Yes, the lyrics in this album really dont mean much, but remember guys, they wrote 21 tracks in 19 days and thats pretty damn prolific in my book. keeping away from the crap out in the market today, audioslave re-creates the vibe of Led Zeppelin with a mellow tone of Cornell's voice. Its remarkable on how Tom molded his guitars to Chris' voice, by dropping the tuning down three steps. Tim C. does a good job of "coming soft" with his bass lines, and Brad kept a very primitave yet necessary beat within each track. This might not be the best album ive heard, but i know this band will soon be a favorite. Keep rockin' guys, cause there are millions who will listen… Expand

While I thought Rage and Soundgarden were relatively innovative and dynamic bands, Audioslave is the antithesis of both. Boring. Predictable. The album is not awful, but clearly lacks anything interesting or new to rock.

nah

it kicks ass

Did I just fall asleep and wake up in the late 70s? This is so reminiscent of bands like Rainbow & Ian Gillan that I felt like crying. I predict a thankfully short career.

It kick ass bitch

this band has such a loveable and raw sound that they cant be denied.

Well done critics. Once again you have totally missed the mark. Everyone understands that this is not RATM or Soundgarden and that Cornell is no de la Rocha so of course it'll sound different. I never followed Soundgarden but I loved RATM. While I miss the political trashing, Cornell's wailing works well for the evolved band. Album rocks

Chris Cornell is the best rock singer in the business right now, and has been ever since Soundgarden. When he fronts a band as good as Rage's, you know that it has to be a masterpiece.

I'm torn on this album, the Cornell moments are wonderful. You can easily hear the parts Chris wrote vs. the parts Morello and the ex-Ragers created. I've never liked Morello's style. They say he's doing things with a guitar no one else would ever do. This is very true, as no one else would want to sound like that. Chris should go back to his solo career, or at least lose Morello and bring in ex-Soundgarden-er Kim to play guitar and write the music, then, we would have a savior of rock in our pop-owned shallow music world.… Expand

Yeah! Cornell + RATM, it´s good combination!

yes,cant give it a 10 because its not truely a ratm authetic-but its as close as u can get to the pure all original(minus zach)rage. lotsa props to tom, tim and brad for your music is and what has been my inspiration to keep on listening.

Great cd full of great songs like the razor sharp 'Like a stone', 'What you are', 'I am a highway', 'Hypnotize' (Which does just that), and the epic 'Getaway car' with Chris Cornell's forlorn voice bleeding throughout. Downside, a couple of ok tracks and songs tend to go on for too long and you feel it.

This cd is amazing, finally a band with actual tanlent and a good sound comes out and crush's the rest of the popculture

fantastic Great rock pure talent the mixture of both bands is oustanding a pure classic

this is an awesome album, if you after big organic rock with cornell ripping over the top. be warned that i dont think it's "cool" for most reviewers and trendy types. but if any other band brought this out it would be all over. however i guess both Soundgraden and Rage's past tends to overshadow honest opinions of what's they've done here. i think it'll take an album or 2 to hit fil stride, but I think they will make some great music if they can keep it together long enough.… Expand

What the hell are those losers saying?! This album's retarded?! No they're fuckin retarded! I like to know what shit they think is good! Seriously! Audioslave's the only "good" band this year since all the good ones broke up and without Audioslave we would be stuck with Good Charlotte and No Doubt and the other million crappy bands out there.

Unbelievable Stuff... This album is just amazing. The combination of Rage Against the Machine's inspirational music and Cornell's remarkable voice is SO refreshing. This album will be remembered as one of the "great ones". *** Orlie ***

i thought the cd was fantastic. it is refreshing to hear such originality and passion. this band can really rock and can also be mesmerizing. i've always loved rage and soundgarden. rage has always had smashing guitar riffs and chris cornell is a talented vocalist with stunning range. i think this band will be around for quite some time. rock on!!

Great album. Whats that arsehole from pitchfork on about?

