Solid, but not captivating – that is how I describe Audioslave's sophomore album "Out Of Exile." I really enjoyed the group's debut and was nicely surprised when they announced a second album. I didn't think that these former Rage Against the Machine and Soundgarden members would stick around together for a long time – I'm glad they proved me wrong.
I usually don't listen to heavy rock, but I happened to read some lyrics from Audioslave's first album and was instantly drawn to it; their themes are deeply rooted in existentialistic ideas with modern twists. The lyrics of "Out of Exile" are okay, but nothing really great. I was hoping that this deficiency would be balanced with some awesome sound, which turned out to be also only good (all these as compared to the debut). All-in-all the album is solid, but there isn't even one song that I would put on repeat like I did over and over again with Exploder, Show Me how to Live, and some others from the debut. Nevertheless, Audioslave is one of the strongest American rock bands in recent years, and I hope that they will keep producing more excellent work.
8/10
Lyrics to Exploder by Chris Cornell:
I met a man locked away
For things he hadn't done
Innocence on a ball and chain
He'll never feel the sun
Again on his face
Or roses in his hands
But when he smiled at me
I could understand
If you're free you'll never see the walls
If your head is clear you'll never free fall
If you're right you'll never fear the wrong
If your head is high you'll never fear at all
There was a daughter of a man
Who took his life too young
She swore she'd never do the same
Then did just what he'd done
And a boy who's gone insane
Voices in his head
No one knows what they say
Now his mother's dead
(chorus)
There was a man who had a face
That looked a lot like me
I saw him in the mirror and
I fought him in the street
And when he turned away
I shot him in the head
Then I came to realize
I had killed myself
(chorus)
