Tag: audioslave

This is album number two for the alt/grunge supergroup and a band and sound that fitted the amazing vocal talents of Chris Cornell perfectly. The band by this time had honed their sound into a 70’s classic rock/grunge hybrid that was so unique. I think Tom Morello is a killer player, but sometimes he should dump the squeaks and squeals and put something with feeling into the song instead.

Be Yourself is a superb track and shows again, when you keep it simple it can be the most effective, and I love the vocal so much. The band have this great ability to flick the switch and the groove just flies, and I’m sure this is from the Lock Up days. Check out Drown Me Slowly, which veers from a most beautiful delicate tune into this heavy monster groove. This album is a lot more laid back than the debut, but when they do rock it up, like on Man Or Animal, it works more for me. However. my favourite track is Yesterday To Tomorrow. Yes, a more laid back groove but the vocal and melody are superb and Morello is playing for the song which sounds killer.

I do prefer the debut, but this is still a good album.

8/10 from The Grooveman.

Now there is no denying the fact that Chris Cornell had one of rock’s most amazing and powerful voices. I wasn’t the world’s biggest Soundgarden fan as I found them too depressing, and musically they were not that good. Sure they had a few good songs, but that was it for me. In fact, I felt the same about most of the whole grunge movement. Now, Rage Against The Machine were a different beast all together. Anger and protest in rock has always produced good music, and they were no exception. When I heard of Cornell joining the musical part of Rage, I was very intrigued indeed, as the potential was there for something amazing. Well, in 2002 it felt very fresh and familiar at the same time, mainly due to that underlying blues DNA in the music, and the brilliance of Cornell’s voice.

Stand out tracks (and there are a few) are: Cochise, it’s a killer opener with plenty of power and groove – a great way to tell the world this is who we are. Gasoline with its monster heavy riff and groove, Like A Stone, which shows the beauty and range to Cornell’s voice as well as the invention of Morello’s approach to guitar. Exploder with its off funky groove and monster riff, and epic vocal from Cornell – this is close to my favourite on the album, as is Hypnotize with its hip hop drum groove. Then we have The Last Remaining Light, which starts off quite normally, but grows into the most amazing vocal performance I have ever heard on any record. When you know how he died, this song takes on a whole new meaning. It sends shivers down my spine and brings tears to your eyes. It is the most incredibly powerful song you will ever hear. For this song alone, this album is in the everyone should own it category.

10/10 from The Grooveman.