Temple of the Dog - Temple of the Dog (1991)
Genre - Grunge
Temple of the Dog was the only studio album released by the Grunge band Temple of the Dog. The album was released on April 16, 1991. This album is a tribute to Andrew Wood whom was the lead singer of the bands Mother Love Bone and Malfunkshun. Andrew Wood died at age 24 of a heroin overdose.
Say Hello 2 Heaven - This has to be the highlight of Chris Cornell's singing. Say Hello 2 Heaven is a very beautiful song and a very good tribute to Andy. Say Hello 2 Heaven just might be Chris Cornell's greatest vocal performance of all time he is just pouring out his emotion. Overall Say Hello 2 Heaven is a very good song. 10/10
Reach Down - One of the few rock out songs on the album that is pretty long clocking in at 11:11. Overall everything on this song sounds damn amazing from the dual guitars of McCready and Gossard, Matt Camreon's excellent drumming, and Jeff Ament's bass playing. Sure this song seems to drag on for a long time but that does not mean this song is not great. Reach Down is a true highlight of all the musicians who play on this song. 10/10
Hunger Strike - If this is a dream please do not wake me up. Hunger Strike is a dream come true having Chris Cornell and Eddie Vedder on vocals. Chris Cornell's powerful voice combined with Eddie Vedder's soothing voice makes this song pretty amazing. 10/10
Pushin Forward Back - Another one of the few heavy songs on the album, although at times these ones seem kinda forced. The song is rather hyper which is not necessarily a bad thing. The intro to this song sounds kick ass. Pushin Forward Back is a song that stays heavy and strong from beginning to end. Chris Cornell's vocals sound awesome as usual however one should not forget Eddie Vedder here on backing vocals too. 9/10
Call Me a Dog - One of the producers of this album Rick Parashar plays piano on this song. The soft melodic piano here sounds soothing and beautiful. Chris Cornell's vocals here might rival the opening track Say Hello 2 Heaven. All in all Call Me a Dog is a great highlight of the album. 10/10
Times of Trouble - Once again we hear the beautiful piano playing of Rick Parashar. Not only is there a soothing piano we can hear some beautiful harmonica playing by Chris Cornell, as well as some awesome acoustic playing by Stone Gossard. It seems that I am just throwing out 10/10s at everything here but damn it I really believe many of the songs on this album are perfect. 10/10
Wooden Jesus - Oh my God dude is that a bango I hear playing? Why yes it is who in the world knew Chris Cornell could play the banjo. As I have stated before Temple of the Dog is the highlight of Chris Cornell's vocal performances and this song shows that rather well (hell every song here does). Wooden Jesus is an awesome song period and has some cool lyrics at it too. There is even a cool guitar solo in this song. 10/10
Your Savior - The last of our 3 hyper rocker songs are here. Matt Camreon has a cool drum intro leading into Mikey and Stone there playing on the guitars. Eddie Vedder is once again back on backing vocals supporting Chris Cornell rather well and amazingly as usual. The chorus of this song sounds cool even if it is just some Hey, Hey, Heys. Your Savior seems like the song that opened the gate leading to Pearl Jam's Even Flow hit. The guitar solo on this song kicks ass and overall this can easily be used as a great work out song. 9.5/10
Four Walled World - Well here we are on the last song that features Eddie Vedder on vocals. Like many of the songs on this album this is slowed down. Four Walled World has a bluesy feel to it and has some nice slowed down drumming by Matt. It seems this where Stone pulled out the slide guitar. Chris Cornell does some awesome singing here, ah damn it when doesn't Cornell do some awesome singing on this album? Four Walled World is great song and showcases some of the best slow playing by musicians. 10/10
All Night Thing - Well Rick Parashar has joined us again, and this time he is playing the organ. This song sound rather light and dreamy. Chris Cornell could not sound any better he is doing awesome here. It seems everyone here is playing light to fit the dreamy theme and mood of this song. All Night Thing is a wonderful song and a great closer to Temple of the Dog. 9/10
Overall - For a band that was only together for a few months they sure do not sound like it. Temple of the Dog sounds like a band that have been playing for many years despite they only played for a few months. Many would call Temple of the Dog a super Grunge group however though at the time no one really knew who any of these guys were. All the songs on Temple of the Dog sound very good none sounds like filler. Chris Cornell on Temple of the Dog just might tie Jeff Buckley's Grace for greatest vocal performance of all time. It is that good.
Trivia - The name Temple of the Dog is a reference to a line in the lyrics of the song Man of Golden Words by Mother Love Bone.
After the Temple of the Dog project, musicians Eddie Vedder, Mike McCready, Stone Gossard, Dave Krussen, and Jeff Ament formed the band Mookie Blaylock, a reference to the then all-star basketball player. However though due to the record label having concerns about trademark issues the band changed their name to Pearl Jam.
