Normally I’ll listen to a whole album as an exercise in itself. But with this one it was more a case of listening to maybe the first 3 songs while I did something else, until I got bored and put something else on. I don’t say this to be dissin’ the Cornell, but rather to illustrate how his latest creation fails to capture attention or imagination.
It lacks the energy and inspiration of any Soundgarden or Audioslave release, much like what you’d expect from a major label transition of a burgeoning band.
There are a few impressive moments though, such as his take on Michael Jackson’s ‘Billie Jean’. It’s a brave move to cover a song by an artist regarded as an icon, and although this version could never parallel the legendary status of the original, it can hold its own, giving an almost poignant adaptation.
Elsewhere, the single taken from the latest James Bond soundtrack, ‘You Know My Name’ may be suited to high speed car chases and gadgetry, but it’s less than memorable. Although ‘Carry On’ is missing some of Cornell’s previous vigour, he still has the ability to convey what he wants us to believe with his distinctive vocals, he just needs to work on the other dynamics of his solo work to convince us that he believes it himself first.