Editing Down on the Upside

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{{Infobox album
| name         = Down on the Upside
| type         = studio
| artist       = [[Soundgarden]]
| cover        = Soundgarden-DownOnTheUpside.jpg
| alt          =
| released     = {{start date|1996|5|21}}
| recorded     = November 1995&nbsp;– February 1996
| studio       =
* Studio Litho (Seattle, Washington)
* [[Bad Animals Studio|Bad Animals]] (Seattle, Washington)
| genre        =
* [[Alternative rock]]
* [[grunge]]
| length       = {{Duration|m=65|s=56}}
| label        = [[A&M Records|A&M]]
| producer     =
* [[Adam Kasper]]
* Soundgarden
| prev_title   = [[Superunknown]]
| prev_year    = 1994
| next_title   = [[A-Sides (Soundgarden album)|A-Sides]]
| next_year    = 1997
| misc         = {{Singles
 | name        = Down on the Upside
 | type        = studio
 | single1     = [[Pretty Noose]]
 | single1date = May 7, 1996<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Reviews – Records Out on May 7 1996|magazine=[[Music Week]]|page=10|date=April 27, 1996}}</ref>
 | single2     = [[Burden in My Hand]]
 | single2date = September 16, 1996<ref>{{cite magazine|title=New singles|magazine=[[Music Week]]|page=41|date=14 September 1996}}</ref>
 | single3     = [[Blow Up the Outside World]]
 | single3date = December 16, 1996<ref>{{cite magazine|title=New singles|magazine=[[Music Week]]|page=51|date=14 December 1996}}</ref>
 | single4     = [[Ty Cobb (song)|Ty Cobb]]
 | single4date = April 1997 (Aus)
}}
}}

'''''Down on the Upside''''' is the fifth studio album by the American [[Rock music|rock]] band [[Soundgarden]], released on May 21, 1996, through [[A&M Records]]. Following a worldwide tour in support of its previous album, ''[[Superunknown]]'' (1994), Soundgarden commenced work on a new album. Self-produced by the band, the music on the album was notably less heavy and dark than the group's preceding albums and featured the band experimenting with new sounds.

The album topped the New Zealand and Australian charts and debuted at number two on the United States' [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]], selling 200,000 copies in its opening week and spawning the singles "[[Pretty Noose]]", "[[Burden in My Hand]]", "[[Blow Up the Outside World]]", and "[[Ty Cobb (song)|Ty Cobb]]". The band played the 1996 [[Lollapalooza]] tour and, afterward, supported the album with a worldwide tour.

''Down on the Upside'' was Soundgarden's last studio album until 2012's ''[[King Animal]]'', as tensions within the band led to its break-up in April 1997. The album has sold 1.6 million copies in the United States.

==Recording==
Recording sessions for the album took place between November 1995 and February 1996 at [[Studio Litho]] and [[Bad Animals Studio]]s in [[Seattle]], Washington. Studio Litho is owned by [[Pearl Jam]] guitarist [[Stone Gossard]].<ref name="blackholesons">"Black Hole Sons!". ''[[Kerrang!]]''. August 12, 1995.</ref> The members of Soundgarden produced the album themselves. On the choice of not working with a producer, frontman [[Chris Cornell]] said that "a fifth guy is too many cooks and convolutes everything. It has to go down too many mental roads, which dilutes it."<ref>{{cite book
| first       = Steven
| last        = Blush
| author-link  = Steven Blush
| title       = Soundgarden interview
| date        = 1996
| publisher   = [[Seconds (magazine)|Seconds]]
| url         = http://www.secondsmagazine.com/articles/38-sg.php
| access-date  = Aug 10, 2017}}</ref> Drummer [[Matt Cameron]] added that, while working with [[Michael Beinhorn]] on ''[[Superunknown]]'' had good results, it was "a little more of a struggle than it needed to be", and self-production would make the process go faster.<ref name=bill>McCormick, Moira. [https://books.google.com/books?id=_gwEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA14 "Soundgarden Digs Down to Its Roots"]. ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]''. April 13, 1996</ref> [[Adam Kasper]], who previously had worked with Soundgarden as an assistant engineer on ''[[Superunknown]]'',<ref name="intensity">Warden, Steve. "A Degree of Intensity". ''Access''. June 1996.</ref> worked with the band as a production collaborator and mixed the album.<ref>Cross, Charles R. "The Joys of Noise: Soundgarden Throw a High-Frequency Sludgefest". ''[[Rolling Stone]]''. February 8, 1996.</ref>

Work on the album began in July 1995.<ref name="drama">"Soundgarden Man in Near Death Drama". ''[[Kerrang!]]''. March 16, 1996.</ref> The band took a break to perform at festivals in Europe, where new material was road-tested.<ref>Atkinson, Peter. "Soundgarden: From Superunknown to Superstars". ''Jam''. May 24, 1996.</ref> Afterward, the band did more songwriting for about a month and then recorded most of the album at Studio Litho.<ref name="intensity"/> The overall approach to songwriting was less collaborative than with past efforts, with the individual band members having brought in most of the songs more completely written.<ref>Zogbi, Marina. "Upshot on "The Upside" from Kim Thayil". ''Metal Edge''. August 1996.</ref> The band sought to try things it had not done before and to use a greater variety of material.<ref name="buzzword">"Down on the Upside". ''The Buzz Word''. August 1996</ref> They tried to create a live atmosphere for the album,<ref name="raygun">Appleford, Steve. "Soundgarden". ''[[Ray Gun (magazine)|Ray Gun]]''. June 1996.</ref> and looked to leave in sounds that producers would normally try to clean up, such as feedback and out-of-tune guitar parts.<ref name="controversy">"Soundgarden's New Video Causes Controversy". ''[[Toronto Sun]]''. May 10, 1996.</ref> The overall time spent working on the album was less than what the band had spent working on ''Superunknown''.<ref name="Hard Music 1996">"Soundgarden". ''Hard Music''. June 1996.</ref> Cornell described the album-making process as "way faster and way easier".<ref name="blackholesons"/>

