A man who sang on some of the most memorable hard rock songs of the 1990s - 'Hunger Strike', 'Jesus Christ Pose', 'Black Hole Sun', 'Blow Up the Outside World' - Chris Cornell's career has taken him from Soundgarden to the Seattle side project Temple of the Dog to a solo career and then on to Audioslave, his collaboration with Rage Against the Machinists that would've said as much on one album as they did on three.

Now, with Audioslave over, and eight years after his solo debut 'Euphoria Morning', Cornell's going it alone again with 'Carry On', a record that doesn't rank with what he's achieved in the past - either in bands or by himself.

Too long and with too many songs that just blur into each other, it finds Cornell lumping himself in with countless other unremarkable US rock acts and sounding stuck in the 1990s in the process.

While Cornell's voice is what sets him apart from other singers, here he comes across as too intent on hitting the high notes when a subtler approach would have been far more affecting.

As far back as his song 'Seasons' on the 1992 'Singles' soundtrack, Cornell showed just how special he could be with just an acoustic guitar for company. The lasting impression that 'Carry On' leaves is that he should now head in this direction once again.

Harry Guerin


Tracklisting: No Such Thing - Poison Eye - Arms Around Your Love - Safe and Sound - She'll Never Be Your Man - Ghosts - Killing Birds - Billie Jean - Scar on the Sky - Your Soul Today - Finally Forever - Silence the Voices - Disappearing Act - You Know My Name - Today (Bonus Track) - Roads We Choose (Bonus Track)