CD Reviews

Chris Cornell | Songbook

Universal (2011)

By MICHAEL CHRISTOPHER | December 6, 2011

3.0 Stars

Chris Cornell's reaction to the critical lynching his Timbaland-produced debacle Scream took in 2009 was to grow his hair back out, reunite with Soundgarden (currently in the studio), and embark on a solo tour stripped down to just an acoustic guitar. Songbook is the colorful sonic snapshot of that jaunt, and it has a little bit of everything — Audioslave, Soundgarden, Temple of the Dog, and solo material. That patented caterwaul is in fine form; Cornell easily hits all the notes on "All Night Thing," "Fell on Black Days," and "Wide Awake" — even a pair of tracks from Scream work in the bare-bones setting. The buzz has been about the inspired takes on Led Zeppelin's "Thank You" and John Lennon's "Imagine," but the highlight is the first appearance on an official release of "Cleaning My Gun," a haunting track about a narrator who reflects on the fleetinginesss of relationships and life in general while his lover sleeps. The song choices are a bit predictable, especially since gems like "Sunshower," "Seasons," and "Mind Riot" — which joined covers of Syd Barrett, the Beatles, and Mother Love Bone on the road — are omitted here. Then again, there's always volume two.

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Various Artists | Where the Action Is: Los Angeles Nuggets 1965 - 1968
More than three years in the making, the most recent installment of Rhino's legendary archival garage-rock series offers an amazingly comprehensive excavation of an absurdly fertile scene.
Various Artists | Nippon Girls: Japanese Pop, Beat & Bossa Nova 1966–1970
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Various Artists | Casual Victim Pile: Austin 2010
The notion that regional musical flavors exist independently in American cities is quickly becoming an archaic truism, seeing as how the world really is a stage these days, at least in the digital sense.
Bearstronaut | Broken Handclaps
There's a distinct absence of wildlife or astronauts on Lowell electronica quartet Bearstronaut's latest release.
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Look, I get it: the last thing we need right now is yet another band who can be described as “sun-baked,” “reverb-soaked,” or even just “psychedelic.” But Avi Buffalo (I know! An animal name to boot!) are worth your attention for a few reasons.
Review: Brandon Flowers | Flamingo
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With remarkable swiftness, Crocodiles tick off all the key characteristics of a band in the thriving lo-fi indie/punk/garage scene.
Review: Teengirl Fantasy | 7AM
If the demise of traditional record making is designed to foster any band’s fruitful existence, it’s that of Teengirl Fantasy.
Review: Screaming Females | Castle Talk
Screaming Females are one of those rare examples of a band who fester so long in the dark — in this case, the teeming basements of New Brunswick, New Jersey — that they sour into something great by the time anyone’s heard of them.
Review: Needy Visions | Needy Visions
The Needy Visions are all about fun, and goddamn do I wish I had their latest homonymous release at the beginning of summer.
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