Great album

wow, i cant believe it. this is the most incredible rock band since, well, soundgarden. definilty better tha RatM but cant match up to soundgarden.. im not saying this album isnt good, its awesome. i cant beleve those crtitc people put audioslave down like that. i mean come on! chris cornell-probably the best frontman ever, tom morello-a kick@$$ guitarist and those other two peple are good very well. u know what? ive found by watching my TV, Like A Stone is huge. What about Cochise, that was like the greatest song eva! cant wait for their next album. OH YEAH! Anyone hear their new song Give? check it out its awesome!… Expand

Critics are just that. They screwed up on Zeppelin and now they are screwing up on Audioslave. Great band. The album does take a couple of listens to grow on you, once it does you cant get it off. Thanks to Audioslave for bringing back what rock was meant to sound like.

I have been a Chris Cornell/Soundgarden fan since Badmotorfinger. The attraction continued through the Euphoria Morning solo (it was a bit of a surprise but I loved it - expecialy the Pillow Of Your Bones), and it hasn't faded with this album either. Through the years of listening to his music, I can freely say that Cornell never disapointed me with what he had to offer to the world of music. The guy is a true talent, and now combined with Morrelo's guitar (another unique tallent) and one of the best rhytam sections (Timmy and Brad) as a foundation for everything that they create surely gives the audience a unique opportunity to enjoy a good record that will definitely be remembered as one of the best rock records of the decade. This CD is a must-have for any Cornell fan out there. PS: Greetings from Bosnia.… Expand

Having been a huge RATM fan i have to say this album just doesnt excite me as much as the old band. However, im not putting this band down. They have a few great tracks, but I think they have the potential to make some great albums. This one just one lacks that edge RATM know of. The songs all sound too similar, at the same tempo, and all start with guitar and drums without any cunning build ups or break ins. Still some nice work by morello, but bass and drums arent given any action on this cd. They have tremendous talent, and a great singer, now i'd wish theyd use it. Trust me, they can do a lot better.… Expand

Shockingly bland

Cornell has the best voice in rock, and Tom Morrello does things with the guitar others can only dream about

An absolute masterpiece. This is an album that may take you a while to absorb its full weight; but when it finally hits you, you will feel every song. Chris Cornell's unique voice is perfectly matched with Tom Morello's grooves and anti-guitar hero antics. Don't listen to the critics, if you even remotely liked Rage Against the Machine or Soundgarden pick up this album.

Have any of you actually listened to these lyrics? They are so bad, they actually give boy bands some artistic merit as they at least made some iota of sense. "But Ian, lyrics don't count as long as the music is cool" Lyrics always count, but regardless this is some of the most bland and boring recycled music I have ever heard. Honestly, if you want to kill brain cells I suggest doing it the old fashioned way by killing a prostitute and stealing her crack. At least that way you get some exercise.… Expand

Loved the album... but hey i really had no clue of Soundgarden. And after "superunknown"... kinda okay!

This album is fantastic. The band show a musical maturity, which can only be achieved from years of songwriting experience. I couldn't do without Audioslave; they're one of the best rock acts in the world today. This album is simply brilliant.

so...big socialism/communism enthusiast tom morello naturally farts out an utter charmless, commercial aspiring piece of third rate grunge schlock...awesome (no wonder de la rocha got the hell away from those guys, they have nothing to say, sans the hypocrisy). and chris cornell further clarifies that he is indeed suffering from ultimate creative bankruptcy. how did two cool bands from the nineties join up to make the most drab, unexciting, lousy, crap-rock. it's like what foghat and foregner were to 70's rock, so audioslave is to the rock of the 2000s...very depressing. hey zoran, if by brilliant you mean completely uninspired, unoriginal, well-marketed, cheesy, uninteresting, and downright lazy, then you're right on...so much better music out there right now.… Expand

If you don't like hard rock - then you won't like this. However, I LOVE hard rock and this is on3e of my favorite albums.

super great cd, except i get tired of The Last Remaining Light- that song is bad.

exellent cd,love all songs....

Very solid stuff, however even if Tom's riffs are solid his solos are pathetic wannabes.

After 10 stellar tracks, the dull filler takes over. However, in those ten tracks, the guys are making absolutely first rate stuff. So much of this record works so well, you can forgive the few tracks that don't.

