Red Mosquito

tragabigzanda wrote:

matt reeder wrote:

tragabigzanda wrote:his upper/scream register still sounds as great as it did back in the day.

I'm not sure what you're smoking, but can I have some of it?

Chris sounds great for being 52 years old but he's never going to sound as good as he did from 1989-1994, and it isn't even close. He's a much better singer now than he was then, but he can't convincingly do things like "Birth Ritual" ever again.

I guess yea, some of his scream from the older songs are tough for him to hit now. The point I was trying to make was that his screaming stuff on KA sounds awesome -- I suspect it's because he's singing in part of his register that he can still control really well. But sure, if he tries to hit some of the higher notes from the older stuff, his age would be obvious.

I mostly listen to live stuff. He can still hit the notes most of the time but without most of the power he had back in the day. He's faring better than EV but it's still hard to listen to sometimes if you aren't expecting it. But then again, some of that material is among the hardest to sing that anybody's ever written (like "Pretty Noose", for example).

I really dont like his voice in 1989 or 1990 maybe because his higher notes, its like its fuckin ronnie james dio or coverdale. I loved what he did in 1994 and 1996. And specially, 1999 with EM.

And yes, he is great nowadays...i might say since he broke up Audioslave.

VinylGuy wrote:I really dont like his voice in 1989 or 1990 maybe because his higher notes, its like its fuckin ronnie james dio or coverdale. I loved what he did in 1994 and 1996. And specially, 1999 with EM.

And yes, he is great nowadays...i might say since he broke up Audioslave.

Cornell confirmed 2017 album and tour!

Howard Kaylan from The Turtles/Mothers Of Invention appears to be a Soundgarden fanatic. He's always posting about how great they are and how Cornell is "the best singer ever". That's high praise!

CopperTom wrote:Cornell confirmed 2017 album and tour!

tragabigzanda wrote:

Wendy Carlos's Twin wrote:Howard Kaylan from The Turtles/Mothers Of Invention appears to be a Soundgarden fanatic. He's always posting about how great they are and how Cornell is "the best singer ever". That's high praise!

The Flo & Eddie era is the best Zappa era.

I'm actually listening to Road Tapes #3 right now. I'm going through all of the new Zappa releases finally...there's like 6 of them.

One day you are gonna be super embarrassed about that A Thousand Days Before grade.

Sounds like a Cornell solo tune? Wow. This song's a giant. Don't get that comparison at all.

tragabigzanda wrote: Blood on the Valley Floor 3/5
It's one of two "meh" songs on the record. It's Soundgarden by-the-numbers. They've done it better before.

Taree 3/5
This is my other "meh" song on the record. Chris sounds great on the verses. It's sort of a cool song. Could take it or leave it. Helps the flow of the album, I suppose.

These are probably the two best songs on the album for me.

I also think By Crooked Steps is one of the weakest, so take that as you will.

Birds in Hell wrote:

tragabigzanda wrote: Blood on the Valley Floor 3/5
It's one of two "meh" songs on the record. It's Soundgarden by-the-numbers. They've done it better before.

Taree 3/5
This is my other "meh" song on the record. Chris sounds great on the verses. It's sort of a cool song. Could take it or leave it. Helps the flow of the album, I suppose.

These are probably the two best songs on the album for me.

I also think By Crooked Steps is one of the weakest, so take that as you will.

I LOOOOOVVVVVVVEEEEEEE "Blood on the Valley Floor". "Taree" too. But my least favorite song on the album is "Non-State Actor", so what do I know?

Lets do this, as KA is a regular album on my list these days;

Been Away Too Long 4/5:
Who know i was going to love this one so bad? i kinda hated it when it came out and now it feels so cool. Not only the bridge, which is amazing, but the guitars and Chris delivery. And i love the lyrics too, specially tied with Boot Camp as the other side of this...the chorus is great, the "I only ever really wanted a break I’ve been away for too long though I never really wanted to stay" is brilliant and feels like Chris 's other classic output in SG.

Non State Actor 4/5:
Another one that grew with time..i love chris vocals, but i really really love Matt and Ben here. And i specially adore that little solo Kim does near the end, its so cool....

By Crooked Steps 5/5:
An early favorite..and it stays as one. The rhythm section is superb. I love the lyrics, cornell's delivery and the bridge is fucking soulful. Amazing song.

A Thousand Days Before 5/5:
I used to skip this one when KA came out, i thought it was bland and not that heavy, and it has grow as one of the best compositions they have. Not only the guitars are great, but i also love Matt performance as well. And i love the lyrics these days, they are really fine.

Blood On The Valley Floor 4/5:
This one had dropped a little, maybe because of its lyrics...i dont know. Its a beast, Kim and Ben at their finest with some really cool Cornell vocals...it's so heavy and at the same time so groovy.

Bones Of Birds 5/5:
Another instant classic to me. Cornell is back at 1994 mode with his vocals here, the Hey! part in the chorus is classic SG. Everyone shines here, from Matt cool as fuck performance to Ben's intro and outtro and Kim's spacey guitars. There are some moments where it feels like SG meets Alice In Chains.
The lyrics are great.

Taree 3/5:
I still dont get this one. It might be my least favorite Ben song in his catalogue. Its a mid tempo, kinda bluesy kinda heavy one and i should love it and yet feels so disconnected to me i dont need to liste to it at all.

Attrition 5/5:
Motherfucker yeah. Ben Shepherd at his finest. Everything is cool here, from Kim's punk delivery to Chris and Ben's deadpan vocals..and those background vocals? Gold. And the lyrics are amazing...that chorus!!

Black Saturday 3/5:
I appreciate what they are trying to do here...its a really loose song, with a very cool delivery from Chris and a particular great and jazzy performance from Matt...and there is something missing. Im not sure what...maybe it need to be more heavy? The bridge is great though.

Halfway There 2/5:
Worst SG song ever? Maybe. Its not a bad song, but its not sg. Its a Chris's Carry On B Side. The production is horrible, the band doesnt sound like SG, Kim is bored as fuck...a shame, because the demo had potential.

Worse Dreams 3/5:
Another one that should have been better...the demo is fuckin rad!! the guitars sound so weird here, its like they lost the power they have in the demo version...Chris sounds great, Matt sounds great...but its too fuckin poppy. I wonder what happen from the demo to here. Still, there are good things too, specially in the outtro, which goes full SG at the end.

Eyelid's Mouth 4/5:
Man, i just love this one. The lyrics are cheesy? i dont care, they sound really cool... Ben lines are massive, and Mike fuckin Mccready is here. The only complaint i have is the fade. WHAT THE FUCK? you have these guys going crazy and you fade?? Weird choice...those guitars at the end are badass.

Rowing 4/5:
Oh fuck yeah. Ben again, is the mvp of the song. I agree that it needs to be more epic, that needs another kind of solo from Kim, but still this is a really cool end. I do like the lyrics, even if they are pretty direct, they still feel badass to me. And Cornell's delivery is pretty cool too...but again, Ben Shepherd everyone.

Been Away Too Long 2/5
Non State Actor 4/5
By Crooked Steps 4/5
A Thousand Days Before 5/5
Blood On The Valley Floor 4/5
Bones Of Birds 5/5
Taree 3/5
Attrition 3/5
Black Saturday 2/5
Halfway There 3/5
Worse Dreams 4/5
Eyelid's Mouth 2/5
Rowing 5/5

Rowing's great to crank every now and then. What a catalogue this band has.