhaps you got the two albums wrong??) or does this double cd really exists???? Does anybody out there know??!! If so, PLEASE let me know!! Thanks, Eileen :-) ps. Hi Yoli ------------------------------ From: "B. Kinser" Subject: DOTU reviewed in Spin and Details and both had reviews of the new album. Spin gave it an 8 out of 10 and had many positive things to say about it. Details gave it a 7 out of 10, and while they gave it a good review, they couldn't stop talking about how much it sounded like seventies music. Details also had a picture of the cover. BK ------------------------------ From: never.named@thenexus.com Subject: aksljgbksdjbgkdfsngkdfngdj The Soundgarden song that sums up my life would have to be pretty much Zero Chance. I mean, it's really depressing to think about it, but it's the baldheaded truth.. I mean, when it comes to relationships.. Zero Chance.. "born without a friend and bound to die alone.." I feel that way sometimes.. Of course, I'm sure all of us do at some point... and I guess.. Head Down is like that too.. I mean, they're both different songs but they sum me up pretty good.. is there any Soundgarden song that translates into being really hyper and going around screaming KEVINER!!!? I mean, Rusty Cage is a hyper kinda song, but it's about being on the road, or so I heard. - -overfloater. ...my email address is changing again this weekend :) champagne.supernova@thenexus.com you probably don't like oasis, but the word CHAMPAGNE is enough for me. :) ------------------------------ From: "S. Brenden" Subject: Pretty mantis? This is my first time trying to e-mail SOMMS so if you're reading this and it dos'nt seem to be in the right place then ...uh... just disregard this and read no further. Anyway in the PN vidio did anyone notice what seems to be a purple preying mantis? At least I think that's what it is, it could be a difernt insect. Anyway the big purple bug apears on the left side of the screen, near the end of the song while chris is singing "and I don't like what you got me hangin from", right after the camera pans down a hallway and gives a close up of some guy in a doorways face and right before a close up of (the devil girl's?) green eye. Is there an insect there or am I going out of my mind (more so)? - -S. Brenden ------------------------------ From: "Joseph A. Burnett" Subject: NORML NATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR THE REFORMATION OF MARIJUANA LAWS...NORML Windy City Weed Festival........May 11-12....soldier field Just thought i'd keep our readers informed.... Big JOe - --------O But it all makes such Sense to me i need room to breathe I work for the goals that i set Wasted time it weighs on my mind You can bet I can't wait one minute more - -----CIV ------------------------------ From: Amanda Subject: The list Hey, today I checked my mail and it appears to me that I haven't recieved the list in 2 WHOLE DAYS!!!! PLEASE HELP ME! Hey Seth, nice work on the web page I am very impressed! Let me know what's up with my subscription! Only 5 more days!!! ------------------------------ From: Gail Subject: Rolling Stone's DOTU review Okay, yesterday I got my May 30, edition of Rolling Stone ragazine. It actually has some interesting article in it. Yet, most relavent to this mailing list is the Rob O'Connor review of DOTU. Since they are the feature review there is an illustration that is interesting, but I'll let some one tell you about it. Here's what Mr. O'Connor had to say" " Three Stars * * *" We expect brash moves from Soundgarden. What their music lacks in subtlety, it makes up for in big, bold strokes: sturdy, inventive riffs; solid, forceful beats; serious, downcast lyrics; singer, CC's expertly controlled wail; and the intimidating length of the band's albums. Like its predecessor Superunknown (1994), DOTU is a sprawling attempt, with 16 songs in 66 minutes. But where Superunknown confronted Soundgarden's perennial identity crisis by expanding the musical attack into pop and psychedelic rock, the band's fifth album head straight for the jugular, eschewing innovation for the simpler payoff of justing rocking out. From a less ambitious band, DOTU would be a grand display of technical prowess, showcasing rhythmic shifts, interlocking guitar lines and firm control of dynamics. But ambition is what has always made SG stand out. Innovators of the Seattle scene, they are the band most responsible for rewriting the heavy-metal handbook to exclude glam and get down to serious business. While there are plenty of genuinely enjoyable moments throughout the album, their cumulative effect is undercut by the strict adherence to hard-rock form. In the best hard rock, aggression isn't defend just by the ferocity of the drumming or the singer's screaming; it's in the vision that unites the band. Merely re-creating what you do best - no matter how well you execute it - just ain't as exciting. Mostly, Sg play hard and brood a lot. Hard rock has always had a penchant for dismal types, disaffected youth who see no chance for redemption. It's what puts the "heavy" in heavy metal. Clearly, Sg identify. At its core, the band's official summer anthem of 1994 "Black Hole sun," had all the joy of a severe sunburn, despite the glistening lead guitar and killer hooks. But catchy choruses are tricky in the unsmiling world of hard rock. "Ty Cobb," on of DOTU's more contagious numbers, rips along at a healthy pace before setting in for the mantra "hardheaded fuck you all," lest anyone think the band is selling out. The outlook remains bleak throughout. " Zero Chance," one of the album's several slower