Genre - Grunge
Temple of the Dog was the only studio album released by the Grunge band Temple of the Dog. The album was released on April 16, 1991. This album is a tribute to Andrew Wood whom was the lead singer of the bands Mother Love Bone and Malfunkshun. Andrew Wood died at age 24 of a heroin overdose.
Say Hello 2 Heaven - This has to be the highlight of Chris Cornell's singing. Say Hello 2 Heaven is a very beautiful song and a very good tribute to Andy. Say Hello 2 Heaven just might be Chris Cornell's greatest vocal performance of all time he is just pouring out his emotion. Overall Say Hello 2 Heaven is a very good song. 10/10
Reach Down - One of the few rock out songs on the album that is pretty long clocking in at 11:11. Overall everything on this song sounds damn amazing from the dual guitars of McCready and Gossard, Matt Camreon's excellent drumming, and Jeff Ament's bass playing. Sure this song seems to drag on for a long time but that does not mean this song is not great. Reach Down is a true highlight of all the musicians who play on this song. 10/10
Hunger Strike - If this is a dream please do not wake me up. Hunger Strike is a dream come true having Chris Cornell and Eddie Vedder on vocals. Chris Cornell's powerful voice combined with Eddie Vedder's soothing voice makes this song pretty amazing. 10/10
Pushin Forward Back - Another one of the few heavy songs on the album, although at times these ones seem kinda forced. The song is rather hyper which is not necessarily a bad thing. The intro to this song sounds kick ass. Pushin Forward Back is a song that stays heavy and strong from beginning to end. Chris Cornell's vocals sound awesome as usual however one should not forget Eddie Vedder here on backing vocals too. 9/10
Call Me a Dog - One of the producers of this album Rick Parashar plays piano on this song. The soft melodic piano here sounds soothing and beautiful. Chris Cornell's vocals here might rival the opening track Say Hello 2 Heaven. All in all Call Me a Dog is a great highlight of the album. 10/10
Times of Trouble - Once again we hear the beautiful piano playing of Rick Parashar. Not only is there a soothing piano we can hear some beautiful harmonica playing by Chris Cornell, as well as some awesome acoustic playing by Stone Gossard. It seems that I am just throwing out 10/10s at everything here but damn it I really believe many of the songs on this album are perfect. 10/10
Wooden Jesus - Oh my God dude is that a bango I hear playing? Why yes it is who in the world knew Chris Cornell could play the banjo. As I have stated before Temple of the Dog is the highlight of Chris Cornell's vocal performances and this song shows that rather well (hell every song here does). Wooden Jesus is an awesome song period and has some cool lyrics at it too. There is even a cool guitar solo in this song. 10/10
Your Savior - The last of our 3 hyper rocker songs are here. Matt Camreon has a cool drum intro leading into Mikey and Stone there playing on the guitars. Eddie Vedder is once again back on backing vocals supporting Chris Cornell rather well and amazingly as usual. The chorus of this song sounds cool even if it is just some Hey, Hey, Heys. Your Savior seems like the song that opened the gate leading to Pearl Jam's Even Flow hit. The guitar solo on this song kicks ass and overall this can easily be used as a great work out song. 9.5/10
Four Walled World - Well here we are on the last song that features Eddie Vedder on vocals. Like many of the songs on this album this is slowed down. Four Walled World has a bluesy feel to it and has some nice slowed down drumming by Matt. It seems this where Stone pulled out the slide guitar. Chris Cornell does some awesome singing here, ah damn it when doesn't Cornell do some awesome singing on this album? Four Walled World is great song and showcases some of the best slow playing by musicians. 10/10
All Night Thing - Well Rick Parashar has joined us again, and this time he is playing the organ. This song sound rather light and dreamy. Chris Cornell could not sound any better he is doing awesome here. It seems everyone here is playing light to fit the dreamy theme and mood of this song. All Night Thing is a wonderful song and a great closer to Temple of the Dog. 9/10
Overall - For a band that was only together for a few months they sure do not sound like it. Temple of the Dog sounds like a band that have been playing for many years despite they only played for a few months. Many would call Temple of the Dog a super Grunge group however though at the time no one really knew who any of these guys were. All the songs on Temple of the Dog sound very good none sounds like filler. Chris Cornell on Temple of the Dog just might tie Jeff Buckley's Grace for greatest vocal performance of all time. It is that good.
Trivia - The name Temple of the Dog is a reference to a line in the lyrics of the song Man of Golden Words by Mother Love Bone.
After the Temple of the Dog project, musicians Eddie Vedder, Mike McCready, Stone Gossard, Dave Krussen, and Jeff Ament formed the band Mookie Blaylock, a reference to the then all-star basketball player. However though due to the record label having concerns about trademark issues the band changed their name to Pearl Jam.