Temple Of The Dog Proves Remixes Are Generally Stupid

When Temple of the Dog released their self-titled album 25 years ago, it contained a brilliant and career-making track in "Hunger Strike." Raw talent and great song writing came together and members - comprised of guys from other grunge bands - all became insanely famous. Their collective careers were set.

Temple of the Dog is marking its 25th anniversary with a special tour and rarities package. To help goose sales, the band remixed the brilliant "Hunger Strike."  The song was basically perfect as is and now the remixed version feels cold, hollow and even stilted. You have to listen close to notice, but the richness of the bass and guitar is gone, and  Chris Cornell's vocals are front and center, but they overpower the track. I will say that I think Eddie Vedder's vocals sound better on this remixed version. "Fuller" might be the word I'd use to describe his parts.

By and large, most remixes are stupid - this one is no different.

Comments

[Him]

I think the word I would use is "brittle."

That said, and given that I have already expressed my feelings about TotD and MLB, I actually prefer Cornell's voice to Vedder's (and Soundgarden to Pearl Jam, natch). So that issue, to me at least, is a positive if one is going to be pointless.

[JAT]

I just listened to the remix yesterday and I have to say I totally agree with you Allison. When tht song originally came out, I really liked it, especially Cornells vocals. Did not realize it would lead to ending Glam at the time of course. The remix removed the things I liked most about the original.

[Bob]

Amen Allyson! Not a fan of remixes in general. Three awful examples: the Remixed version of Twisted Sister's first album, "Under The Blade" that JJ Frrench did around 1985, the remixed and slightly re-recorded American release of Whitesnake's "Slide It In" album, and, the very worst remix of all time...The ZZ Top "six pack" release of their first several albums after "Eliminator" hit it big.

[Mike]

"Temple Of The Dog proves you cannot polish a turd"

[Metalboy!]

Hahaha!!!, Mike!

Temple of the Dog proves how stupid that whole genre was!

[Him]

That's unfair, Metalboy! And you know that as a fan of music. There were a good many bands of that era--Screaming Trees, Alice and Chains, Soundgarden, Nirvana--that made solid music. A whole genre is not (and even the genre label is open to discussion, in metal and in other places) determined by one band or two.

I may or may not like all of those bands. But the slagging on grunge is played out save in the specifics and as regards, as always, personal taste (read: opinions). I think, as a test case, that Bonamassa is a sterile cyborg. He is a species of the genus blues. By that standard, do I then dislike Buddy Guy and all the rest of that "stupid" genre? Of course not!

I could get into the whole genus vs. genus thing. But that isn't my point. Metalboy! you are better than that slam even if I like the spirit of the taunt . . . when it comes to TotD!

Now I am going to go listen to "Come with Me" by Diddy and featuring Page. Really? Of course not. That is genus-on-genus crime.

[Metalboy!]

I'll give you Alice In Chains and Nirvana, HIM...

But the whole genre was generally given a bad name by the likes of Eddie Vedder. Even Soundgarden, who I saw POINT BLANK open for Gn'R at Madison Square Garden back in the day, kinda suck l, though I know a lot of Metaloids commenting here would disagree.

For what it's worth, Cobain hated Grunge and the term. Beyond The Melvins and MUDHONEY, he pretty much despised the whole Seatttle Scene, especially Pearl Jam.

But, I concede, you're right in the grand scheme of things, HIM. Otherwise, we could claim, as many unfairly do, that Metal is stupid, too, thanks to the likes of Manowar or Silent Rage, though call me stupid, I actually like a few of songs by both bands, haha!!

[Him]

Great reply, Metalboy! I am on board with most of what you said (esp. re: Vedder), though I really do like Soundgarden.

I think grunge was a perfect way--for the corporate bean-counters and money-makers--to group a lot of disparate strands of music emanating from the Northwest at the time, and to then affix to the copycats that came after the initial labeling onslaught.

And, lest we forget, Alice and Chains, like Pantera, started off emulating the Glam look before they took a very different musical and stylistic turn! Check out the Plant-Snake in Cantrell's jeans:

http://www.metalsucks.net/2015/02/25/friendly-reminder-alice-chains-began-hair-metal-band/