The Giant Panther

It'll be interesting when I get around to listening to the rest of the Alice in Chains record, but I'm very encouraged by the first single. So this morning WFNX played the new AIC single, Pearl Jam's "I'm Alive," and Soundgarden's "Burden in My Hand" all within about 15 minutes of each other. I had given a lot of thought as to what my birthday post might be and hearing "Burden in My Hand" from 1996's Down On The Upside this morning on the radio kind of put me over the top. I didn't actually own Bad Motorfinger right away when it came out in 1991, but I should have. It has some of my all time favorite Soundgarden singles on it. Speaking of Singles, I loved that movie when it came out in 1992.

For those of you who haven't seen it it's basically about being young and single in the Seattle area during the Grunge era. It's one of my favorite soundtracks. I love Paul Westerberg of The Replacements and I've always had kind of a thing for Bridget Fonda (Kyra Sedgwick too for that matter...before all that Closer lipstick...scale it back Kyra...please), but the soundtrack was sheer grunge. Soundgarden contributed "Birth Ritual" and Chris Cornell contributed "Seasons," but the whole record was great. It even had some Jimi Hendrix, Heart (in the form of The Lovemongers getting the Led out with "The Battle of Evermore") and my favorite Smashing Pumpkins song of them all; "Drown." A great soundtrack can really cement a movie in the record buying public's mind. I'm a great case study for that I guess. I'll never forget that movie because of the music. I guess the same could be said of The Big Chill, but Singles was an Independent film so you rooted for it right?

I was a huge Grunge fan. Nirvana's Nevermind is always going to be a big inflection point for that genre, but there were some great bands from that era. Soundgarden was absolutely right in the middle of it at the time. Has anyone else heard Johnny Cash doing "Rusty Cage" on one of the American Recordings records he did with Rick Rubin producing? I just love Johnny Cash anyway, but these American Recordings are tremendous. I'll eventually post one of those covers, but they should be checked out by anyone and everyone. Consider them Giant Panther approved.

Soundgarden, led by Chris Cornell, released Bad Motorfinger in 1991, Superunknown in 1994 and Down On The Upside in 1996. Three great records in a row. I had my chance to see them in Boston around 1992 or so and dropped the ball. I distinctly remember a friend of mine saying "you better go see them now because after this they will be huge." He nailed it. Superunknown is so solid it defies superlatives. I just skipped through it on Amazon and forgot how good "Mailman" is. Or "The Day I Tried To Live." Or "Head Down." You could take the hits right off this album and it wouldn't bother me in the least. I absolutely loved "Black Hole Sun, Fell On Black Days and Spoonman," but I've heard them so many times they have lost some of their zeal for me. Still, the first time I heard "Black Hole Sun" I went right out and bought my first Soundgarden CD. I couldn't have been more pleased with the result. I then went back and bought Louder Than Love and Bad Motorfinger just because. Later on Down On The Upside had a fantastic track called "Blow Up The Outside World" I just loved as well. There was nothing wrong with "Pretty Noose" either. I just couldn't get enough Soundgarden then.

The band, which formed in 1984, basically broke up after five studio albums in 1997. They were the first Grunge band to get signed to a major label when they signed with A&M in 1990 and sold 20 million records worldwide. Their popularity came a couple of years after the other worldly fame of Nirvana and Pearl Jam, but they had nothing to be ashamed about. This was a great band too. They took a lot of heat from their fans after leaving SST Records and going "pro," but it was worth it. Cult labels like SST and Sub Pop were awesome for starters, but you really needed the promotional muscle only a major could provide. Bad Motorfinger wasn't out long before people figured out "Outshined, Rusty Cage, Jesus Christ Pose and Holy Water" were outstanding songs and that the record was worth buying. I probably didn't own it until 1994, but better late than never. I think "Outshined" is my favorite Soundgarden track, but at least ten of their tracks are in the running.

Chris Cornell released a couple three solo records, but splitting up Soundgarden proved to be a questionable move. Superunknown debuted at number one on the Billboard Charts in March of 1994 and went platinum five times. I love it when a great record finds mainstream success. I know I shouldn't, but when I look at those Top 40 charts I really cringe. I just bought the October issue of Rolling Stone Magazine this morning, mostly because the delectable Megan Fox is on the cover with her Gail O'Grady (take a good look!), er, Marilyn Monroe tattoo, and am presently looking at the charts. Of the Top 40 selling records I only own Kings of Leon's Only By Night, The Black Crowes' Before The Frost..., John Fogerty's The Blue Ridge Rangers Ride Again and Eminem's Relapse. That's four of the Top 40. Pretty sad huh? Even on the college charts I can only claim The Dead Weather, Wilco, Blitzen Trapper and Modest Mouse. That's because I'm off the Arctic Monkeys Bandwagon...if I was ever on it. Anyway, the point is when Soundgarden was number one that was great for rock music. Today you have Whitney Houston and Miley Cyrus on top. 'Nuff said, am I right?

OK, my one year post is way too long for saying nothing new. I just wanted to say glad to have you folks as readers and I hope once in a while I turn you onto something new or something you have forgotten. Today I'm looking California and feelin' Minnesota. One year...made it! Talk soon.