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Ultramega OK

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Ultramega OK is the debut album by the American alternative rock band Soundgarden, released on October 31, 1988 through SST Records. Following the release of the EPs Screaming Life, released in 1987, and Fopp, released in 1988, both for the Sub Pop record label, the band signed with the independent record label SST and went to work on its first full-length studio album.

The resulting album contained elements of psychedelic rock, classic rock, and hardcore punk. The band supported the album with a tour of the United States as well as its first overseas tour. In 1990, the album earned a Grammy Award nomination for Best Metal Performance.

Recording

The album was recorded in spring 1988 in Seattle, Washington and Newberg, Oregon with producer Drew Canulette. Frontman Chris Cornell said that during the recording sessions the band wasn't on the same page with Canulette. He said, "Material-wise we went through the process that we always do, but the producer wasn't used to the sound we wanted and didn't know what was happening in Seattle."[1] He later said that "we made a huge mistake with Ultramega OK, because we left our home surroundings and people we'd been involved with and used this producer that really did affect our album in a kind of negative way. The producer was suggested by SST because they could get a good deal. I regret it, because in terms of material, it should have been one of the best records we ever did. It actually slowed down our momentum a little bit because it didn't really sound like us."[2] Veteran Seattle producer Jack Endino, who also produced Soundgarden's first EP, Screaming Life, was in the process of re-mixing the album, and actually completed a rough mix of "Flower". But, due to the band wanting to move on and the financial costs involved with repressing and redistributing the record, it was put on hold.[3]

Music and lyrics

Template:Sample box startTemplate:Multi-listen startTemplate:Multi-listen item Template:Multi-listen end Template:Sample box end Ultramega OK has elements of 1960s psychedelic rock, 1970s classic rock, and 1980s hardcore punk.[4] Drummer Matt Cameron said that the band tried to refine its sound while still trying to keep an edge. Steve Huey of Allmusic said that the album is the "best expression of Soundgarden's early, Stooges/MC5-meets-Zeppelin/Sabbath sound," and added that it is "a dark, murky, buzzing record that simultaneously subverts and pays tribute to heavy metal."[5]

Guitarist Kim Thayil recalls "Flower" as being the first time he blew across his guitar strings.[6] This can be heard during the song's introduction, when they are played in rhythm with the drums. "Circle of Power" was one of the few Soundgarden songs to be written without any input from Cornell, as it was written by Thayil and bassist Hiro Yamamoto. It is also the only Soundgarden song on which Yamamoto performs lead vocals. "Smokestack Lightning" is a Howlin' Wolf cover. The end of the song contains samples of Sonic Youth's "Death Valley '69" from the 1985 album Bad Moon Rising.

Cornell said that "Flower" is "about a girl...who becomes a woman and basically invests everything in vanity and then burns out quick.[4] Thayil stated that "Nazi Driver" is about "cutting up Nazis and making stew out of them."[7] Cornell observed that the lyrics and vocals for "Incessant Mace" are "very European Gothic."[8] Three songs on the album were recorded as jokes or parodies by the band. The songs "665" and "667" are parodies of the idea of Satanic content in rock music, the idea being that if 666 is such a powerful number, then the surrounding numbers must be equally as powerful.[9] "665", when played backwards, contains messages about Santa (such as Cornell screaming "I love you Santa, baby!" at 1:19), alluding to the alleged messages about Satan. The album's closing track, "One Minute of Silence", is a "cover" of John Lennon's "Two Minutes of Silence", excluding Yoko Ono's part. Cornell said that the band "appreciated the Lennon arrangement so much."[9] No instruments are played, although the band (presumably) can be faintly heard in the background. Cornell stated, "We were trying real hard to shut up, but Kim couldn't possibly shut up for a whole minute."[7]

Release and reception

Cornell said, "On [Ultramega OK] the production wasn't what we were after at all, and that sort of hurt us critically."[10]

"Flower" was the only single released from the album. Its music video, directed by Mark Miremont, aired regularly on MTV's 120 Minutes, helping to call attention to the early Seattle grunge scene.

The album was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance in 1990.[11]

Imagery and design

According to Cornell, the album's title was a joke conceived by Thayil.[12] Cornell explained that the title Ultramega OK means "absolutely, unbelievably not bad," and suggested that the British version was going to be called Ultramega UK.[9] Cornell explained the title further, stating, "With Ultramega OK we really liked the songs on that record but we were disappointed in the production. We were sort of making fun of the finished product. It was Ultramega Alright. Ultramega could have been better but not bad."[13]

Tour

Soundgarden supported the album with a tour of the United States in the spring of 1989 and a tour of Europe which began in May 1989 and which was the band's first overseas tour.[14]

Track listing

  1. "Flower" (Chris Cornell, Kim Thayil) – 3:25
  2. "All Your Lies" (Cornell, Thayil, Hiro Yamamoto) – 3:51
  3. "665" (Cornell, Yamamoto) – 1:37
  4. "Beyond the Wheel" (Cornell) – 4:20
  5. "667" (Cornell, Yamamoto) – 0:56
  6. "Mood for Trouble" (Cornell) – 4:21
  7. "Circle of Power" (Thayil, Yamamoto) – 2:05
  8. "He Didn't" (Matt Cameron, Cornell) – 2:47
  9. "Smokestack Lightning" (Howlin' Wolf) – 5:07
  10. "Nazi Driver" (Cornell, Yamamoto) – 3:52
  11. "Head Injury" (Cornell) – 2:22
  12. "Incessant Mace" (Cornell, Thayil) – 6:22
  13. "One Minute of Silence" (John Lennon) – 1:00

Personnel

References

  1. ^ Alexander, Phil. "Soundgarden". Raw. 1989.
  2. ^ "Yeah! I'm a Moody Bastard". Kerrang!. August 19, 1995.
  3. ^ Nickson, Chris. New Metal Crown 1995. p. 89.
  4. ^ a b "Kashmir". Sounds. May 13, 1989.
  5. ^ Huey, Steve. "Ultramega OK". Allmusic.
  6. ^ Gilbert, Jeff. "Primecuts: Kim Thayil". Guitar School. May 1994.
  7. ^ a b "Sonic Bloom Boys". Sounds. February 11, 1989.
  8. ^ Foege, Alec. "The End of Innocence". Rolling Stone. January 12, 1995.
  9. ^ a b c True, Everett. "Soundgarden: The Mutate Gallery". Melody Maker. June 10, 1989.
  10. ^ White, Richard. "Soundgarden Rocks". Rockpool. October 1, 1989.
  11. ^ "32nd Grammy Awards - 1990". Rockonthenet.com. Retrieved 2008-02-20.
  12. ^ Superuninterview. Promo CD. A&M Records. 1994.
  13. ^ Elliot, Paul. "The Think Tank". Select. June 1996.
  14. ^ "Haughty Culture". Kerrang!. April 8, 1989.
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