Music: Audioslave - Out of Exile
Audioslave’s sophomore album is anything but sophomoric. The self-titled debut was exactly what everyone expected it to be: a formulaic blend of Rage Against the Machine and Soundgarden. The debut was full of hard-hitting rockers featuring Chris Cornell’s intense vocals and Tom Morello’s chompy riffs and effects solos. A ballad or two were thrown in for good measure, following a strict formula. It felt like the band didn’t collaborate before hand, as if the sessions were recorded separately. The band was recorded alone, Cornell was recorded alone, and then the tracks were pushed through a mixing board to get: Audioslave!
The follow-up album Out of Exile shows Audioslave has relaxed. Though the sound hasn’t changed drastically, it is clear the band no longer feels like the picked up pieces of grunge rock. Audioslave has developed a sound of their own. Still familiar, but with an intensity and creativity that was lacking from their 2002 debut.
Some of the songs still sound a lot like Rage Against the Machine with a different singer. This is a good thing, and probably the greatest strength of the first album. Zach de la Rocha never impressed me at all, and Cornell brings a new element to the sound, able to portray a range of emotions rather than simple vocal chord-rupturing angst.
Morello’s stylized riffs are abundant on songs like "Your Time Has Come," "Out of Exile," "The Worm" and "Man or Animal." To give credit where credit is due, his effects-laden solos are not digitized effects. Morello prides himself on creating unique sounds strictly from the guitar and a few analog devices. How old school! His sound isn’t unfamiliar territory, but it sounds much better than before.
Lyrically the album has improved. I’d hesitate to call Cornell a prolific songwriter, but he offers more than most of today’s music: “Someone gets excited in a chapel yard and catches a bouquet. Another lays a dozen white roses on a grave.” Imagery and lyrical balance like this isn’t exactly common in modern rock.
One thing I can’t help but wonder is what this band would sound like if Matt Cameron, the original drummer from Soundgarden, were part of the ensemble. I imagine he would bring a strength and complexity to the songs that Brad Wilkes can never offer. Wilkes’ drumming fits, but that’s all it does. Of course, if Cameron were part of Audioslave, he wouldn’t be part of Pearl Jam, and that would be a disaster.
I’m most impressed by some of the uniquely melodic songs on Out of Exile. "Dandelion" is my absolute favorite, and carries an uplifting tone; something you would never expect from the remnants of a band with the word “rage” in their name. The strength of Out of Exile is precisely that—the album features a range of emotion and inspiration. The dark and dismal is still there, but balance is struck with uplifting, melodic sounds as well. Audioslave seems to have learned the importance of contrast.
Final Score: 3.5 cents, 5 cents for great cover art.
The follow-up album Out of Exile shows Audioslave has relaxed. Though the sound hasn’t changed drastically, it is clear the band no longer feels like the picked up pieces of grunge rock. Audioslave has developed a sound of their own. Still familiar, but with an intensity and creativity that was lacking from their 2002 debut.
Some of the songs still sound a lot like Rage Against the Machine with a different singer. This is a good thing, and probably the greatest strength of the first album. Zach de la Rocha never impressed me at all, and Cornell brings a new element to the sound, able to portray a range of emotions rather than simple vocal chord-rupturing angst.
Morello’s stylized riffs are abundant on songs like "Your Time Has Come," "Out of Exile," "The Worm" and "Man or Animal." To give credit where credit is due, his effects-laden solos are not digitized effects. Morello prides himself on creating unique sounds strictly from the guitar and a few analog devices. How old school! His sound isn’t unfamiliar territory, but it sounds much better than before.
Lyrically the album has improved. I’d hesitate to call Cornell a prolific songwriter, but he offers more than most of today’s music: “Someone gets excited in a chapel yard and catches a bouquet. Another lays a dozen white roses on a grave.” Imagery and lyrical balance like this isn’t exactly common in modern rock.
One thing I can’t help but wonder is what this band would sound like if Matt Cameron, the original drummer from Soundgarden, were part of the ensemble. I imagine he would bring a strength and complexity to the songs that Brad Wilkes can never offer. Wilkes’ drumming fits, but that’s all it does. Of course, if Cameron were part of Audioslave, he wouldn’t be part of Pearl Jam, and that would be a disaster.
I’m most impressed by some of the uniquely melodic songs on Out of Exile. "Dandelion" is my absolute favorite, and carries an uplifting tone; something you would never expect from the remnants of a band with the word “rage” in their name. The strength of Out of Exile is precisely that—the album features a range of emotion and inspiration. The dark and dismal is still there, but balance is struck with uplifting, melodic sounds as well. Audioslave seems to have learned the importance of contrast.
Final Score: 3.5 cents, 5 cents for great cover art.
Zimm's two cents. | 11:29 AM
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