Revelations

by

Audioslave

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At first listen, Revelations might sound a bit weird, and a bit funky. I know it did to me. Alot of other people I've talked with felt the same way. But trust me, the more you listen to Revelations the more you will like it. It is tremendously addicting. I havn't been addicted to a album like this for quite awhile. Suffice to say, Revelations is a remarkable album in all aspects. Audioslave continue to refine their sound and create wonderful music. This time around they have incorporated alot of funk, & rythym and blues into the album. Bottom line to me, if you liked the first two slave albums, there is no reason in the world that you shouldn't like this one.

A interesting note about this album is how it was recorded. The band went directly from touring to the studio to record it. There was no lull or lapse of time inbetween like there was inbetween the first two albums. The band wanted to establish a continual cycle of touring, recording, touring. They even recorded some somes out on the road and played them. I know Wide Awake, and Sound of a Gun were played at some of the later shows. They toured for quite awhile and then officialy went into the studio to record the whole album. I think this is a really good idea, as they had alot of fresh and exciting ideas that they wanted to experiment with. The quality of "Revelations" speaks volumes as to how effective this process was for Audioslave.

The thing I noticed with this album is that the chemistry between the band just keeps getting better and better. Remember, Brad, Tom, and Tim have been playing together for over 14 years. The first RATM album came out back in 1992. With Audioslave, and Chris, they are really gelling as a band, & they have even mentioned that in different interviews. Technically, I find Revelations to be one of the stronger albums that Audioslave has done. I'm not going to say its better than the other two, because I hold those albums up very high, but Revelations is no doubt their equal on many levels, dare I say stronger in some areas. I love the song structures on this album, they seem to be more complex and interesting. For instance, at the start of Sound of a Gun (which is a continuation of Drown Me Slowly btw) it almost sounds like it might be a softer, slower song. But then it kicks in and is a really fast, uptempto track. This adds alot of depth to the album, and helps keep it from getting old. You find new things to appreciate each time you listen to it.

Already, Revelations contains some of my favorite Audioslave songs. Revelations contains alot of funky and groovy tracks, stuff that you can bob along too. It works surprisingly well. Tom had previously described the album as, "Earth Wind and Fire meets Led Zepplin." After actually hearing the album, that desription is accurate, and it sounds amazing. Its not a drasticly different sound as you might think it would have to be, but it is new and exciting in many ways.

My favorite tracks are the title track, One and the Same, Sound of a Gun, The Shape of Things to Come, Jewel of the Summertime, and Moth. I won't bore with a analysis of each track, but they are all very well done, very polished and sound great. I had high expectations for this album, and Revelations far away exceeded them, and thats no easy task.

It seems to me that so far the reaction for this album is mixed. My advice is to give it a honest listen. If your not a Audioslave fan already, I doubt this album will win you over. But if you are a Audioslave fan, this album has tremendous amount to offer. This will be a album that fans will remember for years to come. We just might have Audioslave's greatest achievement and defining album, but only time will tell.

Wow, this is painful to do. First of all I don't write reviews, not my thing, generally speaking. But I feel it is important to write (or warn) when it has importance.

I have to first say that Rage Against the Machine is my all-time Favorite band and while this was very much due to their musical talent it was also greatly due to the amazing politics they brought into the mainstream and I miss them more than I can ever express.

Secondly, I am in my late thirties, born and raised in good old Seattle who was barely of drinking age when bands like Soundgarden, Mudhoney, Nirvana, Alice in Chains and many other greats were playing the clubs in Seattle before the big breakout of Nirvan's Nevermind. And while I love the great music of Seattle and those outise Seattle but of this era such as Jane's Addiction, Smashing Pumpkins and Sublime. I cannot deny the fact that Chris Cornell is arguably the best male rock SINGER of my generation, the man has a voice that is golden. I love the man as poet and musical talent, my favorite ALBUM from Seattle in the early 90's was BadMotorFinger, hands-down.

