Out of Exile by Audioslave
Released May 24, 2005

Possibly this decade's most significant social and political rock band, Audioslave, have once again hit a high note, this time with their second release, Out of Exile. Right before its release the band played a free show to the public in Havana, Cuba, purportedly marking the first time an American band had ever played an outdoor show there (there have been a few indoor ones with Bonnie Raitt and Billy Joel, among others, but they were much smaller). This is only another in a persistent flow of social statements, as their self-titled debut CD featured the cut, 'Cochise', about the infamous American Indian chief who died undefeated and free. Audioslave also contained the rockers 'Show Me How To Live' and 'Like A Stone'. The fact it was a multi-platinum success made the second release all the more anticipated by fans.

I'm a bit biased, as there were a slew of catchy tunes on the first one. But that doesn't matter much, because Out Of Exile is still an excellent CD. As I've said before, it takes a little while for new tunes to catch on sometimes. The guitar playing of Tom Morello, who thrilled many of us in Rage Against The Machine, is riff laden again. He's a bit reminiscent of Chris Cornell's previous cohort in Soundgarden, as both use vast amounts of tonal variations and styles, but that's where the comparison to Kim Thayil (where is he, anyway?) actually stops.

Morello's chordal arrangements are clever, and when his texture isn't chunky and crisp, it's velvety and ever flowing. The funny thing about it, he can sometimes trick a listener into thinking he's similar to many of today's players, as he appears to slack off in the lead area. But in reality, he just likes to take it slow, simple, and cyclical in certain areas, as in 'Be Yourself', a simple, yet perfect rocker, or as in the closer, 'The Curse'. He has so many different lead styles to choose from, and so many different tones with those leads. One minute you get a blatant demonstration by someone who appears to have graduated magna cum laude from the Jimmy Page School of Riffing (actually, Morello's a Harvard graduate), as his lines are thunderous. 'The Worm' is a good example of that. The notes bombard, in a powerful and heavy way. The opener, 'Your Time Has Come', is another.

It's consoling to hear someone still play like that.

Then you get a refined Morello within the verses of 'Out of Exile', picking with even repetition, until the chorus changes and gets thunderous again. The solo gets the FX treatment, with an interesting quiver wail. This song is a good example of his diversity as a lead player. The next thing you know, he falls into another mode altogether, as '#1 Zero' is slow and moody at the beginning, with slurry, slide-like lead lines. It eventually goes into a nice vibrato rhythm before making its way into a rocking bridge. The solo in this one is incredible. Morello is all over the high notes. Realistically, he's a brilliant lead guitarist who knows when to turn the speed picking on and off, in a modest yet tasteful way.

Though Tim Commerford's bass playing and Brad Wilk's drumming are as accomplished and inventive as in the Rage days, I think Tom Morello is getting even better. He's growing and expanding. And there just isn't enough one can say about the vocal abilities of Chris Cornell. As much as I liked Rage Against The Machine, for they had a great style behind Zack de la Rocha (as they essentially assisted in bridging the gap between rap and rock), I couldn't help wondering what the band would sound like with an outstanding, melodious vocalist. Audioslave is the answer. Out Of Exile proves it once again. This CD rocks.

Tracks
Your Time Has Come
Out Of Exile
Be Yourself
Doesn't Remind Me
Drown Me Slowly
Heaven's Dead
The Worm
Man Or Animal
Yesterday To Tomorrow
Dandelion
#1 Zero
The Curse

Label
Interscope Records

Links
Audioslave
Amazon.com