Badmotorfinger

There is something satisfying, and invigorating about rediscovering the brilliance of an album years after the fact. In this case, the brilliance is Soundgarden's "Badmotorfinger."

Setting aside the sobering realty that this album was released more than 15 years ago (a fact that seems impossible), but playing off the notion that it has been years since I've listened to this disc in its entirety, I'm blown away by its sonic brilliance.

This all started thanks to Sirius' new alternative channel, when the channel served up the album's "Jesus Christ Pose" to me the other day. I was looking for something to get my through a funk at work, something heavy, but loosely familiar. I dialed it up on my iPod and proceeded to be blown away in the same way I was when I first got lost, frightened and then split open by "Searching with my Good Eye Closed."

Soundgarden was obviously an important part of the early 90s grunge scene, along side the usual Seattle players likes Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Alice in Chains. But, it really their "Superunknown" album that most people remember. In fact, I recall about three years ago, when I proclaimed its brilliance after listening to it in its entirety after a similar long layover. But, Badmotorfigner blows it away.

It's so dark, driven by think bass lines, soaring guitars and Chris Cornell's otherworldly vocals. I remembered the "bigger" hits from the album: "Outshined, Rusty Cage, and the aforementioned "Jesus Christ Pose", but it was the lesser known "Room a Thousand Years Wide" and "Mind Riot" that took my right back to remembering how freaking incredible this album was. It really encapsulates the general feeling of malaise and uncertainty that was present in the era.

It also got me thinking about what college kids these days are hanging their proverbial hats on. Is there a sense of uniformity these days? Then, there was a feeling of solidarity, like we were all dealing with the craziness of a changing society and an uncertain future. What to they have know...or do they have anything? Maybe this current generation is a little too self-important...at least according to this article it is.

I'm not sure what my point is, or if I just sound like an old soul trying to relive his past glory. But, damn if things didn't mean something then. If anything, its refreshing to realize that an album that was so important to me back then, still holds up against time.

I was slipping through the cracks of a stolen jewel
I was tightrope walking in two ton shoes
Now somebody is talking about a third world war
And the police said this was normal control

And the candle was burning yesterday
Like somebody's best friend died
And I've been caught in a mind riot