Chris Cornell -- "Carry On" LP

[vixapphire]

Picked this up the other day, a little late to the party. I've always loved CC's voice, even as it has mellowed and changed tonally over the past few years. But I didn't find as much musically to love on this album as on Euphoria Morning, or even his tunes on the first Audioslave record. Anyone else have an opinion on this record; is there something I'm missing that's worthy of closer attention?

Oh, and the question I've got: were they joking with the cover of Billie Jean? It sounds like it started out in jest, but they decided to go with it anyway. The drummer, bless his heart, is fantastic on that cut - really feeling the bluze - but jeezus! A slow-blues of Billie Jean??? I don't know whether to laugh or cry!

[-Noodles-]

I got to see CC a few nights back in Glasgow,.. he was pretty good.
I'm not really a fan of his - but Black Hole Sun and Jesus Christ Pose ruled.

His solo acoustic-y stuff reminded me a lot of Michael from Opeth at times!

[beyond]

super voice, to bad it's a really crappy album

[vixapphire]

Originally Posted by beyond

super voice, to bad it's a really crappy album

glad to hear i'm not alone in thinking so.

[BJohnston]

Audio Slave was incredibley average...I think that's being very kind. I saw his solo performance on the Jay Leno show. I wasn't into it at all. Though I think he was great with Soundgarden and even Temple of the Dog.

B

[willerichey]

Man. I am a big CC fan. Soundgarden is one of me all time favorites. Audioslave was cool for what they were but SG and Rage left big shoes. I didn't liek the first solo record then it grew on me. Good songs hid under too slick of a production IMHO.

Got Carry On and liked it because I enjoy his voice, but the more I listen to it. The more I hate it. It's pretty boring, mediocre stuff. I would almost bet the Billy Jean was a live cover (possible the one from the acoustic bootleg floating around fro Sweden) with studio instrumentation added later on. It may just be me but the vocal and acoustic sound duller than the other tracks on the record. Anyone else notice this?

[lowfreq33]

I kind of like the Billie Jean cover. I've been a CC fan since around 1991 or so, and I saw Soundgarden a few times live, loved it. I went to CC's show a few weeks ago, and I was BLOWN AWAY! His voice hasn't sounded this good in years, maybe it's the clean living. I do think the new album is a little heavy on the ballads, but he's still the best voice in rock, hands down. I agree that audioslave was mediocre, the combination just didn't really work for me. I liked maybe 5 or 6 songs from all 3 albums combined. I will say that the band at the live show was pretty top notch, they nailed not only the tunes but also the TONES from all the different eras.

[Slaytex]

I'm glad someone else started this thread because I almost did. I hated the albulm at first but the more I listen to it, there are about 4-5 songs that are cool. Overall the songs really lack and I'm willing to bet that the drums are fake or sliced and sampled to a grid. But his voice is still killer. Does anyone know what mic he used? It sounds like a U67. I think the problem is that we are all used to hearing CC as a heavy rock and roller, and when you hear this albulm it's very light and wussy in comparison.

[lowfreq33]

Typically CC uses an SM7, but I can't say for sure with this album. It sounds like it, but you never know.

[beyond]

Originally Posted by lowfreq33

Typically CC uses an SM7, but I can't say for sure with this album. It sounds like it, but you never know.

Yeah, his voice sounds really shrill and spinous on that album.

[Slaytex]

He has that Rod Stewart tone going on in a few songs if you ask me.

[audiomichael]

I think Chris Cornell is alot like Sammy Hagar...when they work with great musicians, they turn out great product...when they are left to do their own thing...it sucks.

What's up with Chris' voice live too...he sounds like a dying cat. I don't know how he gets it to sound so good on record.

Anyway, I was really disapointed by this record...I like the James Bond theme though.

[BrettMorello]

Totally hate it. Was a Soundgarden, and even a bit of an Audioslave fan, but his solo stuff is just very shallow and weak. The guy who used to rock has become some upperclass man making riskless music.

[vixapphire]

Originally Posted by Slaytex

I'm glad someone else started this thread because I almost did. I hated the albulm at first but the more I listen to it, there are about 4-5 songs that are cool. Overall the songs really lack and I'm willing to bet that the drums are fake or sliced and sampled to a grid. But his voice is still killer. Does anyone know what mic he used? It sounds like a U67. I think the problem is that we are all used to hearing CC as a heavy rock and roller, and when you hear this albulm it's very light and wussy in comparison.

hmmm... to me it's not that it's light and wussy; there was plenty of that on euphoria, except that euphoria seems to me much more interesting musically. there's a lot of residual "twistiness" in his composing on that album, left over from the soundgarden "in thru the out door" album. and that song on the first audioslave album "i am a highway" or whatever it's called, is a bird of the same, lighter-touch feather, and is among my favorite songs on the record (was beautiful live at the palladium a few years back too).

seems, though, that his attempts at being musically interesting (or "twisty", to continue the theme) on the new album come across (at least to me) as being overworked and underplayed; they don't have the creative juice undergirding them like the older material did -- the new stuff sounds like math problems transcribed into music. *boooorrring*

on the other hand, i'm not here to piss and moan. i'd actually love to know what those 4-5 songs are that you find compelling on this album, so that i can start from there and see whether my initial opinion changes. thanks!

v

[AllAboutTone]

If only Soundgarden was still alive ?? what if, what if ? i would still be buying their CDs
the rest is tha shits...Hes not outshining us !!

