Editing Superunknown

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{{Infobox album
| name         = Superunknown
| type         = studio
| artist       = [[Soundgarden]]
| cover        = Superunknown.jpg
| alt          = 
| released     = {{start date|1994|3|8}}
| recorded     = July–September 1993
| studio       = [[Bad Animals Studio|Bad Animals]] ([[Seattle]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]])
| genre        = {{hlist|[[Grunge]]|[[alternative metal]]|[[hard rock]]|[[alternative rock]]|[[psychedelic rock]]}}
| length       = 70:13
| label        = [[A&M Records|A&M]]
| producer     = {{hlist|[[Michael Beinhorn]]|Soundgarden}}
| prev_title   = [[Badmotorfinger]]
| prev_year    = 1991
| next_title   = [[Down on the Upside]]
| next_year    = 1996
| misc         = {{Singles
 | name        = Superunknown
 | type        = studio
 | single1     = [[Spoonman]]
 | single1date = February 14, 1994
 | single2     = [[The Day I Tried to Live]]
 | single2date = April 18, 1994 (UK)<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Single Releases|magazine=[[Music Week]]|page=27|date=April 16, 1994}}</ref>
 | single3     = [[Black Hole Sun]]
 | single3date = May 13, 1994<ref>{{cite web|last=Irwin|first=Corey|url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/soundgarden-black-hole-sun/|title=25 Years Ago: Soundgarden Hit Commercial Peak with 'Black Hole Sun'|date=May 13, 2019|access-date=April 8, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190513205109/https://ultimateclassicrock.com/soundgarden-black-hole-sun/|archive-date=May 13, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><br>
 | single4     = [[My Wave]]
 | single4date = October 31, 1994 (Aus.)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Soundgarden&titel=My+Wave&cat=s|title=Soundgarden singles}}</ref>
 | single5     = [[Fell on Black Days]]
 | single5date = January 16, 1995<ref>{{cite magazine |title=New Singles |magazine=[[Music Week]] |date=21 January 1995 |page=43}}</ref>
}}
{{Extra album cover
|header = 2014 re-release cover
|type = studio
|cover = Superunknown_2014.png
}}
}}

'''''Superunknown''''' is the fourth studio album by American [[rock music|rock]] band [[Soundgarden]], released on March 8, 1994, through [[A&M Records]]. Produced by [[Michael Beinhorn]] and the band themselves, Soundgarden began work on the album after touring in support of their previous album, ''[[Badmotorfinger]]'' (1991). ''Superunknown'' retained the heaviness of the band's earlier releases while displaying a more diverse range of influences.

''Superunknown'' was a critical and commercial success and became the band's breakthrough album. It debuted at number one on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]], selling 310,000 copies in its opening week. The album also topped the Australian, Canadian, and New Zealand charts. Five singles were released from the album: "[[The Day I Tried to Live]]", "[[My Wave]]", "[[Fell on Black Days (song)|Fell on Black Days]]", "[[Spoonman]]", and "[[Black Hole Sun]]", the latter two of which won [[Grammy Awards]] and helped Soundgarden reach mainstream popularity. At the [[37th Annual Grammy Awards|37th Grammy Awards]], the album was nominated for the [[Grammy Award for Best Rock Album]]. It has been certified [[RIAA certification|6x Platinum]] by the [[Recording Industry Association of America]] (RIAA) in the United States. ''Superunknown'' has been listed by several publications as one of the best albums of the 1990s and a quintessential [[grunge]] album. In April 2019, it was ranked No. 9 on ''[[Rolling Stone]]''{{'}}s "50 Greatest Grunge Albums" list.<ref>{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/50-greatest-grunge-albums-798851/ |title=50 Greatest Grunge Albums |date=April 1, 2019 |magazine=Rolling Stone}}</ref>

==Recording==
Soundgarden began work on the album about two months after finishing its stint on the 1992 [[Lollapalooza]] tour.<ref name="masters">Masters, Drew. "Soundgarden". ''M.E.A.T.'' magazine. March 1994.</ref> The individual band members would work on material on their own and then bring in demos to which the other members of the band would contribute.<ref name="makingmusic">"Soundgarden". ''Making Music''. (ISSN 0269-2651) May 1994.</ref> Frontman [[Chris Cornell]] said that the band members allowed each other more freedom than on past records.<ref>Thompson, Dave. "I Slept With Soundgarden and Other Chilling Confessions". ''[[Alternative Press (music magazine)|Alternative Press]]''. March 1994.</ref> Guitarist [[Kim Thayil]] observed that even though the band spent as much time writing and arranging as it had on previous albums, it spent a lot more time working on recording the songs.<ref name="grungealbum"/> After two albums with producer [[Terry Date]], the band decided to seek another collaborator. Thayil said, "We just thought we'd go for a change."<ref name="grungealbum">"Let's Make a Grunge Album!". ''[[Raw (music magazine)|Raw]]''. December 8, 1993.</ref> Eventually they settled on producer [[Michael Beinhorn]], who "didn't have his own trademark sound which he was trying to tack on to Soundgarden" and had ideas the band approved.<ref name="makingmusic"/>

The album's recording sessions took place from July 1993 to September 1993 at [[Bad Animals Studio]] in [[Seattle]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]], as according to Cornell "there was never a decent studio in Seattle and now there's one with a [[Neve Electronics|Neve]] console, so it seemed obvious to use it".<ref name="makingmusic"/> Bad Animals' resident engineer [[Adam Kasper]], who went on to produce Soundgarden's following albums, assisted Beinhorn on the recording process.<ref name=spin/> Soundgarden took the approach of recording one song at a time.<ref>Peiken, Matt. "Soundgarden's Matt Cameron: Breaking New Ground". ''[[Modern Drummer]]''. June 1994.</ref> The drum and bass parts were recorded first for each song, and then Cornell and Thayil would lay down their parts over top.<ref name="masters"/> Cornell said that getting to know Beinhorn contributed to the length of time Soundgarden spent working on the album.<ref name="gardenoftheunknown">"Garden of the Unknown". ''[[Melody Maker]]''. November 27, 1993.</ref> The band spent time experimenting with different drum and guitar sounds, as well as utilizing techniques such as layering, resulting in an expansive production sound.<ref name="gardenoftheunknown"/> Cornell said, "Michael Beinhorn was so into sounds. He was so, almost, anal about it, that it took the piss out of us a lot of the time&nbsp;... By the time you get the sounds that you want to record the song, you're sick and tired of playing it."<ref name="blackholesons">"Black Hole Sons!". ''[[Kerrang!]]''. August 12, 1995.</ref> Beinhorn tried to add many of his preferred musicians to mold the band's sound, in what ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' described as "weaning the band from brute force, giving it the impetus to invest in a more subtle power". For instance, prior to recording the vocals of "[[Black Hole Sun]]", Beinhorn made Cornell listen to [[Frank Sinatra]].<ref name=bill/>

''Superunknown'' lasts for 15 songs clocking on approximately 70 minutes because according to Cornell, "we didn't really want to argue over what should be cut".<ref name=spin>Anderson, Stacy. [http://www.spin.com/2014/06/oral-history-soundgarden-superunknown-anniversary-reissue/ "Get Yourself Control: The Oral History of Soundgarden's 'Superunknown'"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151003052353/http://www.spin.com/2014/06/oral-history-soundgarden-superunknown-anniversary-reissue/ |date=October 3, 2015 }}. ''Spin'', June 2014</ref> Soundgarden took a break in the middle of recording to open for [[Neil Young]] on a ten-day tour of the United States.<ref name="neely"/> The band then brought in [[Brendan O'Brien (music producer)|Brendan O'Brien]] to mix the album, as Beinhorn felt the band needed "a fresh pair of ears"; O'Brien had come recommended by [[Pearl Jam]] guitarist [[Stone Gossard]].<ref name="sleepless"/> Thayil called the mixing process "very painless",<ref name="sleepless"/> and bassist [[Ben Shepherd]] said it was "the fastest part of the record".<ref name="makingmusic"/>

Footage of the band recording and mixing the song "Kickstand" was featured in the ''[[Bill Nye the Science Guy]]'' episode "Sound".

