Before Velvet Revolver, the new generation of supergroups began with Audioslave. Consisting of Chris Cornell of Soundgarden, and Tim Commerford, Tom Morello, and Brad Wilk of Rage Against the Machine, the self-titled debut was a massive success. No doubt from the followings the members brought from their former bands, but curiousity of how Commerford (bass), Morello (guitar), and Wilk (drums) would fare with a singer as opposed to RATM front man rapper Zack de la Rocha.
Audioslave was an album of a band trying to fit the pieces together, trying a variety of sounds from the spaghetti-Western sound of I Am The Highway to the psychdelica of Bring 'em Back Alive. In their second effort, Out Of Exile, Audioslave sounds more cohesive and fitting into the format of a conventional rock band. Morello's guitar tricks (earning his reputation with Rage) are still there, notably the break in the opening Your Time Has Come reminiscent of the 60's instrumental hit Telstar, and the rhythm section of Wilk and Commerford fleshes out the sound - they have found their rock chops (sorely missing in RATM). They even show a sense of humor in the good-natured making fun of themselves in the sing-song Doesn't Remind Me. The one problem, if it can be called that, is that producer Rick Rubin has turned up the volume a level on the musical instruments, and down a notch on Cornell's voice. Cornell has one of the most identifiable voices in rock, lower in tone than many, and definitely sensual. On Audioslave, that carried many a song. On Out of Exile, while still there, it's a bit lost in the mix. Not much, but if you listen to both albums you will notice.
Nonetheless, one would have to be hard-pressed to find a recent band whose second album was as good as their debut. If Audioslave was a 10, it was for the curiousity and experimental factors. Out of Exile would be a 9 1/2 based on its competency. I know ratings are not recommended here, but this is to get my POV across. Audioslave's third issue will tell the direction which way this band is headed.