I can honestly say this album is the greatest collection of songs I have ever heard, and easily one of the best albums ever recorded.

loved it. cornell and the former rage guys rock together.

i agree with jon cohen from billoboard magazine. audioslave is equal to EXACTLY the sum of its parts and nothing more. this album offers nothing new. its post-soundgarden chris cornell whining and tom morello's same whammy, wah-wah, digital delay guitar solos(timmy c and brad wilk sound like they are falling asleep at their respective instruments.) the reason i got into rage was because they sounded sooo different from everything else. somewhere zack and david lee roth are smiling. … Expand

This album is a true gem for fans of hard rock. There hasn't been a band who could combine killer riffs with soulful ballads this well since Zeppelin. Cornell's vocals are in top form, and shine over RATM's killer grooves and riffs. This album has something for everyone, from ripping tunes like "Cochise", melodic masterpieces such as "I Am the Highway" and even "Hypnotize", a techno song played by real musicians. This is sure to be one of the top albums of 2002. Highly recommended… Expand

The first single is annoying and the lyrics throughout this release are Horrible! Example: "Heaven waits for those who run/ Down your winter and underneath your waves/ Where you watch and wait..." Gimme a break, Chris!

I think this album is great. I don't understand what the critics are talking about. If anything they are thinking too hard about it. It is for the sole purpose of stimulating and pile driving your brain waves. It is one of those that you have to listen to about 4 or 5 times before you understand where the songs are going and what the hell is up. Enjoy though because this will be the only one.… Expand

Do yourselves a favour and buy this album. Trust me, you won't regret it. It's simply the best album of 2002, and after Songs for the Deaf, that's saying something.

Man, this is like a whole different genre of rock music. Nothing out there can compare. Not even close. The best band in existance, wait, what am I saying, the best band ever to exist!!

Yeah, it´s truly a great album. But I´d like to know what Morello is thinking when he is playing " Like a stone "... his spirit must be a little bit confused. Sometimes you just can hear de la Rocha´s voice in tracks like Cochise and Gasoline... It´s like having RATM playing " happy birthday to you " at your sister´s birthday party...it´s good but it feels stange.… Expand

Awesome album. Best to come out in years. If people can get past the expectations and just jam with it the album will grow on you. Gasoline, Show Me How to Live, and Exploder just plain rock. Any critic who says different needs their head examined.

audioslave is HORRID!! Its like rage, but with a singer who sounds constipated. They took the worst elements from soundgarden, and combined them with any generic sounding riffs that rage could invent. I love rage, and this is just shameful to their name

beg, borrow or steal this album people. It is so worth it.

I minute i bought this album... i fell in love with each riff...

The best rock cd i've ever heard

What the f*** is wrong with you people?This is one of the best albums I've heard in a long time!And I don't even really listen to this kinda music!I was really sad when SG broke up but, this is almost as good!

suberb..............Chris Cornell is a genius as well as the other members

The fu#king critics are crazy not to give audioslave a chance. No other band right now is more original or talented than audioslave.. After going through all the nu-metal crap that everysingle, yes everysingle band is coming out with, its a great change. Almost everysong(about 12) are really good. All are original and fresh, plus tom's guitar effects on guitar is really done well...And Cornell's voice goes together really well with tom's funky guitar riffs...The only other band right now that i can say is as good(well almost) is chili peppers. This band is awesome, the drums and bass doesn't over do it either. Everything fits perfectly in almost every song. If you havn't gotten into there music yet,listen to LIke A stone, Shadow of the sun, and getaway car... People should stop with the whole rage thing(they thought it was gonna be like rage or soundgarden), its different(good).. Rage was one of the best band of all time along side nirvana(prob better than nirvana)... So like the band for what it is, not for what its not............................… Expand

I have followed Soundgarden/Rage from the start, and I must say it was with extreme delight that I listened to this album. I was not dissapointed! Chris sounds as good as ever, and Zack and Co. haven't lost a thing. Definitely worth the wait!

this is one of the best albums of all time! these are all amazing musicians and i commend them on their superhuman abilities. let me also point out, it doesn;t matter what the critics say, its what we say. its what the music fans say by buying the cd and we;ve obviously won that battle

