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Originally Posted by Circle V
How much of Audioslave's music have you actually heard? I agree that some of their songs (notably the MTV-friendly "Be Yourself") do sound quite commercial, but I maintain that they are different from the rest of the "post-grunge" bands in talent and creativity. Their lyrics are generally very good, with the exception of the same "power-ballad" song that I mentioned earlier. I liked them long before I moved back into the US, and therefore my judgement wasn't affected by their popularity. Their better songs are the ones that you *don't* see on MTV or hear on the radio-- if you haven't already, please listen to one of their actual albums.
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I have heard more than enough of Audioslave. Their first album ad nauseam, due to a former flatmate who was a fan. Their second album I got on my iTunes (from a friend's iPod, mind you) and have listened to a little bit. All I can say is it does absolutely nothing for me. Maybe if I was way younger and hadn't been exposed to genuinely exciting, sonically adventurous and
relevant rock, I would have liked them. But compared to the thousands of good independent bands that
don't get massive airplay -- due to a "challenging" sound, unconventional song-structures, confrontational/political lyrics and an unwillingness to compromise artistically -- Audioslave are just
boring. I don't actively hate them, or the people who listen to them, I simply don't see what the fuss is about at
all. And I maintain that their lyrics are irksome and generic. Poetic in places, sure, but too reliant on conventional verse-chorus-verse form, and lazy rhymes. That always bugs me.
Bottom line: I don't understand why so many people choose to listen to generic, clichéd commercial rock, when there are so many bands out there actually doing
interesting things with words and guitars. It's all exposure, I guess. To find exciting and unique music, you actually have to make an effort, and just stop accepting what's fed to you by radio and TV, which is 99% crap you don't need in your life anyway. Not talking specifically to
you now, Circle V. Just saying, in general, that's the way it works.
Ok, enough said. I didn't want to engage in a whole discussion about the boringness of Audislave, but you seem like a reasonable man who deserved a reply.
On topic, last two albums I bought:
Bucket Full of Teeth - IV
Amazing, schizophrenic grind/metal band, who unleash some absolutely
crushing riffs, interspersed with filthy, throbbing ambience and distant clouds of synth. Songs that shift from ominous picked guitar, almost
pretty in parts, to full-on screaming, chaotic fury. So good. On the fantastic label
Level Plane.
Deathspell Omega - Si Monvmentvm Requires, Circvmspice
Totally evil cult black metal, from
France of all places. Huge, blackened walls of buzzing guitars, rasping, cavernous demon-vocals, some truly fucked-up satanic chanting and other tortured sounds, all makes for some great (horrible) atmosphere. Really cool actually, if you're able to enjoy that sort of thing without taking it too seriously and end up killing yourself or someone else. Like I said, this is some
evil shit.