tunes, includes the catch phrase "Born without a friend/And bound to die alone." "Tighter and Tighter" sports a Robin Tower "Bridge of Sighs" riff as well as this observation: "Remember everything is just black/Or burning syn." In a similar vein but far more successful "Blow Up the Outside World," on which a tremoloed guitar ushers in the mood and Cornell softly purs, "Nothing seems to kill me/No matter how hard I try," before exploding in cathartic rage for the chorus: " Burrow down in and/Blow up the outside world." It's one of the album's undisputedly great moments. The weirder tunes include "No Attention," a classic keep-out-of-my face anthem that comes on like Aerosmith's "Toys in the Attic" or "Rats in the Cellar," and "Switch Opens," which features and REM-style melody and guitar akin to more recent Aerosmith fare. Then there's "Applebite," a cool noir interlude with Drummer MC on Moog synthesizer and co-producer Adam Kasper on piano and barely audible vocals. The rest of the album is standard fare. Chalk up a few points since Sg don't rip off their sound from the many interchangeable bands in MTV's Buzz Clips. But even with all four members writing, the best the band comes up with is the same ol' metal machine music. Sg represent a changing of the guard: The band comes from and underground stoked by its hatred for the limited perspective of the hair-metal bands of the '80s. Now clearly in the mainstream, the group has the opportunity to expand its music beyond the usual rhythms and attitudes that have already been established. It's a shame that Sg don't live up to the challenge." ** I have elected to save my comments to this until after I've listen to the album. ------------------------------ Subject: Re: Rolling Stone's DOTU review From: seth > But where Superunknown confronted Soundgarden's > perennial identity crisis by expanding the musical attack into pop and > psychedelic rock, the band's fifth album head straight for the jugular, > eschewing innovation for the simpler payoff of justing rocking out. Sadly, I have to agree with some of this review. There are certainly masterpieces on the album: "Blow Up The Outside World" is superb, and I really enjoy "Dusty," "Boot Camp," "Tighter and Tighter" and a bunch of other tracks. "Applebite" is definitely one of my favorites. The problem is that some of the songs, or at least parts of them, are straight-ahead rock, lacking the innovation that made the last 3 albums so amazing. I can't sit through the guitar solo in "Rhinosaur" - -- it's so trashy that it drives me crazy. I'm still getting used to many of the songs, but I will try to send a full review later today. seth ------------------------------ From: never.named@thenexus.com Subject: Re: Thoughts and Comments SW>> insane mailman he said quote "I'm sorry they killed you chris" later on SW>> the tour at a concert in texas Chris said "this song is about killing y SW>> fucking boss" SW>just to clarify..and Erin can back me up...Chris said, "this song is about SW>killing your fucking boss" at the Rochester, NY show. At the San Jose or SW>Berkley show (I forget) he said "this (song) is about the good kill". The SW>song, without question, is about someone going *postal*. I can back Steve up :) Chris said "this song is about killing your fucking boss" at the Rochester NY show. :) - -overfloater. BTW, I FINALLY got STOLEN PRAYERS on CD!! YES! ------------------------------ From: "Limo Wreck" Subject: Rolling Stone review of DOTU >The weirder tunes include "No Attention," a classic keep-out-of-my face >anthem that comes on like Aerosmith's "Toys in the Attic" or "Rats in the >Cellar," and "Switch Opens," Obviously.. Mr. O'Connor isn't too familiar with Soundgarden. This is the first time I've ever seen Soundgarden compared to Aerosmith.. and hopefully the last. As I have read many Soundgarden interviews and articles, it seems that there isn't a reporter out there (that I know of) that could interiew or write about Soundgarden in a good way. It seems that none of the writers know the history of Soundgarden. Very few know that Nirvana signed with SubPop because Soundgarden was on the label. Any loyal fan could tell you that Soundgarden has changed musical directions on every album. I can't think of hardly one song on an album, and think that it should be on another. It seems that the only people with the credentails enough to judge them are the people on this list (sometimes). Honestly though, it does seems as though they have gotten softer since Badmotorfinger, and more pop-oriented. As far as I'm concerned.... "Superunknown" was an album to get them airplay and fans, a money maker if you will. Walk into about 1/4 rooms at NCSU, and you will find a copy of "Superunknown"... but hardly a copy of anything else. yeah.. i think that haircut did something to Chris... jeremy - -- Jeremy Crocker, A.K.A unGod j_crocke@eos.ncsu.edu http://www4.ncsu.edu/eos/users/j/j_crocke/WWW/home.html "somewhere through a thousand blues a dragonfly descends with just a whisper. i'm lonelier than god, and all my wishes spin the fishes in the air and everyone a different shade of you" - "suicide machine", by Hum ------------------------------ From: Jentje Subject: Black Hole Ride Hey, I just saw a commercial for Canada's Wonderland announcing all their new rides. I don't know if I imaged this or what, but I could swear that one of their new rides is called Black Hole Sun. Now wouldn't tha be ride! ;) I think it's supposed to be a water-slide or somethin'. Anybody else see this? TOODLES! JENN ------------------------------ From: COCHRAN_BONNIE/SBCTC@ctc.ctc.edu