==Composition==
The songs on ''Superunknown'' capture the [[Alternative metal|alt-metal]] influence of the band's previous works,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Millspublished |first=Matt |date=2023-12-27 |title=20 metal bands with no bad albums |url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/20-metal-bands-with-no-bad-albums/2 |access-date=2025-04-20 |website=[[Metal Hammer]] |language=en}}</ref> while blending [[grunge]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=O'Brien |first=Jon |date=March 8, 2024 |title=8 Reasons Soundgarden's 'Superunknown' Is One Of The Most Influential Grunge Albums |url=https://www.grammy.com/news/soundgarden-superunknown-album-anniversary-chris-cornell-grunge |access-date=2025-04-20 |website=[[Grammy Awards]]}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last= |first= |last2= |first2= |date=2023-03-01 |title=14 Best Classic Rock Albums Released in March |url=https://bobfmutah.com/life/14-best-classic-rock-albums-released-in-march/ |access-date=2025-04-22 |website=[[Bob FM]] |language=}}</ref> [[hard rock]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Coffman |first=Tim |date=2020-02-07 |title=10 Best Hard Rock Albums Of The 90s |url=https://whatculture.com/music/10-best-hard-rock-albums-of-the-90s?page=2 |access-date=2025-04-20 |website=WhatCulture |language=en}}</ref> [[alternative rock]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gallucci |first=Michael |date=2017-05-18 |title=Soundgarden Albums Ranked Worst to Best |url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/soundgarden-albums-ranked/ |access-date=2025-04-20 |website=Ultimate Classic Rock |language=en}}</ref> [[psychedelic rock]]<ref name=":0" /> and [[Heavy metal music|heavy metal]].<ref name=":0" /> Steve Huey of [[AllMusic]] said the band's "earlier [[Punk rock|punk]] influences are rarely detectable, replaced by surprisingly effective appropriations of [[Pop music|pop]] and [[Psychedelic music|psychedelia]]."<ref name="allmusic">{{cite web|last=Huey|first=Steve|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/superunknown-mw0000107152|title=Superunknown – Soundgarden|website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=March 21, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120603190011/http://www.allmusic.com/album/superunknown-mw0000107152|archive-date=June 3, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> Cornell labeled the album as more "challenging" and "versatile" than the band's previous releases.<ref name="gardenoftheunknown"/><ref name="mesaboogie">"Interview With Soundgarden". ''[[Mesa Boogie]]''. 1996.</ref> The songs on the album are more experimental and diverse than the band's previous recordings, with some songs having a Middle-Eastern or Indian flavor (for example "Half", sung by Shepherd). Some songs also show a [[The Beatles|Beatles]] influence, such as "Head Down" and "[[Black Hole Sun]]". In a 1994 interview with ''[[Guitar World]]'', Thayil explained, "We looked deep down inside the very core of our souls and there was a little [[Ringo Starr|Ringo]] sitting there. Oh sure, we like telling people it's [[John Lennon]] or [[George Harrison]]; but when you really look deep inside of Soundgarden, there's a little Ringo wanting to get out."<ref name="sleepless">Gilbert, Jeff. "Sleepless in Seattle". ''[[Guitar World]]''. May 1994.</ref> Drummer [[Matt Cameron]] said that the experimentation on the album was "just a matter of refinement."<ref name="neely">Neely, Kim. "[https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/soundgarden/articles/story/5924586/cover_story_into_the_unknown Into the Superunknown"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090514065154/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/soundgarden/articles/story/5924586/cover_story_into_the_unknown |date=2009-05-14 }}. ''[[Rolling Stone]]''. June 16, 1994. Retrieved on May 3, 2008.</ref> According to ''[[The A.V. Club]]'', the album "both redefined and transcended grunge".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.avclub.com/article/soundgarden-both-redefined-and-transcended-grunge--205632 |title=Soundgarden both redefined and transcended grunge on 1994's Superunknown |website=[[The A.V. Club]] |date=June 30, 2014 |access-date=May 5, 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150610171744/http://www.avclub.com/article/soundgarden-both-redefined-and-transcended-grunge--205632 |archive-date=June 10, 2015 }}</ref> Michael Beinhorn stated that to achieve the intensity of ''Superunknown'', he sought influence from European [[electronic music]], such as the British [[Aphex Twin]] and the Dutch genre of [[Gabber]], described by him as "some of the rawest music made".<ref name=bill>Bamgarder, Bradley. [https://books.google.com/books?id=aQgEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA110 "For Soundgarden, Soul Asylum producer Michael Beinhorn, personality is paramount."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160520200123/https://books.google.com/books?id=aQgEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA110 |date=May 20, 2016 }} ''Billboard'', July 30, 1994</ref>

Soundgarden used [[alternate tuning]]s and odd [[time signature]]s on several of the album's songs. "Spoonman", "Black Hole Sun", "Let Me Drown" and "Kickstand" were performed in [[drop D tuning]] while "Fell on Black Days" was performed in standard tuning. Some songs used more unorthodox tunings: "Superunknown" and "Fresh Tendrils" are in DGDGBe tuning; "Like Suicide" is performed in a similar DGDGBC tuning; "My Wave" and "The Day I Tried to Live" are both in an EEBBBe tuning; "Mailman" and "Limo Wreck" employed CGDGBe tuning; "Head Down" and "Half" both utilised CGCGGe tuning; and "4th of July" uses CFCGBe tuning. Soundgarden's use of odd time signatures was varied as well; "Fell On Black Days" is in 6/4, "Limo Wreck" is played in 15/8, "My Wave" alternates between 5/4 and 4/4, and "The Day I Tried to Live" alternates between 7/8 and 4/4 sections. Thayil has said that Soundgarden usually did not consider the time signature of a song until after the band had written it, and said that the use of odd meters was "a total accident".<ref name ="Super-timesigs">Rotondi, James. "Alone in the Superunknown: Soundgarden redefine riffage and master melody on the eclectic fifth album". ''[[Guitar Player]]''. June 1994.</ref><ref>{{Cite web |author1=Joe Bosso |date=2024-02-26 |title="The Black Hole Sun arpeggios were unusual for me – like the right side of a piano, or fairies dancing on a pin... I thought, 'This is not me'": Kim Thayil on how Soundgarden persevered through personal and musical frustrations to create Superunknown |url=https://www.guitarplayer.com/players/soundgarden-kim-thayil-superunknown |access-date=2024-03-08 |website=Guitar Player |language=en}}</ref>

