Album Version

DEEP CUTS: SOUNDGARDEN- ROOM A THOUSAND YEARS WIDE

Badmotorfinger by Soundgarden is beyond a classic album. Dare to even say better than Superunknown in various ways, especially the recording. But that’s for another day. There is a song on the album that sits at track eight that, for the last few years has been the magnet when the album is picked to play. “Room A Thousand Years Wide” was actually released in 1990 with a previously unreleased B-side titled “H.I.V. Baby,” part of a Sub Pop Records single. When it came to the recording of Badmotorfinger, the band re-recorded it for the album. It’s also one of the few songs in the Soundgarden catalog to have no writing credit to Chris Cornell. The music was written by drummer Matt Cameron and lyrics by guitarist Kim Thayil. Another fun tidbit is this was the first song recorded and released with bassist Ben Shepherd. Chris Cornell took the words and wholeheartedly breathed exquisite life and emotion into them. Then you add in his signature screams and it’s spine tingling. The end of the song had a really great The Stooges album Fun House moment too.

Throughout the bands career, the song was played 134 times live with the majority in 1992 and 1994 respectively. On the bands Motorvision home video, there is a live version that is quite excellent from The Paramount Theatre in Seattle, Washington. A DVD version is on the super deluxe 25th anniversary edition of Badmotorfinger.

On a personal level, this is definitely one of those songs I wish I could’ve heard live. “Room A Thousand Years Wide” is one of those great moments where each member steps into a new role and the end result is something special!

Room A Thousand Years Wide (Album Version):

Room A Thousand Years Wide (Live Version 1992/Motorvision Home Video):

BEST GUITAR SOLOS: JANE’S ADDICTION- THREE DAYS

Jane’s Addiction was one of the most influential and volatile bands of all time. Their undeniable influence is still heard in bands today. The enigmatic foursome created music that was groundbreaking and genre defining. In a way alternative music wouldn’t be what it is without Jane’s Addiction.

The bands second album, Ritual De Lo Habitual is highly regarded as a masterpiece and a classic for many great reasons. While the album spawned two massive radio hits in “Stop” and “Been Caught Stealing,” it’s the albums deeper tracks that really solidified this as a groundbreaking album. In particular the song “Three Days.” The subject matter of the song deals greatly with addiction and the mortality of it, the music is what truly makes this song so special. Rather than rely on making a hard rock song, the band created an epic that is almost eleven minutes long. Surprisingly, “Three Days” was released as the second single from the album. The guitar work on this song by Dave Navarro reaches near stratospheric heights. The layers and textures Dave creates and plays with stretches the bounds of unpredictability and artistry. The guitar solo on “Three Days” is one of those that is as intriguing as it is intense. The mood and vibe it gives off matches perfectly with the lyrics and vocals. Then you add in the rhythm portion and it all clicks on levels untouched since. Dave Navarro is a pioneer of alternative rock guitar and rightfully so!

Jane’s Addiction- Three Days (Album Version):

Jane’s Addiction- Three Days (Live Version):

DEEP CUTS: NINE INCH NAILS- IN TWO

Nine Inch Nails are one of those bands that truly have masterful deep cuts. You can go through each album and find premium choice cuts all throughout. Hesitation Marks is a great example of a Nine Inch Nails album with amazing deep cuts. I’ve recently been diving deeper into this record and it’s been quite the trip. The latter half of the album contains my favorite song off the record in “Various Methods Of Escape” but, that’s not the song that has been compelled to write this. The song that peaked my thought process on this was “In Two.” What a song! The way the quiet synth layers open the song, then sway into the drum loops and pulsating bass mixed with the delicate piano is slightly hypnotic. Then you add in the vocals which compliment all the dynamic parts so perfectly. The lyrics match the music in the best way possible. It’s also noteworthy to mention that Adrien Belew of King Crimson and Lindsey Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac play guitar on this song. One other stupendous aspect of “In Two” is how the ending flows so well into “While I’m Still Here.” Seriously, you can’t go wrong with Hesitation Marks!

Nine Inch Nails- In Two (Album Version):

Nine Inch Nails- In Two (Live Version):

ALTERNATE VERSIONS: STONE TEMPLE PILOTS- ATLANTA

Today would’ve been Scott Weiland’s 58th birthday. Scott was one of those talents that truly had a gift of song. The way he wrote lyrics, conjuring sweet melodies, and his performances, there was no denying Scott was one of the best. With it being Scott’s birthday, why not highlight one of my all time favorite Stone Temple Pilots songs, “Atlanta.” This song is absolutely divine. There’s moments throughout the song that makes it feel like The Doors are a part of the song. And I do LOVE The Doors. I still remember the first time I heard this song when I bought the CD and got it home. I wound up putting “Atlanta” on repeat for at least a good hour. It’s also one of the best ending the night songs as you pull into the garage or parking spot. STP has always had a knack for writing great songs with a vibe. “Atlanta” is a great example of that! Happy Birthday Scott!

Atlanta (Through The Eyes/Ears Of Robert, Dean and Eric):

Atlanta (Live On Craig Kilborn):

Atlanta (Acoustic Version):

Atlanta (Album Version):

Alternate Versions: Helmet- I Know (Demo-Live)

2025 is the year Helmet’s album Betty turns 30. It gets crazier and crazier to me seeing all these album that as a young kid I listened to all the time. Betty is one of the best and underrated albums of the 1990’s. There has always been one song in particular on Betty that I’ve loved since first hearing it and that song is “I Know.” This song is so damn good. It’s got this great rhythm that drives it all and it hits like a sledgehammer through concrete walls. Then you add in the textured guitar part that gives you that moment of “oh shit.” And when you put it all together with the riff and vocals it just takes you to another world! The version you hear on the album is a bit different than the early versions of the song. Take a listen to both and see which one you like better! Enjoy!

Helmet- “I Know” (Demo Version- Live In Italy / 1993):


Helmet- “I Know” (Album Version):