Now I'm not "RAGE" or a "GARDEN" fan at all! To be honest I've listen mostly to to my old rock cd's more and more than the radio. Doing this keeps me happy because most of the new music out there has been done oh one to many times, and I'd rather hear the real McCoys. But once and a while I'll turn on the radio just to see if there's a new band to prove me wrong. Like a stone gave me goose bumbs and a lump in my throat, just listening to that new guitar sound, that feel. And just on that one feeling I bought the CD. Cause I love to have the scoop on a new band so I can tell people."which does'nt happen to often" The CD is great!! Any body feel the way I do than give it a try.… Expand

After years of being a devoted Rage fan, I had to buy this CD. I wans't sure what to expect, but I also liked Soundgarden, so I bought It. Although this CD is sometimes dull, It still has ts bright, shining moments. It is a great record, however it still has a few minor flaws. Audioslave has done a great job of mixing killer guitar/bass riffs and a simple drum beat with Chris Cornell's deep, loud voice, and it has turned out great.… Expand

Gi buy this record NOW!!!!

Afer just reading a critic's entertaining yet caustic trashing of this album, I must say that at times, this album says in certain ways things I've wondered about, tried to figure out, for years. The guy who trased "like a stone", probably never had a contemplative thought in his head his entire life. I felt re-assured.

It is sickening to see the piss poor reviews that this album, one of the greatest of all time, has received from these lack-luster as well as accredited music reviewers. The album is simply perfect and it gives the currently best mainstream guitarist a chance to shine. Tom Morello truly gives a performance worth listening to. Pitchfork the public loves this CD so you can put down the barf bag.

I love the singers voice and this new album has made me very interested in going back and listening to Soundgardens older stuff. I think it is great!

Havent been this excited about an album since i heard zeppelin2 for the first time. Finally rock fans have a GREAT "new" rock album to listen to. Hope these guys can stick it out together for a few more albums. For the sake of rock music anyway.

Go get the CD!

everyone is entitled to their own opinion of Audioslave, I personally think they are great I bought the CD and I listen to it at least 4 times a day, my favorite time is when I'm ready to turn in for the night, I lay in bed with the lights out and my headphones on and crank it up loud I love all 14 songs on the CD can't wait for their next one ROCK ON GUYS

a masterpiece... audioslave's first album is just epic.

This is an amasing cd. Tom Morrelo is just amasing. He plays that gitar like he is thw God of all gitars. I never heard a cd as well as this since Reage Against The Machine.

Let me just say that i come from the Soundgarden boat. IMHO they are the best mainstream rock band of the 90's. Their song structures, odd timiming, complex time changes, and just unique approach to music was unmatched in their time, period. Chris Cornell is unquestionably one of the 3 greatest singers in rock history, and IMHO tied w/ Freddie Mercury for the best ever. No one, ever, can belt as powerfully as Chris, no one. On top of this Chris was a brilliant songwriter, the timing and structure of his songs was truly genius, a master composer(yes folks, Chris plays many instrumetns and composed most of SG's music) Matt Cameron(ex Soundgarden, current Pearl jam drummer) is w/ out a doubbt the best mainstream rock drummer of the 90's. A true prodigy of the 90's according to professor Neil Peart(Rush drummer, considered by many the greatest rock drummer ever), and the most accomplished mainstream player in recent memory(w/ danny carey of tool just behind). Now on to Audioslave, how do the Rage boys stack up? well let me just say I am a fan of Rage(no where near the extent of SG). Tom and Tim are both exceptionally taletned musicians. But Tom, ur riffs are getting a little old, seriously dude. Anyways, some of Tom's solos are a little too out there for me and completely distract rather than enhance. But tom is unqiue, u have to give him that. Hes experimenting and in some cases(such as Like a stone) it works. Tim is one of modern rock's best bass players too. Brad is an adequate 4/4 drummer, nothing special. On to the album. It doesnt live up to any of SG's work except maybe their 80's albums(screaming life/fopp, ultramega ok, and louder than love) However, it is a solid(though very predictable debut). The standout tracks are: Gasoline, Set it Off Like a stone, I am the Highway, and the Last remaining light.(notice the last 3 are ballads) The reason I say these are the best songs on the album is b/c they really are. Lord knows I love hard rock, but some of the harder songs such as Cochise, Exploder, and Light My Way are just generic sounding and totally off the mark. I mean these songs are decent but just the same rehashed stuff. thats already been done. However, these guys are an awesome live act. They rip through these songs w/ so much energy it doesnt matter that its not great material. So, my final review is a solid 7. Good debut, but I would have expected better from the incredibly talented Mr. Cornell. We'll just have to see what the future brings for Audioslave … Expand

I get goose bumps when I hear Cornell's voice!! This is one of the most incredible gatherings of talent to date. The drive of this band and they way they come together is over the top. As a devout Soundgarden fan, I never thought it could get better, but this is by far Cornell's best effort! I am a slave to Audioslave.

