Total Fucking Godhead / The Soundgarden Thread

[96583UP]

and what it must feel like to live in that aging addict nervous system and deal with a c*nt like that when you are an artist and acknowledge she has been pulling a fast one over you

Hard not to read the tea leaves on this via Chris’s final Tweet (“no more bullshit”):

he had a quote within the year before he died, criticizing bands that re-issue albums as though they have nothing left to say

i don't think he was directly criticizing SG, because they clearly could still create, and were

but it gave some kind of insight into some aspect of his thinking

he died and the god damn 10c was still selling Soundgarden Ugly Sweaters via blast email 6 months later after he died

cocksuckers

they didn't put him over obviously

but maybe he knew he was at the end of his rope

[Superblood Wolfmoon]

Chris was obviously obsessed with death for most of his life. Practically every SG song references death in one way or another. I can imagine that he flirted with death quite often, and perhaps even pushed the envelope on a semi-regular basis, particularly after the adrenaline of a show wore off and left him feeling down. Maybe that night in Detroit he had the right cocktail of chemicals in him to not pull back from the edge, I don't know. But as time goes by and it sets in, I can't imagine this was just some one-off act that he did out of nowhere.

[96583UP]

this was probably the 10,000th time he flirted with it

and it finally made it past the quality control checker

and that was that

[VinylGuy]

fuck, i sometimes cant believe he did it.

[arthurdent]

What has always terrified me is that I can understand the mindset Chris was in that evening. He had relapsed, and Vicky called him out on it. The internal shame and guilt of knowing that you have completely fucked up.something that you held dear. And something you might not ever be able to repair or get back is a tough o e to live with.

[VinylGuy]

I also think whatever pre scripted drugs he was in didnt helped him in that moment.

[liebzz]

So much less morbid, I am listening through the early albums though I guess not really in order. Ultramega OK this morning, Louder Than Love on the first part of my commute with Screaming Life/Fopp now. I mean I do enjoy everything from Badmotorfinger on the most, but I never spent nearly enough time with the early material.

[Birds in Hell]

The Jack Endino-recorded Ultramega demos on the reissue were absolutely revelatory.

That EPs worth of songs has become one of my go-to Soundgarden listens when I'm in the mood.

[tragabigzanda]

[Freewheelin]

Agreed, I’d venture it’s the best soundgarden sounded prior to the major label releases

[liebzz]

So I listened straight through their albums in order, but didn’t memorialize it the way I have with some other groups, mostly because I was feeling lazy on that end. I still believe each is excellent in their own way. I will still argue that Chris sounded best with Temple of the Dog, but man Superunknown is so good. Every time you think you’ve hit the apex of the album it keeps delivering. I also remembered how much I liked King Animal. Listened straight from Down on the Upside, it doesn’t feel like an album that strives to recapture the band’s youth. It is very much a natural progression which is astounding considering the time between those albums. Such a great band.

[tragabigzanda]

[liebzz]

This listen, I loved Rowing.

[tragabigzanda]

Top 10 maybe?
Hello Morning
Close Captioned
The Kill
Place/Position
Do You Like Me?
Latest Disgrace
Recap Modotti
Nightshop
Break
Life & Limb

I'd maybe bump Life & Limb for Epic Problem

[liebzz]

Okay agreed on that.

[wease]

also remembered how much I liked King Animal. Listened straight from Down on the Upside, it doesn’t feel like an album that strives to recapture the band’s youth. It is very much a natural progression which is astounding considering the time between those albums. Such a great band.

I completely agree, though I do think King Animal really peters out in the last three tracks.

Agreed. And totally feels like the next one in the line after DotU. So fucking good.

[VinylGuy]

Yeah, King Animal really picks up were DOTU left. Pretty amazing...

I love Rowing. Its one of my favs from the album..i dont quite care for Worse Dreams or Black Saturday and kinda hate Halfway there but Eyelids Mouth and Rowing are wonderful.

[Birds in Hell]

I had high hopes for the follow-up to King Animal.

[arthurdent]

I don't care what anyone else thinks, but Live to Rise was badass

[liebzz]

I had high hopes for the follow-up to King Animal.

It’s gonna happen, man. I mean it might happen 5-10 years from now when everyone is exhausted and needs money to pay legal fees, but it’s coming!