Unlimited Streaming
Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps
Start my trial period and start listening to this albumEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
SubscribeEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
Digital Download
Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.
It's subtle, but telling, that the cover of Audioslave's eponymous debut is designed by Storm Thorgerson, the artist behind Pink Floyd's greatest album sleeves. Thorgerson, along with Roger Dean, epitomized the look of the '70s, the era of supergroups, which is precisely what Audioslave is -- a meeting of Rage Against the Machine, minus Zack de la Rocha, with former Soundgarden vocalist Chris Cornell. Though both bands were leading lights of alt-metal in the '90s, the two came from totally separate vantage points: Rage Against the Machine was fearlessly modern, addressing contemporary politics over Tom Morello's hip-hop-influenced guitar, while Soundgarden dredged up '70s metal fueled with the spirit of punk. That these two vantage points don't quite fit shouldn't be a surprise -- there is little common ground between the two, apart that they're refugees from brainy post-metal bands. Of the two camps, Chris Cornell exerts the strongest influence, pushing the Rage Against the Machine boys toward catchier hooks and introspective material. Occasionally, the group winds up with songs that play to the strengths of both camps, like the storming lead single "Cochise." For Cornell fans, it's a relief to hear him unleash like this, given the reserve of his brooding solo debut, but this is hardly a one-man show. The Rage band, led by the intricate stylings of guitarist Tom Morello, gets their chance to shine, including on numbers that are subtler and shadier than the average Rage tune. Which brings up the primary fault on the album: Perhaps Morello, and perhaps the rest of RATM, are technically more gifted than, say, Soundgarden, but they never sound as majestic, as powerful, or as cinematic as what Cornell's songs need. His muted yet varied solo album proved that he needed muscle, but here it's all muscle, no texture or color. Consequently, many of the songs sound like they're just on the verge of achieving liftoff, never quite reaching their potential. There are moments, usually arriving in the first half, where Audioslave suddenly, inexplicably clicks, sounding like a band, not a marketer's grand scheme. Still, these moments are few and far between and it's hard to get through this album as a whole. By the end, it's clear that this pairing was a clever idea, but not an inspired one.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
You are currently listening to samples.
Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.
Listen to this playlist and more than 100 million songs with our unlimited streaming plans.
From £10.83/month
Lindsay Chase, Coordinator - Lenny Castro, Percussion - Floyd Reitsma, Engineer - David Schiffman, Recording Engineer - Chris Holmes, 2nd Engineer - Brad Wilk, Composer - Brad Wilk, Drums - Brad Wilk, Lyricist - Rich Costey, Mixing Engineer - John Burton, Engineer - Vlado Meller, Mastering Engineer - Darren Mora, 2nd Engineer - Chris Cornell, Vocal - Chris Cornell, Composer - Chris Cornell, Lyricist - Thom Russo, Engineer - Rick Rubin, Producer - Tom Morello, Guitar - Tom Morello, Composer - Tom Morello, Lyricist - Tom Russo, Edited By - Audioslave, Co-Producer - Audioslave, Performer - Greg Fidelman, Edited By - Andrew Scheps, Edited By - Andrew Scheps, Engineer - Andrew Scheps, Recording Engineer - Tim Commerford, Composer - Tim Commerford, Lyricist - Tim Commerford, Bass
