Ultramega OK | ||||
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Studio album by Soundgarden | ||||
Released | October 31, 1988 (US) January 1989 (UK) |
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Recorded | Spring 1988 in Seattle, Washington and Newberg, Oregon | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 42:48 | |||
Language | English | |||
Label | SST | |||
Producer | Drew Canulette, Soundgarden | |||
Soundgarden chronology | ||||
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Singles from Ultramega OK | ||||
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Professional ratings | |
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Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | |
Rolling Stone | |
Kerrang! | |
Sputnikmusic |
Ultramega OK is the debut full-length studio album by American rock band Soundgarden, released on October 31, 1988 through SST Records. Following the release of the EPs Screaming Life (1987), and Fopp (1988), both for the Sub Pop record label, Soundgarden signed with the independent record label SST and went to work on its first full-length studio album.
The resulting album contained elements of heavy metal, psychedelic rock and hardcore punk. The band supported the album with a tour of the United States as well as its first overseas tour. In 1990, the album earned a Grammy Award nomination for Best Metal Performance.
The album was recorded in spring 1988 in Seattle, Washington and Newberg, Oregon with producer Drew Canulette. Frontman Chris Cornell said that during the recording sessions the band wasn't on the same page with Canulette. He said, "Material-wise we went through the process that we always do, but the producer wasn't used to the sound we wanted and didn't know what was happening in Seattle."
He later said that "we made a huge mistake with Ultramega OK, because we left our home surroundings and people we'd been involved with and used this producer that really did affect our album in a kind of negative way. The producer was suggested by SST because they could get a good deal. I regret it, because in terms of material, it should have been one of the best records we ever did. It actually slowed down our momentum a little bit because it didn't really sound like us."