If you like Chris Cornell, you should check out the box set of his music that they released posthumously. It includes the best of his “band work” (Soundgarden & Audioslave), the better songs from his solo stuff, and a lot of rarities, one of which is a live cover of U2’s “One” with the lyrics from Metallica’s “One.” On paper, that sounds terrible, but wow, does he pull it off.
His voice was going near the end (if you listen to Soundgarden’s last live album, it’s painfully apparent), but in his day his nuts-in-a-vise yowl was unmistakable. I still miss him.
PS – All of these grunge bands you’re talking about? Melvins lurk behind every last one of them.
The last Soundgarden album was much, much better than it was made out to be. Pretty decent as far as comeback albums go. The song Bones Of Birds was played at my friend’s funeral. It’s difficult for me to revisit that one.
It’s only his solo/acoustic stuff, that I’m diggin. I don’t care for his band work. His voice isn’t as thick and rich when he’s with the rest of the band.
I was looking up his stuff. it looks like “Songbook” is probably what I’m after. All acoustic all just him.
This is wild stuff!
Like you said, on paper it sounds like some goofy mashup that Weird Al or Richard Cheese would do just because, but it really is something special. Thanks for the recommendation.
I liked some of the grunge stuff. Alice In Chains’ Dirt album is fantastic. Just sounds like a junkie manifesto. And as much as I wanted to hate it, Nirvana’s Nevermind is great too. Soundgarden is awesome, but their issue is they never had that one full great album. Superunknown is the closest. For beginners, I would recommend picking up A-Sides, which is basically their greatest hits. Chris had an amazing voice, and it held up live. I saw them a couple years back at the Wiltern and it was one of the best shows I’ve ever been to. No opener, they just came out and played for 3 hours straight. I was really bummed when he died. The first Stone Temple Pilots album was also really good.
YES! I would also like to add that Jar Of Flies / Sap is also a favourite of mine, and that their first comeback album post Layne Stahley, Black Gives Way To Blue is GREAT.
Yeah, I can only get into Dirt I’m not much of a fan of any of their other albums including unplugged. Maybe it’s the production, which I’m usually not one to notice that stuff unless it’s really bad/good, but there’s definitely something different about Dirt… a mood or a tone that just emits from Dirt that is very distinct unmistakable. Maybe the lyrics are so ugly and the music is so beautiful… I don’t know, it’s something
I like Jar of Flies and pieces of their other albums but nothing comes close to the work they did on Dirt,imo…you can’t fake that kind of despair, apparently…heh
Have you heard the title track from Black Gives Way To Blue?
Written in memory of Layne Stahley, I think this is one of the most soulful and melancholic moments in the AIC discography, at least post-dirt, heh. Featuring none other than Sir Elton John on the piano!
I saw you mentioned that album earlier and meant to comment but forgot…I had really low expectations going into that one (but really only based on the fact Layne wasn’t there,which is a ridiculous reason really) and I came out really digging it alot…I only heard it a couple of times but liked it very much …will give the whole thing another listen today…
I was lukewarm to giving that album a proper chance myself when it was released, partly due to Layne being gone, and secondly not being too impressed with the two previous releases with The Jerry Cantrell Band, which I thought the new AIC album was going to be, more or less. It turned out to be FAR better than those two!
Ive never heard any new AIC albums but i did hear AIC when they debuted the new singer at inland invasion or the bells (cant remember which concert it was) but i remember being blown away by how much the new guy sounded like Staley singing his songs. I guess i should jump on over to youtube and get a listen black gives way.
I did.
My daughter had a skating thing in Glendale and Amoeba was just 20 minutes away so it was kinda impromptu.
Maybe because it’s new, but I don’t care for it. It’s seems much smaller. I don’t know the lay out. All of the special stuff that used to be behind the counter is scattered about. When I asked about it nobody had any idea what I was talking about, “We had special shit behind the registers?!?” “Yeah, crazy expensive vinyls and outta print cds.” “Really? Well high priced vinyls are on the wall now and cds are all mixed in. except in some glass cases scattered about the store.”
It has the feel of Barnes and Noble music section. I mean I still found shit too buy, but it wasn’t the exciting experience it seems like it used to be.
Saw 2 older homeless people fucking on Hollywood BLVD on our the way to the FWY so I guess there was that.