(P) 2002 Sony Music Entertainment and Interscope Records
Lindsay Chase, Coordinator - Lenny Castro, Percussion - Floyd Reitsma, Engineer - David Schiffman, Recording Engineer - Chris Holmes, 2nd Engineer - Brad Wilk, Drums - Brad Wilk, Composer - Brad Wilk, Lyricist - Rich Costey, Mixing Engineer - John Burton, Engineer - Vlado Meller, Mastering Engineer - Darren Mora, 2nd Engineer - Chris Cornell, Vocal - Chris Cornell, Composer - Chris Cornell, Lyricist - Thom Russo, Engineer - Rick Rubin, Producer - Tom Morello, Guitar - Tom Morello, Composer - Tom Morello, Lyricist - Tom Russo, Edited By - Audioslave, Co-Producer - Audioslave, Performer - Greg Fidelman, Edited By - Andrew Scheps, Edited By - Andrew Scheps, Engineer - Andrew Scheps, Recording Engineer - Tim Commerford, Composer - Tim Commerford, Bass - Tim Commerford, Lyricist
(P) 2002 Sony Music Entertainment and Interscope Records
Lindsay Chase, Coordinator - Lenny Castro, Percussion - Floyd Reitsma, Engineer - David Schiffman, Recording Engineer - Chris Holmes, 2nd Engineer - Brad Wilk, Composer - Brad Wilk, Drums - Brad Wilk, Lyricist - Rich Costey, Mixing Engineer - John Burton, Engineer - Vlado Meller, Mastering Engineer - Darren Mora, 2nd Engineer - Chris Cornell, Vocal - Chris Cornell, Composer - Chris Cornell, Lyricist - Thom Russo, Engineer - Rick Rubin, Producer - Tom Morello, Guitar - Tom Morello, Composer - Tom Morello, Lyricist - Tom Russo, Edited By - Audioslave, Co-Producer - Audioslave, Performer - Greg Fidelman, Edited By - Andrew Scheps, Edited By - Andrew Scheps, Engineer - Andrew Scheps, Recording Engineer - Tim Commerford, Composer - Tim Commerford, Lyricist - Tim Commerford, Bass
(P) 2002 Sony Music Entertainment and Interscope Records
Lindsay Chase, Coordinator - Lenny Castro, Percussion - Floyd Reitsma, Engineer - David Schiffman, Recording Engineer - Chris Holmes, 2nd Engineer - Brad Wilk, Drums - Brad Wilk, Composer - Brad Wilk, Lyricist - Rich Costey, Mixing Engineer - John Burton, Engineer - Vlado Meller, Mastering Engineer - Darren Mora, 2nd Engineer - Chris Cornell, Vocal - Chris Cornell, Composer - Chris Cornell, Lyricist - Thom Russo, Engineer - Rick Rubin, Producer - Tom Morello, Guitar - Tom Morello, Composer - Tom Morello, Lyricist - Tom Russo, Edited By - Audioslave, Co-Producer - Audioslave, Performer - Greg Fidelman, Edited By - Andrew Scheps, Edited By - Andrew Scheps, Engineer - Andrew Scheps, Recording Engineer - Tim Commerford, Composer - Tim Commerford, Bass - Tim Commerford, Lyricist
(P) 2002 Sony Music Entertainment and Interscope Records
Lindsay Chase, Coordinator - Lenny Castro, Percussion - Floyd Reitsma, Engineer - David Schiffman, Recording Engineer - Chris Holmes, 2nd Engineer - Brad Wilk, Drums - Brad Wilk, Composer - Brad Wilk, Lyricist - Rich Costey, Mixing Engineer - John Burton, Engineer - Vlado Meller, Mastering Engineer - Darren Mora, 2nd Engineer - Chris Cornell, Vocal - Chris Cornell, Composer - Chris Cornell, Lyricist - Thom Russo, Engineer - Rick Rubin, Producer - Tom Morello, Guitar - Tom Morello, Composer - Tom Morello, Lyricist - Tom Russo, Edited By - Audioslave, Co-Producer - Audioslave, Performer - Greg Fidelman, Edited By - Andrew Scheps, Edited By - Andrew Scheps, Engineer - Andrew Scheps, Recording Engineer - Tim Commerford, Composer - Tim Commerford, Bass - Tim Commerford, Lyricist
(P) 2002 Sony Music Entertainment and Interscope Records
