For an act that was one of the definitive album artists of the late '80s and '90s,
Soundgarden was a surprisingly effective singles band. Their singles effectively conveyed all of their best ideas, from their sludgy early
Sub Pop recordings to the elaborate, post-
metal psychedelia of their last two albums,
Superunknown and
Down on the Upside. That's the reason why the 17-track compilation
A-Sides is such a successful overview of the band's too-brief career. Most of their peers wouldn't be well represented by a compilation that concentrated solely on singles, but
Soundgarden are, because their singles do capture what they're all about. There are many great songs left off
A-Sides, from
"Big Dumb Sex" to
"My Wave," but it's hard to argue with what's here. Each single from every album -- from the 1987 debut EP
Screaming Life through
SST's
Ultramega OK, to their four records for
A&M -- is here, with the
Down on the Upside outtake
"Bleed Together" added as an enticement for collectors. Almost every one of the group's best-known songs are here, including
"Hands All Over," "Loud Love," "Jesus Christ Pose," "Outshined," "Rusty Cage," "Black Hole Sun," "The Day I Tried to Live," "Spoonman," "Fell on Black Days," "Pretty Noose," "Burden in My Hand," and
"Blow Up the Outside World," resulting in a near-definitive summary of one of the most important and influential bands of the '90s. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine
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