Lyrically, the album is quite dark and mysterious, as much of it is often interpreted to be dealing with issues such as [[substance abuse]], [[suicide]], and [[depression (mood)|depression]], with running themes of [[revenge]], [[annihilation]], [[seclusion]], [[fear]], [[Grief|loss]], [[death]], and [[Discovery (observation)|discovery]]. Cornell was inspired by the writings of [[Sylvia Plath]] at the time.<ref name="lanham">Lanham, Tom. "In Search of the Monster Riff". ''Pulse!''. March 1994.</ref> Commenting on the album's lyrics, Thayil said that "a lot of ''Superunknown'' seems to me to be about life, not death. Maybe not affirming it, but rejoicing—like the [[Druid]]s [put it]: 'Life is good, but death's gonna be even better!"<ref name="lanham"/> Cameron said that the lyrics on the album are "a big fuck-you to the world, a plea to 'leave us alone{{'"}}.<ref name="journey">True, Everett. "Journey into the Superunknown". ''[[Melody Maker]]''. March 19, 1994.</ref> Cornell stated that "Let Me Drown" is about "crawling back to the womb to die",<ref name="badass">"Soundgarden: The Badass Seed". ''[[RIP (magazine)|RIP]]''. April 1994.</ref> "Fell on Black Days" is about realizing "you're unhappy in the extreme",<ref name="journey"/> "Black Hole Sun" is about a "surreal dreamscape",<ref name="badass"/> "Limo Wreck" is a {{" '}}shame-on-decadence' song",<ref name="gardenoftheunknown"/> "The Day I Tried to Live" is about "trying to step out of being patterned and closed off and reclusive",<ref>Foege, Alec. "The End of Innocence". ''[[Rolling Stone]]''. January 12, 1995.</ref> and "4th of July" is about using [[Lysergic acid diethylamide|LSD]]. Cornell talked about "Mailman" at a concert saying, "This next one is about killing your boss. It's about coming to work early one morning cause you have a special agenda and you're going to shoot him in the fucking head."<ref name="badass"/> Conversely, "Like Suicide" was literal, written by Cornell after a bird flew into a window of his house. He found the severely injured animal and killed it, hitting it with a brick to end its suffering.<ref name="journey"/>

The video clip of the song "Spoonman" is notable for featuring a performance by [[Artis the Spoonman]], a [[busking|street entertainer]] in [[Seattle]].<ref name="prato">{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/song/spoonman-mt0004985381 |title=Spoonman – Soundgarden |website=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=August 1, 2008 |last=Prato |first=Greg |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120828035911/http://www.allmusic.com/song/spoonman-mt0004985381 |archive-date=August 28, 2012 }}</ref> The title of the song is credited to bassist [[Jeff Ament]] of [[Pearl Jam]].<ref>(1994) Album notes for ''Superunknown'' by Soundgarden, [CD booklet]. New York: A&M Records.</ref> While on the set of the movie ''[[Singles (1992 film)|Singles]]'', Ament produced a list of song titles for the fictional band featured in the movie.<ref name="prato"/> Cornell took it as a challenge to write songs for the film using those titles, and "Spoonman" was one of them.<ref name="prato"/> An [[Acoustic music|acoustic]] demo version of the song appears in the movie.<ref name="prato"/> Cornell said that the song is about "the paradox of who [Artis] is and what people perceive him as".<ref>[http://web.stargate.net/soundgarden/articles/request_10-94.shtml "Interview with Chris Cornell"]. ''Request''. October 1994.</ref>

==Packaging==
The album's [[cover art]] (known as the 'Screaming Elf') is a distorted photograph of the band members, photographed by Kevin Westenberg, above a black and white upside-down burning forest. Concerning the artwork, Cornell said, "''Superunknown'' relates to birth in a way&nbsp;... Being born or even dying—getting flushed into something that you know nothing about. The hardest thing is to nail down a visual image to put on a title like that. The first thing we thought of was a forest in grey or black. Soundgarden has always been associated with images of flowers and lush colors and this was the opposite. It still seemed organic but it was very dark and cold&nbsp;... I was into those stories as a kid where forests were full of evil and scary things as opposed to being happy gardens that you go camping in."<ref name="gardenoftheunknown"/> In a 1994 ''Pulse!'' magazine interview, Cornell said that the inspiration for the album's title came from his misreading of a video entitled ''Superclown''. He added, "I thought it was a cool title. I'd never heard it before, never saw it before, and it inspired me."<ref name="lanham"/> The album also saw a limited release on 12" colored [[Gramophone record|vinyl]] (blue, orange, and clear), as a double-[[Gramophone record|LP]] in a [[gatefold]] sleeve.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Warman's American Records|first=Chuck|last=Miller|publisher=Krause Publications|isbn=978-1-4402-2821-6|year=2011}}</ref> The album's title 'SUPERUNKNOWN' is sometimes displayed with the "UNKNOWN" as semi upside down and reversed lettering (stylized as "SUPER∩ИKИOMИ").

On May 25, 2017, photographer Kevin Westenberg revealed the full photo from the cover for the first time on his [[Instagram]] account.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.spin.com/2017/06/soundgarden-superunknown-cover-photograph-full-frame/|title=Photographer Behind Soundgarden's Superunknown Album Cover Reveals the Uncropped Photo|website=[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]|date=June 15, 2017|access-date=June 17, 2017}}</ref>

==Release and commercial performance==
''Superunknown'' was Soundgarden's breakthrough album, earning the band international recognition. Upon its release in March 1994, ''Superunknown'' debuted at number one on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] album chart,<ref>[https://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,301554,00.html "Changing of the Garden"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080830000510/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0%2C%2C301554%2C00.html |date=August 30, 2008 }}. ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]''. March 25, 1994. Retrieved on May 2, 2004.</ref> and eventually closed the year as the 13th best-selling album of 1994, with 2.5 million copies sold.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uAsEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA57 |title=Best Selling Records of 1994 |magazine=Billboard |date=January 21, 1995 |volume=107 |number=3 |issn=0006-2510 |page=57 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905203802/https://books.google.com/books?id=uAsEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA57 |archive-date=September 5, 2015 }}</ref> The album has been certified six times platinum by the [[Recording Industry Association of America|RIAA]] in the United States,<ref>{{cite web
 |url        = http://riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH_RESULTS&title=Superunknown&artist=Soundgarden&perPage=25&go=Search
 |archive-url = https://archive.today/20120713092600/http://riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH_RESULTS&title=Superunknown&artist=Soundgarden&perPage=25&go=Search
 |url-status   = dead
 |archive-date = July 13, 2012
 |title      = Gold and Platinum Database Search
 | website=[[Recording Industry Association of America]] |access-date = February 12, 2007
}}</ref> three times platinum in Canada and Australia,<ref name="cria">{{cite web
 |url=http://www.cria.ca/cert_db_search.php
 |title=CRIA Database Search
 |publisher=[[Canadian Recording Industry Association]]
 |access-date=April 4, 2008
 |url-status=dead
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100331121149/http://www.cria.ca/cert_db_search.php
 |archive-date=March 31, 2010
}}</ref> two times platinum in Sweden,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hitlistan.se/ |title=Superunknown Certified Awards |publisher=[[IFPI|IFPI Den Svenske Hitlista]] |access-date=February 19, 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100727130120/http://www.hitlistan.se/ |archive-date=July 27, 2010 }}</ref> platinum in the United Kingdom,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bpi.co.uk/certified-awards.aspx |title=Superunknown Certified Awards |publisher=[[British Phonographic Industry]] |access-date=February 19, 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140625075145/http://www.bpi.co.uk/certified-awards.aspx |archive-date=June 25, 2014 }}</ref> and gold in the Netherlands and Italy.