Lindsay Chase, Coordinator - Lenny Castro, Percussion - Floyd Reitsma, Engineer - David Schiffman, Recording Engineer - Chris Holmes, 2nd Engineer - Brad Wilk, Drums - Brad Wilk, Composer - Brad Wilk, Lyricist - Rich Costey, Mixing Engineer - John Burton, Engineer - Vlado Meller, Mastering Engineer - Darren Mora, 2nd Engineer - Chris Cornell, Vocal - Chris Cornell, Composer - Chris Cornell, Lyricist - Thom Russo, Engineer - Rick Rubin, Producer - Tom Morello, Guitar - Tom Morello, Composer - Tom Morello, Lyricist - Tom Russo, Edited By - Audioslave, Co-Producer - Audioslave, Performer - Greg Fidelman, Edited By - Andrew Scheps, Edited By - Andrew Scheps, Engineer - Andrew Scheps, Recording Engineer - Tim Commerford, Composer - Tim Commerford, Bass - Tim Commerford, Lyricist
(P) 2002 Sony Music Entertainment and Interscope Records
Lindsay Chase, Coordinator - Lenny Castro, Percussion - Floyd Reitsma, Engineer - David Schiffman, Recording Engineer - Chris Holmes, 2nd Engineer - Brad Wilk, Drums - Brad Wilk, Composer - Brad Wilk, Lyricist - Rich Costey, Mixing Engineer - John Burton, Engineer - Vlado Meller, Mastering Engineer - Darren Mora, 2nd Engineer - Chris Cornell, Vocal - Chris Cornell, Composer - Chris Cornell, Lyricist - Thom Russo, Engineer - Rick Rubin, Producer - Tom Morello, Guitar - Tom Morello, Composer - Tom Morello, Lyricist - Tom Russo, Edited By - Audioslave, Co-Producer - Audioslave, Performer - Greg Fidelman, Edited By - Andrew Scheps, Edited By - Andrew Scheps, Engineer - Andrew Scheps, Recording Engineer - Tim Commerford, Composer - Tim Commerford, Bass - Tim Commerford, Lyricist
(P) 2002 Sony Music Entertainment and Interscope Records
Lindsay Chase, Coordinator - Lenny Castro, Percussion - Floyd Reitsma, Engineer - David Schiffman, Recording Engineer - Chris Holmes, 2nd Engineer - Brad Wilk, Drums - Brad Wilk, Composer - Brad Wilk, Lyricist - Rich Costey, Mixing Engineer - John Burton, Engineer - Vlado Meller, Mastering Engineer - Darren Mora, 2nd Engineer - Chris Cornell, Vocal - Chris Cornell, Composer - Chris Cornell, Lyricist - Thom Russo, Engineer - Rick Rubin, Producer - Tom Morello, Guitar - Tom Morello, Composer - Tom Morello, Lyricist - Tom Russo, Edited By - Audioslave, Co-Producer - Audioslave, Performer - Greg Fidelman, Edited By - Andrew Scheps, Edited By - Andrew Scheps, Engineer - Andrew Scheps, Recording Engineer - Tim Commerford, Composer - Tim Commerford, Bass - Tim Commerford, Lyricist
(P) 2002 Sony Music Entertainment and Interscope Records
Lindsay Chase, Coordinator - Lenny Castro, Percussion - Floyd Reitsma, Engineer - David Schiffman, Recording Engineer - Chris Holmes, 2nd Engineer - Brad Wilk, Drums - Brad Wilk, Composer - Brad Wilk, Lyricist - Rich Costey, Mixing Engineer - John Burton, Engineer - Vlado Meller, Mastering Engineer - Darren Mora, 2nd Engineer - Chris Cornell, Vocal - Chris Cornell, Composer - Chris Cornell, Lyricist - Thom Russo, Engineer - Rick Rubin, Producer - Tom Morello, Guitar - Tom Morello, Composer - Tom Morello, Lyricist - Tom Russo, Edited By - Audioslave, Co-Producer - Audioslave, Performer - Greg Fidelman, Edited By - Andrew Scheps, Edited By - Andrew Scheps, Engineer - Andrew Scheps, Recording Engineer - Tim Commerford, Composer - Tim Commerford, Bass - Tim Commerford, Lyricist
(P) 2002 Sony Music Entertainment and Interscope Records
