Vinyl of the Week - 4 July 2021

Down on the Upside, Soundgarden

This week I found time to dig out some music I haven’t listened to in ages. One positive of being in lockdown, I guess. And I’m so glad I did because I rediscovered this one. Released in 1996, Down on the Upside was Soundgarden’s fifth album. Not anywhere near as heavy as their previous albums, it was considered their most accessible to date but ended up being their last before taking a 16-year hiatus. The band wanted to experiment with different sounds but reportedly clashed over the shift away from the heavy guitar riffs they had become known for. A gruelling world tour just pushed them further apart and eventually led to their split. The vocal work by Chris Cornell on this album is mind-blowing and really shows off his range. When Cornell passed away in 2017 it truly was a tragic end to a supremely talented individual. Listening to this album again made me remember how great Cornell, and this band, really was - DS