Well Ian, have fun with the Back Street Boys ;) Chis Cornell's lyrics are deep, and, if you didn't have the emotional range of a rock, you would get that. His lyrics made me think, and they make perfect sense if you listen to them a couple of times (maybe a couple of hundred times for you -.-) I love his lyrics because they make sense to me, so you can stick to "Bye Bye Bye" if you want, but I'm looking forward to witnessing Audioslave have a long suscessful career. Tom was awesome, Brad's drumming is so powerful, and Timmy's bass playing makes the floor shake! Chris's voice is even better than it was in Euphoria Morning, and his familiar wails are a long awaited arival to this sad generation, hopefully more people will start to listen to Audioslave, then branch out to Soundgarden, Temple of the Dog, and RATM. Eric Corvus P.S. Yes, I'm a BIG Chris Cornell fan.… Expand

This record stands in my line of vision as an equal to Soundgarden's more extensively praised outing, "Superunknown." Though not that band's greatest achievement (hello, "Badmotorfinger"), the "Unknown" is indeed a terrifyingly glorious rendition of melodic/metallic/grungallic/whatever, and "Audioslave" is just as startling. Heavy, thick, artistic, surreal; these are where the "Uknown" and "Audio..." are evenly matched, filled with imagination as well as distortion, restoring the triumph of rock to where it once sat clean and shiney for all to see. Witness the glory, witness the beauty, see why Cornell is indeed a musical God... too bad they had to go and blow it on that friggin "Exile" record. For shame!… Expand

As we all know that the grunge-rock era is dead and long gone, even some of the bands have given up. The same fate consumed Soundgarden (probably) the first and most certainly the best of them all. They officially disbanded in 1997 which forced vocalist Chris Cornell to enter the solo world. He made one hell of a record by himself and really showed what he's capable of all by himself, no other news was heard about him since then. After a few years we heard a news about Cornell forming a new band. Some rays of hope fell on the grunge genre. Former R.A.T.M. (Rage Against The Machine) members and Cornell together formed Audioslave. This is their debut album. The result of the two band's joining is a laclustre album trying to copy the legendary Led Zepplin. Where did the hatred of R.A.T.M. disappear, where did the deep depressing and sometimes anger rousing songs of Soundgarden fall off? Chris sould've stuck to his solo career or should've considered a reunion of SG. Guess he really did "fall on black days". I am a diehard fan of SG and hope for another of his solo albums OR weep and hope for a SG reunion. WE BEG TO YOU CHRIS!!!… Expand

From power grind to slow ballad, this album rocks. I love it enough that when my first copy was destroyed, I bought another one.

I thought this album was rather good i can listen to it from beginning to end without having to skip a song.

When I first listened to the album, I was disappointed, but that was only because I was anticipating a heavier cd. After another look, and a closer listen I fell in love with this album. A different sound from Garden or Rage, Audioslave has come into their own.

Edgey, excellent collection of rock tunes. Incredible rythm.

A modern classic. I agree with some of the other comments that it'll grow on you every time you listen to it. Grotesque bad reviews from some of the proffesionals.

An amazing album! Songs like Cochise and Show Me How To Live just blew my mind away!

A band that once stood for something has now been taken over by a lead singer who seems content on destroying the band with a mix worthy of a Christian Rock CD.

This albumis quite simply one of the best ever recorded. These songs are some of the best songs out there. Amazing

I picked this album up out of a discount bin, not knowing what to expect... what i got was a stellar album that blew me away on almost every single song. Audioslave is one of THE best bands out there, although their follow-up albums have failed to reach this great height. If you buy one Audioslave album, make this IT!

These reviewers are full of it. This album is a hard rock lovers dream come true. The best heavy rock album I have heard in the last ten years. I just hope these guys stay together and make many more.