As of 2019 ''Superunknown'' has sold 3.9 million copies in United States according to Nielsen.<ref name="Soundscan Sales">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/8501656/soundgarden-superunknown-songs-ranked|title=Soundgarden's 'Superunknown' at 25: All the Songs Ranked Worst to Best|last=Goodman|first=William|magazine=Billboard|date=March 8, 2019|access-date=March 9, 2019}}</ref> The album spawned the EP ''[[Songs from the Superunknown]]'' and the [[CD-ROM]] ''Alive in the Superunknown'', both released in 1995.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Atwood |first1=Brett |title=Soundgarden Vid Takes CD Plus Out of the Unknown |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7g4EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA96 |access-date=April 13, 2022 |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |date=January 27, 1996 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160610122445/https://books.google.com/books?id=7g4EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA96& |archive-date=June 10, 2016}}</ref>

===20th-anniversary reissues===
The 20th-anniversary reissue of "Superunknown" was made available in two deluxe versions. The Deluxe Edition was a 2-CD package featuring the remastered album along with disc two consisting of demos, rehearsals, B-sides and more. The Super Deluxe Edition was a 5-CD package featuring the remastered album, additional demos, rehearsals and B-sides and the fifth disc is the album mixed in Blu-ray Audio 5.1 Surround Sound. The Super Deluxe Edition was packaged in a hardbound book with a lenticular cover, liner notes by [[David Fricke]] and newly reimagined album artwork designed by Josh Graham. It also featured never-before-seen band photography by Kevin Westerberg. A 2-LP gatefold of the original 16 vinyl tracks remastered on 200-gram vinyl in a gatefold jacket was also made available. In addition, the ''Superunknown'' singles and associated b-sides with newly interpreted artwork sleeves by Josh Graham was reissued on [[Record Store Day]], April 19, 2014, as a set of five limited-edition 10-inch vinyl records."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/soundgarden-20th-anniversary-reissue-of-superunknown-projected-to-sell-10k-12k-first-week/#0irVwooSKFhcQ6HQ.99 |title=SOUNDGARDEN: 20th-Anniversary Reissue Of 'Superunknown' Projected To Sell 10K-12K First Week |work=Blabbermouth |date=June 15, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141029195850/http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/soundgarden-20th-anniversary-reissue-of-superunknown-projected-to-sell-10k-12k-first-week/ |archive-date=October 29, 2014 }}</ref>

==Critical reception==
{{Music ratings
| subtitle = Initial reviews (in 1994)
| rev1      = ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]''
| rev1score = A<ref name="entertainmentweekly">{{cite magazine|last=Browne|first=David|author-link=David Browne (journalist)|date=March 11, 1994|url=https://www.ew.com/article/1994/03/11/superunknown|title=Superunknown|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|location=New York|access-date=May 20, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017103818/http://www.ew.com/article/1994/03/11/superunknown|archive-date=October 17, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>
| rev2      = ''[[Los Angeles Times]]''
| rev2score = {{Rating|3.5|4}}<ref>{{cite news|last=Cromelin|first=Richard|date=March 6, 1994|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-03-06-ca-30641-story.html|title=Soundgarden in Full Sonic Bloom|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=September 27, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150928174552/http://articles.latimes.com/1994-03-06/entertainment/ca-30641_1_soundgarden|archive-date=September 28, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>
| rev3      = ''[[Q (magazine)|Q]]''
| rev3score = {{Rating|5|5}}<ref name="q">{{cite magazine|date=November 1994|title=Soundgarden: Superunknown|magazine=[[Q (magazine)|Q]]|location=London|issue=98|page=122}}</ref>
| rev4      = ''[[Rolling Stone]]''
| rev4score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="Considine">{{cite magazine|last=Considine|first=J. D.|author-link=J. D. Considine|date=March 10, 1994|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/superunknown-195144/|title=Superunknown|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|location=New York|access-date=September 27, 2015|page=63|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150929014927/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/superunknown-19970131|archive-date=September 29, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>
| rev5      = ''[[Select (magazine)|Select]]''
| rev5score = {{rating|3|5|full=U+25A0.svg|empty=U+25A1.svg|rating=medal}}<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Roy|last=Wilkinson|url=https://selectmagazinescans.monkeon.co.uk/showpage.php?file=wp-content/uploads/2014/07/albums31.jpg|title=New Albums|work=[[Select (magazine)|Select]]|date=April 1994|page=92|access-date=December 20, 2024}}</ref>
}}
{{Album ratings
| subtitle = Retrospective reviews (after 1994)
| rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
| rev1score = {{Rating|5|5}}<ref name="allmusic"/>
| rev2 = ''[[Blender (magazine)|Blender]]''
| rev2score = {{Rating|5|5}}<ref name="blender">{{cite magazine|last=Powers|first=Ann|author-link=Ann Powers|date=December 2002|url=http://www.blender.com/guide/reviews/index_595.html|title=Soundgarden: Superunknown|magazine=[[Blender (magazine)|Blender]]|location=New York|issue=12|access-date=December 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021222104518/http://www.blender.com/guide/reviews/index_595.html|archive-date=December 22, 2002|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| rev3 = ''[[Christgau's Consumer Guide: Albums of the '90s|Christgau's Consumer Guide]]''
| rev3score = A−<ref>{{cite book|last=Christgau|first=Robert|author-link=Robert Christgau|year=2000|chapter=Soundgarden: Superunknown|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xVQbszFuEGMC&pg=PA291|access-date=September 27, 2015|title=Christgau's Consumer Guide: Albums of the '90s|title-link=Christgau's Consumer Guide: Albums of the '90s|publisher=[[St. Martin's Griffin]]|isbn=0-312-24560-2|page=291}}</ref>
| rev4 = ''[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]''
| rev4score = 8.5/10<ref>{{cite web|last=Berman|first=Stuart|date=June 3, 2014|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/19407-soundgarden-superunknown/|title=Soundgarden: Superunknown|website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]|access-date=June 3, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140605183443/http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/19407-soundgarden-superunknown/|archive-date=June 5, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>
| rev5 = ''[[The Rolling Stone Album Guide]]''
| rev5score = {{Rating|5|5}}<ref>{{cite book|last=Considine|first=J. D.|author-link=J. D. Considine|editor1-last=Brackett|editor1-first=Nathan|editor1-link=Nathan Brackett|editor2-last=Hoard|editor2-first=Christian|editor2-link=Christian Hoard|year=2004|chapter=Soundgarden|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=t9eocwUfoSoC&pg=PA762|access-date=September 27, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120223041641/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/soundgarden/albumguide|archive-date=February 23, 2012|url-status=live|title=The New Rolling Stone Album Guide|title-link=The Rolling Stone Album Guide|publisher=[[Simon & Schuster]]|edition=4th|isbn=0-7432-0169-8|pages=[https://archive.org/details/newrollingstonea00brac/page/762 762–63]}}</ref>
| rev6 = ''[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]''
| rev6score = {{Rating|5|5}}<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Anderson|first=Kyle|date=September 2006|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XdMuWm38Xn0C&pg=PA80|title=Discography: Chris Cornell|magazine=[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]|location=New York|volume=22|issue=9|access-date=January 9, 2017|page=80}}</ref>
| rev7 = ''[[Spin Alternative Record Guide]]''
| rev7score = 8/10<ref>{{cite book |editor1-last=Weisbard |editor1-first=Eric |editor2-last=Marks |editor2-first=Craig |title=[[Spin Alternative Record Guide]] |location=New York City |publisher=[[Vintage Books]] |year=1995 |isbn=0-679-75574-8 |pages=370–371}}</ref>
}}