Most of the material was written by Cornell and bassist [[Ben Shepherd]], the latter having already worked on six of the sixteen album tracks. Reportedly, tensions within the group arose during the recording sessions, with guitarist [[Kim Thayil]] and Cornell allegedly clashing over Cornell's desire to shift away from the heavy guitar riffing that had become the band's trademark.<ref name="soundgardensplit">Colopino, John. "Soundgarden Split". ''[[Rolling Stone]]''. May 29, 1997.</ref> Thayil's only contribution to the album was the song "Never the Machine Forever", for which he wrote both the lyrics and the music, and which was also the last song the band recorded.<ref>Turman, Katherine. "Soundgarden: Seattle's Sonic Boom". ''Metal Edge''. July 1996.</ref> The song initially came out of a [[jam session]] Thayil had with Seattle musician [[Greg Gilmore]].<ref name="upbeat">Maloof, Rich. "Kim Thayil of Soundgarden: Down on the Upbeat". ''Guitar Magazine''. July 1996.</ref> In the liner notes, Thayil credits Gilmore for inspiring the song. He stated that he had a lot of incomplete music ideas that were missing lyrics and were not arranged, so they did not make the album.<ref name="upbeat"/> Thayil said: "It can be a little bit discouraging if there isn't satisfactory creative input, but on the other hand, I write all the solo bits and don't really have limitations on the parts I come up with for guitar."<ref name="upbeat"/> Cornell said: "By the time we were finished, it felt like it had been kind of hard, like it was a long, hard haul. But there was stuff we were discovering."<ref name="raygun"/>

==Music and lyrics==
{{listen
 | filename     = Burden In My Hand (Soundgarden song - sample).ogg
 | title        = "Burden in My Hand"
 | description  = Among the album's many sonic experiments is the single "Burden in My Hand", which bears a "blues-tinged, country twang".<ref name="LATimes"/>
 | format       = [[Ogg]]
}}
''Down on the Upside'' continues the band's musical development away from [[Alternative metal|alt-metal]] to a more experimental sound, described as [[alternative rock]] and [[grunge]].<ref name="Goldmine">{{Cite web |last=Popoff |first=Martin |date=2024-06-01 |title=Top 20 Grunge albums, ranked |url=https://www.goldminemag.com/music-history/top-20-grunge-albums-ranked |access-date=2025-04-21 |website=[[Goldmine (magazine)|Goldmine]] |language=en}}</ref> The album's songs placed emphasis on vocals and melody over the heavy guitar riffs that were found on the band's earlier LPs.<ref name="drama"/><ref name="soundoff">"Soundgarden Sound Off". ''[[Melody Maker]]''. March 23, 1996.</ref> It also features a rawer sound than Soundgarden's previous album ''Superunknown'', as the band members produced the record themselves.<ref name="painting">Clay, Jennifer. "Soundgarden: Painting Beautiful Pictures". ''[[RIP (magazine)|RIP]]''. June 1996.</ref> Cornell summed up the changes by saying: "What we've lost in sonic precision we've gained so much in terms of feeling."<ref name="real">Rubin, Mike. "The Real Thing". ''[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]'' (July 1996).</ref> [[Stephen Thomas Erlewine]] of [[AllMusic]] said Soundgarden "retained their ambitious song structures, [[Neo-psychedelia|neo-psychedelic]] guitar textures, and winding melodies but haven't dressed them up with detailed production."<ref name="allmusic">{{cite web|title=''Down on the Upside''|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r234854|pure_url=yes}}|website=[[Allmusic]]|author=Erlewine, Stephen Thomas|access-date=March 21, 2009}}</ref> The songs vary in tempo throughout the course of the album, with Thayil describing the album as having a "dual nature".<ref name="rave">"Soundgarden: The Garden of Earthly Delights". ''Rave''. May 15, 1996.</ref> He stated, "It keeps listeners on their toes and lets them know they're not getting the same album over and over."<ref name="rave"/> Shepherd called the album "the most accurate picture of what Soundgarden actually sounds like", stating: "It's way more raw. It's way more honest. It's way more 'responsible.'"<ref name="painting"/>

The band stated at the time that it wanted to experiment with other sounds,<ref>Turman, Katherine. "Soundgarden: Seattle's Sonic Boom". ''Hypno''. 1996.</ref> which included Shepherd and Cornell playing [[mandolin]] and [[mandola]] in the song "Ty Cobb".<ref name="soundoff"/> This experimentation can be heard to a lesser degree on ''Superunknown''. Soundgarden used [[Guitar tunings#Alternative|alternative tunings]] and odd [[time signature]]s on several of the album's songs. For example, "Never the Machine Forever" uses a time signature of 9/8.<ref>"Seattle Supersonic: The Screaming Life & Odd Times of Soundgarden's Kim Thayil". ''[[Guitar Player]]''. July 1996.</ref> "Pretty Noose" and "Burden in My Hand" were written in [[Open C tuning|C-G-C-G-G-E]] tuning.<ref>Leonard, Michael. "Unknown Pleasures". ''The Guitar Magazine''. December 1996.</ref>

The overall mood of the album's lyrics is not as dark as on previous Soundgarden albums.<ref name="True">True, Everett. "Soundgarden". ''[[Melody Maker]]''. May 25, 1996.</ref> Cornell even admitted "Dusty" was "pretty positive for a Soundgarden song", describing it as an opposite to the previous album's "[[Fell On Black Days]]".<ref name=cmj>Lanham, Tom. [https://books.google.com/books?id=HS0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT21 "Soundgarden: Overaware"]. ''CMJ New Music Monthly'', July 1996</ref> According to Cornell, "Pretty Noose" is about "an attractively packaged bad idea",<ref>[http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1427523/19960412/cornell_chris.jhtml "Soundgarden Returns"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080829194233/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1427523/19960412/cornell_chris.jhtml |date=August 29, 2008 }}. [[MTV]].com. April 12, 1996.</ref> and "Ty Cobb" is about a "hardcore pissed-off idiot".<ref name="questiontime">"Gardener's Question Time". ''[[Kerrang!]]''. March 1, 1997.</ref> Cornell said the songs "Never Named" and "Boot Camp" are based on his childhood.<ref name="painting"/> Thayil said the lyrics for "Never the Machine Forever" are about "a life-and-death match between an individual and a less specifically defined entity".<ref name="drama"/> Cornell referred to "Overfloater" as "self-affirming".<ref name="True"/>

==Packaging==
The album's cover art, photographed by Kevin Westenberg, features the members of the band in [[silhouette]]. Reportedly, at one point the photo of caterpillars eating a tomato that was used for the "[[Blow Up the Outside World]]" single was considered for use as the cover of ''Down on the Upside''.<ref>[http://web.stargate.net/soundgarden/releases/sing-blowup.shtml "Blow Up the Outside World"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070609210101/http://web.stargate.net/soundgarden/releases/sing-blowup.shtml |date=June 9, 2007 }}. Unofficial SG Homepage.</ref> The album was also released in a limited edition with the ''Into the Upside'' interview disc.

