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
are, because their singles do capture what they're all about. There are many great songs left off
, 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
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,"
"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