''Superunknown'' received universal acclaim from music critics. ''[[Q (magazine)|Q]]'' said, "Soundgarden dealt in unreconstructed heavy rock: a heavy guitar sound, depth-charge drumming&nbsp;... Yet ''Superunknown'' also includes more measured moments".<ref name="q"/> ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' magazine's [[J. D. Considine]] was impressed by the record's range and, despite criticizing "Black Hole Sun" and "Half", he said "at its best, ''Superunknown'' offers a more harrowing depiction of alienation and despair than anything on ''[[In Utero]]''".<ref name="Considine"/> [[Jon Pareles]] of ''[[The New York Times]]'' credited the band with trying to transcend conventional heavy metal: "''Superunknown'' actually tries to broaden its audience by breaking heavy-metal genre barriers that Soundgarden used to accept."<ref name="thenewyorktimes">{{cite news|last=Pareles |first=Jon |author-link=Jon Pareles |date=March 6, 1994 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/03/06/arts/recordings-view-lightening-up-on-the-gloom-in-grunge.html?scp=1&sq=superunknown&st=cse |title=Lightening Up On the Gloom In Grunge |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=March 23, 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141014055216/http://www.nytimes.com/1994/03/06/arts/recordings-view-lightening-up-on-the-gloom-in-grunge.html?scp=1&sq=superunknown&st=cse |archive-date=October 14, 2014 }}</ref> In ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'', [[David Browne (journalist)|David Browne]] wrote, "Soundgarden is pumped and primed on ''Superunknown'', and they deliver the goods." He praised it as a "hard-rock milestone – a boiling vat of volcanic power, record-making smarts, and '90s anomie and anxiety that sets a new standard for anything called metal."<ref name="entertainmentweekly"/> [[Ann Powers]] from ''[[Blender (magazine)|Blender]]'' said that "guitarist Thayil helps create the [[Stoner rock|stoner-rock]] template", and that it "stands as Soundgarden's masterpiece".<ref name="blender"/> ''[[The Village Voice|Village Voice]]'' critic [[Robert Christgau]], who had "mocked" Soundgarden's "conceptual pretentions for years", still felt their foredooming, pessimistic lyrics lacked much substance, but said they had improved composing, arranging, and producing on an album that was "easily the best—most galvanizing, kinetic, sensational, ''catchy''—[[Led Zeppelin|Zep]] rip in history".<ref name="VV">{{cite news|last=Christgau |first=Robert |date=April 5, 1994 |url=http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/cg/cgv394-94.php |title=Consumer Guide |newspaper=[[The Village Voice]] |location=New York |access-date=September 27, 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150914131749/http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/cg/cgv394-94.php |archive-date=September 14, 2015 }}</ref> In a retrospective review, [[AllMusic]] editor Steve Huey wrote, "It's obvious that ''Superunknown'' was consciously styled as a masterwork, and it fulfills every ambition."<ref name="allmusic"/> It received a nomination in the [[Grammy Award for Best Rock Album|Best Rock Album]] category for the [[1995 Grammy Awards]].<ref name="1995 Grammys">{{cite web|url=http://www.rockonthenet.com/archive/1995/grammys.htm |title=37th Grammy Awards - 1995 |publisher=Rockonthenet.com |access-date=December 8, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071210160024/http://www.rockonthenet.com/archive/1995/grammys.htm |archive-date=December 10, 2007 }}</ref>

"We were listening to [[Nirvana (band)|Nirvana]] and [[Pearl Jam]] just like everybody else," remarked [[Def Leppard]]'s [[Vivian Campbell]], "and especially to Soundgarden – the ''Superunknown'' record. That was the record that we referenced in terms of the sonics and the mood of it when making ''[[Slang (album)|Slang]]''."<ref>McIntyre, Ken: "Hello America!`"; ''[[Classic Rock (magazine)|Classic Rock]]'' #217, December 2015, p52</ref>

===Accolades===
The critical acclaim garnered by ''Superunknown'' has led to its inclusion in many lists of the greatest albums.