The title ''Down on the Upside'' comes from a line in the song "Dusty". The lyric is "I think it's turning back on me/I'm down on the upside". Cornell said the title represents the different feels on the album.<ref name="intensity"/> In an interview, he explained how the name was chosen:
<blockquote>
"I brought it up at some point because the song that the title came from was 'Dusty', but my title for it was 'Down on the Upside', but Ben wrote the music and he called it 'Dusty'. So since we don't really like having song titles being the title of the record, 'cause it brings this weird, undue focus to the song, I thought it would be cool to call it ''Down on the Upside''. We started thinking about all these other titles, and worrying about them describing the whole record without excluding anything&nbsp;... So it was the last minute and we were at a photo shoot for ''[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]'' and someone called and said, 'We need your title now so we can start doing the record package,' so [[Matt Cameron|Matt [Cameron]]] brought up the title again, and everyone went, 'yeah, that's it.'"<ref>Ewing, Jerry. "Shooting from the Hip! 20 Questions with Chris Cornell". ''[[Metal Hammer]]''. July 1996.</ref>
</blockquote>
In an interview given by the band, Cameron and Shepherd jokingly said that two other titles considered for the album were ''Mr. Bunchy Pants'' and ''Comin' At Ya!''<ref name="buzzword"/>

==Release and reception==
{{Album ratings
| rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
| rev1score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/down-on-the-upside-mw0000647977 |title=''Down on the Upside'' – Soundgarden |access-date=April 26, 2016 |last=Erlewine |first=Stephen Thomas |author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine |website=[[AllMusic]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160404100247/http://www.allmusic.com/album/down-on-the-upside-mw0000647977 |archive-date=April 4, 2016}}</ref>
| rev2 = ''[[Chicago Tribune]]''
| rev2score = {{Rating|3|4}}<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1996-05-16-9605160323-story.html |title=Exploring Texture |access-date=April 24, 2020 |last=Kot |first=Greg |author-link=Greg Kot |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]] |date=May 16, 1996}}</ref>
| rev3 = ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]''
| rev3score = B+<ref name="entertainmentweekly">{{cite magazine |url=https://ew.com/article/1996/05/24/down-upside/ |title=''Down on the Upside'' |access-date=May 20, 2009 |last=Browne |first=David |author-link=David Browne (journalist) |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |date=May 24, 1996 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091223235831/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,292725,00.html |archive-date=December 23, 2009}}</ref>
| rev4 = ''[[The Guardian]]''
| rev4score = {{rating|2|5}}<ref>{{cite news |title=Soundgarden: ''Down on the Upside'' (A&M) |last=Sweeting |first=Adam |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |date=May 24, 1996}}</ref>
| rev5 = ''[[Los Angeles Times]]''
| rev5score = {{Rating|3.5|4}}<ref name="LATimes">{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-05-23-ca-7305-story.html |title=Changing Their Tune--Again |access-date=April 24, 2020 |last=Masuo |first=Sandy |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=May 23, 1996}}</ref>
| rev6 = ''[[NME]]''
| rev6score = 3/10<ref name="NME">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/reviews/19980101000478reviews.html |title=Soundgarden – ''Down On The Upside'' |access-date=October 30, 2019 |last=Cigarettes |first=Johnny |magazine=[[NME]] |date=May 19, 1996 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000817174844/http://www.nme.com/reviews/reviews/19980101000478reviews.html |archive-date=August 17, 2000}}</ref>
| rev7 = ''[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]''
| rev7score = 7.0/10<ref name="pitchforkmedia">{{cite web |url=http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/record-reviews/s/soundgarden/down-on-the-upside.shtml |title=Soundgarden: ''Down on the Upside'' |access-date=May 20, 2009 |last=Josephes |first=Jason |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |date=June 1996 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030604191515/http://pitchforkmedia.com/record-reviews/s/soundgarden/down-on-the-upside.shtml |archive-date=June 4, 2003}}</ref>
| rev8 = ''[[Rolling Stone]]''
| rev8score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref name="rollingstone">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/down-on-the-upside-19961202 |title=Soundgarden: ''Down on the Upside'' / Screaming Trees: ''Dust'' |access-date=March 26, 2012 |last=Fricke |first=David |author-link=David Fricke |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=December 26, 1996 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019123519/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/down-on-the-upside-19961202 |archive-date=October 19, 2012}}</ref>
| rev9 = ''[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]''
| rev9score = 8/10<ref name="spin">{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JpJ-kK1j2_MC&pg=PA109 |title=Soundgarden: ''Down on the Upside'' |access-date=April 24, 2020 |last=Kreilkamp |first=Ivan |magazine=[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]] |volume=12 |issue=3 |date=June 1996 |page=109}}</ref>
| rev10 = ''[[USA Today]]''
| rev10score = {{rating|3|4}}<ref>{{cite news |title=Soundgarden gets 'Down' to powerful basics |last=Gundersen |first=Edna |author-link=Edna Gundersen |newspaper=[[USA Today]] |date=May 21, 1996}}</ref>
}}

