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album review
The best expression of Soundgarden's early, Stooges/MC5-meets-Zeppelin/Sabbath sound, Ultramega OK is a dark, murky, buzzing record that simultaneously subverts and pays tribute to heavy metal. At times, the band and its recasting of over-the-top '70s hard rock seem smirky (Hiro Yamamoto's ridiculous vocal on "Circle of Power"; a "cover" of John Lennon's "One Minute of Silence"); a few, like the cover of "Smokestack Lightning," really do sink into turgid metal silliness. But the best moments are startling fusions of classic metal, punk rock, and psychedelia of the fuzz guitar variety, plus the local flavor of Green River and the Melvins. The difference was, Soundgarden were better songwriters, and their feel for memorable riffs and hooks lends greater power to both the rockers and the creepy, dirge-like slow numbers. It's a shame the album as a whole isn't more fully realized, because when separated out from the filler, the numerous highlights show why Soundgarden had such an enormous impact on the development of grunge. It may not be quite as complex or consistent as some of Soundgarden's later albums, but Ultramega OK is easily the best document of grunge's early, pre-Nirvana days. ~ Steve Huey, All Music Guide
more albums by this artist
See all-
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- Superunknown
- Released 1994
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- A-Sides
- Released 1997
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- Down On The Upside
- Released 1996
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- Badmotorfinger
- Released 1991
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listener reviews
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Ultramega YES
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- By Ir0nbullet
- 6/21/2009 06:42:54
- This album is a big juicy chunk of Grunge influence, along with Mudhoney's Superfuzz Bigmuff and Green River's Rehab Doll/Dry As a Bone, this is one of those early Seattle albums that carried Grunge into the 90s (not mentioning Screaming Life/Fopp). The best grunge album of the 80s.
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Ultramega Awesome!
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- By AXL 36O
- 3/28/2009 16:33:59
- You can't get much more stranger than early-Soundgarden. And besides Screaming Life/Fopp, this is as early as you can get.
The only band, at least at the time, that could mix the Beatles with Black Sabbath and put a little Seattle-dirt in it. Cornell's high-pitched voice compliments Kim Thayil's noisy-yet-gorgeous guitar work.
Yamamoto has a little fun as the singer in "Circle Of Power", and keeps the rhythm alive with Matt Cameron... the greatest Seattle drummer at the time.
If you're not blown away by the AMAZING vocals on "Beyond The Wheel", or the intricate guitar work of "Flower", then have a laugh at the "Santa-nic" backwards message in "665"
One thing that you can't deny about this band at the time of this album, they can rock and have fun at the same time. - Be the first person to rate this review!
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Interesting for die-hard fans
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- By kman777x
- 5/15/2008 15:19:28
- This album is interesting for the die-hard Soundgarden fans. I would recommend Superunknown instead if you're checking out Soundgarden for the first time.
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