Lindsay Chase, Coordinator - Lenny Castro, Percussion - Floyd Reitsma, Engineer - David Schiffman, Recording Engineer - Chris Holmes, 2nd Engineer - Brad Wilk, Drums - Brad Wilk, Composer - Brad Wilk, Lyricist - Rich Costey, Mixing Engineer - John Burton, Engineer - Vlado Meller, Mastering Engineer - Darren Mora, 2nd Engineer - Chris Cornell, Vocal - Chris Cornell, Composer - Chris Cornell, Lyricist - Thom Russo, Engineer - Rick Rubin, Producer - Tom Morello, Guitar - Tom Morello, Composer - Tom Morello, Lyricist - Tom Russo, Edited By - Audioslave, Co-Producer - Audioslave, Performer - Greg Fidelman, Edited By - Andrew Scheps, Edited By - Andrew Scheps, Engineer - Andrew Scheps, Recording Engineer - Tim Commerford, Composer - Tim Commerford, Bass - Tim Commerford, Lyricist
(P) 2002 Sony Music Entertainment and Interscope Records
Lindsay Chase, Coordinator - Lenny Castro, Percussion - Floyd Reitsma, Engineer - David Schiffman, Recording Engineer - Chris Holmes, 2nd Engineer - Brad Wilk, Drums - Brad Wilk, Composer - Brad Wilk, Lyricist - Rich Costey, Mixing Engineer - John Burton, Engineer - Vlado Meller, Mastering Engineer - Darren Mora, 2nd Engineer - Chris Cornell, Vocal - Chris Cornell, Composer - Chris Cornell, Lyricist - Thom Russo, Engineer - Rick Rubin, Producer - Tom Morello, Guitar - Tom Morello, Composer - Tom Morello, Lyricist - Tom Russo, Edited By - Audioslave, Co-Producer - Audioslave, Performer - Greg Fidelman, Edited By - Andrew Scheps, Edited By - Andrew Scheps, Engineer - Andrew Scheps, Recording Engineer - Tim Commerford, Composer - Tim Commerford, Bass - Tim Commerford, Lyricist
(P) 2002 Sony Music Entertainment and Interscope Records
Lindsay Chase, Coordinator - Lenny Castro, Percussion - Floyd Reitsma, Engineer - David Schiffman, Recording Engineer - Chris Holmes, 2nd Engineer - Brad Wilk, Drums - Brad Wilk, Composer - Brad Wilk, Lyricist - Rich Costey, Mixing Engineer - John Burton, Engineer - Vlado Meller, Mastering Engineer - Darren Mora, 2nd Engineer - Chris Cornell, Vocal - Chris Cornell, Composer - Chris Cornell, Lyricist - Thom Russo, Engineer - Rick Rubin, Producer - Tom Morello, Guitar - Tom Morello, Composer - Tom Morello, Lyricist - Tom Russo, Edited By - Audioslave, Co-Producer - Audioslave, Performer - Greg Fidelman, Edited By - Andrew Scheps, Edited By - Andrew Scheps, Engineer - Andrew Scheps, Recording Engineer - Tim Commerford, Composer - Tim Commerford, Bass - Tim Commerford, Lyricist
(P) 2002 Sony Music Entertainment and Interscope Records
Lindsay Chase, Coordinator - Lenny Castro, Percussion - Floyd Reitsma, Engineer - David Schiffman, Recording Engineer - Chris Holmes, 2nd Engineer - Brad Wilk, Drums - Brad Wilk, Composer - Brad Wilk, Lyricist - Rich Costey, Mixing Engineer - John Burton, Engineer - Vlado Meller, Mastering Engineer - Darren Mora, 2nd Engineer - Chris Cornell, Vocal - Chris Cornell, Composer - Chris Cornell, Lyricist - Thom Russo, Engineer - Rick Rubin, Producer - Tom Morello, Guitar - Tom Morello, Composer - Tom Morello, Lyricist - Tom Russo, Edited By - Audioslave, Co-Producer - Audioslave, Performer - Greg Fidelman, Edited By - Andrew Scheps, Edited By - Andrew Scheps, Engineer - Andrew Scheps, Recording Engineer - Tim Commerford, Composer - Tim Commerford, Bass - Tim Commerford, Lyricist
(P) 2002 Sony Music Entertainment and Interscope Records
Lindsay Chase, Coordinator - Lenny Castro, Percussion - Floyd Reitsma, Engineer - David Schiffman, Recording Engineer - Chris Holmes, 2nd Engineer - Brad Wilk, Drums - Brad Wilk, Composer - Brad Wilk, Lyricist - Rich Costey, Mixing Engineer - John Burton, Engineer - Vlado Meller, Mastering Engineer - Darren Mora, 2nd Engineer - Chris Cornell, Vocal - Chris Cornell, Composer - Chris Cornell, Lyricist - Thom Russo, Engineer - Rick Rubin, Producer - Tom Morello, Guitar - Tom Morello, Composer - Tom Morello, Lyricist - Tom Russo, Edited By - Audioslave, Co-Producer - Audioslave, Performer - Greg Fidelman, Edited By - Andrew Scheps, Edited By - Andrew Scheps, Engineer - Andrew Scheps, Recording Engineer - Tim Commerford, Composer - Tim Commerford, Bass - Tim Commerford, Lyricist
