AUDIOSLAVE - Revelations - 2006

AUDIOSLAVE - Revelations - 2006
HIGHLIGHTS: One and the Same, Sound Of A Gun, Original Fire
SOUNDBITE: Very superstitious, writing's on the.../ - er I mean - /The original fire has died and gone but the riot inside moves on/
RATING:3/5
Allegedly Audioslave guitarist Tom Morello has claimed that 'Revelations' is 'ferociously funky...like Led Zeppelin meets Earth Wind And Fire'. If you're the sort of person who can see how Cream and Parliament have been a massive influence on Linkin Park and recognise the huge debt owed by Rammstein to Jimi Hendrix and Sly and the Family Stone - then you'll probably agree with him. If you're like me however, and your knowledge of funk stretches beyond James Brown and Stevie Wonder's 'Superstition' you'll be disappointed that the album doesn't live up to Morello's grandiose claims. To set the record straight (no pun intended – for anyone who still remembers vinyl) this is not a funk album or even a particularly funky album. There is a bit of a groove to some of the tracks notably 'One and the Same' but this is nothing new for the band and certainly no 'groovier' than say 'Show me how to live' on the first album. Fans of Audioslave’s brand of chugging riffs will still like the new stuff - but the heavier tracks are all variations on a theme of what appeared on the first album (as, to be fair, were the heavier tracks on the second album) - so there’s no longer the freshness, plus they lack the poppier prettier tunes from 'Out of Exile' like 'Doesn't Remind Me' or 'Dandelion'. One slight change on this album is that the band seem to favour a slightly faster tempo on some tracks than previously as evidenced on opener 'Revelations' and 'Original Fire'. 'Broken City' is memorable as a largely bass dominated groove - but not one that would trouble Bootsy Collins. If you are an Audioslave fan hoping for a metal record that bravely (or foolhardily) had decided to reinvestigate rock's occasional flirtation with the funk - you know - heavy syncopation, screaming wah-wah, a brass section and elastic bass riffs, or expected a major change in direction then forget it - as far as Morello's claim goes it's the emperor's new clothes. There have been claims and rumours that quality has taken second place in efforts to deliver the number of albums on their contract a.s.a.p. so that Chris Cornell can go off and enjoy a solo career. I'm not sure how much truth is in that as Cornell released solo stuff while he was still in Soundgarden. On the other hand, if you don't know the band it won't matter whether you buy this album or one of the other two as the law of diminishing returns won't apply to you.