Subject: RE: Movie ThNrthFace@aol.com wrote: > When I saw SG in Seattle at Memorial Stadium, they played a 10 minute >movie at the end of their set. Exerpts from the movie later became parts of >the Fell on Black Days video. I was wondering if they played this at any >other shows (they didn't play it at the first show of '94 in Bremerton). And >also if the movie is available anywhere. I was at both shows too and remember the showing of the movie in Seattle. (I don't know about any of the other shows.) I'm be interested to find out if it's available also, anyone? In addition, does anyone have or know of videos of both of these shows (Kitsap Bowl, Bremerton and Memorial Stadium, Seattle in 94)? I'd really like to get both of those. Please e-mail me if anyone has any info. With all this talk about the Pretty Noose video and everyone's comments on which one is their best and why, etc. Not only have I not seen PN, but I have NEVER seen a Sg video! Is that pathetic or what? (I guess you would be much more fortunate than I at this point, Jenn!) I don't get cable or MTV and have just not spent time in the last few years trying to watch it (except when they were playing the stuff on Nirvana & KC). Every time I do flip to it somewhere hoping to luck into a good video it's on some totally stupid game show deal or MTV Raps. I don't think so! Yeah, I've gotten Motorvision and stuff, but never seen an actual produced Soundgarden music video. I guess I'll need to crash someone's house very soon to check out PN. It sounds cool from the descriptions I've been reading. I'll gladly accept any video donations to enlighten this poor, deprived, video-starved Soundgarden loving soul! Really, I would send tapes if anyone wants to help me out with this. Yay, Pretty Noose is playing right now. At least I CAN say that I have heard it many times and crank it with my earphones on at work! Bonnie ------------------------------ Subject: Re: Thoughts and Comments From: "Matthew Lawrence" > > SW>> insane mailman he said quote "I'm sorry they killed you chris" later on > SW>> the tour at a concert in texas Chris said "this song is about killing y > SW>> fucking boss" > > SW>just to clarify..and Erin can back me up...Chris said, "this song is about > SW>killing your fucking boss" at the Rochester, NY show. At the San Jose or > SW>Berkley show (I forget) he said "this (song) is about the good kill". The > SW>song, without question, is about someone going *postal*. > > I can back Steve up :) Chris said "this song is about killing your > fucking boss" at the Rochester NY show. > :) He said the same at Reading... Matt ------------------------------ From: ansel@morgan.com Subject: The Matt Article - Part 1 HIGH TIMES - July 1992 Matt Cameron, Soundgarden's drummer extraordinaire and official band stoner, took time off during the group's February Skid Row tour to chat with 'High Times' about the Seattle herb scene and other musical topics. He came across as clever, considerate and fiercely dedicated to his art. Who said integrity-fueled Rock-n-Roll has to be a contradiction in terms? HT: Let's talk about pot. MC: I'd rather talk about pot than music anyday. We talk about music in every fucking interview, so this is a nice change. HT: When was the first time you got high? MC: When I was 15, and I didn't like it. But the second time, when I was 16, I loved it. The main thing I did was listen to music. And that just totally opened my head up. I decided at that point that it was a really good thing, but that I would wait until I had more time on my hands. HT: When was that? MC: When I was 17, and out of high school. A lot of my friends got stoned in High School. Coming to class stoned didn't seem like a really good way to go to school. So I was pretty coherent all through school. HT: Why do you get high now? MC: I normally do it for a sense of well-being. We have this pot up in Seattle that's amazingly potent. There's a cancer research center at the University of Washington where they grow pot for their chemotherapy and glaucoma patients. Over the years, certain students have taken clippings from these plants and started growing them around the Seattle area. All the growing done in Seattle is indoor. When I'm home and get pot, it's normally so strong that I can barely move - I just hang out at home and veg. The mushrooms we have in Seattle are fucking amazing, too. HT: Do the other guys in Soundgarden get high? MC: On long drives Ben and Kim and I will smoke out, but they normally are drinkers. Chris will take a hit every now and then, but it's pretty rare. He stays pretty clean on the road. HT: Do you get stoned when you play? MC: Sometimes. I think it helps when I'm at home and I'm in the right mood to create. A little pot, coffee and time is normally a really good combination for me. Sometimes it helps open up a different side of my creative brain that might not open if I'm not relaxed enough. For the most part, it's always been helpful. HT: Have you ever played a gig stoned? MC: Oh, yeah, The first Guns and Roses show I was a little bit baked. It wasn't that great of an idea, actually, thinking back on it. -Vikki (I'll post the remainder of the interview as soon as I can.) ------------------------------ From: Joco Agostinho Subject: Pretty Noose in Europe Hi guys! Just heard and saw Pretty Noose for the first time and godamn am i=20 confused. The video here in Europe isnt shit as you described it there in America. The video here shows the guys playing live in some stupid studio (but=20 the song isnt live)(and no breaks in the video too, all the video shows=20 the guys