{| class="wikitable"
|+Rankings
|-
! Publication
! Country
! Accolade
! Year
! Rank
|-
| ''[[The Village Voice]]''
| United States
| [[Pazz & Jop]]: Greatest Albums of 1994<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/pnj/pjres94.php |title=The 1994 Pazz & Jop Critics Poll |date=February 28, 1995 |newspaper=The Village Voice |location=New York |access-date=September 27, 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140325151912/http://robertchristgau.com/xg/pnj/pjres94.php |archive-date=March 25, 2014 }}</ref>
| 1994
| 11
|-
| rowspan=3|''[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]''
| rowspan=3|United States
| "Top 20 Albums of 1994"<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.spin.com/1994/12/best-albums-1994/140226-soundgarden-superunknown-web/ |volume=10 |number=9 |date=December 1994 |magazine=[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]] |title=Top 20 Albums of 1994 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160806012901/http://www.spin.com/1994/12/best-albums-1994/140226-soundgarden-superunknown-web/ |archive-date=August 6, 2016 }}</ref>
| 1994
| 17
|-
| "Top 90 Albums of the 90s"<ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bGjsvmNt8UgC&pg=PA154 |date=September 1999 |title=Top 90 Albums of the 90s |access-date=May 6, 2008 |work=Spin }}</ref>
| 1999
| 70
|-
| "125 Best Albums of the last 25 Years"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.spin.com/2012/02/125-best-albums-past-25-years/7/ |date=February 15, 2015 |title=125 Best Albums of the Past 25 Years |access-date=May 6, 2016 |work=Spin |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160507054032/http://www.spin.com/2012/02/125-best-albums-past-25-years/7/ |archive-date=May 7, 2016 }}</ref>
| 2012
| 90
|-
| rowspan=3|''[[Rolling Stone]]''
| rowspan=3|United States
| "Best Albums of 1994"<ref>{{cite journal|issue=700 |date=January 1995 |url=http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/rolling.htm#94 |title=1994 Annual Music Awards: Best Albums |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628073126/http://rocklistmusic.co.uk/rolling.htm |archive-date=June 28, 2011 }}</ref>
| 1995
| 3
|-
| "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time"<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-20120531/soundgarden-superunknown-20120524 |access-date=May 6, 2016 |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |title=500 Greatest Albums of All Time: 335 - Soundgarden, 'Superunknown' |date=May 31, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160422114024/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-20120531/soundgarden-superunknown-20120524 |archive-date=April 22, 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine| url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-156826/soundgarden-superunknown-38455/| year=2012| title=500 Greatest Albums of All Time Rolling Stone's definitive list of the 500 greatest albums of all time| magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]| access-date= September 9, 2019}}</ref>
| 2012
| 335
|-
| "The 100 Greatest Albums of the 90s"<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/100-best-albums-of-the-nineties-20110427/soundgarden-superunknown-19691231 |title=100 Best Albums of the Nineties: Soundgarden, 'Superunknown' &#124; Rolling Stone &#124; Lists |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=August 13, 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110729110919/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/100-best-albums-of-the-nineties-20110427/soundgarden-superunknown-19691231 |archive-date=July 29, 2011 }}</ref>
|2011
|38
|-
| ''[[Muziekkrant OOR]]''
| Netherlands
| "The 100 Best Albums of 1991–1995"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/oor_page2.htm#91-95 |title=The 100 Best Albums of 1991–1995 |access-date=May 6, 2008 |publisher=[[Muziekkrant OOR]] |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080423065732/http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/oor_page2.htm |archive-date=April 23, 2008 }}</ref>
| 1995
| 49
|-
| ''[[Alternative Press (music magazine)|Alternative Press]]''
| United States
| "The 90 Greatest Albums of the 90s"<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/apress.html#The_90_Greatest_Albums_of_the_'90s |title=The 90 Greatest Albums of the 90s |access-date=May 6, 2008 |magazine=[[Alternative Press (music magazine)|Alternative Press]] |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080419054523/http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/apress.html |archive-date=April 19, 2008 }}</ref>
| 1998
| 18
|-
| ''[[Kerrang!]]''
| United Kingdom
| "100 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die"<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/kerrang_p2.htm#die |title=100 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die |access-date=May 6, 2008 |magazine=[[Kerrang!]] |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141023170622/http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/kerrang_p2.htm |archive-date=October 23, 2014 }}</ref>
| 1998
| 70
|-
| ''Pause & Play''
| United States
| "The 90s Top 100 Essential Albums"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pauseandplay.com/1990s1.htm |title=The 90s Top 100 Essential Albums |access-date=May 6, 2008 |publisher=Pause & Play |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927003341/http://www.pauseandplay.com/1990s1.htm |archive-date=September 27, 2007 }}</ref>
| 1999
| 11
|-
|''[[Rock Hard (magazine)|Rock Hard]]''
|Germany
|"The 500 Greatest Rock & Metal Albums of All Time"<ref>{{cite book|editor=Michael Rensen |title=Best of Rock & Metal - Die 500 stärksten Scheiben aller Zeiten |year=2005 |publisher=[[Rock Hard (magazine)|Rock Hard]]|language=de|isbn=3-89880-517-4|page=90}}</ref>
|2005
|304
|-
|''[[Loudwire]]''
| United States
| "10 Best Hard Rock Albums of 1994" list<ref>{{cite web|url=http://loudwire.com/best-hard-rock-albums-1994/ |title=10 Best Hard Rock Albums of 1994 |date=May 20, 2014 |work=[[Loudwire]] |access-date=May 21, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140625085913/http://loudwire.com/best-hard-rock-albums-1994/ |archive-date=June 25, 2014 }}</ref>
|2014
|3
|-
|[[Wall of Sound (website)|Wall of Sound]]
|United States
|"Top 100 Albums of All Time"<ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=Top 100 Albums of All Time |url=http://wallofsound.go.com/features/stories/top_100_albums/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19991006183917/http://wallofsound.go.com/features/stories/top_100_albums/ |archive-date=1999-10-06 |access-date=2023-03-11 |website=[[Wall of Sound (website)|Wall of Sound]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=Top 100 Albums of All Time: 90-81 |url=http://wallofsound.go.com/features/stories/top_100_albums/results/81_90.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000816013311/http://wallofsound.go.com/features/stories/top_100_albums/results/81_90.html |archive-date=2000-08-16 |access-date=2023-03-11 |website=[[Wall of Sound (website)|Wall of Sound]]}}</ref>
|1999
|89
|}

{| class="wikitable"
|+Lists
|-
! Publication
! Year
! Ref
|-
| ''[[Guitar World]]'': 50 Iconic Albums That Defined 1994
|2014
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.guitarworld.com/superunknown-50-iconic-albums-defined-1994 |title=Superunknown: 50 Iconic Albums That Defined 1994 |date=July 14, 2014 |work=[[Guitar World|GuitarWorld.com]] |access-date=July 14, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140715053900/http://www.guitarworld.com/superunknown-50-iconic-albums-defined-1994 |archive-date=July 15, 2014 }}</ref>
|-
| ''[[1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die]]''
|2005
|<ref name="1001albums">{{cite book|title=[[1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die]]|year=2005|editor-first=Robert|editor-last=Dimery|first=Joel|last=McIver|edition=1st|publisher=Universe Publishing|isbn=978-0-7893-1371-3|page=548}}</ref>
|}

==Tour==
The band began touring in January 1994 in [[Oceania]] and Japan,<ref name="neely"/> areas where the record was released early.<ref name="nohype">"Soundgarden: No Hype Allowed". ''The Music Paper''. July 1994.</ref> The band had never toured these regions before.<ref>Smith, Chris. "Down in a Hole". ''[[Raw (music magazine)|Raw]]''. August 17, 1994.</ref> This round of touring ended in February 1994, and then in March 1994 the band moved on to Europe.<ref name="neely"/> The band was to join a 20-date co-headline American tour with [[Nine Inch Nails]] in April/May, but had to cancel. As an alternative, they did a headlining theater tour on May 27, 1994.<ref name="neely"/><ref>"Soundgarden Won't Be Staying Superunknown". ''[[USA Today]]''. March 11, 1994.</ref> The opening acts were [[Tad (band)|Tad]] and [[Eleven (band)|Eleven]].<ref name="nohype"/> In late 1994, after touring in support of ''Superunknown'', doctors discovered that Cornell had severely strained his [[Vocal folds|vocal cords]]. Soundgarden cancelled several more shows to avoid causing any permanent damage. Cornell said, "I think we kinda overdid it! We were playing five or six nights a week and my voice pretty much took a beating. Towards the end of the American tour I felt like I could still kinda sing, but I wasn't really giving the band a fair shake. You don't buy a ticket to see some guy croak for two hours! That seemed like kind of a rip off."<ref name="blackholesons"/> The band made up the dates later in 1995.<ref>Atkinson, Peter. "Soundgarden: From Superunknown to Superstars". ''Jam''. May 24, 1996.</ref>

