Gay4Grunge: My Top 20 Soundgarden Songs
Soundgarden is the Grunge band that goes back to the very beginning of Grunge in the mid 80s. While Green River came out around the same time, they broke up after a few years and split off into Mudhoney and Mother Love Bone. While Soundgarden had some lineup changes they remained one of the key bands for Seattle Grunge for over 10 years and they experienced it all. From being a small local band to being the first Grunge band to sign to a major label to gaining superstar status by the mid-90s and then breaking up in Spring of 1997, which in my mind is the day Seattle Grunge officially died. Throughout it all though Soundgarden always had the respect of their peers, critics and rock fans in general. Honestly besides Nirvana, Soundgarden is probably the second Grunge band that has the best reputation. At the very least they were never torn down the way Pearl Jam, Stone Temple Pilots or The Smashing Pumpkins were. Even Alice in Chains didn't escape unscathed since many people thought they were too sell out metal, especially among the more punk influenced bands in the Seattle Scene at the time.
With all that said, Soundgarden's early material from the 80s hasn't aged the best. The production on their 80s songs is pretty rough and the band had not quite gelled together yet either. For people looking to get into Soundgarden, I give them very different instructions from say new listeners to Pearl Jam. With Pearl Jam you need to start at the very beginning and go forward chronologically. With Soundgarden I would say start with 1994's Superunknown and then work your way out from that album in either direction with 1991's Badmotorfinger and 1996's Down on the Upside being your next stops. Then the band's 2012 comeback King Animal and 1989's Loud Love should be the next step and then finish up with the band's earliest material, which includes Ultramega OK, Screaming Life and Fopp. For this list I'm going to leave out Soundgarden's 80s material, because I rarely listen to most of it and the real core of the group's legacy is the three albums they released in the 90s. That said, here's the Soundgarden songs I recommend the most from the 80s, which are Nothing to Say, Hunted Down, Flower, Loud Love and my favorite Hands All Over. If you like those songs then you can dig in deeper and see what else you might like from 80s era Soundgarden.
As I mentioned in my previous article, Soundgarden's lineup didn't truly solidify until the 90s when it was Chris Cornell, Kim Thayil, Matt Cameron & Ben Shepherd. This is the lineup that recorded all three of Soundgarden's 90s albums as well as their 2012 comeback King Animal and those are the four albums I'm going to focus on for this countdown. As per usual this is just my opinion and I do leave out a few of the group's biggest singles, but that's because Soundgarden has so many great deep cuts that I feel are superior to some of the singles. So, it's a good balance between hits and deep cuts overall. Alright let's jump in!
20. Searching with My Good Eye Closed (1991)
1991's Badmotorfinger is the first real classic album from Soundgarden that's great from start to finish. The production is miles ahead of their 80s material and it's clear that the chemistry within the band was reaching new levels thanks to the inclusion of bassist Ben Shepherd. Searching with My Good Eye Closed starts quiet and slowly comes into focus but before we hear Chris Cornell, we hear this 1950's era sounding man describe different farm animals which is followed up by the sound that animal makes. Then the man says "And the devil says" which is when we hear Chris Cornell's full-throated roar from a distance until it comes crashing in and the song finally begins proper. What's interesting about this intro is that it sounds scary and cute all at once and it shows off the band's sense of humor in a way that they and other Grunge bands don't always get credit for. This intro would also be used to introduce the band at their live shows during the 2010s, which I remember hearing myself at the Soundgarden concerts I attended back in 2011 & 2014 respectively. The song itself is a solid riff rocker and a personal favorite of mine and it demonstrates how much better Soundgarden now sounded at the dawn of the 90s.
19. Rusty Cage (1991)
One of the most iconic intros and riffs in all of 90s rock, Rusty Cage comes out of the gate running and doesn't let up until the very end when it slows down a lot. I'll admit I find the ending of the song to be a little anticlimactic in all honesty, which is probably why this song is not ranked high on my list like it is for others. Still, everything before that ending is pure gold, with the guitar solo being a real highlight. The song is catchy, but deceptively complex and there's little to no doubt in my mind that no other Grunge band could have pulled this off like Soundgarden did.
18. Halfway There (2012)
The final single off Soundgarden's 2012 comeback album King Animal also turned out to be Soundgarden's last single ever since the group never completed the long-awaited follow-up before Chris Cornell's death. As a result, it's easy to read more into this song as a sad goodbye much like Over Now for Alice in Chains or All Apologies for Nirvana, but the song actually has a lightness to it that's rare for Soundgarden. Halfway There reminds me more of solo Chris Cornell or some of the ballads he did with Audioslave in the 2000s. That lightness gives the song a bit of pop touch that I find appealing. Lyrically it sees Chris Cornell still feeling he has a long way to go in this journey we call life and that feels bittersweet in retrospect, but the song itself never feels sad and I like that about it. I kind of like that the group went out on this note as it feels like a graceful goodbye that has a sense of hope to it that's missing from most of Soundgarden's other music.
