Thraeryn

I went to see The Matrix: Reloaded last night, and nearly sat bolt upright in my chair when I heard Zack De La Rocha's voice playing over the end credits. I said to my wife, "Honey, we have to sit here until they start listing the soundtrack songs. I need to find out what this singer's been doing after Rage Against The Machine."

Well, after a couple of minutes, I realized it was just "Calm Like A Bomb" from The Battle Of Los Angeles. I was really disappointed! I'd hoped desperately that RATM was back together, because Audioslave just SUCKS!

What do you good people think? Was it the infusion of Chris Cornell's whiny personality that brought such a great group of musicians down into the dirt of forgettable pop-rock? Could another frontman bring them back to grace?

focalevo

Until the original RATM gets their shit together again, I for one don't want to hear any half-assed hybrid of what was a great band.

and that's all I'll I have to say about that.

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vermin

I liked soundgarden, I liked RATM, I also like Audioslave. Just an opinion.

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BulletBob

Audioslave doesn't suck. You're thinking of them as RATM with a new singer. THEY ARE NOT RAGE WITH A NEW SINGER. They are a completely new band. And there is nothing "Pop" about Audioslave. Like A Stone doesn't sound like anything out there currently, I suppose people were just ready to hear good music instead of whiny 22 year old guys rapping about how they hate their parents.

maximusveritas

I loved RATM and I loved Soundgarden. Audioslave's first album was ok, but still bitterly disappointing because of the expectations.

If you haven't heard Zach's track "March of Death", which he made with DJ Shadow and released online for free, you can download it at this website:
http://marchofdeath.com/

It rocks and really makes me wish RATM were still around.

Thraeryn

I am, in a way. It seems to me as if the style of music has changed dramatically. I didn't expect that, though; I expected the lyrics to change drastically because the singer had moved on. Sure, I expected a bit of a change in musical style; I wasn't prepared for what Audioslave put out.

If they're your thing, though, more power to you. I'm just not feeling it.

Jeff

I wasn't disappointed at all. I didn't have any expectations when I bought it. I think it's an extremely solid effort. Especially for a first CD.

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Antagony

Audioslave is alright. I saw Rage and Audioslave, and while Rage certainly put on a much better show, Audioslave wasn't bad.

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brandon11983

And we all know there is enough of that shit out there already.

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Uuudar

I like Audioslave. Rage was my favorite group before they broke up but I still think Audioslave puts out good music, although much different. I still like Rage better though ;D

Antagony

There, I think that's what he meant to say.

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Sleep is a waste of time. Join the Insomniac Club.
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Thraeryn

Last night I decided to give Audioslave another shot.

I was still pretty stoned at the time, but they weren't as bad as I remember them being. So I guess they might grow on me.

We'll see. I still wish that there was RATM stuff coming out, though.

RAMONES!!!

they suck, i cant stand chris cornell

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Come on

apetaster

I like Cornell and like Morello's inventiveness, but the album did disappoint me - one of those 'heard one good song, bought the album, now can hear one good song and not much more.' Some may like it, but it is not my cup of tea.

As for side/different projects from the 90s/00s, nothing touches Mad Season (for me.)

hotzot

Man, I like the cd.

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Thraeryn

That's exactly the way I felt, apetaster. But it did grow on me, after my use of recreational. . . "products". and a little time.

It's best, I think, as ambient music that you're not really trying to listen to actively.

HeAtHeN

RATM had their time.... I'm digging Audioslave

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monkeydriven

Chris Cornell's lyrics are shallow (I'm not a big fan of his voice either)....Listen to his "Times of Trouble" on Temple of the Dog...this is the same music used in Pearl Jam's "Footsteps", only "Footsteps" lyrics are structured expertly, "Times of Trouble" is second rate. Much like Chris vs Zack, second rate....

The only reason to listen to Audioslave is for Morello's brilliance...

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Ganguro

i like Audioslave in the same way that i like Dave Mathews Band. Big fan of the music.. not so much for the lyrics or lead singer. Id pay 14 bucks for an Audioslave instrumental CD.

Fly

okay.....Rage was...key word here being was.... fucking awsome

soundgarden was....and again was...... fucking awsome

both are now toast and we are blessed with 4 great musicians
that have come together to bring us another fucking awsome band

Audioslave....... no problem here

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BASTARD

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aswedc

I agree. This, and their lack of musical originality makes Audioslave nothing like RATM

Tech

i agree with this statement for the most part.

cornell is the singer/songwritter for the band, he is not going to be another oscar. he shouldn't be expected to, and the band should not force him to be. Audioslave is it's own band, and they both bring influences into the band from their past experiences.

i, however, do not like "like a stone" but at the same time i think it's one of their more crappy songs on the album. Cochise is much better and a better example of what they have on their album.

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~I swear sometimes i feel like i'm married to a child.
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BulletBob

You do know that Temple of The Dog was out for like one year before TEN? And I don't see what you find shallow in his lyrics, I suppose everyone relates to them differently.

fuelmyfire

I am a huge fan of Rage...i don't mind Audioslave at all.

i like the sound of "I am the highway". very cool.

BulletBob

Chris Cornell only wrote the lyrics for Audioslave's album. He didn't write any of the songs. Both he and Morello have been quoted as saying this. (I saw it in Guitar World a few months back)

Thraeryn

I guess what I miss most is the edge to it all. I don't feel that Audioslave has any edge to it; it's like the Playskool butter knife that isn't even serrated, because it would just be unthinkable for a Playskool knife.

I dunno. Maybe I just don't like Chris Cornell. Whatsisface from Faith No More and Mr. Bungle would be a great frontman for a Tom Morello band, I think. What say you all?

otefsu11

eww... Nu Fat-guy Stadium Rock!