always playing, no crazy shots of anything else). Not any hotel room, matt in bike, kim playing pool ben arrested NOTHING=20 OF THIS shit. Im happy but frustrated at the same time. Can anyone explain me why the video here is different? Oh yeah great song . Cant wait for the 13th (the date that the album=20 comes out internationally not in the U.S.A.) - --=20 "I don't run around trying to be what's not within me " - Jon Keep in touch! C-ya!! =20 =20 -------------------------------------------- | | | Por/By: Jo=E3o Agostinho | | E-MAIL: mailto:joao.alex@mail.telepac.pt | | E-MAIL: mailto:a10752@alunos.ualg.pt | | URL: http://www.geopages.com/paris/3276 | | | | Olh=E3o - Algarve - Portugal | | | -------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Subject: Chicago Radio From: tonerkin@usa.pipeline.com (Tonerkin) Fellow Illinisommians, The live radio broadcast is going to be on 103.5 fm. Monday May 13th at 9pm. Get those tape decks ready!!!!! Toni ------------------------------ From: SoundGrdn3@aol.com Subject: wow! I get to go to the SG broadcast!!! I'm so excited!!! ------------------------------ From: UnknMan@aol.com Subject: all these DoTU release date accusations... OK kids. Here it is: 14 May - the US release of a) the Down On the Upside double LP [not sure the vinyl color if any] & b) the Down On the Upside double LP 'limited edition' [on clear vinyl according to my supplier] The 'limited' record will run you more cash for the same quality of record & so forth, just on a collector's note it'll be' limited & fun to look at' (this is basically a quote from some dumbass at my warehouse office). I've heard that 500 or 1000 copies will be limited, but by no means shall anyone quote me on that... And of course 21 May - the US date of all other forms of DOtU. I've got no official release dates on import singles (the 'next' single that is), & there is no US single in the books anytime soon (big surprise there... - -sarcastic smirk-) And now I complain. Sorry but I need to. OK... where is the band's strongest fan base? I'd guess the US... but I'm can't really prove that. All right then... so why do Americans have to pay twice to triple the price to get the import singles? It makes very little sense & most American 'modern rock' bands don't release US singles. [exception is last summer's re-release of all Pearl Jam's singles previously available only import in domestic US form; even this was dumb because the dedicated fans already spent 3 times as much to obtain all the singles 2-3 years before. This did propel some of their singles into the US maxi-single charts though... Sorry, I sound like a record person /c: ] Anyway... I'm waiting for the day that bands release US b-side collections with a text saying "previously only available 10 years ago on import from Peru - limited to 5000 copies." Of course by then I'll've had that Peru import & spent $200 or something to tht effect.... Ugh, pardon my attitude... I'll go now /c: I know pause for a brief moment of silence for all of those Soundgarden album titles that never made it to press time: 'Comin' 'Atcha' and 'Mister Bunchy Pants' (um... something like that) ray ------------------------------ From: blind dog Subject: spider moving up your wall... On Thu, 9 May 1996, Limo Wreck wrote: > Obviously.. Mr. O'Connor isn't too familiar with Soundgarden. This is the first > time I've ever seen Soundgarden compared to Aerosmith.. and hopefully the last. I agree jeremy. most reporters know very little about soundgarden, whether it be their history or their actual *music*. just about every interview they are going to do for dotu is going to contain some ridiculous comparison to black hole sun (summer anthem my ass). as for aerosmith, they are so butt rock that any comparison is laughable. > Honestly though, it does seems as though they have gotten softer since > Badmotorfinger, and more pop-oriented. As far as I'm concerned.... > "Superunknown" was an album to get them airplay and fans, a money maker if you sorry jeremy, but no way in hell did they record superunk just to print money and get more air time. are you saying they consciously threw artistic integrity out the window in order to win over more hootie fans? I don't think so. just because their singles were less abrasive than beyond the wheel doesn't mean that the whole album was pop-orientated. and btw, I think a lot of people mistake melodicism for pop. I personally like superunknown more than screaming life or ultramega ok. sure, there was a lot of energy guitars, but does it really stack up to superunknown? superunk wasn't (imho) a money maker, it was an album that showed their growth as songwriters and musicians. everyone was writing better songs (try picking a song on screaming life that is better than most of the stuff on superunk), everyone was playing their instruments better and they were playing better as a *band*. if that means that they have to put up with bhs teenyboppers, then that's ok with me. ----------------------------------- a thousand doors, a thousand lies rooms a thousand years wide ----------------------------------- ------------------------------ From: onefellswoop Subject: Band History Bonjour mes amis. The following is the band history provided to me by the Soundgarden Knights of the Soundtable, in the welcome package. It is mainly for the benefit of those without web access, since Seth will probanly post it on the website. So here it is...enjoy, Geoff SOUNDGARDEN THEN, NOW, AND FOREVER You are a unique individual. You are not content to simply listen to the music of Soundgarden. You need