If I had to come up with one buzzword to describe the music scene during the last two years or so, it would have to be "reunions." From The Police to Led Zeppelin to Creed, it seems that an endless number of once popular bands are getting back together to recapture that old magic. Well, after years of denial they would ever reunite, we can add Soundgarden to that list.
Soundgarden has an influential place in rock history as part of the "grunge triangle" that came out of Seattle around the 1990s, along with Pearl Jam and Nirvana. They formed in 1984 when lead singer and drummer Chris Cornell and original bassist Hiro Yamamoto recruited guitarist Kim Thayil to join their band. Soundgarden filled out their lineup by adding drummer Matt Cameron in 1986, allowing Cornell to focus on vocals.
The band released an EP and one full-length album independently before their big break when they signed with major label A&M Records and gained nationwide attention by touring with Guns N'Roses. They didn't achieve massive commercial success, however, until their fourth album, Superunknown - one of the best rock albums of all time, at least in my opinion. Superunknown, which debuted as No. 1 on the Billboard charts in 1994, also brought the band Grammy success for their songs "Spoonman" and "Black Hole Sun," which are probably their best-known songs.
Soundgarden made one more album, Down on the Upside, before disbanding in 1997. No one knows exactly why they broke up, although Cameron said the band was "eaten up by the business." Many of the other band members noted touring had taken its toll on their chemistry together.
The band used their time apart fruitfully, participating in other projects for about the last decade. Perhaps one of the reasons their reunion was so unexpected was because the former members found great success outside of Soundgarden. For example, Cameron joined Pearl Jam as their drummer, and Cornell recorded several solo albums.
Soundgarden's unanticipated reunion was announced on Cornell's Twitter account New Year's Day 2010. And just last Friday, Soundgarden shocked fan with a secret, unexpected reunion concert using the pseudonym "Nudedragons" - an anagram for Soundgarden - held in their hometown of Seattle. The band's first official gig, however, will be headlining the Lollapalooza Music Festival Aug. 8 at Grant Park in Chicago, Ill.
In my opinion, Soundgarden was the best band to come from the grunge scene. Thayil created a distinct guitar sound with riffs that always make the listener feel weighed down, complimenting Soundgarden's depressing lyrical themes. They furthered musical experimentation by using unconventional guitar tunings and odd time signatures, thus allowing them to push the limits of the genre and open the door for bands such as Tool to further innovate rock music. And in all honesty, Cornell's vocals also blew those of Eddie Vedder and Kurt Cobain out of the water.
Soundgarden's return is one of the hotly anticipated musical performances of the summer. And if you've never listened to them, now is the time to familiarize yourself with one of the important bands of rock folklore.
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