17. Rhinosaur (1996)
The second track off Down on the Upside also became a minor rock hit in early 1997 before the band broke up. Rhinosaur sees the band combining psychedelia, pop and rock in a way that feels completely unique to Soundgarden. The riff itself is great and Kim really delivers an earworm with that riff that can run circles around my brain for a while if I let it. The group switches gears completely during the bridge too, which once again shows how complex and unpredictable Soundgarden was at their peak. Rhinosaur remains a hidden gem in Soundgarden's catalogue that is just waiting to be rediscovered by anyone who decides to go past the big hits with this band.
16. By Crooked Steps (2012)
The lead single to King Animal was Been Away Too Long, which seemed to be a statement of purpose for the band after returning to the rock scene after a 16-year absence. That said, I felt that song was kind of generic, which is not something I usually say about Soundgarden. Even when I don't love something by Soundgarden I usually don't describe it as generic, but here we are. Luckily the follow-up single By Crooked Steps was a lot better in my mind. By the Crooked Steps showcased the group's unique fusion of rock, psychedelia and pop all topped off by another memorable riff from Kim Thayil. I remember hearing this song a little bit on DC 101, but that was mostly because Soundgarden was going to be headlining the DC 101 Chili Cookoff around that time. After that show I never heard this song on the radio again, but it definitely deserves another listen. The music video also showcases the band's sense of humor and was directed by none other than Dave Grohl.
15. Blood on the Valley Floor (2012)
My favorite song off King Animal is the one that reminds me the most of the slow psychedelic sludge deep cuts off Superunknown. I love when Soundgarden really dives into this facet of their sound, because it once again separates them from their peers. I just think these types of Soundgarden songs sound so crushing yet appealing at the same time. It's the kind of sound that wouldn't do well on radio so I get why these types of songs are not released as singles. It's just another reason why you should dig deeper into Soundgarden's albums so that you can discover deep gems like this one.
14. Head Down (1994)
Head Down might not be as heavy as some of their forays into psychedelia, but it's still darkly alluring and mysterious. Chris uses a different part of his vocals here which sounds markedly different from how he usually sounds, but it works beautifully with this song. When I first got Superunknown this song grabbed me instantly and it quickly became one of my most listened to Soundgarden songs. The song was also written by bassist Ben Shepherd, which again showcases how all 4 members of Soundgarden contributed to the songs and songwriting on their 90s albums. Soundgarden really was a true band and an interlocking unit when they were at their peak.
13. Mind Riot (1991)
Another psychedelic song that's not their heaviest, but is certainly one of their most hypnotic. The chorus is also very catchy in my mind even though the song isn't a traditional pop/rock song either. As I've said before and will probably say again, Soundgarden had deep roots in metal, psychedelia and pop, but what they did by mixing and matching those genres together ended up sounding like nothing I've ever heard before or since. Soundgarden is the hardest band to imitate of the Seattle Big 4 and that's probably why Soundgarden didn't have as many clones and knockoffs over the years the way Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Alice in Chains had. For those reasons and more it gives Soundgarden's music this timeless appeal within guitar rock that still sounds as fresh and exciting now as it did back in the 90s.
12. Blow Up the Outside World (1996)
The third single off Down on the Upside, was Soundgarden's last big hit before they broke up. I've talked a lot about how Soundgarden's overall sound is different from most of their peers, but on Blow Up the Outside World Soundgarden tapes into the classic Grunge formula of quiet verses and loud choruses. The verses I find very appealing because they have this kind of dusty western vibe to them that I really dig, which carries over to the bridge as well. While this might be formula, there's also a reason that it's formula, and it's because it works. Throughout Soundgarden's first 12 years together the band slowly but steadily sharpened their songwriting and melodic skills in a way that felt like a natural evolution for the band instead of them just trying to be successful, though success did come thanks to band's evolution. Looking at Soundgarden through that lens it feels fitting for their last big hit of the 90s to sound like one of the most palatable and mainstream sounding songs they ever did. It feels like a natural progression and end point for Soundgarden. Blow Up the Outside World captures the sound and feel of Grunge's final days before the genre died properly in 1997.
