Out of Exile [Extra tracks]

I am a huge fan of Audioslave, bought their first album, with no experience of their previous bands, and loved it.
I then pre-ordered this album, I was not dissappointed.

First off, I don't know why I'm actaully writing this review now but I was just annoyed at a lot of the reviewers who all they talked about was, "Nothing like Rage" "No were near as good as Soundgarden" "Bring back Zack de la Rocha"

Their first album was, I suppose, was a mix of their last two bands, but this one is Audioslave. They have intended it not to sound like Rage or Soundgarden, as they want to try soemthing different, after all it is a different band.

I'll do a track by track rundown further down, but first I would like to say to one reviewer, who I won't mention, I can't believe he/she thought that Tom's solo didn't fit into Doesn't Remind Me and that the drums were terrible and he/she hasn't even heard the whole album YET they're writing a review on it???
Work that out! He/she then goes on to timing inaccuracies, they're paid professionals, I think they know how to play in time, mind you.

Anyways, sorry about that, just had to get it off my chest.

1. Your Time Has Come 8/10
This is a very energetic song, a good enough intro. When I first heard it I wasn't too impressed but I gave it a chance and it has definitely grown on me. I love the solo on this track, well I love the solo on every song on this CD but this one is just a bit different.

2. Out Of Exile 8/10
Nice intro, something a wee bit different, nice to hear. This song is more like their first album in my opinion in terms of the guitar riff.

3. Be Yourself 8/10
On the softer side, the softest song on the album really. I liked hearing a different side to Tom. In this track his guitar work is very simple but so effective.

4. Doesn't Remind Me 10/10
I absolutely love this song, it is so different to any other song Audioslave have done and to any other band I like. The guiatr in this, is again so simple, but it is just so extraordinary, it fits in so well. It has to be the best solo on the album. Magnificent! The other high point of this track is Chris' lyrics. The best song on the album, both musicallt and lyrically.

5. Drown Me Slowly 7/10
This song is a bit more on the heavy side in terms of Audioslave and it isn't a high point on the album. Don't get me wrong, I still listen to it, it just isn't my favourite.

6. Heaven's Dead 7/10
I can never really get in the mood for this song, it is still a very solid song but for some reason I just couldn't be bothered listening to it. I would still sing out the words at the top of my voice at one of their concerts but there's something about it I don't like. Heaven's Dead is another softer kinda song.

7. The Worm 9/10
Tom Morello I love you! The riff at the start is massive. I think it is the best riff he's done, for Audioslave. One of my favoutite songs on the album, probably the heaviest they've done.
It's even better live!

8. Man Or Animal 7/10
A lot like Drown Me Slowly it is on the heavy side and it is really fast. Even though i've given it 7, it's one of the low points, I suppose, if you compare it to the other tracks.

9. Yesterday To Tommorrow 8/10
This song is just scrapes an 8. Once again, its a song i'm just never in the mood for. It's kinda a bit pop rock, well maybe not pop rock, more a top 40 song, if you know what I mean.

10. Dandelion 9/10
This song is so beautiful. Morello shows his magic in a different way again, lovely bright chords. Dandelion is one of these risk songs, they've never done anything like it before. I love every bit of it.

11. #1 Zero 10/10
Despite the fact I was in a car crash when I first heard the song ;) this has to be the second best song on the album, behind Doesn't Remind Me. In one way it has some slight similarities to The Last Remaining Light and they should have made it the last song on the album. Tom and Brad on top form here. Brads drums in this song are so simple, with an amazing guitar solo after.

12. The Curse 7/10
Another solid song, I like it but it should not have ended the album, as I mentioned above #1 Zero would have been a perfect finisher.

All in all, this is a superb album with very little lows.
Couple of points I'd like to make.

1. Not an album that you'll like at first but if you listen to it i will become a masterpiece.
2. They are unbelieveable live. I saw them last year in Manchester. Best concert i've ever been to. Better than U2, Chillis, Foo Fighters and many more.

Please give it a chance, it will be worth it!

Thanks for reading my review!

Chest-beating, car-driving, wind-in-the-hair, San Francisco, LA, Californian RAWK. Before the hairy-chested vocals storm in like a jet taking off, its 1973, a debauched hotel, sun melting the sidewalk, JD on tap. This albums RAWKS, and RAWKS Hard.

And like a big hard rock, sometimes its dumb. Dumb, solid, impenetrable. "Out Of Exile", which takes the notion of a `difficult' second album, and smashes it to pieces against a brick wall, is proof that sometimes you don't need to evolve to survive. But, with this lack of evolution, there's really no sense that the album is much more than a bunch of new Audioslave songs.

The blueprint that was hammered into stone with the first album remains, and aside from Tom Morello's scientific, concise solos - particularly on "Yesterday To Tomorrow", there's nothing you haven't heard before. You can't tell which album these songs come from. Most great albums have a personality, a sense of themselves, an overall sound or theme or a distinct character : "Out of Exile" sounds like Audioslave alright, but there's no movement from the last album, no desire to change.

But that's not to say that there's nothing of value here. "Out Of Exile" is a refreshing rock album that manages to sound both intelligent, and dumb-as-a-redneck at the same time. As far as metal or rock (and is there a difference anymore?) goes, Audioslave are certainly one of the best proponents out there.

Not for them completely clueless dumb subpunk posturing of a band that wants to be as good as the Sex Pistols, but utterly miss the point in a wash of tattoos. Nor then the obtuse political posturing of some bands. Audioslave just open up the big Can of Rock Riffs, peel out another crunchy tone, riff away, scream a lot, and in their new re-imagining of the traditional rock mould, offer something both utterly original and derivative at the same time.

If I forget about the existence of the Seventies, then "Out of Exile" is a fabulous metal album. In fact, since I don't own anything by Led Zeppelin, I can live my rock dreams vicariously through Audioslave.

Existential, hedonistic metal. Valhalla, I am coming!

Although I liked their first album, it sounded quite clear they'd come to the song-writing table with distinctly different ideas. Out of Exile sounds better than their previous effort because they're starting to sound more "together". Occasionally they seem to take an incredibly obvious commercial route, which can grate given three-quarters of the bands' resolute stand on that, but it still makes for some damn good stuff. Chris Cornell's voice remains to-die-for but his riddles are becoming harder to fathom. Tom Morello lets loose with some speedy solos reminiscent of those found on RATM's first album - which I was beginning to think were locked up forevermore in one of his crazy effects pedals! But Morello fans, don't despair - he can still make his guitar sound like an electric elephant's fart. Which is sweeeeeeet.

Stand out songs on this album are "Out of Exile", "Drown Me Slowly", and "Man or Animal" - all undeniable rockers. But the best has to be "Dandelion". It comes out of left field with an upbeat feel without being cheesy. (It also possesses a middle-eight thing that could have been sampled from Led Zeppelin!!) Someone said that, although as independent musicians they may have seen better days, Audioslave look like they're on the up; and I couldn't agree more. Also, if you do buy it you get a hilarious photo of Tom Morello posing "mid solo" on the inside cover, eclipsing the overlookable acoustic bonus track, "Like a Stone".