more. Information. History. Facts. Timetables. Questions about the band are burning a hole in your brain, and you need answers What does badmotorfinger mean? How long has Kim had his beard? What is the superunknown? Why did Chris cut his hair? These are all questions that you shouldn't be wasting your time on. This is the story of Soundgarden from their inception up to the present, detailing their history and the work they've done. It began back in 1981, when Kim Thayil and Hiro Yamamoto decided to leave the high winds and gloomy weather of Park Forest Illinois and head west to the heavy rains and gloomy weather of Seattle Washington. After arriving in Seattle, they met up with vocalist Chris Cornell, who at the time was playing drums for a number of small bands. When Yamamoto, Thayil, and Cornell got together, they discussed their mutual admiration for punk bands such as The Stooges, and the hard rock of Alice Cooper and Black Sabbath. They eventually formed their own band, and soon found that Chris wasn't able to sing and drum convincingly, so the search for a drummer was on. They briefly hooked up with local drummer Scott Sundquist, but had their eye on Skinyard drummer Matt Cameron. The guys tried to get Matt to join their band, but since Skinyard was doing fairly well at the time, Matt was hesitant. Eventually Matt jumped ship and completed Soundgarden's lineup. After playing numerous shows around town, the opportunity came up to record a few songs for a compilation album. Three songs (Heretic, Tears to Forget, and All Your Lies) ended up on the compilation album Deep Six. By 1987, Soundgarden was signed to Sub Pop records and released the EP Screaming Life. Sub Pop also released a limited edition promotional single (Hunted Down/Nothing to Say) that has become a collector's item worth up to $100. Less than a year later, the band released the EP Fopp, which was combined with Screaming Life and released as a full length album in 1990. By the time Screaming Life and Fopp were released, Soundgarden had built a large fan base in the Seattle area, and word was spreading that a new sound was emerging out of the Pacific northwest. Major Labels began sniffing around and expressing interest, but Soundgarden decided that a smaller label was better suited for their needs, and they signed with California based SST Records. In the fall of 1988, the band released Ultramega Ok, their first full length album. They toured the U.S. and Europe, and received their first Grammy nomination. As the critical acclaim and good reviews mounted, the guys decided to sign with A & M Records, and in September of 1989, Louder Than Love was released. This was the last album to feature Yamamoto, who left the band due to the mounting pressures of touring and the increasing publicity. In need of a bassist, the group picked up Jason Everman, who had previously spent about five minutes in Nirvana as a second guitarist. They toured extensively in support of Louder Than Love, including a package tour with Faith No More and Voivod. An earlier show was filmed for a home video release, titled Louder Than Live. This tape displayed the band's incendiary live performance, and included a medley of Spinal Tap's Big Bottom and Cheech & Chong's Earache My Eye. A & M also released a promotional CD called Louder Than Live that featured a few other songs not on the video. Things weren't working out with Everman however, and shortly after the tour was completed, he left the band. The search was on for another bass player, and soon thereafter the guys hooked up with local bassist Ben Shepherd, who was a fried of Kim's. As their first musical effort together, the guys decided to release a single on Sub Pop: Room a Thousand Years Wide/ HIV Baby, which was released as a freebie for members of Sub Pop's single of the month club. With only 5,000 copies printed, this record has become a collector's item worth upwards of 50 dollars. Then in April of 1990 came the tragic and untimely death of Chris' former roommate and Mother Love Bone singer Andy Wood. As a way of working through his frustration and grief, Chris wrote a couple songs in tribute to Andy. He enlisted the aid of Matt Cameron and former Love Bone members Stone Gossard and Jeff Ament to co-write more songs, and along with Mike McCready of the newly formed Pearl Jam, they entered the studio in the winter of 1990 to record the album Temple of the Dog. Eddie Vedder, Pearl Jam's then new singer, also joined them lending additional vocals for three songs on the album. In addition to his contribution to Temple of the Dog, Matt Cameron could also be heard drumming on an album called Ankey Low Day, by the Tone Dogs, a group featuring avant- garde jazz saxophonist Amy Denio. In the spring of 1991, Soundgarden entered the studio with producer Terry Date to work on their third full length album. In September of that year, Badmotorfinger was released, and the band finally began to receive the radio airplay and MTV support that had eluded them before. In support of the album, Soundgarden began a grueling tour schedule. Starting in late 1991, the band hit the road with Guns n' Roses covering parts of the U.S. and Canada, then they took the opeing slot on Skid Row's U.S. tour. After completing those dates, they headed over to Europe to begin a headlining tour with Corrosion of Conformity as their opening act. In April, they returned to the states to continue a headlining tour with Monster Magnet and Swervedriver. A month later they were back in Europe, opening for Guns n' Roses again, then it was back home to America to begin Lollapalooza II in July. Finally in