So how did I feel when these two forces collided? At first I was ecstatic to hear the rumors were true, then tentative to hear no politics but still ready and open-minded. I bought the debut greedily and listened to it many times recommending it to everyone I knew and met, great album! One of the best rock albums I have ever heard, musically speaking. I saw the boyz live at the Paramount and what a great show! Not as good as Rage live but still a show I will never forget.

I will admit I have bad feelings about TC destroying RAGE and about Audioslave being a mainstream rock band in almost EVERY sense of the word but their first album was still an amazing piece and put many of my concerns to rest. Then came their sophomore release (usually the killer, right?) but still a pretty good album. Easier to listen to, maybe even a bit more mainstream but a real showcase of talent for all concerned and I felt no need for concern or alarm.

Revelations? I really don't know what to say. I can't trash guys who I have such great respect for (except TC who I have not problems trashing) but needless to say I hope this album flops otherwise I am afraid that the rest of Audioslave's career will be about making mediocre mainstream rock that will soon be on par with Van Haggar. I know these guys are MUCH better than this album and there are some moments of dim-greatness but all this talk of FUNK influence is crap (and yes I know funk), the bottom line is that it is more watered down than ever before and I hope that they get back to their roots on the next one. I know we are all getting older but does that mean we are settling for mediocracy?

Bottom line; Audioslave is still better than most bands around today but this is not the Audioslave I was just starting to know and love. If you pick-up this album up, do so knowing you are getting a nice fat dose of Audioslave-lite. My recommendation is borrow it from you buddy and listen to it several times or just burn it. I hate to suggest taking money out of these guys pockets (especially Tom and Brad who I have tremendous respect for and I know use much of their money supporting progressive causes) but if people don't buy it maybe they will get the message and get back to what they do best, ROCK!

Tom, Brad, Chris I hope I do regret writing this someday and eventually hear something I am not hearing now after about 10 listens and REALLY WANTING TO LOVE IT. I gave it 3 stars because it is Audioslave, any other band would have rated lower.

SIDE NOTE: It has been over a year and I don't regret writing this review! If anything I was generous and kind to a group of musicians I greatly love and respect for all their amazing contributions. The band has long since disbanded, relatively speaking, and RAGE is back in full effect which is amazing...I hope they are working on a new album as we speak. Chris put out a decent solo album but aside from Soundgarden, Audioslave's Debut and his first solo album he is not the great producer of songs he has been all these years. The Robert Plant of my generation, the VOICE, I love your amazing pipes and hope you will put out some great music in the future as you deserve to prolong an amazing legacy and your fans are here for you brother! As far as "Revelations" is concerned I have not listened to it once since I wrote this review and really have no desire to.

I do regret one point and that is that while the strain between Zach and Tim was most likely the breaking point of RAGE these guys have been friends a long time and friends don't always see eye to eye and being in a band together can be a real strain on even the best of friendships. Timmy and Zack made their peace and realized a greater cause and came together so if I do regret anything in this review it was my harshness of TC. Rage on in struggle Zack, Tom, Tim and Brad!

Oh and If you haven't heard Tom made a solo album under the name "the Nightwatchman" that is 5 stars and awesome...more folk and definitely not reminiscent of RAGE or Audioslave but an great album for any lover of good music with politics in the mix. Tom plays acoustic guitar and sings very impressively, check it out!

SECOND UPDATE: Tom put out his second album under the amended name "Tom Morello: The Nightwatchman" and Chris put out another solo album with producer Timbaland (did I spell that right?). This is the guy who produces Justin Timberlake! It is musically pretty heavy on the electronics but really a great album and worth checking out. Tom's second solo album is quite good but I still like his first the best for the two, the new one is more polished and incorporates a band while the first is more one-man folk and is unpolished and truly impressive. Zack of Rage did an EP called "One Day as a Lion" with Jon Thoedore of Mars Volta fame that is pretty heavy, kind of Rage-like in it's sound and to some degree socially (5 awesome songs).