Deep Cut

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):

DEEP CUTS: DOWN- IN THE THRALL OF IT ALL

When it comes to complete albums and deep cuts, Down is a band that always comes to mind. Though they only have three full length studio albums, each one is monumental and full of songs that deserve to be well known.

While most recall songs from their classic first album, their third, 2007’s Down III: Over The Under, is one that seems to have gone a bit under the radar. The songs on this album were inspired by the aftermath of the murder of Dimebag Darrell, Hurricane Katrina and more. There are those big, giant, heavy riffs amongst them all to go along with those perfectly delicate notes. The deeper you go into the album the more “epic” it becomes.

One of those songs is the penultimate song, “In The Thrall Of It All.” A song that is bluesy and groovy at the same time sludgy and full of a heavy helping of purity. The vocals here are soaring and chock full of great melodies. It’s one of those songs where the sum of all the parts makes it great. Even the way the songs ends and flows into the masterpiece of “Nothing In Return (Walk Away).” On an interesting note it’s the lone song on the album to be solely written by Philip Anselmo.

And while on the subject of Down III, let’s get more of these great songs in the set list!

Down- In The Thrall Of It All:

DEEP CUTS: KILLSWITCH ENGAGE- WE CARRY ON

During my album deep dive into Killswitch Engage, I was quickly reminded of a song of theirs that is truly one of the best in their entire repertoire. For this one we go back to the band’s 2016 album, Incarnate, and find it at track eleven, “We Carry On.”

“We Carry On” what a song! There’s a deeply impassioned vocal performance by singer/lyricist, Jesse Leach throughout the album but, when you get to this song in the course of listening, there’s just something truly remarkable. The weight of the lyrics bellow out of Jesse’s heart into direct hit of optimism and hope. Guiding this vocal is music that hits the right melancholic notes with just the right amount of heaviness to push through the wall and make it past it all.

Songs like this are magnetic and beautiful. I distinctly recall when I bought this CD back in 2016 (Happy Ten Year Anniversary!! By the way), I put it on my stereo at home, grabbed my headphones, went to my favorite spot, pressed play and read the lyrics as I listened. When I got to “We Carry On” there was an instant connection to the song. One of those gems that deep in the track listing.

As great as this song is, it’s only been played live four times. And all in 2023. You lucky 4 shows! Just going to put this out in the universe to put “We Carry On” in the setlist going forward!! It’s too damn good not to play it!

Killswitch Engage- We Carry On:

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):

Deep Cuts: A Perfect Circle- The Noose

I quite enjoy waking up with a song in my head. How it gets there is a story for another time. This morning I woke up with an instrumental part in my head and it didn’t take long to figure out what song it was. “The Noose” by A Perfect Circle is the song that started things off this morning and what a great track it is. It’s one of those songs that not only captivates you as your listen but, the lyrical content makes you think too. The Thirteenth Step is a concept album that pulls from the different aspects and perspectives of recovery and the 12 steps. “The Noose” definitely pulls from the step of making amends. It’s quite a song both lyrically and musically. This is one of those album/deep cuts that make an album strong and prove that a band is more than just the singles they release. One can hope that if A Perfect Circle regroups, and get back into writing/recording, that they find their way back to where they left off on The Thirteenth Step.

A Perfect Circle- The Noose:

The Noose (Live):

Deep Cuts: Type O Negative- Burnt Flowers Fallen

Since today is Valentine’s Day how about a little Type O Negative to go with the day! Type O Negative are seriously underrated. Their catalog is seriously top notch and like a fine wine/scotch/whiskey their albums/songs only get better with age. I’ve had this internal debate for a long time about what my favorite album of theirs is and each time, I always wind up with October Rust as my go to. You’d probably be surprised by my second favorite being World Coming Down. That album is masterfully dark and beautiful. October Rust though, that album really does it for me when it comes to Type O. To me, this album seemed a bit more focused on songs and songwriting and it truly shows. The deep cut that I find as my go to more often than not is track 9, “Burnt Flowers Fallen.” I love this song. It’s dark, dreary and the right amount of goth bits to it that lets the melody shine. Not to mention the middle section of the song… WOW! Enjoy this Type O Negative deep cut!