''Down on the Upside'' had a 10,000-copy limited edition vinyl release on May 14, 1996, one week prior to its main release on CD and cassette.<ref name=bill/> It debuted at number two on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] album chart with 175,500 units sold, behind only ''[[The Score (Fugees album)|The Score]]'' by the [[Fugees]].<ref>Mayfield, Geoff. [https://books.google.com/books?id=rQkEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA120 "Another Close One"]. ''Billboard'', June 8, 1996</ref><ref>{{cite magazine| url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/1996-06-08/billboard-200| title= The Billboard 200: Week of June 08, 1996| magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|access-date=June 30, 2008}}</ref> The album has gone on to sell 1.6 million copies in the United States,<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/474244/soundgarden-on-king-animal-and-why-they-shouldnt-have-broken-up |title=Soundgarden on 'King Animal' and Why They Shouldn't Have Broken Up |access-date=November 12, 2012 |author=Peters, Mitchell |magazine=Billboard |date=November 9, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130303015752/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/474244/soundgarden-on-king-animal-and-why-they-shouldnt-have-broken-up |archive-date=March 3, 2013 }}</ref> and has been certified Platinum by the [[Recording Industry Association of America|RIAA]].<ref name="riaa">{{cite web
| url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&ar=SOUNDGARDEN&ti=DOWN+ON+THE+UPSIDE
| title=Gold and Platinum Database Search
| publisher=[[Recording Industry Association of America]]
| access-date=February 12, 2007}}</ref>

Ivan Kreilkamp of ''[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]'' gave the album an eight out of ten, saying the album is "as sprawling and generous-spirited as ''Superunknown'', but&nbsp;... is a looser and live-er-sounding affair, not seeking the same level of aural precision".<ref name="spin"/> ''[[Alternative Press (music magazine)|Alternative Press]]'' gave the album a three out of five, saying Soundgarden are "now fully capable of penning some damned spiffy pop songs", and adding that "they sound more human here, like they're playing in your living room".<ref name="alternativepress">(August 1, 1996). "Review: ''Down on the Upside''". ''[[Alternative Press (music magazine)|Alternative Press]]'' (pp. 87-88).</ref> ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' staff writer [[David Fricke]] gave ''Down on the Upside'' three out of five stars, observing that the album has "some quality frenzy", but criticizing it for "lack[ing] defining episodes of catharsis", and saying: "Soundgarden seem to be digging in their heels rather than kicking up dirt, relying too much on drone-y impressionism and clever (as opposed to cleaving) guitar motifs."<ref name="rollingstone"/> [[Neil Strauss]] of ''[[The New York Times]]'' called the album the "rawer, looser follow-up to ''Superunknown''", adding: "Generally, identifying with animals in song lyrics is a sign of low self-esteem, and Soundgarden is no exception. For all the virility and macho power that rock singers have tried to wring from the [snake], Soundgarden remains more interested in the fact that it is the only animal cursed to spend its days slithering on the ground."<ref name="thenewyorktimes">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/05/19/arts/recordings-view-consorting-with-the-snake.html?scp=1&sq=%22down%20on%20the%20upside%22&st=cse |title=Recordings View; Consorting With the Snake |access-date=May 13, 2009 |author=Strauss, Neil |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=May 19, 1996 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151227094800/http://www.nytimes.com/1996/05/19/arts/recordings-view-consorting-with-the-snake.html?scp=1&sq=%22down%20on%20the%20upside%22&st=cse |archive-date=December 27, 2015 }}</ref>

[[David Browne (journalist)|David Browne]] of ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' gave the album a B+, saying: "Few bands since [[Led Zeppelin]] have so crisply mixed instruments both acoustic and electric." He praised several songs as being "as powerful as anything the band has done", but criticized the album's production, saying that, "like many self-produced efforts, it shows." He added: "With arrangements that crest and fall to the point where a road map would have helped, the overlong (16-song) album is often unwieldy and could have benefited from judicious trimming."<ref name="entertainmentweekly"/> AllMusic staff writer Stephen Thomas Erlewine gave the album three out of five stars, saying that "it might seem like nothing more than heavy metal, but a closer listen reveals that Soundgarden haven't tempered their ambitions at all."<ref name="allmusic"/> The reviewer for ''[[Melody Maker]]'' said that "their roots don't matter now. All I care for now is the immediacy of their pop moments."<ref name="melodymaker">(May 18, 1996). "Review: ''Down on the Upside''". ''[[Melody Maker]]'' (p. 49).</ref> Critic [[Robert Christgau]] gave the album an honorable mention of one star, describing it as "brutal depression simplified" and highlighted by the songs "Ty Cobb" and "Applebite",<ref name="Christgau">Christgau, Robert. [http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=soundgarden "Soundgarden"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071217215246/http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=soundgarden |date=December 17, 2007 }}. robertchristgau.com. Retrieved on May 20, 2009.</ref> while Jason Josephes from ''[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]'' called it a "double shot of grunge, no foam but plenty of caffeine."<ref name="pitchforkmedia"/> A negative review came from Johnny Cigarettes of ''[[NME]]'', who gave the album 3/10 and said: "Throughout this record the mood of dark, demon-wrestling introspection continually rings hollow&nbsp;... the lack of gut-level resonance [Soundgarden] create reveals all this as mere dark stylistics, the modern equivalent of a scary monster on an [[Iron Maiden]] T-shirt."<ref name="NME"/>

The album included the singles "[[Pretty Noose]]", "[[Burden in My Hand]]", and "[[Blow Up the Outside World]]", all of which had accompanying music videos. All three singles placed on the [[Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks|Mainstream Rock]] and [[Alternative Songs|Modern Rock]] charts. The album's other commercially released single, "[[Ty Cobb (song)|Ty Cobb]]", did not chart, however its acommpanying B-side, "Rhinosaur", also from the album, did chart. "Burden in My Hand" was the most successful song from ''Down on the Upside'' on the rock charts, spending a total of five weeks at number one on the Mainstream Rock charts and reaching number two on the Modern Rock charts.<ref name="wm05.allmusic.com"/> At the [[Grammy Awards of 1997|1997 Grammy Awards]], "Pretty Noose" received a nomination for [[Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance|Best Hard Rock Performance]].<ref>{{cite web
 |url=http://www.rockonthenet.com/archive/1997/grammys.htm
 |title=39th Grammy Awards - 1997
 |publisher=Rockonthenet.com
 |access-date=February 20, 2008
 |url-status=live
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071228081340/http://www.rockonthenet.com/archive/1997/grammys.htm
 |archive-date=December 28, 2007
}}</ref>