11. Fresh Tendrils (1994)
Another great deep cut off my favorite Soundgarden album Superunkown. Like most of that album, the lyrics are pretty dark but the lyrics that jump out for me the most are when Chris sings:
"Shame shame
Throw yourself away"
As a queer person this line hits hard for me because when you're in the closet there is so much shame and you decide to suppress you real self as if you're throwing that piece of yourself away. It's another example of why I really connected with Grunge as a whole despite not being too queer on the outside. On the inside though it felt like these bands were singing about most of the same feelings that I was experiencing in the closet at that time. Sonically this is another winner off an album that is filled with nothing but winning songs.
10. Black Hole Sun (1994)
We now arrive at the song that Soundgarden will always be remembered for and the song most people think of first when you mention Soundgarden. This detuned psychedelic ballad was equal parts Beatles and Black Sabbath and it took the music world by storm in 1994. A large part of Black Hole Sun's success came from the music video, which was one of the most memorable music videos of the decade. Yet, the song definitely has this timeless appeal that struck accord with not just rock and Grunge fans, but with pop and top 40 radio listeners as well. Black Hole Sun is one of the few Grunge songs to crossover into the pop top 10 and that's helped give this song life years after its release. Like most people, Black Hole Sun was my introduction to Soundgarden and I've always liked it, but over the years I got a little tired of it. Rock radio still plays Black Hole Sun to death and to be fair I'd always listen to it whenever it came on, but sometimes I wished that rock radio would play Rusty Cage or Pretty Noose instead every once in a while. Over the last few years though I've come back around on this song, because I have not listened to rock radio for over 5 years now so I wasn't hearing Black Hole Sun every other day anymore. While it's not my personal favorite Soundgarden song, hence its #10 ranking, it is the song that will define Soundgarden for the rest of eternity. I'm more than OK with that, because at least Soundgarden will be remembered.
9. Outshined (1991)
Once again, I'm pretty sure I saw this music video on Beavis & Butthead initially. While Jesus Christ Pose was the first single off Badmotorfinger, I feel like Outshined was much more easily embraced by the hard rock & alternative rock community. Outshined was probably the first Soundgarden song a lot of Gen X kids heard back in the early 90s. It's a heavy song but it's given this extremely melodic chorus that seemingly comes out nowhere. It kind of reminds me of Alice in Chains, especially on their Dirt album, where you have this heavy & doomy sounding song that is given this unexpected, but welcome melodic break during its chorus. The song itself is all about contradictions lyrically so it makes sense that the song itself is almost a contradiction as well. When I first got the A-Sides I was not getting into the earliest song on there, but when it got to Outshined that was the first song I really liked and I still really like it today.
8. Room a Thousand Years Wide (1991)
This is a deep cut off Badmotorfinger that I came around to over the last several years. The song sounds heavy as hell and feels very metal, but again Soundgarden does a lot of unexpected things throughout to keep you on your toes. First, while the main riff sounds like a typical heavy metal riff, it's accentuated with this guitar that sounds like a siren going off in the background, which makes it feel more unsteady and threatening. Later on, you get some sax out of nowhere, which is very surprising because Grunge and Gangsta Rap kind of killed the saxophone in pop music for years. As a big fan of the sax, I approve though the way the sax is used here definitely feels jarring and strange. Again, always expect Soundgarden to do the unexpected.
7. 4th of July (1994)
Soundgarden doing slow psychedelic sludge is one of my favorite modes for Soundgarden and 4th of July is probably the peak of that. It sounds like the guitars are slowly peeling the skin off your face and I like that! The band has said that over the years many musicians have pointed to 4th of July as one of their favorite Soundgarden songs and that it's also one of their biggest inspirations. I can hear that, especially for any metal band that's going for maximum sludge. As the title suggests, the song is about the 4th of July, but it's probably the darkest song ever about that holiday. Over the last couple of years, especially in 2020, it felt like this song truly captured the darkness of the times that we are living in right now. I sent this song in a group text to my family on July 4th back in 2020 and my dad was taken back by how dark it was. My brother on the other hand responded to him saying we live in pretty dark times so it's very fitting.
6. Slaves & Bulldozers (1991)
If 4th of July isn't the peak of Soundgarden doing slow psychedelic sludge than it might be Slaves and Bulldozers. This song feels epic and sprawling in the ways that it goes down all these separate paths throughout, but it also comes back together again so it never feels aimless or tedious to listen to, which is a hard trick to pull off. This song is a perfect example of how talented each member of the band is and there's a reason they always performed this song live because you really get to experience each of their immense talents on stage as they perform Slaves & Bulldozers. It's why Slaves & Bulldozers is a big fan favorite, especially live and I can tell you it was pretty mind blowing when I saw Soundgarden live back in 2011. I can't think of another band that could have delivered a song like Slaves & Bulldozers and that's why songs like this are still awe inspiring. There is no other modern rock band that I can think of who has the talent or balls to pull off something similar in my opinion.
