Various Artists

Singles

While the 1992 Cameron Crowe rom-com Singles is notable for its cameos of Pearl Jam, Alice In Chains and Soundgarden members, the real event is its soundtrack featuring those bands and more. This reissue remasters the original and unveils a whole second disc of outtakes and alternate versions. It’s a snapshot of a golden era for alternative rock; Pearl Jam’s

State Of Love And Trust and Breath are anthemic slices of their Ten- era sound that are right up to its high standard and The Smashing Pumpkins’ sprawling Drown is a sublime trip into the world of Corgan. But it’s the late Chris Cornell who emerges as the star of this release. The breadth covered in the alt-tuned acoustic Seasons (one of his greatest compositions) and his skyscrapingly high register in Soundgarden’s

Birth Ritual is impressive in itself, but disc 2 yields further gems. His original acoustic demos for Spoonman and Flutter Girl would reappear years later in full-blown form, and the lyrics from the newly-unearthed

Ferry Boat # 3 demo would show up in Audioslave’s The Curse, but this poignant addition for fans proves yet another testament to a gifted musician. Rob Laing