Type O Negative- Burnt Flowers Fallen:

Deep Cuts: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club- Suddenly

One of my favorite things to do is go for a nice drive, put my iPod on random and see what comes on and where the musical mood takes me. The other day while on a drive, a song came on early on that I haven’t heard in a long time and it was one of those absolultely perfect songs at the right moment to make it all come together. The song I’m talking about is “Suddenly” by Black Rebel Motorcycle Club from their second album, Take Them On, On Your Own. “Suddenly” is a dark, moody mid tempo track with lyrics and a melody that get into your head and then you almost feel like you are swept away by the combination of everything. It’s one of those songs that once you hear, you’ll come back to. And when you put the full album on and it gets to “Suddenly,” it just fits ever so right! Also a fun side note, Ken Andrews of Failure mixed the album too!


Black Rebel Motorcycle Club- Suddenly:

Deep Cuts: The Smashing Pumpkins- Bleeding the Orchid

The deep cut is something that I feel has become a lost element of music today. Everything is so focused on singles and the “hit” that so much of the time, there are songs that get left out and bypassed. As you’ve noticed the past couple years that my level of postings about The Smashing Pumpkins has gone up over that time and that’s because I’ve really delved deep in their catalog. One of the albums that I’ve truly come to love is 2007’s, Zeitgeist. Not only does this album foreshadow a lot of what our society has become but, it’s also one hell of a great album start to finish. There is a particular song on Zeitgeist that I keep going back to and that is track 3, “Bleeding The Orchid.” This song is quite interesting and profound. The song is indirectly inspired by the death of Alice In Chains singer Layne Staley and it also features a bit of an homage to the band with the harmonies you hear in the song. Also the guitar solo on this track by Billy Corgan further proves my point that he is truly an underrated guitarist. This song is one that I really wish would make it’s way into upcoming set lists as it’s an absolutely great and touching song.


The Smashing Pumpkins- Bleeding The Orchid (Live at The Viper Room, 2010):

Deep Cuts: The Smashing Pumpkins- X.Y.U.
Album Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness (Remastered), The Smashing Pumpkins | Qobuz: download and streaming in high quality

The Smashing Pumpkins have a plethora of deep cuts that could fill one hell of a playlist. The deep cuts alone from Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness could make an album of their own. I love going back to MCIS and delving into particular songs even more than before. This morning I remembered a certain riff to a Pumpkins song and it took me back to when I bought this album and all the feels I got when I reached this song on the record. The song I’m referring to is “X.Y.U.” from the Twilight To Starlight portion of MCIS. I’ve loved this song from the day I heard it. This is one of the heaviest songs on the album. The song was recorded in one take, live for the record with drum and vocal overdubs added later. The title means “Ex, Why You?”, but is also a play on the spelling of Russian obscene word “хуй” (pronounced “hu:i”) that is translated as “penis”. “X.Y.U.” is a song that was developed in a similar jam fashion to “Silverfuck” as it evolved as a song over the years. I’ve had the pleasure of hearing this song live a couple of times over the years and it’s always a highlight and never disappoints. So, take about 7 minutes out of your day and delve into this superb deep cut from The Smashing Pumpkins.


The Smashing Pumpkins- X.Y.U.:

X.Y.U. (Live 1996):

Deep Cuts: Slipknot- Gently
Slipknot - Iowa - Amazon.com Music

Over the past week or so, I’ve gone through a deep dive of all the Slipknot albums. Throughout my listening extravaganza, I came to realize that if I had to pick a favorite Slipknot song it would most definitely be “Gently” from their second album, Iowa. This is one of those songs that packs so much into it yet, it’s a very minimalist song. It’s one of the songs in their catalog that is experimental yet totally makes sense. When put into the context of the sequence of the album on Iowa, “Gently” not only acts as a perfect transition piece of shifting the album into even darker territory. Something else that is quite interesting about this song is that it dates back to the very first Slipknot release, Mate Feed Kill Repeat. This is one song that I wish they would play more live. And now, “Gently.”


Slipknot- Gently:

Slipknot- Gently (Live from Disasterpieces DVD):