==Tour==
The band played the 1996 [[Lollapalooza]] tour with [[Metallica]], who had insisted on Soundgarden's appearance on the tour.<ref>Bell, Max. "Soundgarden&nbsp;— Like Falling Off a Hog". ''Blah Blah Blah''. June 1996.</ref> Thayil said the band wasn't interested in doing the tour until it became a "Metallica tour".<ref name="Hard Music 1996"/> During the Lollapalooza tour, the band members reportedly took separate flights and then met at the gigs.<ref name="st.pete">"Soundgarden's End Called the End of Grunge". ''[[St. Petersburg Times]]''. April 15, 1997.</ref>

After Lollapalooza, the band embarked on a worldwide tour, supported by [[Moby]].<ref>Waters, Rodney. "Getting Down with Soundgarden". ''[[Hit Parader]]''. October 1996.</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/play-10-years-later-mobys-track-by-track-guide-to-1999s-global-smash-20090702|title="Play" 10 Years Later: Moby's Track by Track Guide to 1999's Global Smash|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=2017-08-24}}</ref> Tensions continued to increase and, when asked if the band hated touring, Cornell said: "We really enjoy it to a point and then it gets tedious, because it becomes repetitious. You feel like fans have paid their money and they expect you to come out and play them your songs like the first time you ever played them. That's the point where we hate touring."<ref name="questiontime"/> The band was criticized for its lack of energy while performing.<ref name="soundgardensplit"/> Cornell said that "after a number of years, you start to feel like you're acting. All those people who criticize us for not jumping around should shut the fuck up, and when they come to our shows they should jump around and entertain us for a while."<ref>"Soundgarden". ''[[Kerrang!]]''. May 29, 1996.</ref> Thayil had an issue with how the band's audience had changed, stating that "nowadays, you also have the kids and the housewives, the casual fans. With your casual fans, you say, 'Thanks for the money.' And they say, 'Thanks for the song.'"<ref name="st.pete"/> The band's concerts in December 1996 were postponed for a week due to Cornell's throat problems.<ref name="st.pete"/>

At the final stop of the tour, in [[Honolulu, Hawaii]], on February 9, 1997, Shepherd threw his bass into the air in frustration after suffering equipment failure, and subsequently stormed off the stage.<ref>"Nirvana and the Story of Grunge", pg. 100.</ref> The band retreated, and Cornell returned alone to conclude the show with a solo encore.<ref>Berger, John. "'Garden' of supersonic delight". ''[[Honolulu Star-Bulletin]]''. February 10, 1997.</ref> On April 9, 1997, the band announced its disbanding. Thayil said, "It was pretty obvious from everybody's general attitude over the course of the previous half year that there was some dissatisfaction."<ref>Gilbert, Jeff. "Sound of Silence". ''[[Guitar World]]''. February 1998.</ref> Cameron later said that Soundgarden was "eaten up by the business".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/aug/13/pearl-jam |title=Pearl Jam: 'People get that this means something' |access-date=August 13, 2009 |author=Simpson, Dave |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |date=August 13, 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130826124701/http://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/aug/13/pearl-jam |archive-date=August 26, 2013 }}</ref>

==Track listing==
{{tracklist
| all_lyrics    = [[Chris Cornell]], except "Never the Machine Forever" by [[Kim Thayil]] and "An Unkind" by [[Ben Shepherd]]
| headline        = ''Down on the Upside''
| title1          = [[Pretty Noose]]
| music1          = Cornell
| length1         = 4:12
| title2          = [[Rhinosaur]]
| music2          = [[Matt Cameron]]
| length2         = 3:14
| title3          = Zero Chance
| music3          = Shepherd
| length3         = 4:18
| title4          = Dusty
| music4          = Shepherd
| length4         = 4:34
| title5          = [[Ty Cobb (song)|Ty Cobb]]
| music5          = Shepherd
| length5         = 3:05
| title6          = [[Blow Up the Outside World]]
| music6          = Cornell
| length6         = 5:46
| title7          = [[Burden in My Hand]]
| music7         = Cornell
| length7         = 4:50
| title8          = Never Named
| music8          = Shepherd
| length8         = 2:28
| title9          = Applebite
| music9          = Cameron
| length9         = 5:10
| title10         = Never the Machine Forever
| lyrics10        =
| music10         = Thayil
| length10        = 3:36
| title11         = Tighter & Tighter
| music11         = Cornell
| length11        = 6:06
| title12         = No Attention
| music12         = Cornell
| length12        = 4:27
| title13         = Switch Opens
| music13         = Shepherd
| length13        = 3:53
| title14         = Overfloater
| music14         = Cornell
| length14        = 5:09
| title15         = An Unkind
| music15         = Shepherd
| length15        = 2:08
| title16         = Boot Camp
| music16         = Cornell
| length16        = 2:59
|total_length = 65:56
}}

==Outtakes==
Various versions of the "Burden in My Hand" single featured two B-sides from the ''Down on the Upside'' recording sessions that were not included on the album: "Karaoke" and "[[Bleed Together]]". "Bleed Together" was included on the band's 1997 greatest hits compilation, ''[[A-Sides (Soundgarden album)|A-Sides]]'', and was released as a promo CD single in 1997. Thayil said the song was not included on ''Down on the Upside'' because the band was not pleased with the mixing that was done on the song and the band already had enough songs for the album.<ref>"Kim Thayil's A-Sides". ''[[Metal Hammer]]''. January 1998.</ref>

Another song that was written and recorded for the album is "Kristi",<ref name="gregrule">Rule, Greg. "Matt Cameron of Soundgarden: Balance of Power & Grace". ''Drum!''. September 1996.</ref> which Cameron has said is one of his favorite Soundgarden songs.<ref name="gregrule"/> "Kristi" was finally mixed in 2014 and included on the compilation ''[[Echo of Miles: Scattered Tracks Across the Path]]'', along with both "Karaoke" and "Bleed Together".

