Superunkown is KNOWN as a SUPER emotionally draining album, however I find that to not be the case. It sure isn't a happy album, but to say it is truly depressing or anything is an overstatement. Songs like "4th of July" and "Like Suicide" are kinda downers, but I don't know anyone who listens to "My Wave" or the title track and has any kind of negative emotion. The album always feels a bit angry at something, but anger and depressing are two very different feelings.
Lyrically, this album is good although not particularly amazing. Songs like "Fell On Black Days" have VERY strong lyrics, but for the most part they're just above average. Still, above average is... well above average. Sure they aren't spectacular, but they are better than what most bands come up with. In short, they aren't really a selling point, but they are far from a detracting factor.
Now, musically is where the album really shines. Every, and I do mean every, song here works. From the punk rock "Kickstand" to the sludge metal "4th of July" every song is different but still feels like it belongs on the album. They are all held together largely by Chris Cornell's unparalleled voice. While I know many people who aren't fans of him, for me he is one of my favorite singers ever. He has the ability to sing higher than most girls and still sound like a complete badass while doing it. The best song that shows off his voice would probably be "Jesus Christ Pose" from Badmotorfinger but it still impresses on every single song here. How many people can sing a ballad with a truly touching voice, and then later on the same album pull of a punk rock song? Probably not that many, but Chris Cornell pulls it off effortlessly. Speaking of effortless, sometimes one may forget how impressive his voice is. This is largely because he never sounds like he is straining to hit high notes. Often I find myself just listening through normally and then I remember "oh wait, this is 2 octaves out of my range, holy crap". It's moments like this where the album just truly feels amazing. However, I don't want to make it sound like this album works just because of Cornell. Kim Thayil is a great guitarist, if for some truly odd reasons. He provides great riffs like any good guitarist in rock band should, but it is his solos that are truly special. They aren't super great, but they are good and they are different than just about anything I've ever heard. They are so sporadic and unpredictable. I wouldn't consider him one of my favorite guitarist, but he is one of the most memorable. Matt Cameron is an awesome drummer. He never does a standard beat with the occasional fill, he fades in and out and plays with real dynamics. He is technically solid, but it's the almost emotional drumming that is what makes him stand out. Honestly, the bass is pretty standard. It isn't bad, but nothing honestly worth writing about.
The album is well produced, if anything great. It defiantly gets the job done, but the low end gets "mushy" sometimes. Again, nothing awful or anything, but it could be better. The guitars and bass sound meaty enough and Chris Cornell's gets to soar above it all just as it should.
In short, this is an awesome album. It is "grunge" but with a healthy dose of psychedelia and Black Sabbath... oh and the voice of a god, that helps too. If you like hard rock or heavy metal, this is a MUST own album.