5. Pretty Noose (1996)
Pretty Noose was the lead single off Down on the Upside and it did very well on both rock radio and MTV, despite it sounding like nothing else being released at the time. This song sees Soundgarden in a psychedelic mode though not quite as heavy as they can be. It does have a catchy chorus, but besides that chorus this is a weird song that could never have become an MTV or rock radio hit in any other era. Only in the Grunge era with a band as big as Soundgarden could a song like Pretty Noose become a big hit, which again shows what a fascinating and magical time the 90s was for music. Still, I think Pretty Noose's overall weirdness has kept it off rock radio after 1996. I honestly can't remember ever hearing Pretty Noose on rock radio in the 2000s and 2010s and the band didn't perform it at either show I attended nor did Chris Cornell perform it at the solo show I saw in 2007 either. It makes Pretty Noose a strange beast in that it was a big hit at the time and internet and satellite radio stations dedicated to Grunge or 90s Alternative will play it, but that's about the only places I've heard Pretty Noose outside my own personal music collection. Also, after Chris Cornell hung himself, I think the song took on a much darker meaning, which makes some uncomfortable now which is understandable and it probably buries this song even further. For me though I've always dug this song and I still do and you might as well.
4. Burden in My Hand (1996)
The second single off Down on the Upside has long been one of my favorite Soundgarden songs and I think a lot of fans like it too. This is the song I've heard the most off Down on the Upside over the years on both rock radio and the concerts I've attended for Soundgarden and Chris Cornell. Right from the start Burden in My Hand announces its melody and it's pretty catchy. Sometimes Soundgarden makes you work to get to the melodies or chorus, but not here, because Burden in my Hand gives you instant gratification. I think that's why it's become one of their most endearing hits. My Mom likes this one too because it's easy to get into. The music video, which was all shot in a desert, is also one of Soundgarden's most striking music videos as well.
3. Let Me Drown (1994)
The opening track off Superunknown is one of Soundgarden's best full throttle songs ever. Every time this song comes on, I'm ready to kick some ass and take names. The guitars jump right out of the speakers and Cornell gives great vocal as he tears through Let Me Drown with wild abandon. It's one of the best opening tracks on any Grunge album I've heard, even if it remains another hidden gem. This honestly could have been a single, but you could say that for most of the songs off Superunknown, which just goes to show how strong that album truly is. There's a reason my top 3 Soundgarden songs all come from Superunknown.
2. Mailman (1994)
We're back to the slow psychedelic sludge and even if I'd agree objectively with 4th of July and Slaves & Bulldozers being peak examples of the form, Mailman is my favorite song in this category. Again, that sludge is pouring out of the speakers and it feels like it's peeling the skin off my body. There's also a real sense of tension to Mailman where it feels like the song might explode at any minute and when it nearly does at the end around the 3:47 minute mark it's absolutely thrilling. By the time we get to Chris Cornell full on screaming at the end I get goosebumps every time. That's how you end a fucking song! When I saw Soundgarden live in 2011 this was one of the highlights and I really got into it. This is one of those deep cuts that I treat as a single since I play it all the time and I have included it on many a mix tape, mix cd, iTunes playlist and Spotify playlist over the years. The band did a great live rendition of Mailman on MTV in 1996, which is well worth checking out.
1. Spoonman (1994)
For years the only Soundgarden song I really knew was Black Hole Sun. I think I may have heard or seen a clip or two of the singles off Badmotorfinger, but they didn't leave an impression on me initially. When I heard a clip of Spoonman on VH1's Behind the Music: 1994 back in the fall of 2002 I was instantly drawn to it. Spoonman is the reason I decided to look more into Soundgarden and it quickly became one of my favorite Grunge songs of all time. While it's taken years for me to appreciate so much of Soundgarden's music, I fell in love with Spoonman right out of the gate and I've never stopped loving it ever since. Spoonman has always been my go-to Soundgarden song that I can listen to any time any place no matter what my mood is. I also love that this song began life as a joke for the movie Singles where Soundgarden came up with ridiculous names for fake Grunge songs. Yet, something about Spoonman drew the band in and they even included the Spoonman himself on the song who actually does spoon solos during the bridge! The music video showcased this Spoonman doing his thing while Soundgarden were only presented in still photos. Nothing about what I just typed screams huge hit and yet because it was the 90s and Grunge was King, Spoonman became Soundgarden's biggest hit up until to that point (It would soon be eclipsed by Black Hole Sun.) Still Spoonman is probably the second most played Soundgarden song on rock radio over the past two decades and I'm glad it became a huge hit and stuck around for years because I loved hearing it every time it came on the radio. This is the Soundgarden song I love above all others and I don't think that's ever going to change.
