This marks his fourth solo studio album and it was released on Universal Music Group. Brendan O’Brien served as his album’s producer. Cornell is best known as the front-man of the Grammy-winning rock group Soundgarden, for which he is the lead singer and rhythm guitar player. He was also the lead singer and songwriter for the rock band Audioslave. Soundgarden’s Superunknown album was their best-selling musical work to date, which features their smash single “Black Hole Sun.”
His CD opens with his haunting lead single “Nearly Forgot My Broken Heart,” and it is followed by the acoustic yet crisp “Dead Wishes” and the melodic “Worried Moon.”
“Before We Disappear” showcases his crystalline voice and neat bass. “Through The Window” is a laid-back and mellow performance. “Josephine” is a delicate and tender ballad, where Cornell will warm the hearts of his listeners. “Murderer Of Blue Skies” has a refreshing groove to it. In the title track, Cornell displays his ability to hit the high notes with ease.
“Let Your Eyes Wander” is yet another subtle acoustic masterpiece, while “Only These Words” is more uptempo than the rest of the album.
It closes with the haunting “Wrong Side” and “Misery Chain,” followed by a remixed version of “Our Time In The Universe.”
The Verdict
Overall, Chris Cornell’s latest album is well-crafted and well-produced. He is not afraid to show his vulnerability on this record, and he is one of those artists that could sing the phone-book and makes it sound good. It is an honest collection, and sung from the heart. It garners 4.5 out of 5 stars.