(P) 2002 Sony Music Entertainment and Interscope Records
Album review
It's subtle, but telling, that the cover of Audioslave's eponymous debut is designed by Storm Thorgerson, the artist behind Pink Floyd's greatest album sleeves. Thorgerson, along with Roger Dean, epitomized the look of the '70s, the era of supergroups, which is precisely what Audioslave is -- a meeting of Rage Against the Machine, minus Zack de la Rocha, with former Soundgarden vocalist Chris Cornell. Though both bands were leading lights of alt-metal in the '90s, the two came from totally separate vantage points: Rage Against the Machine was fearlessly modern, addressing contemporary politics over Tom Morello's hip-hop-influenced guitar, while Soundgarden dredged up '70s metal fueled with the spirit of punk. That these two vantage points don't quite fit shouldn't be a surprise -- there is little common ground between the two, apart that they're refugees from brainy post-metal bands. Of the two camps, Chris Cornell exerts the strongest influence, pushing the Rage Against the Machine boys toward catchier hooks and introspective material. Occasionally, the group winds up with songs that play to the strengths of both camps, like the storming lead single "Cochise." For Cornell fans, it's a relief to hear him unleash like this, given the reserve of his brooding solo debut, but this is hardly a one-man show. The Rage band, led by the intricate stylings of guitarist Tom Morello, gets their chance to shine, including on numbers that are subtler and shadier than the average Rage tune. Which brings up the primary fault on the album: Perhaps Morello, and perhaps the rest of RATM, are technically more gifted than, say, Soundgarden, but they never sound as majestic, as powerful, or as cinematic as what Cornell's songs need. His muted yet varied solo album proved that he needed muscle, but here it's all muscle, no texture or color. Consequently, many of the songs sound like they're just on the verge of achieving liftoff, never quite reaching their potential. There are moments, usually arriving in the first half, where Audioslave suddenly, inexplicably clicks, sounding like a band, not a marketer's grand scheme. Still, these moments are few and far between and it's hard to get through this album as a whole. By the end, it's clear that this pairing was a clever idea, but not an inspired one.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 14 track(s)
- Total length: 01:05:15
- Main artists: Audioslave
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Epic
- Genre: Pop/Rock
(P) 2002 Sony Music Entertainment Inc. and Interscope Records
Improve album informationWhy buy on Qobuz...
-
Stream or download your music
Buy an album or an individual track. Or listen to our entire catalogue with our high-quality unlimited streaming subscriptions.
-
Zero DRM
The downloaded files belong to you, without any usage limit. You can download them as many times as you like.
-
Choose the format best suited for you
Download your purchases in a wide variety of formats (FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF...) depending on your needs.
-
Listen to your purchases on our apps
Download the Qobuz apps for smartphones, tablets and computers, and listen to your purchases wherever you go.