Chris Cornell: Ranking Every Album From Worst To Best
9. Out Of Exile
You kind of got the idea all of the songs from Audioslaves debut were written around - and driven by - the lead guitar riff, with everything else filled in later. While that method of songwriting can certainly work (just ask Slash), it would seem that Audioslave thrives more when the songs are constructed a little more naturally.
Don't worry, there are still plenty of memorable Tom Morello moments on the album, they just arrive without feeling like they're being forced on you.
Out of Exile also contains the song most unique to this supergroup, the beautiful, shimmery "Dandelion." The riff doesn't sound anything like the usual stompboxed Morello jam, and Cornell sounds like he just took a time machine straight out of the 70s.
A few moments on the album feel a bit cluttered to cut through the murkiness, such as the endless barrage of sonic blasts that should make "Man Or Animal" an exciting listen, but instead come off as just plain unfocused.