#3
Audioslave - Audioslave
Released: November 19, 2002.
Members:
Chris Cornell - vocals
Tom Morello - guitar
Timmy C. - bass
Brad Wilk - drums/percussion
Personally Acquired: November 22, 2002; drove through the rain to Best Buy just buy it.
Summary
This is where I draw the line between what's favorite and what's best. If we were going solely on albums that were the best, redefining pieces of work they are, this one wouldn't be this high up--still in the top 10, but not this high. I mean, what's not to love about this album? Coming off a shocker in Zack de la Rocha's absence, the Rage boys never sounded sharper. And they simultaneously proved to their critics they weren't one-dimensional, proving they could be extremely versatile, going from a hard thrash-punk outfit into alternative. Add Chris Cornell and you have a winning combination. I think Cornell has lost half a step since his Soundgarden days, but he still has a lot to yell about. This album delivers a lot of explosive energy at every corner, even surprising listeners with something completely out of the ordinary, like the majesticness of "Like a Stone" or dizziness of "Hypnotize".
But this album is #3 because of the memories I hold with it. This was my personal soundtrack during the year of 2003, especially during the summer. I must've listened to this CD 20 times during the summer. So all the awesome times during that awesome time were paired with the sounds of this album. While Cornell growled out "Cochise", I was at the common shooting hoops. While Tom laced out his grindy solo in "What You Are", I was tubing on the lake. And when the juicy guitarline explodes into "Set it Off", it's like I'm back in Tim's garage with Ana and Josh. Every note of every song brings me back to that time. And it's like I've never been happier.
That aside, it's still an amazing album. There are times when they don't exactly click as a band, but that's to be expected. And the times they do come together is excellent. See the whirly-bird rock out "Cochise", derisive power track "Show Me How to Live", and the warehouse bomb "Bring Em Back Alive". Between the memories and the musical power, this album makes for a fine hour of ear candy.
Four Good Tracks: "Bring Em Back Alive", "Gasoline", "Exploder", "Shadow on the Sun"