Guitarist Kim Thayil said the song list emerged out of list of what each member "thought would make a 'best of' and then we cross-referenced them", adding that while the typical compilation titles 'Best Of' and 'Greatest Hits' was thought by them to a subjective name - "that's something that an individual fan can make of his own collection,and these aren't necessarily our personal favourites" - they went with A-Sides to reflect that these were the A-side singles released on the band's original run.

[9] It contains one song absent from previous albums ("Bleed Together") which appeared on import copies of the "Burden in My Hand" single.

He said, "For an act that was one of the definitive album artists of the late '80s and '90s, Soundgarden was a surprisingly effective singles band.

Their singles effectively conveyed all of their best ideas, from their sludgy early Sub Pop recordings to the elaborate, post-metal psychedelia of their last two albums, Superunknown and Down on the Upside.

He said, "Pruning their best early songwriting ("Hands All Over", "Nothing to Say") and wisely highlighting chunks of their last two (and best) albums, A-Sides presents the band in all its evolving, bridling-horses glory and thunder.