This has always been my favorite Soundgarden record. I am a fan of their later work (especially Superunknown and Badmotorfinger), but this record contains a rawness and vitality that their more polished later stuff lacks. Louder Than Love straddles the two major periods in Soundgarden's career: their earlier, less-metal sounding work (e.g. Ultramega OK and Screaming Life/Fop) and their later more-metal sounding work, epitomized by the aforementioned Superunknown and Badmotorfinger. Louder Than Love contains the elements of both of these periods.

This music is raw and angry, and the lyrics are more biting. It's closer to a punk rock record. Very much in the spirit of many other SST bands (SST is the label that Soundgarden was on prior to this Louder Than Love, which is their first record for a major label). You won't find any "Black Hole Sun" type songs on here.

There are so many good songs on this record. "Ugly Truth" has to be my favorite. "Big Dumb Sex" is also a favorite. It's an awesome indictment of all of those terrible 80's sexual inuendo glam-metal songs (such as Warrant's "Cherry Pie").

If you have not been exposed to Soundgarden's earlier work, then this is the place to start. Ultramega OK and Screaming Life/Fop are even more raw and punk than this, which makes Louder Than Love a great transition for the unitiated. The first thing that many late-Soundgarden fans have to get used to is that Cornell's voice is less developed and polished here. Any Soundgarden fan, however, should own this record. As I said, in my book it's their best.

this album is where the soundgarden sound start to develop into what would make great albums like badmotorfinger and superunknown.. Problem is the songwriting was not a par yet. Also, Chris Cornell vocals despite what other reviewers say are not there yet either. Often sounds screechy and annoying on this one. Where as on badmotor and superunknown, Cornell had one of the best voices in this genre of music. That being said this is worth buying used, if you really like there later stuff, this is an interesting addition to your collection to see their evolution. 2.5-3 stars.