Probably not a mandolin. To tinny. Most likely some capo contraption. It almost has a hammered dulcimer sound to it.

Chris was compared early on to Robert Plant. Of course they all were, including Bono. But he really does have a Plant aspect to his voice. The way he sings, "The seasons roll on by," or whatever, sounds exactly like how Bobby sang, "Sometimes I grow so tired," in "Ramble On".

And I definitely hear Page and, to a greater extent, Townshend in Thayil. 1992 is when it came out. The opening chord progression, if you can call it that, is featured in the wonderful fun for the whole family Cameron Crowe directorial debut, Singles, an actually not terrible look into Seattle in the early 90s.

(Keifus is so very gay!)