August of 1992, after nearly one year of constant touring, Soundgarden returned to Seattle for a well deserved rest. The rest didn't last long however, as Soundgarden undertook several projects together and individually. The first of these to hit public was the movie Singles, which came out in the early fall of 1992. The soundtrack featured one song by Soundgarden and one by Chris in a solo performance, and the band also had a scene in the film, where in a toe-curling display of acting ability, they played a band performing at a club. In early 1993 Ben and Matt got together with some friends of theirs, dubbed themselves Hater, and recorded ten songs that were released on A&M records. Two sold out shows at Seattle's Paramount Theater were filmed during the Badmotorfinger tour and released in early 1993 as Motorvision, Soundgarden's second home video release. Chris wrote a couple of songs which were recorded by Alice Cooper. Soundgarden also contributed songs to a couple of worthy causes. These were the No Alternative and Alternative NRG compilation albums. No Alternative benefited AIDS research, and Alternative NRG was a Greenpeace benefit record. The band entered the studio midway through 1993 to record Superunknown, and briefly hit the road in the fall opening for Neil Young, where they tried out some of the new material on the fans. With the album completed but not yet released, Soundgarden once again hit the road. January and February of 1994 saw the guys playing their first ever shows in Australia and Japan. They returned to the states midway through February, and on March 8th, Superunknown was unleashed. Hordes of drooling fanatics filled the stores and snatched up copies of the new album, which debuted on the Billboard charts at #1. The guys celebrated by popping air sickness pills and hopping on a plane to Europe, where they began a two month tour. Back to the states in April, they set off on the first leg of their North American tour. Tad and Eleven were brought along to open the show, with the Reverend Horton Heat and You Am I opening on the second leg. Midway through the Canadian portion of the second leg of the tour, Chris began to experience vocal problems. The band was forced to cancel the upcoming plans for another European tour due to doctor's orders for Chris to rest his voice. So the band was forced to take a break for a few months as Chris refrained from singing and worked on a full recovery. During this time Soundgarden won their first MTV video music award for best heavy metal/hard rock video for Black Hole Sun. During the winter months of 1994/1995, they wrote and rehearsed new material, and included one of the songs- Blind Dogs on the Basketball Diaries Soundtrack. Another song-Kyle Petty (Son of Richard), will appear on an upcoming compilation album that will benefit Seattle's Home Alive organization. In March they each dressed up nice and went to the Grammy Awards, where they won two of the four categories the were nominated in, making their mothers very proud. During the spring and summer of 1995, the guys entered the world of internet surfers, computer nerds, and cyber- punks, where they helped in the design and development of their own World Wide Web site and CD-Plus project. The CD-Plus contains 40 minutes of new Soundgarden "Space Jam" material, along with enough cool stuff to keep even the most cynical human being entertained for months. The web site is filled with information, photos, a discography, and more exciting things that will have you sitting in front of the computer so long that your butt will fall asleep. Ben and Matt got Hater together again, played a few shows, and recorded a new song that is included on a compilation CD called Hempilation. To cap off the summer, the band flew to Europe to make up the shows they missed the previous year due to Chris' throat problems. After three weeks of playing outdoor shows and festivals, Soundgarden returned to the states, where they all took long naps. Now you've read all of this information and you're thinking, "So what? I don't care about all this crap, I want some new music." Well rest assured. The guys are in the studio now, working on the follow-up to Superunknown. So cheer up because on May 21 1996 there will be a new Soundgarden album to shove in your ears. So, read a good book, plant a tree, and hug an old person, cause in a few short months the ball starts rolling again, and you're right in the middle of it. SOUNDGARDEN ------------------------------ From: blind dog Subject: Re: Rolling Stone's DOTU review/it's too noisy... On Thu, 9 May 1996, seth wrote: > > perennial identity crisis by expanding the musical attack into pop and > > psychedelic rock, the band's fifth album head straight for the jugular, > > eschewing innovation for the simpler payoff of justing rocking out. > > Sadly, I have to agree with some of this review. There are certainly > problem is that some of the songs, or at least parts of them, are > straight-ahead rock, lacking the innovation that made the last 3 > albums so amazing. I can't sit through the guitar solo in "Rhinosaur" > -- it's so trashy that it drives me crazy. I hope that you are going to wise up soon perlman :) maybe some of the songs are leaning towards rock, but they are certainly not any form of winger or poison unskinny bop bop rock. they are *soundgarden* rock. even ty cobb, which would be just another piece of rock in someone else's hands is cool (you can't go pst the mandolin or computer-generated voice). I don't know how o'conner can pretend to know soundgarden music, but then says in his second sentence