Badmotorfinger Review
Band | |
---|---|
Album | ![]() Badmotorfinger |
Type | Album (Studio full-length) |
Released | October 8, 1991 |
Genres | Heavy Metal, Grunge |
Labels | A&M Records |
Length | 57:50 |
Ranked | #79 for 1991 , #3,622 all-time |
Album rating : 84.2 / 100
Votes : 15 (1 review)
Votes : 15 (1 review)
June 15, 2021
One of those revered albums that I just don’t get. Soundgarden has been on the forefront of both the Grunge and Alt Metal movements, and consistently sprinkle in Stoner Metal influence to give themselves a groovy, but occasionally lethargic sound. Badmotorfinger is really where they get their act together, but despite playing in a still fresh genre, Soundgarden already have real trouble standing out.
The fact is, there isn’t anything in this album that grabs me. The riffs aren’t catchy nor are they sharp, just kind of groovy but without soul. The rhythm section is lethargic most of the time, and the vocals are classic yarl vocals that I personally don’t like at all. They don’t really go all out in any direction, sometimes it’s kind of anxious, sometimes it’s more chill, but it’s never doing anything stronger or better than contemporaries. The lyrics are just kind of there, and there aren’t any anthemic or memorable hooks. No memorable anything really.
It’s fine for what it is. I’m not a big fan of Grunge or Stoner so I’ve got my biases. I don’t dislike it at all, just don’t find anything in it worthy of the acclaim it gets.
The fact is, there isn’t anything in this album that grabs me. The riffs aren’t catchy nor are they sharp, just kind of groovy but without soul. The rhythm section is lethargic most of the time, and the vocals are classic yarl vocals that I personally don’t like at all. They don’t really go all out in any direction, sometimes it’s kind of anxious, sometimes it’s more chill, but it’s never doing anything stronger or better than contemporaries. The lyrics are just kind of there, and there aren’t any anthemic or memorable hooks. No memorable anything really.
It’s fine for what it is. I’m not a big fan of Grunge or Stoner so I’ve got my biases. I don’t dislike it at all, just don’t find anything in it worthy of the acclaim it gets.

Track listing (Songs)
title | rating | votes | video | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Rusty Cage | 4:26 | 90.7 | 7 | Music Video |
2. | Outshined | 5:11 | 87.5 | 6 | Music Video |
3. | Slaves & Bulldozers | 6:56 | 82 | 5 | |
4. | Jesus Christ Pose | 5:51 | 85 | 6 | Music Video |
5. | Face Pollution | 2:24 | 81.3 | 4 | |
6. | Somewhere | 4:21 | 80 | 4 | |
7. | Searching With My Good Eye Closed | 6:31 | 76.3 | 4 | |
8. | Room A Thousand Years Wide | 4:06 | 81.3 | 4 | |
9. | Mind Riot | 4:49 | 81.3 | 4 | |
10. | Drawing Flies | 2:25 | 78.8 | 4 | |
11. | Holy Water | 5:07 | 75 | 3 | |
12. | New Damage | 5:40 | 76.7 | 3 |
Line-up (members)
- Chris Cornell : Vocals & Guitars
- Kim Thayil : Guitars
- Ben Shepherd : Bass
- Matt Cameron : Drums
261 reviews
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![]() | ![]() | 75 | Sep 27, 2021 | 0 | |||
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![]() | ![]() | Ritual Review (1991) | 85 | Jun 14, 2021 | 0 | ||
![]() | ![]() | Wretch Review (1991) | 50 | Jun 13, 2021 | 0 |

▶ Badmotorfinger Review (1991)

Jun 15, 2021 Likes : 3
One of those revered albums that I just don’t get. Soundgarden has been on the forefront of both the Grunge and Alt Metal movements, and consistently sprinkle in Stoner Metal influence to give themselves a groovy, but occasionally lethargic sound. Badmotorfinger is really where they get their act together, but despite playing in a still fresh genre, Soundgarden already have r...