==Track listing==
{{Track listing
| headline = ''Superunknown''
| all_lyrics     = [[Chris Cornell]], except "Head Down" and "Half" by [[Ben Shepherd]] and "Fresh Tendrils" by Cornell and [[Matt Cameron]]
| title1          = Let Me Drown
| length1         = 3:51
| music1          = Cornell
| title2          = [[My Wave]]
| music2          = {{hlist|Cornell|[[Kim Thayil]]}}
| length2         = 5:12
| title3          = [[Fell on Black Days]]
| length3         = 4:42
| music3          = Cornell
| title4          = Mailman
| music4          = Cameron
| length4         = 4:25
| title5          = Superunknown
| music5          = {{hlist|Thayil|Cornell}}
| length5         = 5:06
| title6          = Head Down
| music6          = Shepherd
| length6         = 6:08
| title7          = [[Black Hole Sun]]
| length7         = 5:18
| music7          = Cornell
| title8          = [[Spoonman]]
| length8         = 4:06
| music8          = Cornell
| title9          = Limo Wreck
| music9          = {{hlist|Cameron|Thayil}}
| length9         = 5:47
| title10         = [[The Day I Tried to Live]]
| length10        = 5:19
| music10         = Cornell
| title11         = Kickstand
| music11         = Thayil
| length11        = 1:34
| title12         = Fresh Tendrils
| music12         = Cameron
| length12        = 4:16
| title13         = 4th of July
| length13        = 5:08
| music13         = Cornell
| title14         = Half
| music14         = Shepherd
| length14        = 2:14
| title15         = Like Suicide
| length15        = 7:01
| music15         = Cornell
| total_length    = 70:13
}}

{{Track listing
| headline = Bonus track {{nobold|(LP and international CD)}}
| title16 = She Likes Surprises
| length16 = 3:20
| music16 = Cornell
| total_length = 73:33
}}

==Outtakes==
Although the album's singles featured quite a few [[A-side and B-side|B-side]]s, only "Exit Stonehenge" (from the "Spoonman" single) was sourced from the ''Superunknown'' recording sessions in 1993. "Cold Bitch" (also from "Spoonman") was recorded during the ''[[Badmotorfinger]]'' recording sessions in 1991, "Kyle Petty, Son of Richard" and "Motorcycle Loop" (both from the "Fell on Black Days" single) were recorded by Stuart Hallerman at [[Avast! Recording Company|Avast Studios]] in [[Seattle]] in 1994. "Kyle Petty, Son of Richard" was later featured on the 1996 ''[[Home Alive]]'' compilation. "Tighter & Tighter", "No Attention", and "An Unkind", all of which later appeared on the band's 1996 album, ''[[Down on the Upside]]'', were attempted during the ''Superunknown'' recording sessions.<ref>"Hard Stuff, Soundgarden in the Studio". ''Livewire''. 1993.</ref><ref>Zogbi, Marina. "Upshot on 'The Upside' from Kim Thayil". ''Metal Edge''. August 1996.</ref> Cameron said that the band wasn't pleased with the recording of "No Attention" that came out of the sessions.<ref>Rule, Greg. "Matt Cameron of Soundgarden: Balance of Power & Grace". ''Drum!''. September 1996.</ref> An instrumental entitled "Ruff Riff-Raff" and a light-hearted song called "Bing Bing Goes to Church" were recorded at album rehearsals but were presumably not recorded during the ''Superunknown'' recording sessions. Both were released in 2014 on the 20th anniversary Super Deluxe edition.

==Personnel==
=== Soundgarden ===
* [[Chris Cornell]] – vocals, rhythm guitar
* [[Kim Thayil]] – lead guitar
* [[Ben Shepherd]] – bass, backing vocals; additional drums and percussion ("Head Down"); additional vocals ("Spoonman"); lead vocals and guitar ("Half")
* [[Matt Cameron]] – drums, percussion; [[Mellotron]] ("Mailman")

=== Additional musicians ===
* April Acevez – [[viola]] ("Half")
* [[Artis the Spoonman]] – spoons ("Spoonman")
* [[Michael Beinhorn]] – [[piano]] ("Let Me Drown")
* [[Fred Chalenor]] – harmonic guidance ("Limo Wreck")
* Justine Foy – [[cello]] ("Half")
* [[Gregg Keplinger]] – additional drums and percussion ("Head Down")
* [[Natasha Shneider]] – [[clavinet]] ("Fresh Tendrils")

=== Production ===
* [[Dave Collins (audio engineer)|David Collins]] – [[Audio mastering|mastering]]
* Jason Corsaro – [[Audio engineering|engineering]]
* [[Adam Kasper]] – assistant engineering
* Kelk – front cover design
* [[Gregg Keplinger]] – studio assistance
* Tony Messina – studio assistance
* [[Brendan O'Brien (music producer)|Brendan O'Brien]] – [[record producer|production]], [[Audio mixing (recorded music)|mixing]] ("4th of July")
* Reyzart – [[Page layout|layout]]
* Soundgarden – production
* Kevin Westenberg – [[photography|band photography]]
* [[Susan Silver]] – [[Talent manager|management]]

==Charts==
===Weekly charts===
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
|+Initial chart performance for ''Superunknown''
! Chart (1994)
! Peak<br />position
|-
{{Album chart|Australia|1|artist=Soundgarden|album=Superunknown|access-date=August 14, 2016|rowheader=true}}
|-
!scope="row"|Australia Alternative Albums ([[ARIA]])<ref>{{cite magazine |date=March 6, 1994 |url=https://postimg.cc/8J4PCbT8 |title=Alternative Charts Top 20 |magazine=[[ARIA Report]] |issue=212 |page=11 |access-date=May 6, 2024}}</ref>
|align="center"|1
|-
{{Album chart|Austria|19|artist=Soundgarden|album=Superunknown|access-date=August 14, 2016|rowheader=true}}
|-
!scope="row"| Canadian Albums (''[[The Record (magazine)|The Record]]'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OQgEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA44 |title=HITS OF THE WORLD |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |date=April 2, 1994 |access-date=December 30, 2018}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
|-
{{album chart|Denmark|7|M|url=http://hitlisten.nu/default.asp?w=18&y=1994&list=a18|title=Hitlisten.NU – Album Top-40 Uge 18, 1994|publisher=[[Hitlisten]]|artist=Soundgarden|album=Superunknown|rowheader=true|access-date=October 29, 2022}}
|-
! scope="row"| Finnish Albums ([[The Official Finnish Charts|Suomen virallinen lista]])<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ifpi.fi/lista/albumit/1994/18/|title=Albumit 18/1994|publisher=[[Musiikkituottajat]]|language=fi|access-date=October 29, 2022}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"| 7
|-
{{Album chart|Netherlands|11|artist=Soundgarden|album=Superunknown|access-date=August 14, 2016|rowheader=true}}
|-
!scope="row"|European Albums ([[European Top 100 Albums]])<ref name = "EuropeAlbum"/>
| style="text-align:center;"|8
|-
{{Album chart|France|26|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|13|id=1789|artist=Soundgarden|album=Superunknown|access-date=November 22, 2021|rowheader=true}}
|-
!scope="row"| Hungarian Albums ([[Mahasz]])<ref>[http://www.mahasz.hu/m/?menu=slagerlistak&menu2=archivum Soundgarden in Hungarian Charts] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090418181757/http://www.mahasz.hu/m/?menu=slagerlistak&menu2=archivum |date=April 18, 2009 }}. Hungarian chart Retrieved on June 4, 2008.</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"| 30
|-
{{Album chart|New Zealand|1|artist=Soundgarden|album=Superunknown|access-date=August 14, 2016|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{Album chart|Norway|5|artist=Soundgarden|album=Superunknown|access-date=August 14, 2016|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{Album chart|Scotland|4|date=19940313|access-date=November 22, 2021|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{Album chart|Sweden|3|artist=Soundgarden|album=Superunknown|access-date=August 14, 2016|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{Album chart|Switzerland|9|artist=Soundgarden|album=Superunknown|access-date=August 14, 2016|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{Album chart|UK2|4|date=19940313|access-date=November 22, 2021|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{Album chart|Billboard200|1|artist=Soundgarden|access-date=August 14, 2016|rowheader=true}}
|-
!scope="row"|US [[Cashbox (magazine)|''Cashbox'' Album Charts]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=CASH BOX MAGAZINE: Music and coin machine magazine 1942 to 1996|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box-Magazine.htm|access-date=2020-11-06|website=worldradiohistory.com|archive-date=2020-11-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115212158/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box-Magazine.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>
|align="center"|1
|-
|}
{{col-2}}

