Chris Cornell / Songbook

Chris Cornell

Songbook

(UME)
* * *

Back in 1991 the Seattle grunge bands were riding the crest of a successful, plaid-covered wave which, by 1995, had subsequently pitched, broken and fully rolled back on itself, leaving behind a pile of discarded lumberjack shirts and a group of kids who would eventually grow up to be in bands like Puddle of Mudd. We know.

Now in 2011, the wave seems to be gaining some anniversary inspired momentum. There was the reissue of Nirvana’s ‘Nevermind’; Pearl Jam released their excellent documentary, ‘Twenty’; and Alice in Chains toured a bit, but then wondered if anyone had actually noticed.

Soundgarden were, until now, a notable absence from this list, but the release of Chris Cornell’s latest LP may quickly change all that.

Recorded during an acoustic tour of the US, ‘Songbook’ acts as the perfect bookend for Cornell’s career to date. It blends stone cold grunge classics (‘Fell On Black Days’, ‘Black Hole Sun’), with Euphoria Morning-era solo cuts (‘Can’t Change Me’) and both the good (‘I Am The Highway’) and bad (‘Doesn’t Remind Me’) aspects of the Audioslave back catalogue.

His voice has undoubtedly softened over time, but Cornell still has an unmistakable tone - a husky drawl mixed with an anguished shriek – that can turn any track into a classic.

The only questionable spot on the album is a slightly ill-judged cover of ‘Imagine’, but we’ll happily let Mr Cornell play the ‘I Was In Soundgarden’ card on that one. You’re welcome, Chris – just remember to pay it forward.