SET THIS FUCKER OOOOFFFFFF!"

*pukes

KillerYoda

Audioslave can eat my ass. It's like Rage Against the Machine without the Rage. At least they had to courtesy to change their name after the lead singer left, unlike some other bands.

*cough, the Misfits, cough*

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OMFUG

I never understood everyone who touted Chris Cornell as a great writer/singer. I don;t see it. anyway, how can you say Audioslave isn't RATM with a new singer? THEY ARE THE SAME FUCKING GUYS! Just because the music sounds different doesn;t make them a different band... If Slipknot released an album of lounge music tommorow, with only the DJ changed and going by Rockin Lounge Labias, IT WOULD STILL EB SLIPKNOT MINUS THE DJ. Changing your name means nothign when 3/4 of the band is the same.

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Derwood

Has anyone considered how much the lyrics affect the music? Perhaps Morello and the boys were writing pissed off sounding music to support De La Rocha's hostility, while they've mellowed out to reflect Cornell's more introspective lyrics?

Either way, I think a lot of the dissapointment probably came as a result of the band releasing "Cochise" as their first single. It is by far the most "RATM" sounding track on the album. It was a misleading single to sell the album. But of course, they wanted to sell the album to RATM fans, so I guess it made sense on a marketing level.

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Thraeryn

You're absolutely right, Derwood. I'm sure that Morello, et al. reworked their sound for Cornell. And "Cochise" was an AWFUL single to start off with, because it's NOT typical of the rest of the album. It was solely to attract RATM fans. Typical big label promotion. THAT is what left me so disappointed.

NoCure

"Cochise" is awful and I would have picked that adding Chris was a death knel but after hearing "Like a Stone" I'm changing my thought on the band

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rideough

they are the same repetitive shiite that's always coming out of the music industry.
the only bad thing is that the recording industry got ahold of some of the best guys from the 90's.
they probably threw tons of cash in their faces...
those guys are now corporate whores....
I'm suprised it wasn't called THE AUDIOSLAVE

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Glory's Sun

I'm not a big fan of Audoslave they are ok.. but nothing more to me. I wasn't a huge fan of Rage and Soundgarden was ok. Cornell's lyrics and voice always irritated me..maybe that's what I don't like about Audioslave.. or maybe it's the fact that they play them every 4 minutes..right after they get done with evenescence uugh.. enough already!!

Thraeryn

Now, now, friend. I'm actually rather fond of Evanescence. Though I will be the first to admit that too much of anything loses its flavor.

Thankfully, Winnipeg radio doesn't play Audioslave every four minutes. Sadly, though, the price that we pay is radio not playing anything ELSE worthwhile every four minutes, either. Radio here is mediocre at its best. Le sigh.

AnUnkind

I think Cornell's voice and lyrics are able to bring out a different sound from Morello's guitar, and I like it.

And rideough, from what I have heard of the history of the band, I think that the members got together on their own without any incentive from the industry. Sure they were guaranteed an album if they agreed, but I doubt they did it for the cash like you imply.

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jch41878

Listen to his "Times of Trouble" on Temple of the Dog...this is the same music used in Pearl Jam's "Footsteps", only "Footsteps" lyrics are structured expertly, "Times of Trouble" is second rate. Much like Chris vs Zack, second rate....

Havent heard Footsteps, but Times of Trouble is one of my favorite songs sang by Cornell. I love this guy's voice... probably my favorite of any singer, him or Layne Staley, and they worked together on AiC's SAP. I loved RATM and I like Audioslave, but I think they are apples and oranges. One's high energy, one's not. Sometimes I want high energy, sometimes I don't. I think if anyone else likes Cornell's voice, you should check out a band called Big Wreck. The guy's voice is similar, and the album "In Loving Memory of..." is excellent. I also liked Cornell's solo album.

jch41878

Has anyone considered how much the lyrics affect the music? Perhaps Morello and the boys were writing pissed off sounding music to support De La Rocha's hostility, while they've mellowed out to reflect Cornell's more introspective lyrics?


Exactly. I liked RATM a lot more when I was 18. I liked Korn too, but I dont have the stomach for them anymore. How many times can you hear a song about someone's messed up childhood? Bands are made of people and people change with age. Look at Metallica, now they have changed. It must be awkward to be a band like Korn who keeps pumping out the same stuff just to keep their fans... what they dont realize is, that after 5-6 years, the fans are changing too. I really like when a band changes as I change...

Thraeryn

This will probably sound silly, but the less a band changes with time, the happier I am.

Remember Guns N' Roses? "Appetite For Destruction" was an amazing rock album, full of hard guitar and high-energy lyrics. I still throw it in my CD player, and Geffen is still putting it out. It's hard as Hell to find a used copy.

So how did they get to "Use Your Illusion II"? Through the process that people call "musical growth".

Remember the Ramones? The only differences between their earlier albums and their later albums (besides slight changes in their lineup) were better equipment and a few more chords in the songs, along with Joey using his voice range a bit more.

And THAT is the kind of musical growth I'd like to see more of. A band doesn't have to alter their style of music dramatically to grow; all it takes is a few more chords, some better equipment, a slight lineup change maybe and the frontman using his voice range a bit more.

If a band doesn't want to make the same kind of music any more, they should break up and find groups that suit them now. I guess what depresses me most is that some could say that's exactly what happened with RATM, and look at the result.

jch41878

If a band doesn't want to make the same kind of music any more, they should break up

I disagree. But I do agree that some bands change for the worse, GNR A4D was definitely better than use your illusion I or II. But what are these guys 40 now? Kind of hard to write the same stuff now that you did when you were poor.