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
|+Weekly chart performance for 20th anniversary reissue
! Chart (2014–2015)
! Peak<br />position
|-
{{Album chart|Wallonia|138|artist=Soundgarden|album=Superunknown|access-date=August 14, 2016|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{Album chart|Italy|87|artist=Soundgarden|album=Superunknown|access-date=August 14, 2016|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{Album chart|Spain|85|artist=Soundgarden|album=Superunknown|access-date=August 14, 2016|rowheader=true}}
|-
!scope="row"|US Tastemaker Albums (''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/soundgarden/chart-history/tas/ |title=Soundgarden – Chart history – ''Billboard'' Tastemakers |magazine=Billboard |access-date=November 4, 2017}}</ref>
|align="center"| 12
|-
!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"| 9
|}

{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
|+Weekly chart performance for ''Superunknown'' upon Chris Cornell's death
! Chart (2017)
! Peak<br />position
|-
!scope="row"|Canadian Albums (''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/soundgarden/chart-history/cna/ |title=Soundgarden – Chart history – ''Billboard'' Canadian Albums |magazine=Billboard |access-date=November 4, 2017}}</ref>
|align="center"| 22
|-
{{Album chart|Ireland2|38|artist=Soundgarden|album=Superunknown|access-date=January 2, 2021|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{album chart|Portugal|43|artist=Soundgarden|album=Superunknown|access-date=January 2, 2021|rowheader=true}}
|-
!scope="row"|US Digital Albums (''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/soundgarden/chart-history/digital-albums |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180507093941/https://www.billboard.com/music/soundgarden/chart-history/digital-albums |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 7, 2018 |title=Soundgarden – Chart history – ''Billboard'' Digital Albums |magazine=Billboard |access-date=November 4, 2017}}</ref>
|align="center"| 9
|-
!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"| 2
|-
!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'' Top Catalog Albums |magazine=Billboard |access-date=November 4, 2017}}</ref>
|align="center"| 1
|-
!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"| 5
|}
{{Col-end}}

===Year-end charts===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
|+1994 year-end chart performance for ''Superunknown''
! Chart (1994)
! Position
|-
!scope="row"| Australian Albums (ARIA)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aria.com.au/charts/1994/albums-chart|title=ARIA Top 100 Albums for 1994|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association|access-date=December 6, 2020}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"| 20
|-
{{album chart|Canada|5|chartid=2686|rowheader=true|access-date=May 19, 2022|refname="CANYE94"}}
|-
!scope="row"| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=1994&cat=a|title=Jaaroverzichten – Album 1994|website=dutchcharts.nl|access-date=December 6, 2020}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"| 62
|-
!scope="row"|European Albums (European Top 100 Albums)<ref name = "EuropeAlbum">{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1994/MM-1994-12-24.pdf#page=24|title=1994 in Review: Sale Charts|magazine=[[Music & Media]] 1994 In Review|date=December 24, 1994|page=12|access-date=May 19, 2022|via=World Radio History}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|28
|-
!scope="row"| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/album-jahr/for-date-1994|title=Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts|language=de|work=[[GfK Entertainment]]|publisher=offiziellecharts.de|access-date=December 6, 2020}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"| 24
|-
! scope="row"| Icelandic Albums (Tónlist)<ref>{{cite news|url=https://timarit.is/page/2723220#page/n1/mode/2up|title=Tónlist – Árslisti 1994 - LP/CD|newspaper=[[DV (newspaper)|DV]]|language=is|date=January 5, 1995|access-date=May 19, 2022}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|9
|-
!scope="row"|New Zealand Albums (Recorded Music NZ)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/annual-albums/1994-12-31|title=Top Selling Albums of 1994|publisher=RIANZ|access-date=May 19, 2022|archive-date=August 31, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170831182712/http://nztop40.co.nz/chart/albums?chart=3883|url-status=live}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"| 25
|-
!scope="row"| Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sverigetopplistan.se/chart/42?dspy=1994&dspp=1|title=Årslista Album (inkl samlingar), 1994|language=sv|publisher=[[Sverigetopplistan]]|access-date=May 19, 2022}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"| 32
|-
!scope="row"|UK Albums (OCC)<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1995/Music-Week-1995-01-14.pdf#page=11|title=Top 100 Albums 1994|magazine=[[Music Week]]|page=11|date=January 14, 1995|access-date=May 19, 2022|via=World Radio History}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|71
|-
!scope="row"| US ''Billboard'' 200<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1994/top-billboard-200-albums|title=Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1994|magazine=Billboard|access-date=December 6, 2020}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"| 19
|}
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+1995 year-end chart performance for ''Superunknown''
! Chart (1995)
! Position
|-
!scope="row"| US ''Billboard'' 200<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1995/top-billboard-200-albums|title=Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1995|magazine=Billboard|access-date=December 6, 2020}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"| 88
|}

==Certifications==
{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications and sales for ''Superunknown''}}
{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|region=Australia|award=Platinum|number=3|relyear=1994|certyear=2017}}
{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|region=Canada|artist=Soundgarden|title=Superunknown|award=Platinum|number=3|relyear=1994}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Italy|artist=Soundgarden|title=Superunknown|type=album|award=Gold|relyear=1994|certyear=2019|access-date=December 9, 2019}}
{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|region=Netherlands|artist=Soundgarden|title=Superunknown|award=Gold|certyear=1995|relyear=1994|access-date=August 24, 2018}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|type=album|artist=Soundgarden|title=Superunknown|award=Platinum|relyear=1994|certyear=2022|accessdate=March 8, 2025|source=radioscope|refname=RMNZ}}
{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|region=Sweden|artist=Soundgarden|title=Superunknown|award=Platinum|number=2|certyear=1994|relyear=1994}}
{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|region=United Kingdom|artist=Soundgarden|title=Superunknown|award=Platinum|id=6396-1343-2}}
{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|region=United States|artist=Soundgarden|title=Superunknown|award=Platinum|number=6|relyear=1994|certyear=2022|access-date=April 23, 2022}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true|nosales=true}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Soundgarden}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1994 albums]]
[[Category:A&M Records albums]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Michael Beinhorn]]
[[Category:Soundgarden albums]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Chris Cornell]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Matt Cameron]]