that their music lacks subtlety (has he ever listened to head down or fobd?). and while dotu may not be as innovative or ambitious, or even as good as, superunknown, it is still a damn fine record. he writes that the album comes down to 'just rocking out' (possibly a result of their effort to have fun recording?) or a 'strict adherance to hard rock form', which is a load of baloney. how many times does the guy think a band can write superunknown? he says some good things about some of the songs (tighter, blow up.. and applebite), but then hits himself over the head by saying that 'the rest of the album is standard fare'. in this he includes pretty noose, never the machine forever, overfloater, boot camp and dusty. once you have heard the album, you will understand that this is a huge mistake. and what does he mean by standard fare anyway? standard fare for soundgarden (which in most places it isn't) or standard fare for buttrockers everywhere (which it definitely isn't). and as a music journalist, he should understand that perhaps 'recreating what you do best' is not that bad a thing. can't a band like soundgarden have a signature sound and play it, without having expectations put on them like the mantle of 'innovators of the seattle scene'? what does the guy want? trombones and pan pipes? overall, his analysis was stinky. if he thinks that this album is not much different to other rock albums, then he should have listened to it a little more. dusty and pretty noose, for example, are *far* ahead of the rock genre. 'a shame that soundgarden don't live up to the challenge'? who would want to live up to his challenge? ----------------------------------- a thousand doors, a thousand lies rooms a thousand years wide ----------------------------------- ------------------------------ From: "Steven Russell Jr." Subject: Down on the upside! Hey list! welp, I got my hands on the new album. It's very listener friendly. I've only had the chance to listen to it once, since we just had a tornado warning here and the power went out for 2 hours! It didnt hit me like badmofi, which I listened to 18 times in 5 days the first time I got it. I didnt like Superunknown the first time I heard...but that changed. This one is somewhere in between. It's very...friendly...it's not abrasive. But, I like it after listen #1. Those of you that got sick of BHS...do NOT listen to Burden in my Hand. It will be overplayed just like BHS. BUT, the song "Blow up the Outside World" is amazing! It WILL be overplayed, but it's beautiful. Pay attention when you hear it. The self pollution version of "No Attention" is better than the studio...especially when chris strains to hit the high notes :-) The only other song to catch my ear after one listen was "Overfloater". Very jammy. This album was made to be listened to on vinyl. It just has a warm feeling to it. Good luck finding copies. Steve - - srussell@epix.net - - http://www.acsu.buffalo.edu/~swr (now listed in Yahoo!) - - SG Web Alliance - - "looking california...and feeling chautauqua" ------------------------------ From: UnknMan@aol.com Subject: all these DoTU release date accusations... part II (?) - --------------------- Forwarded message: Subj: Re: all these DoTU release date accusations... Date: 96-05-09 22:23:51 EDT From: UnknMan To: saperl@mit.edu In a message dated 96-05-09 20:17:56 EDT, seth writes: >I think you just answered your own question. Management makes >decisions like what singles to release, where they're going to be >released, what tracks will be on them, etc. More imports = more $$$. But management doesn't make any more money off of a disc made in Australia then shipped & bought in the US than it does if the same Aussie disc is bought in Oz (from what I figure atleast)... I'm all for UK, Aussie, German, Peru, Outer Mongolia singles just as long as everywhere gets the single... Think about the fact that the real fans buy ALL the imports (like me.) I really could care less about the cost. I have every Superunknown single (cept for part 2 BHS - German) that I've heard of; I'm just looking out for the fact that new fans have problems becoming fans because they have to a) spend full price for the full-length b) spend the same price for the 'ported single c) dub a friend's copy... I can't remember how many times at work (record store) that I've told kids, "sorry, Band X doesn't have a domestic single cassette or disc... I can show you the import discs, 7"s or full-length records, cassettes & discs though." I feel here record companies loose money... & they often look like fools. I'm all for free enterprise but bad business is just that... bad business & bad karma none the less. I wish I was more informed /c: ray ------------------------------ From: stella rogers Subject: The coolest thing just happened... Well I went downtown today to just browse around in the record store. First place I went to was the poster section. They never ever had posters of SG and today for the very first time, there it was, the "day i tried to live poster". Wow i was so excited. and it was only like $4.99 so I got it. And then i mosied on over to the CDs and went straight for the SG ailse. They had a shit load of bootlegs and imports but most of them way to expensive for me. And way way in the back of the SG row, I found it. The Pretty Noose single and only $9.99. I'm not sure if its the same as the UK version. This is what mine came with (please don't take this as gloating :) There's 4 tracks, PN, applebite, an unkind, and then an interview. Plus it came with a poster of the cover of DotU. But on the front of the box it says "part 2 of a 2 cd set". Whats that all about? Does anyone else's say this?