Telephantasm is a compilation album by the American rock band Soundgarden. Featuring songs that span 23 years of the band's career, it was released on September 28, 2010, through A&M Records. The album was certified platinum by the RIAA after its first day of retail availability based on the one million discs that were included in packages for the video game '.
The album was released in September 2010 on A&M Records following the band's reunion earlier that year. The career-spanning retrospective album includes an unreleased track, "Black Rain", taken from the Badmotorfinger recording sessions. In late August 2010, "Black Rain" reached No. 44 on the Canadian Hot 100 and No. 96 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. "Black Rain" peaked at No. 14 on the Billboard Rock Songs chart.
Kim Thayil explained the title Telephantasm as "an illusion at a distance, or a ghost from afar. Which I think would be an appropriate reference to what we have here â a retrospective of a band that had been inactive for thirteen years." He added that the album emerged from a project to do a "B-Sides" compilation following the 1997 greatest hits album A-Sides, but the band decided to include some more known songs because "we need to re-establish ourselves with the rock and roll audience out there, the younger audience".
The 1-CD version of the album is featured in the music video game ', with "Black Rain" available on the disc, and the remaining eleven tracks available as downloadable content alongside release of the game.
The 2-CD/DVD limited edition package includes a booklet containing a biography of Soundgarden written by Jeff Gilbert, a message from Kim Thayil and content credits.
The album features artwork by Josh Graham, who handles the visual arts for Neurosis, as well as artwork for other artists.
All songs written and composed by Chris Cornell, except where noted.
Soundgarden