==Personnel==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
;Soundgarden
* [[Chris Cornell]]&nbsp;– vocals, rhythm guitar; [[mandolin]] and [[mandola]] ("Ty Cobb"), [[Rhodes piano]] ("Overfloater")
* [[Kim Thayil]]&nbsp;– lead guitar
* [[Ben Shepherd]]&nbsp;– bass guitar; mandolin, mandola and intro instrumentation ("Ty Cobb")
* [[Matt Cameron]]&nbsp;– drums, percussion; [[Moog synthesizer]] ("Applebite")

;Additional musicians
* [[Adam Kasper]]&nbsp;– piano ("Applebite"), co-production, engineering, mixing

;Artwork
* Ben Marra Studios&nbsp;– "cinema" photography
* Helix creative inc, [[Seattle]]&nbsp;– art direction and design
* Ben Shepherd – back CD photo
* Kevin Westenberg&nbsp;– photography

{{col-2}}
;Production
* [[Matt Bayles]], Sam Hofstedt&nbsp;– assistant engineering
* John Burton, Tom Smurdon&nbsp;– additional tracking assistance
* [[Dave Collins (audio engineer)|David Collins]]&nbsp;– mastering at A&M Mastering Studios, Hollywood, CA
* [[Gregg Keplinger]]&nbsp;– drum technician
* Darrell Peters&nbsp;– guitar technician
* Soundgarden&nbsp;– production, mixing
{{col-end}}

==Charts==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}

===Weekly charts===
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
! Chart (1996-2024)
! Peak<br>position
|-
{{Album chart|Australia|1|artist=Soundgarden|album=Down on the Upside|rowheader=true|access-date=August 14, 2016}}
|-
{{Album chart|Austria|12|artist=Soundgarden|album=Down on the Upside|rowheader=true|access-date=August 14, 2016}}
|-
{{Album chart|Flanders|18|artist=Soundgarden|album=Down on the Upside|rowheader=true|access-date=August 14, 2016}}
|-
{{Album chart|Wallonia|19|artist=Soundgarden|album=Down on the Upside|rowheader=true|access-date=August 14, 2016}}
|-
!scope="row"| Canada Albums ([[The Record (magazine)|The Record]])<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qwkEAAAAMBAJ&q=Soundgarden+Down+On+The+Upside |title=HITS OF THE WORLD |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |date=June 15, 1996 |access-date=December 26, 2018}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"| 2
|-
!scope="row"|Danish Albums ([[Hitlisten]])<ref name="Listen">{{cite news |title=Listen - Danmarks Officielle Hitliste - Udarbejdet af AIM Nielsen for IFPI Danmark - Uge 22 |work=[[Ekstra Bladet]] |location=[[Copenhagen]] |language=da |date=1996-06-02 }}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|15
|-
{{Album chart|Netherlands|12|artist=Soundgarden|album=Down on the Upside|rowheader=true|access-date=August 14, 2016}}
|-
!scope="row"|Estonia Albums (Eesti Top 10)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dea.digar.ee/?a=d&d=sonumilehtsl19960601.2.21.4&srpos=5&e=-------en-25--1--txt-txIN%7ctxTI%7ctxAU%7ctxTA-Soundgarden------------|title=MUUSIKAEDETABELID: EESTI TOP 10|work=[[Sõnumileht]]|date=June 1, 1996|page=11|access-date=December 23, 2024|language=et}}</ref>
|align="center"|8
|-
!scope="row"|Europe ([[European Top 100 Albums]])<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1996/MM-1996-06-08.pdf|title=Eurochart Top 100 Albums - June 8, 1996|magazine=[[Music & Media]]|volume=16|issue=49|page=14|date=June 8, 1996|access-date=December 8, 2021}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"| 6
|-
{{Album chart|Finland|4|artist=Soundgarden|album=Down on the Upside|rowheader=true|access-date=August 14, 2016}}
|-
{{Album chart|France|16|artist=Soundgarden|album=Down on the Upside|rowheader=true|access-date=August 14, 2016}}<ref>https://infodisc.fr/Album_Artiste_Choisi.php</ref>
|-
{{Album chart|Germany4|15|id=2313|artist=Soundgarden|album=Down on the Upside|rowheader=true|access-date=August 17, 2024}}
|-
! scope="row"|Greek Albums ([[IFPI Greece]])<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ifpi.gr/charts_el.html|title=Official IFPI Charts – Top 75 Albums Sales Chart (Week: 44/2024) |publisher=[[IFPI Greece]] |access-date=November 6, 2024 }}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|46
|-
!scope="row"| Hungary Albums ([[Mahasz|MAHASZ]])<ref>[http://www.mahasz.hu/?menu=slagerlistak&menu2=archivum Soundgarden in Hungarian Charts] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100902024723/http://www.mahasz.hu/.?menu=slagerlistak&menu2=archivum |date=September 2, 2010 }}. Hungarian chart Retrieved on June 4, 2008.</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"| 34
|-
! scope="row"| Icelandic Albums ([[Tónlist]])<ref>{{cite news |url=https://timarit.is/page/2940560?iabr=on#page/n26/mode/2up/search/superunknown%20soundgarden |title=Tónlist – Ísland (plötur/diskar) |newspaper=[[DV (newspaper)|DV]] |language=is |date=18 May 1996 |page=21 |issn=1021-8254 |via=[[Timarit.is]] |access-date=13 July 2021 |archive-date=13 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210713001120/https://timarit.is/page/2729795 |url-status=live }}</ref>
|align="center"| 3
|-
!scope="row"|Italian Albums ([[FIMI]])<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1996/MM-1996-06-08.pdf|title=Top National Sellers - June 8, 1996|magazine=[[Music & Media]]|volume=16|issue=49|page=14|date=June 8, 1996|access-date=December 8, 2021}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"| 7
|-
!scope="row"| [[Oricon Albums Chart|Japanese Albums]] ([[Oricon]])<ref name="Japan">{{cite web|title=Japan - Top Albums Chart |publisher=Oricon|date=May 13, 1996 |url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/72457/products/200859/1/ |access-date=September 10, 2022 }}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"| 31
|-
{{Album chart|New Zealand|1|artist=Soundgarden|album=Down on the Upside|rowheader=true|access-date=August 14, 2016}}
|-
{{Album chart|Norway|6|artist=Soundgarden|album=Down on the Upside|rowheader=true|access-date=August 14, 2016}}
|-
!scope="row"|Portuguese Albums ([[Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa|AFP]])<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1996/MM-1996-06-08.pdf|title= Breakin' and Enterin' - June 8, 1996|magazine=[[Music & Media]]|volume=16|issue=49|page=14|date=June 8, 1996|access-date=December 8, 2021}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"| 23
|-
{{Album chart|Scotland|11|date=19960526|rowheader=true|access-date=October 23, 2021}}
|-
{{Album chart|Sweden|3|artist=Soundgarden|album=Down on the Upside|rowheader=true|access-date=August 14, 2016}}
|-
{{Album chart|Switzerland|20|artist=Soundgarden|album=Down on the Upside|rowheader=true|access-date=August 14, 2016}}
|-
{{Album chart|UK2|7|date=19960526|rowheader=true|access-date=August 17, 2024}}
|-
{{Album chart|UKRock|1|artist=Soundgarden|date=19960526|rowheader=true|access-date=August 14, 2016}}
|-
{{Album chart|Billboard200|2|artist=Soundgarden|album=Down on the Upside|rowheader=true|access-date=August 14, 2016}}
|}

