Ok, so I know we don’t usually cover live albums but then it’s not every day that my favourite ever band from my formative years releases a live album and it’s not every day that a live album is this damn good.
‘Live on I5’ was recorded on Soundgarden’s 1996 tour of America’s West Coast and, coming just after the release of ‘Down On The Upside’, captures the band at the absolute peak of their powers. From the opening 7/8 chug of ‘Spoonman’ right through to an incendiary ‘Jesus Christ Pose’ this record showcases what made Soundgarden icons in their day and way more than just another grunge band.
The principle ingredient for that of course is Chris Cornell’s truly stupefying voice and range. It wasn’t until I first saw Soundgarden live myself, way back in 1994 (yes, I’m that old) that the wonder of that voice really hit home. How does a sound that big come out of one little bloke? I’ll never know but I hope it never stops!
Obviously, coming as it does ahead of new material and touring from the band, all the ‘hits’ are here; ‘Rusty Cage’, ‘Outshined’, a spine chilling Cornell solo version of ‘Black Hole Sun’, ‘Fell On Black Days’ and an immense rendition of ‘Searching With My Good Eye Closed’ but in addition you get a few oddities like their covers of The Beatles’ ‘Helter Skelter’ and The Stooges’ ‘Search And Destroy’ although, sadly, only ‘Nothing To Say’ makes the cut from their pre-‘Badmotorfinger’ catalogue.
If, like me, you were a fan of the band from back in the day or you’ve come to them later via the multitude of bands they’ve influenced ‘Live on I5’ is an absolutely essential addition to any Soundgarden fan’s collection.
Top tracks: ‘Jesus Christ Pose’, ‘Black Hole Sun’.
Released March 21 through A&M / UMe
Echo Rating (((???•)))
Posted by Dan