=20 stella =97=97=97=97 srogers@fix.net http://www.geocities.com/tokyo/3923/ now also at: http://members.tripod.com/~stellar ------------------------------ Subject: Re: The coolest thing just happened... From: seth > And way way in the back of the SG row, I found it. The Pretty Noose > single and only $9.99. I'm not sure if its the same as the UK version. That *is* the UK version, which is why it costs $10, when US CD5s are usually $5 or less. It can be found as an import at some stores. There is still no US release. :( seth ------------------------------ From: DEFsonic Subject: Re: The coolest thing just happened... On Thu, 9 May 1996, stella rogers wrote: > for me. And way way in the back of the SG row, I found it. The Pretty Noose > single and only $9.99. I'm not sure if its the same as the UK version. This > is what mine came with (please don't take this as gloating :) There's 4 > tracks, PN, applebite, an unkind, and then an interview. Plus it came with > a poster of the cover of DotU. But on the front of the box it says "part 2 > of a 2 cd set". Whats that all about? Does anyone else's say this? > A 2cd set!! Thats new, tho alot of releases in the UQ do have 2 cd sets and stuff. Have not heard about Sg doing that for Pretty noosew tho! Anyone in the UK know? As for the cd, it's the same as the Aussie version, and I assume the UK version (untill I am told different) It's a cool cd, too bad there are no b-sides tho. seeya Lee _/_/_/ _/_/_/_/_/ _/_/_/_/_/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/_/_/_/ _/_/_/_/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/_/_/ _/_/_/_/_/ _/ Sonic Turn IT up and PLAY it LOUD, let the blood rush to your head. Sonic mail: ar303921@student.uq.edu.au ------------------------------ From: ShRooMGrLz@aol.com Subject: STuFF >yeah.. i think that haircut did something to Chris... Hmmm... let's ponder that one for awhile... >The mushrooms we >have in Seattle are fucking amazing, too. Ok, that's it. I'm going to Seattle as soon as SG gets off the road. They've got Chris and great SHROOMS? It's a sign... a portent... it's calling me... >I know pause for a brief moment of silence for all of those >Soundgarden album titles that never made it to press time: >'Comin' 'Atcha' and 'Mister Bunchy >Pants' (um... something like that) Heheheh... Ray, you are TOO cool!! "Mister Bunchy Pants"? I love it!! Ummm... for funny names... I sometimes refer to Chris as "Puddin' Buns". Ummm... never mind. >overall, his analysis was stinky. I agree completely. Let's find him, and kick his ass. >Think about the fact that the real fans buy ALL the imports (like me.) Who wrote this, dammit? I already deleted the mail. You have to buy ALL the freaking imports to be a REAL fan? Great. Heheheh... ok, that's fine... it's just an opinion, anyway. I'm hereby announcing that to be a true SG fan, you have to imagine Chris naked at least 13 times a day (mostly in the shower). Heheheh... JUST KIDDING PEOPLE!!! Ummm... just kidding about the "to be a true fan" part. The rest is, of course, serious. Like you people didn't know that about me... Anyway... I'm out the door to FINALLY see the video!! Expect my full and DETAILED report by tomorrow evening!! Shroom "I don't care about tomorrow, 'cuz I'm living today... my own way." ~ Skatenigs ------------------------------ From: Gregg Subject: Re: Rolling Stone review of DOTU At 05:28 PM 5/9/96 -0400, Limo Wreck wrote: >>The weirder tunes include "No Attention," a classic keep-out-of-my face >>anthem that comes on like Aerosmith's "Toys in the Attic" or "Rats in the >>Cellar," and "Switch Opens," > >Obviously.. Mr. O'Connor isn't too familiar with Soundgarden. This is the first >time I've ever seen Soundgarden compared to Aerosmith.. and hopefully the last. >As I have read many Soundgarden interviews and articles, it seems that there >isn't a reporter out there (that I know of) that could interiew or write about >Soundgarden in a good way. Preach on, brother Jeremy!!! The first thing I thought of when I heard No Att'n was "no one better fuck with me". It just makes you pissed. Aerosmith doesn't do that to me. >Honestly though, it does seems as though they have gotten softer since >Badmotorfinger, and more pop-oriented. As far as I'm concerned.... >"Superunknown" was an album to get them airplay and fans, a money maker if you >will. Walk into about 1/4 rooms at NCSU, and you will find a copy of >"Superunknown"... but hardly a copy of anything else. C'mon now....they experience a huge selling album and their going soft???? If anything they're improving, experimenting, etc. IT's not like they went to all chords in regular tuning....I dare you to tell me that 4th of July is SOFT (do ya think it'll be on the indepdence day soundtracK? That'd be a cool song to open a movie with) Anyway, PN isn't that "radio friendly" either. It just sounds fuckin great. Gregg ____________________________________ | | | http://www.cybercomm.net/~melusk2 | HEAVY ROTATION (5/4) | melusk2@crow.cybercomm.net | "Evil Empire"--Rage Against the Machine |____________________________________| "It's comin' back around again...." --Zack de la Rocha "Fallout and take the bait, eat the fruit, kiss the snake goodnight" --Chris Cornell __________ __ ___ _____ _ / _________\ \ \ / / / _ \ / / / /__________ \ \ / / / / \ \ / / /___________ \ \ \ / / / / \ \ / / ____________\ \ \ \____/ / / / \ \_/ / /________________\ \ _______/ /__/ \____/ ------------------------------ End of somms Digest [Volume 2 Issue 120] ****************************************