{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
! Chart (2016)
! Peak<br>position
|-
!scope="row"|US Vinyl Albums (''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/soundgarden/chart-history/vnl/ |title=Soundgarden – Chart history – ''Billboard'' Vinyl Albums |magazine=Billboard |access-date=November 4, 2017}}</ref>
|align="center"| 14
|}

{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
! Chart (2017)
! Peak<br>position
|-
!scope="row"|US Top Catalog Albums (''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/soundgarden/chart-history/tlc/ |title=Soundgarden – Chart history – ''Billboard'' Digital Albums |magazine=Billboard |access-date=November 4, 2017}}</ref>
|align="center"| 45
|-
!scope="row"|US Hard Rock Albums (''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/soundgarden/chart-history/mtl/ |title=Soundgarden – Chart history – ''Billboard'' Hard Rock Albums |magazine=Billboard |access-date=November 4, 2017}}</ref>
|align="center"| 14
|-
!scope="row"|US Top Rock Albums (''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/soundgarden/chart-history/rck/ |title=Soundgarden – Chart history – ''Billboard'' Top Rock Albums |magazine=Billboard |access-date=November 4, 2017}}</ref>
|align="center"| 39
|}
{{col-2}}

===Year-end charts===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
! Chart (1996)
! Position
|-
{{albumchart|Canada|40|chartid=9732|rowheader=true|refname="CANYE96"|access-date=July 10, 2022}}
|-
!scope="row"|European Albums (European Top 100 Albums)<ref name = "EuropeAlbum">{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1994/MM-1996-12-21.pdf#page=24|title=1996 in Review: Sale Charts|magazine=[[Music & Media]] 1996 In Review|date=December 21, 1996|page=12|access-date=May 19, 2022|via=World Radio History}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|93
|-
!scope="row"| New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/annual-albums/1996-12-31|title=Top Selling Albums of 1996|website=The Official NZ Music Charts|access-date=November 16, 2021}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"| 20
|-
!scope="row"|Swedish Albums Chart<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sverigetopplistan.se/chart/42?dspy=1997&dspp=1|title=Year list Album (incl. Collections), 1996|website=[[Sverigetopplistan]]|language=sv|access-date=10 July 2022}}</ref>
| align="center"|93
|-
!scope="row"| US ''Billboard'' 200<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1996/top-billboard-200-albums|title=Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1996|magazine=Billboard|access-date=September 17, 2021}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"| 47
|}
{{col-end}}