The more I listen to this album, the more I am falling in love with the guitar creativity and cornells vocals--this seems a match made in heaven for anyone who enjoys "thinking man's heavy metal"

Obviously the reviewers listed above who gave Audioslave less than a 9 never listened to the album. To put it bluntly, the album kicks major ass, and should be recommended to anyone who likes rock. It is a great mix of hard-as-hell rock and nice-n-slow bluesy rythyms that is sure to please everyone. Buy this kick ass album!

Yep these reviewers are full of it this cd is f'n awesome. This is the best rock cd to come out in years it is a must have for any rage or soundgarden fan. The combo it just classic.

We have a Modern Day Led Zeppelin here. I highly recommend this album to anyone disenfranchised with todays marketed and sale oriented music (if you call todays music-music)...I call it marketed music...nothing inventive. But back to Audioslave...I'm really jacked that these guys got together so they can rally the troups of real music back into the mainframe to stay...60's, 70's, and early 90's here we come again. It's been a long time coming. Gasoline is by far the best song on the album...I would suggest this song to be the next single for a video to show this generation how rock is supposed to be played. Look out youngsters...you're going into the trash can with the rest of the marketed music you've been listening to for the last 10 years. Pick this album up...It's a Modern Day Classic-Rock Band. Enough Said.… Expand

Brilliant... The best album that any of the e members have made since 1994

Cornell's age is starting to show, a couple of the songs are real stinkers, and the Rage portion of the band isn't the most technically proficient. But... It's still the best thing this year a hard rock fan will listen to. Cornell STILL has the most amazing set of pipes in all of rock. The thriving and pounding back up band brings back memories of Soundgarden's Louder than Love and Badmotorfinger days. Ironically, though, this album would've been the perfect follow up to Superunkown. The harder stuff will blow you away. The softer stuff can hypnotize you. Although it could be a lot better, it is still superior to most everything out there today.… Expand

This guys are amazing, better than any band out there, it's even better than the album of pearl jam, foo fighter and in the same level with queens of the stone age and system of a down.

Will be one of my favorites for a long time, but a few of the tracks are lacking. Definitely sounds more like Soundgarden then Rage, but it's an improved Soundgarden-ish sound. It's rare when I find a CD I can listen to over and over again, and I haven't grown tired of this one yet.

Great weight lifting music. I love the CD.

Extremely disappointing. What could have been an electrifying heavy metal album just doesn't seem to gel. Nothing really stands out: the first few tracks are atrocious, including the lead-off single, and the rest of the album is merely okay. Like most other supergroups, they just don't live up to their hype. Go buy Soundgarden's and Rage Against the Machine's albums instead.

This album rocks!! the only thing retarded is the reviewer from pitchfork.

The best album I've heard in 10 years. Cornell's social commentary along with some powerful, angry licks from Morello and Co. provide a veritable masterpiece. Unlike most albums, which feature a radio-friendly song and little else, Audioslave has no throwaway songs. In fact, the album doesn't even hit its peak until track 10, the brooding, ``Hypnotize.'' Talk about a reality check for the wealthy powerstructure and corporate elite!!! While many people think that Superunknown was Soundgarden's best album, I always preferred Badmotorfinger. Superunknown contained four or five of radio hits, but little else. To really gather the flavor of what Soundgarden (and indeed the entire grunge movement) stood for, you need to back up to the 1991 masterpiece which features ``Rusty Cage'' and ``Outshined'' along with obscure, yet important tracks such as ``Somewhere,'' ``Mind Riot'' and ``Drawing Flies.'' I'm recommending it to all my friends, and to all my family young enough to understand... Dave Grumbois… Expand

This Awesome CD Deserves Alot More Than A 10 its been my favourite CD for the better part of this year

jesus this is bad. RATM is a great band and the musicians are phenomanal. but on this disc they are stuck playing crappy slow songs, they deserve much better. Chris Cornell brings them down like the zeppelin with his slow drawling lyrics. Not good at all, there are many a band 100 times better than audioslave. dont bother buying it, and if you absolutely have to listen to it, just download it because they dont deserve ANY money for this piece of crap.… Expand

audioslave ruleees!!!!! and well... fuck you rap

One of the best compilations in recent memory. Cornell's voice and lyrics resonate with depth and character. Talented group.