Outshined

Soundgarden, 1991, from Badmotorfinger. Solo by Kim Thayil.

Thayil's lead slides through the drop-D sludge with odd intervals that sound more Eastern than bluesy.

Outshined is built on a lumbering drop-D riff, and Kim Thayil's lead slides through the sludge with odd, Eastern-sounding intervals. Playing his Guild S-100, he sidesteps standard blues phrasing, choosing unusual notes and slippery slides that give the break a strange, exotic flavour. His tone is thick and heavy, matching the song's dark mood, but the lines themselves are surprisingly angular. It is a good snapshot of Thayil's experimental approach, which set Soundgarden apart from the more blues-rooted players around them. Listen for the way his slides seem to bend the song's harmony out of shape, creating an off-kilter, slightly disorienting feel that suits the lyric's swings between confidence and self-doubt.

Outshined by Soundgarden is featured in our Grunge (#18) list. The solo is played by Kim Thayil and the song was released in 1991.

In our lists

• The 25 Greatest Grunge Guitar Solos — #18
• The Best Chris Cornell Guitar Solos — #4
• The Best Soundgarden Guitar Solos — #4

Sources