===Singles===
{|class="wikitable"
!rowspan="2"| Year
!rowspan="2"| Single
!colspan="11"| Peak chart positions
|-
!style="width:3em;font-size:75%"| [[Hot 100 Airplay (Radio Songs)|US <br />Air]]<br /><ref name="RadioSongs">[https://www.billboard.com/artist/279997/soundgarden/chart?f=350 Soundgarden - Radio Songs - Chart History] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160323024107/http://www.billboard.com/artist/279997/soundgarden/chart?f=350 |date=March 23, 2016 }} billboard.com. Retrieved February 29, 2016.</ref>
!style="width:3em;font-size:75%"| [[Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks|US Main]]<br /><ref name="wm05.allmusic.com">{{cite web
 |url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p5483|pure_url=yes}}
 |title=Soundgarden&nbsp;– Billboard Singles
 |website=[[Allmusic]]
 |access-date=December 8, 2007
 |url-status=live
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110903114854/http://allmusic.com/artist/p5483
 |archive-date=September 3, 2011
}}</ref>
!style="width:3em;font-size:75%"| [[Alternative Songs|US Mod]]<br /><ref name="wm05.allmusic.com"/>
!style="width:3em;font-size:75%"| [[ARIA Charts|AUS]]<br /><ref name="www.australian-charts.com">[http://www.australian-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Soundgarden Soundgarden in Australian Charts] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081201111427/http://www.australian-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Soundgarden |date=December 1, 2008 }}. Australian-Charts.com. Retrieved on May 28, 2008.</ref>
!style="width:3em;font-size:75%"| [[Canadian Singles Chart|CAN]]<br /><ref>Peak positions for Soundgarden's Down on the Upside singles on Canadian Singles Chart:
* For "Pretty Noose" {{cite magazine |url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.3034&volume=63&issue=22&issue_dt=July%2015%201996&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=sf15modmffbbtk0gn0nt48er65 |title=Top Singles - Volume 63, No. 22, July 15, 1996 |magazine=[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]] |access-date=March 7, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090202211957/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.3034&volume=63&issue=22&issue_dt=July%2015%201996&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=sf15modmffbbtk0gn0nt48er65 |archive-date=February 2, 2009 }}
* For "Burden in My Hand" {{cite magazine |url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.9815&volume=64&issue=11&issue_dt=November%2004%201996&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=sf15modmffbbtk0gn0nt48er65 |title=Top Singles - Volume 64, No. 11, November 04 1996 |magazine=[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]] |access-date=March 7, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090202212002/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.9815&volume=64&issue=11&issue_dt=November%2004%201996&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=sf15modmffbbtk0gn0nt48er65 |archive-date=February 2, 2009 }}
* For "Blow Up the Outside World" {{cite magazine |url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.9878&volume=64&issue=16&issue_dt=December%2002%201996&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=sf15modmffbbtk0gn0nt48er65 |title=Top Singles - Volume 64, No. 16, December 02 1996 |magazine=[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]] |access-date=March 7, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090202093343/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.9878&volume=64&issue=16&issue_dt=December%2002%201996&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=sf15modmffbbtk0gn0nt48er65 |archive-date=February 2, 2009 }}</ref>
!style="width:3em;font-size:75%"| [[Canadian Rock/Alternative chart|CAN Alt.]]<br /><ref>Peak positions for Soundgarden's Down on the Upside singles on the Canadian Alternative rock Chart:
* For "Pretty Noose" {{cite magazine
 |url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?brws_s=1&file_num=nlc008388.2982&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=f1duo3bms4u4flnv4kb4ghtb72
 |title=Rock/Alternative - Volume 63, No. 15, May 27, 1996
 |magazine=[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]
 |access-date=April 21, 2012
 }}
* For "Burden in My Hand" {{cite magazine
 |url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.8496&volume=63&issue=26&issue_dt=August%2012%201996&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=f1duo3bms4u4flnv4kb4ghtb72
 |title=Rock/Alternative - Volume 63, No. 26, August 12, 1996
 |magazine=[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]
 |access-date=April 21, 2012
 |url-status=dead
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324053516/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.8496&volume=63&issue=26&issue_dt=August%2012%201996&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=f1duo3bms4u4flnv4kb4ghtb72
 |archive-date=March 24, 2012
 }}
* For "Blow Up the Outside World" {{cite magazine
 |url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.9736&volume=64&issue=18&issue_dt=December%2016%201996&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=f1duo3bms4u4flnv4kb4ghtb72
 |title=Rock/Alternative - Volume 64, No. 18, December 16, 1996
 |magazine=[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]
 |access-date=April 21, 2012
 |url-status=dead
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324053523/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.9736&volume=64&issue=18&issue_dt=December%2016%201996&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=f1duo3bms4u4flnv4kb4ghtb72
 |archive-date=March 24, 2012
 }}</ref>
!style="width:2.5em;font-size:75%"| [[Finland|FIN]]<br /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://finnishcharts.com/search.asp?cat=s&search=Soundgarden |title=Finnish Single/Album Chart / Soundgarden / Longplay |publisher=finnishcharts.com |access-date=February 19, 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090201032045/http://finnishcharts.com/search.asp?cat=s&search=Soundgarden |archive-date=February 1, 2009 }}</ref>
!style="width:3em;font-size:75%"| [[Recording Industry Association of New Zealand|NZ]]<br /><ref name="charts.org.nz">[https://charts.nz/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Soundgarden Soundgarden in New Zealand Charts] . Charts.Org.NZ. Retrieved on May 28, 2008.</ref>
!style="width:3em;font-size:75%"| [[Sverigetopplistan|SWE]]<br /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://swedishcharts.com/search.asp?cat=s&search=Soundgarden |title=Swedish Single/Album Chart / Soundgarden / Longplay |publisher=swedishcharts.com |access-date=February 19, 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081205200509/http://swedishcharts.com/search.asp?cat=s&search=Soundgarden |archive-date=December 5, 2008 }}</ref>
!style="width:2.5em;font-size:75%"| [[Swiss Music Charts|SWI]]<br /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://hitparade.ch/search.asp?cat=s&search=Soundgarden |title=Schweizer Hitparade |publisher=hitparade.ch |access-date=February 19, 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090201060352/http://hitparade.ch/search.asp?cat=s&search=Soundgarden |archive-date=February 1, 2009 }}</ref>
!style="width:3em;font-size:75%"| [[UK Singles Chart|UK]]<br /><ref name="www.everyhit.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.everyhit.com/ |title=EveryHit.com |access-date=December 8, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070717022953/http://www.everyhit.com/ |archive-date=July 17, 2007 }}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="3"|1996
|"[[Pretty Noose]]"
|align="center"| 37
|align="center"| 4
|align="center"| 2
|align="center"| 22
|align="center"| 43
|align="center"| 1
|align="center"| 10
|align="center"| 18
|align="center"| 42
|align="center"| 47
|align="center"| 14
|-
|"[[Burden in My Hand]]"
|align="center"| 40
|align="center"| 1
|align="center"| 2
|align="center"| 57
|align="center"| 9
|align="center"| 1
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| 33
|-
|"[[Blow Up the Outside World]]"
|align="center"| 53
|align="center"| 1
|align="center"| 8
|align="center"| 76
|align="center"| 89
|align="center"| 2
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| 40
|-
|rowspan="2"|1997
|"[[Ty Cobb]]"
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|-
|"[[Rhinosaur]]" <small>''(airplay)''</small>
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| 19
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|-
|align="center" colspan="30" style="font-size: 8pt"| "—" denotes singles that did not chart or were not released in that country.
|-
|}

==Certifications==
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|region=Australia|artist=Soundgarden|title=Down on the Upside|award=Platinum|certyear=1997}}
{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|region=Canada|artist=Soundgarden|title=Down on the Upside|award=Platinum|relyear=1996}}
{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|region=New Zealand|artist=Soundgarden|title=Down on the Upside|id=1997-03-28|source=newchart|access-date=2024-11-20|award=Platinum}}
{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|region=United Kingdom|artist=Soundgarden|title=Down on the Upside|award=Silver|id=11494-1343-2|certyear=2013|certmonth=7}}
{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|region=United States|artist=Soundgarden|title=Down on the Upside|award=Platinum}}
{{Certification Table Bottom}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Soundgarden}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1996 albums]]
[[Category:A&M Records albums]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Adam Kasper]]
[[Category:Soundgarden albums]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Chris Cornell]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Matt Cameron]]