[Slaytex]

Originally Posted by vixapphire

hmmm... to me it's not that it's light and wussy; there was plenty of that on euphoria, except that euphoria seems to me much more interesting musically. there's a lot of residual "twistiness" in his composing on that album, left over from the soundgarden "in thru the out door" album. and that song on the first audioslave album "i am a highway" or whatever it's called, is a bird of the same, lighter-touch feather, and is among my favorite songs on the record (was beautiful live at the palladium a few years back too).

seems, though, that his attempts at being musically interesting (or "twisty", to continue the theme) on the new album come across (at least to me) as being overworked and underplayed; they don't have the creative juice undergirding them like the older material did -- the new stuff sounds like math problems transcribed into music. *boooorrring*

on the other hand, i'm not here to piss and moan. i'd actually love to know what those 4-5 songs are that you find compelling on this album, so that i can start from there and see whether my initial opinion changes. thanks!

v

"Wussy" might have not been the best choice of words I agree.

When I get in my car and check out the track names I'll let you know what songs I kinda like. I can tell you that they are track 6, 9,10,11 and 12. Like I said in my last post though, the more I listen to it and block out the comparison of this albulm to his prior ones it's not that bad. I feel it has potential in some songs, but overall wasn't planned out very well.

I would love to know what mic he used ( I'm thinking U67) and also what is up with the drums? I feel the drums are very week in some songs and get the impression they are fake in some way (sampled, on a grid).

[filthyrich]

It's not about this; but I think that Temple Of The Dog was one of the best rock albums of the 90's.

[Tom Hakala]

Originally Posted by lowfreq33

Typically CC uses an SM7, but I can't say for sure with this album. It sounds like it, but you never know.

I thought he has been using U67 for ages...

[jchadstopherhuez]

Originally Posted by filthyrich

It's not about this; but I think that Temple Of The Dog was one of the best rock albums of the 90's.

i would say....best rock albums...EVER.

imho

[Gear Tramp]

Originally Posted by filthyrich

It's not about this; but I think that Temple Of The Dog was one of the best rock albums of the 90's.

We have a winner!

P.S. I can't stand Chris Cornell's voice. I can't stand Billy Corgan's voice, either. But they both write really good songs and sing well, even though I don't like the way they sound.

[AllAboutTone]

Originally Posted by filthyrich

It's not about this; but I think that Temple Of The Dog was one of the best rock albums of the 90's.

Yes i would say "Say Hello to Heaven "

[Sid Viscous]

Chris is definitely guy that needs a band to make great music.

[vixapphire]

Originally Posted by Sid Viscous

Chris is definitely guy that needs a band to make great music.

yeah, although if the Eleven couple had been using something a tad more hi-fi than an 02r for the euphoria album, i think the material would've packed a bit more punch. i know it's production/engineering and not re. "the music", but that often makes a difference, however subtle...

[DontLetMeDrown]

A month or two back, I remember Chris Cornell performing some live acoustic songs on the radio. I didn't hear the entire show, but the strange thing was that he played a Soundgarden song and an Audioslave song. Even if he wrote them, isn't that kinda weak? I would have rather heard some of his new original material instead of stuff from old bands he was in.

[HighKing]

I think this album sucks...I agree with all of you: it is bland musically.

I do, however, have to say that while the *album* version of Billie Jean is weak, there are live versions, just him and a guitar that are absolutely amazing.

When I first heard a boot w/ that him + acoustic doing that song, I was blown away...it's genius.

But instead of just going w/ something very simple like that for the album, he went w/ what we ended up w/...which is pretty lame.

[Resonant Alien]

The thing is....no matter what you think of the album....CC is in a place in his career that most artists would give their left nad to be......he can make whatever music he feels like making and not give 2 shits what anyone else thinks about it. What a great great place to be

[slaves666]

When I saw audioslave live, the FOH had 2 LA2A's and a few 1176's and various other high end studio gear.....I found that very bizarre. They sounded amazing though....so maybe it was worth bringing the gear.

[everybody's x]

Originally Posted by mixman499

i would say....best rock albums...EVER.

imho

seconded, every time I hear of him putting an album out I am waiting for the SOUL that album had

[AllAboutTone]

Originally Posted by Resonant Alien

The thing is....no matter what you think of the album....CC is in a place in his career that most artists would give their left nad to be......he can make whatever music he feels like making and not give 2 shits what anyone else thinks about it. What a great great place to be

You have a point and a true one at that, BUT , the radio and XM already has enough crap on it now, i want to hear CC at his BEST and that would mean all the SG CDs that was released......Sting is one of the few that i can listen to no matter what he does and it comes out on top.....chemistry ......CC needs better chemistry musicians working with him to be a better artist, his voice is already there, the songs are a factor as well.

[beyond]

Originally Posted by Resonant Alien

The thing is....no matter what you think of the album....CC is in a place in his career that most artists would give their left nad to be......he can make whatever music he feels like making and not give 2 shits what anyone else thinks about it. What a great great place to be

So..he does not want to make GOOD music???