aaamusic | On 24, Sep 2010

Reunited after 13 years and after an amazing performance at this year’s Lollapalooza, Soundgarden return with a career-spanning retrospective album, a must have for fans and a great introduction for those who just found out that the band their father is obsessed with is actually great.

Telephantasm breaks all boundaries among labels and really digs into the bands career – with tracks being licensed belonging to every major – this is an achievement in itself. Furthermore, the album will also be release inside 1 million copies of Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock. They are coming back in stile.

Among beloved hits and catalogue cuts, Telephantasm also offers a previously unheard track Black Rain, coming straight from Badmotorfinger recording sessions, which somehow doesn’t sound as good and – weirdly enough – as fresh as the rest of the anthems.

Highlights of the album are, obviously, the big hits such as Burden in my hand, Rusty Cage and Black Hole Sun. I personally found quite interesting the live versions, such as Flower (BBC version), Jesus Christ Pose, Pretty Noose (Live on SNL) and Blow Up The Outside Wolrd (MTV live n’ loud): they just prove how good Soundgarden were back in the days and the distinctive sound of their times: simple yet constructed, powerful and most important, immortal.

If you don’t remember them, go and get it. If you were a fan than it’s your anticipated Xmas present. It’s this year’s must have.

Author: James