Top 10 Audioslave Songs

Photo: By Simon Jacquier from Vernayaz (near Martigny, Valais), Switzerland (Derivative of Audioslave) [CC BY-SA 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

The band Audioslave was a short-lived group that delivered some of the finest pure rock and roll of the 21st century. The band stayed together for only six years. However, while some bands release albums only every five to ten years, Audioslave released three action-packed records between 2002 and 2006. In essence, the band could be considered a supergroup because of the merger of legendary Soundgarden vocalist and songwriter Chris Cornell and Rage Against the Machine’s guitarist and songwriter Tom Morello, drummer Brad Wilk, and bassist Tim Commerford.

Audioslave was basically Rage Against the Machine in terms of personnel, with Chris Cornell replacing Zack de la Rocha on vocals. However, the comparison between the two bands ended at the personnel door, as the groups’ sound completely different. Chris Cornell, who we feel was the greatest rock and roll singer since Robert Plant, blended incredibly well with Rage Against The Machine. Cornell’s voice is so strong that it can, at times, overshadow his incredible songwriting. Morello’s talent is out of this world. It was a talent Bruce Springsteen recognized, who invited Tom Morello to join the E Street Band for an entire tour. When the boss comes calling, nobody says no.

Audioslave released three albums. The band’s debut album, Audioslave, was released in 2002. The follow-up album, entitled Out Of Exile was issued in 2005. The band’s final album, Revelations, was released one year later, in 2006. Our Top 10 Audioslave songs list is an attempt to select ten of the band’s best recordings from their short period together. The list should only serve as an introduction to the band; we strongly urge anyone to check out each of their fabulous records.

# 10 – Nothing Left To Say But Goodbye

We open our Top 10 Audioslave songs list with a track from the band’s final album, entitled Revelations. The song “Nothing Left To Say Goodbye” was issued as the eleventh track on the album. It was never released as a single, but its touching melody and lyrical content have become a fan favorite. It was placed as the second-to-last song on the band’s final album, making it one of the last new songs fans got to hear from the band before it all ended. It wound up being a pretty ironic and sad title.

# 9 – Original Fire

“Original Fire” was released in July 2006 as the lead single from Audioslave’s third and final album, Revelations. The song opens with a drum beat that carries the unmistakable pocket of classic Motown, setting the stage for what guitarist Tom Morello described as hard rock infused with 1970s funk and soul influences.

The track achieved substantial rock radio success, peaking at number three on the Modern Rock Tracks chart and number four on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. Director Paul R. Brown’s video interprets the song’s central lyric about how the original fire has died but the riot inside moves on by featuring silhouetted images of cultural figures including Johnny Cash, Martin Luther King Jr., Che Guevara, Chuck D, The Clash, Bob Dylan, Malcolm X, and Nelson Mandela, with Morello noting the video traces the thread of music and cultural figures with integrity throughout history and how those streams converge in the present.

# 8 – I Am The Highway

Continuing with our top 10 Audioslave songs, we will stick with the band’s first album for another great track entitled “I Am The Highway.” The song “I Am The Highway” was released as the album’s fourth single. “I Am The Highway” broke the Billboard top 100 and reached all the way to number two on the mainstream rock tracks charts. I love the wasy Morello makes his guitar sound like a violin on the opening sequence. This one is harrowing.

# 7 – Broken City

Audioslave’s “Broken City” was issued on the band’s third album, entitled Revelations. The bass groove on this great track sets the tone for a down-and-dirty, funky tune that reflects the 1960s vibe that resonates throughout the album. You can hear that Motown swing in the track’s bass line.

# 6 – #1 Zero

The great track “#1 Zero” was released on the Out Of Exile album. Opening with that vintage Tom Morello guitar lick, this one was definitely one of the band’s strongest releases. The sound of that snare drum lets the listener know that Grunge is still alive many years later. Morello’s guitar licks quickly confirm that message. And of course, Cornell, who helped fuel the Grunge movement, hits it out of the park with his eerie vocals.

# 5 – Cochise

Audioslave’s debut album Audioslave was such an amazing debut album by the group. It was songs like “Cochise” that really showcased the great Led Zeppelin-style guitar licks that turned so many people on to this band. “Cochise” was the first single released from the album.

# 4 – Show Me How To Live

“Show Me How to Live” was released in June 2003 as the third single from Audioslave’s self titled album Audioslave. Built around heavy guitar and drum riffs at roughly ninety BPM, the track features a Morello solo shaped by tremolo picking and effects, while Cornell adds a distinctive vocal technique by striking his throat with the side of his hand as he changes pitch. The lyrics drew inspiration from Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, including the “nail in my head” line in the chorus. Commercially, the single peaked at number sixty-seven on the US Hot 100, reached number two on US Mainstream Rock Tracks, and hit number four on US Modern Rock Tracks.

The music video mixes footage from the 1971 film Vanishing Point with newly shot scenes of the band, including Cornell driving a white 1970 Dodge Challenger and the group performing in the Nevada desert, ending with the car deliberately crashing into a bulldozer roadblock, with filming in Los Angeles.

# 3 – Be Yourself

As we near the end of our Top 10 Audioslave songs list, we turn to one track from each of the band’s three albums. Representing the bands’ sophomore album Out Of Exile is the great Red Hot Chili Peppers’ sounding tune “Be Yourself.” The track became a major rock radio record in 2005, topping Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Tracks chart for seven weeks and Modern Rock Tracks for four, while also crossing over to a number thirty two peak on the US Billboard Hot 100, and reaching the top five on the UK Rock and Metal chart. Cornell tied the song to personal changes, tragedies, and mistakes, framing the central message as a direct statement about not living in shame and trying to make things right.

# 2 – Revelations

The great song “Revelations” was the title track from the band’s final album Revelations.The album was released in 2006. The song was a top 10 hit on the US Billboard Mainstream Rock Charts.

# 1 – Like A Stone

This one was easy to choose for the number one spot. Cool intro, fantastic verse, and a killer haunting chorus delivered the goods and cemented the group Audioslave as one of the best of the 2000s.