Audioslave - Audioslave > Reviews > Stand, listen, read and judge

Author's product rating:   

Originality
Lyrics
Quality and consistency of tracks
How does it compare to the artist's other releases
Value for Money

Advantages:	Cool as beans rock, funk superbness
Disadvantages:	one track

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

I'm a little tired of some things, maybe a little to strung out but theres on solace i seek, okay maybe two, writing and music. The writing is as rewarding as it is frustrating, the music?.....

Well to plagiarise from Nick Hornby....

Am i angry because i listen to angry music or do i listen to the music because i am angry?

I havent always listened to this kind of music, i did in my mid teenage years but went off it for a while until recently. I'm not one to just be distracted by music, i like to appreciate it, yes be entertained, but appreciate it nontheless.

A recent record, not necessarily an anger inducing record but a blood pumping record is the eponymously titled debut from Audioslave.

Three quarters ex rage against the machine and fronted by Soundgardens ex frontman Chris Cornell, Audioslave released this album last year and it has since gained critical acclaim from most rock circles. If you could imagine Rage Against The Machines inimitable fifage and ferocity blended with Cornells spectacular vocal stylings and at times gentle pacing then your probably pretty close. Mixing tunes that will make you shake your ass like a crazy person and nod your head,like scooby doo.

Racking up jst over an hour and spreading itself over fourteen tracks, it starts with a bang and ends in a shower of noise and is guaranteed to emote something from all but the most hardfaced casual listener, heres a run down of the tracks.

COCHISE - A recent single from the album and a perfect opener. Starting with a growl. Forty eight seconds in the fun begins with what can only be described as one mad chicken of a riff and Cornells growl that breaks the song out brilliantly. A stand up and bring it on style of song that sets up the rest brilliantly. Featuring (as is standard for this album0 great lyrics that work well with the style o music.

I've been watching
While you've been coughing
I've been drinking life
While you've been nauseous

Go on save yourself
And take it out on me

SHOW ME HOW TO LIVE - Another stunner of a riff opens up this track before descending into a muted chugging verse that Cornell croons along to before letting loose on the superb chorus. About life in this world today and the meaning of being, the lyrics are cleverly crafte dthroughout the song and the finale is an intersting twist on cornells vocal styling with a movement away from long winded solos being replaced by the different sounds a guitar can make in the refrain.

Built with stolen parts
a telephone in my heart
someone get me a priest
to put my mind to bed
this ringing in my head
is this a cure or is this a disease

nail in my hand
from my creator
you gave me a life
now show me how to live

GASOLINE - More clever guitar work from Tom Morello starts of this pretty straight forward track, possibly about pyromania but with more twists on the theme. the chorus isn't the greatest on the album but the backing riff gives it a nice twist, probably not the strongest track on the album but as usual Cornells vocals during the verse and his contratsing style for the chorus set this apart from other fare.

Drag me off
before i set my world on fire
out and gone
the sun will never set tonight

WHAT YOU ARE - One of the more emotive songs on the album and a pretty straightforward structure that Cornell lifts high with his vocals and his delivery, especially the line just before the chorus. Chronicling the freedom felt from the end of a relationship that was destructive and the feelings felt that it's over at last. A simple yet repeatable song that stands out brilliantly.

And when you wante blood
i cut my veins
and when you wanted love
i bled myself again
now that i've had my fill of you
i'll give you up forever
and here i go far away
i know you'll find another slave

LIKE A STONE - Another single from the album and a heart wrenching semi ballad about loneliness that moves brilliantly throughfive minutes of perfect rock music. The simple picking of the verse leads up to the brilliantly sung chorus thats guaranteed to raise those hairs on the back of the neck.

By a freeway i confess
i was lost in the pages
of a book full of death
readin how we'll die alone

SET IT OFF - A funky little bastard of a song that's clever verses outshine the simple chorus even though the latters riff has a fantastic little hook. the song of a martyr and his followers sits nicely near the mid point of the album and is a great little change of style.

he was standing at the rock
and gathering the flock
and getting there with no direction

He said set it off
set it off now children

SHADOW ON THE SUN - Starting off in slow brooding style and ending with a metal riff fest, shadow on the sun is the grower of the album, at first i wasn't too keen but now view it as a definite highlight. A sort of introspective song that dips into different styles along it's six minute journey, a brilliant live track too.

Once upon a time
i was of the mind
to lay your burden down

i can tell you why
people die alone
i can tell you i'm
a shadow on the sun

I AM THE HIGHWAY - A fantastic song that's probably the most laid back on the album. Again the quiet mellow verse with it's wonderfully soft vocals gives way to a more eventful chorus that by the end of the track has Cornell really showing us how good his voice is.a real showpiece for the bands strengths. this tale of a travelling man is brilliant.

Pearls and swine bereft of me
long and weary my road has been
i was lost in the city
alone in the hills
no sorrow or pity fot leaving i feel

i am not your rolling wheels
i am the highway

EXPLODER - One of those angry tracks that stirs you up inside, a trio of tales of paranoia loss and all out pain, Cornell takes us through eaxhone in spectacular fashion. With the whole band firing on all cylinders this is a monster that grinfs along in unflinching fashion and ends with Cornell again showing us a different side to his awesome vocals.

there was a man who had aface
that looked a lot like me
i saw him in the mirror and
i fought him in the street

if you're free you'll never see the walls

HYPNOTIZE - The only low point of the album and i track i rarely listen to, so not much to say really. the pace is pretty frantic but a uninspiring chorus doesn't help a verse that rarely lifts any feelingrom me as a listener.

BRING EM BACK ALIVE - Another unflinching track that sounds just like the title would suggest. A quasi religious tale that twists and turns lyrically during the verse and explodes in the verse. Stunningly diverse throughout, another real grower.

And they buried me
where no one could see
and no one would be around

i am a virus, i live in silence

LIGHT MY WAY - WOW! stunningly simple yet puncturing chorus really brings out the mosher within. The verse has Cornells dare i say, beautiful voice croon us into a false sense of security before screaming into the chorus big style. Morello's guitar work again is tremendous and the songs pacing really sets up the finale.

A bullet is a man
from time to time he strays
i compare my life to this
to this i relate

GETAWAY CAR - A bluesy feeling song that moves slowly and winds through a laid back five minutes. It gives the album a different feel and although a little uneventful it's a welcome diversion.

We'll settle down i wont hesitate
to hit the highway
before you lay me to waste

THE LAST REMAINING LIGHT - A aprawling end track with an epic feel. Doesn't quite hit the heights of previous tracks but ends the album with Cornells vocals showing of all over the shop. From slow brooding verses (again) to the emotional chorus, doesn't end the album with a bang but more of a sprawl.

And if you dont believe
the sun will rise
stand alone and greet
the coming night
in the last remaining light

And so i expect you to press play again and listen the whole thing once more.

It's a fantastic debut album, not depressing or over the top but enough to raise the required smile, anger level or one fingered salute. A definate aural pleaser for sure.

You can probably pick it up cheap in one mof the many record stores discount sections with it's cover depicting the bands flaming symbol sat on a landscape being observed by a strange man in a red tee-shirt.

Check it out if you're a fan of the two previous bands that make up this behemoth.

now go forth and rock

and the answere to the question at the beginning?

we'll find out together