Audioslave
by Audioslave
  • Record Label: Epic
  • Release Date: Nov 19, 2002
Metascore
62

Generally favorable reviews - based on 19 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 19
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 19
  3. Negative: 3 out of 19
  1. AllMusic
    60
    Many of the songs sound like they're just on the verge of achieving liftoff, never quite reaching their potential.
  2. Pitchfork
    17
    At its worst, this project is just plain retarded.
  3. Uncut
    40
    Audioslave is weighed down by Cornell's po-faced bellow, and it goes on 20 minutes too long. [Feb 203, p.79]
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  5. Q Magazine
    90
    A remarkable record. [Feb 2003, p.96]
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  6. New Musical Express (NME)
    40
    Sadly, it seems that with 'Audioslave' these people who were involved in some very exciting rock records in the 1990s, now seem happy to be making some bad ones from the 1970s.
  7. Rolling Stone
    60
    In their past lives, the members of this band were enraged. Now, fierce as they might sound, Audioslave just seem sorta engorged.
  8. The A.V. Club
    70
    A curious idea from its inception, pairing Soundgarden's singer with Rage's musicians promises a unique alchemy it can't entirely deliver, obscuring the latter's politics and distinct sound.
  9. Spin
    80
    They just want to rock you into peaceful submission, and they are successful about 70 percent of the time. [Dec 2002, p.135]
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  10. Entertainment Weekly
    91
    The result isn't a faux Rage album; rather, it's the true follow-up to Soundgarden's ''Superunknown'' that neither that band nor a solo Cornell ever managed.
  11. Alternative Press
    50
    Bad news for fans of either party who'd expected the union to generate something revolutionary. [Dec 2002, p.85]
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  12. Austin Chronicle
    67
    This "debut" is surprisingly nimble, but mostly it's exactly what everyone expected: Chris Cornell blowing out his trachea over a familiar "Killing in the Name" liquid grind.
  13. Blender
    60
    This is feel-good stuff, the sound of a rejuvenating artistic vacation. [#12, p.136]
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  14. Billboard
    50
    The group seems incapable of integrating these traits into something new. It's either Morello re-writing his old licks for bash-and-thud Rage-style rawk or Cornell's more straightforward tension/release confessionals.
  15. Dot Music
    80
    The first truly great rock band of the 21st century.
  16. Stylus Magazine
    37
    Lacking individuality, distinction and imagination, this album is over-produced, overlong and over-indulgent.
  17. Playlouder
    90
    One of the most important rock bands ever meets one of the best, and guess what, they've only gone and knocked out a bonafide masterpiece. It's 1993 all over again, but it's also 1970 and 2002 and beyond, because an album this classic transcends any pigeonholing.
  18. E! Online
    75
    While a bit of this debut sounds like Cornell doing his best over Rage-ified staccato riffs, these guys are at the top of their game when they reverse the formula and make way for Cornell's masterful wail and poetic imagery.
  19. Village Voice
    30
    Less than the sum of their parts, the album and the band don't even amount to an interesting failure, because the known quantities do what they have always done only this time in tandem.
  20. Launch.com
    80
    Audioslave is the best of both bands.

Awards & Rankings

9
#9 Most Discussed Album of 2002
7
#7 Most Shared Album of 2002

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.6

Universal acclaim- based on 154 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 136 out of 154
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 154
  3. Negative: 9 out of 154
  1. Vampire25
    Jan 3, 2011
    5
    Audioslave's debut is highly flawed. But I think deep down, it's kind of a good album. Chris Cornell's lyrics though are extremely bad. TheAudioslave's debut is highly flawed. But I think deep down, it's kind of a good album. Chris Cornell's lyrics though are extremely bad. The lyrics suck. "I was standing at the rock, gathering the flock". I mean come on. Soundgarden was an amazing band but Chris Cornell in Audioslave just isn't that great. Rage Against The Machine band members on the other hand are what makes this album slightly ok. Tom Morello's guitar solos are brilliant. Brad Wilk on drums is great, and Tim Commerford is also great. All In All, if you can mind Chris Cornell and really enjoy RATM, Audioslave should be a good album to enjoy. C… Full Review »
  2. TyroneP
    Oct 25, 2010
    5
    Half of the cuts are interesting and the other half are just bad versions of the interesting ones. Listening to this from start to finish is aHalf of the cuts are interesting and the other half are just bad versions of the interesting ones. Listening to this from start to finish is a real chore and, basically, it's just too draining for it to ever be an enjoyable record.… Full Review »
  3. btlzu2rh
    Jun 18, 2022
    9
    When this came out, I loved Cochise and was a bit blah about the rest. I love this kind of surprise because throughout the years, I'veWhen this came out, I loved Cochise and was a bit blah about the rest. I love this kind of surprise because throughout the years, I've periodically re-listened to it and realized I missed out on a pretty damn near perfect debut album. I loved Rage and Soundgarden and this was a mashup of exponential coolness and talent.

    I listen to this album more today than the first 2 years after it came out. To me, that's a sign of a classic. Great debut.    … Full Review »
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