Track Listing

1. Pretty Noose
2. Rhinosaur
3. Zero Chance
4. Dusty
5. Ty Cobb
6. Blow Up The Outside World
7. Burden In My Hand
8. Never Named
9. Applebite
10. Never The Machine Forever
11. Tighter & Tighter
12. No Attention
13. Switch Opens
14. Overfloater
15. An Unkind
16. Boot Camp

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #5349 in Music
• Released on: 1996-05-20
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .17 pounds
• Running time: 66 minutes

CD Description
They still come armed with their trademark guitar rumble and Chris Cornell's bellowing vocals. But once again, as on 1994's SUPERUNKNOWN, Soundgarden use their Led Zeppelin roots and Black Sabbath might as springboards toward melodic structure and instrumental experimentation not normally associated with bands this heavy.
DOWN ON THE UPSIDE begins with "Pretty Noose", a swirling magma of guitar tones not unlike those generated by fellow Seattlites Alice In Chains. But Soundgarden avoids the typical grunge ruts. Guitarist Kim Thayil pulls out a mandolin a couple of times; on "Ty Cobb", he begins by noodling innocuously on it but works up to furious soloing. Soundgarden's punk roots show on that song and on "Never Named", but on other tracks the band shows its subtlety. "Applebite", which features drummer Matt Cameron on a Moog synthesizer, is eerie and disembodied. On "Overfloater", Thayil's low-key electric-guitar phrasing and Cornell's electric piano provide billowy tones and dreamy textures before the heavy crunch hits home.

Customer Reviews

kings of grunge
for me down on the upside is one of the best albums of the 90,s
as a listener it has always kept me gripped from start to finish.This is a bunch of great musicians experimenting on there landmark album SUPERUNKOWN,and by doing that they create some very intelligent and intense rock music.Every band out there creating music needs to listen to soundgarden THEY DONT MAKE THEM LIKE THIS ANYMORE.

Giving everything they own
Lets abandon the fruitless comparisons and labelling of this to earlier records of the "Grunge" viene. The truth is, Soundgarden were slowing down, and they knew that this would be their last. For this reason they were bound to turn to their own experiments and search for another direction on their own. This brings the disjointed nature of 'Ty Cobb' and the slightly misguided 'Never named'. Of course we looked for Cornell's lushous syrupy lyrics and at times he doesn't dissapoint, but to ask for "Superunknown 2" would be a tragic waste of talent. It retains the essential, infinate quality of every Soundgarden album. I can listen to the album endlessly and each time I find something new. The thoughtful and melodic 'Zero Chance' and 'Switch Opens' being these overlooked, hidden mysteries. They resonate deep sadness that makes this an essential album for any fan of their unique and unmistakable charm. Its an album for all seasons with the racous and thumping 'No Attention', the pensive 'Boot Camp', the reflective 'Burden in my hand' and the tuneful and radio rocking 'Pretty Noose'. Talent shines through in every lick and thump and Im left wondering of the complexities of their poetry. This album can never sprout the same boredom or familiarity of 'Nevermind' or 'Dirt', and this is where the album's power lies. Its difficult to entirley warm to imediatly but given a little time 'Down on the Upside'proves to be the most rewarding of albums. All experiments have their flaws, but look beyond some isolated weaknesses and this is a truly wonderful music experience. They leave you wanting more, as any great artist would. They avoided the grinding routine of Pearl Jam's recent years and the endlessly dissapointing final Smashing Pumpkins work. They left on a high note, and that should be respected as a rarity in modern rock. This truly is their highest note of all. Thankyou Soundgarden.

The best Soundgarden album
This is one of the only albums I have that really impressed me from the start. It open brilliantly with "Pretty Noose", in my opinion, the best track on the album, but you won't be dissapointed because the rest of the album is very innovative and exciting. Chris Cornell's vocals are brilliant as usual. Other stand out tracks are "Burden in My Hand" and "Tighter And Tighter". I have yet to hear Chris' solo album and it will definately be the next CD I buy. This is more brilliance from Soundgarden.