Posted: Saturday 2nd June 2007

Former Soundgarden and Audioslave frontman Chris Cornell steps into the solo spotlight with his second solo album Carry On. Cornell's debut album Euphoria Morning was released in 1999 and despite garnering critical acclaim wasn't a huge commercial success. It should be different this time around as Carry On comes hot on the heels of Cornell's smash-hit Bond theme You Know My Name, which is included on the album.

Carry On is a pretty lengthy album, coming in at 16 tracks long. Across the 16 tracks, Cornell gets the chance to showcase the different sides to his personality and music as well as hint at the direction he may follow on his solo path. It's to his credit that Cornell has decided to take a varied approach to his solo work and take a few chances.

The first thing you always notice about Cornell is his incredible voice. There is no other singer out there like him and his voice is so distinctive it actually sends shivers down your spine. His voice gets a good work out on Carry On. Opening track No Such Thing is one of the heavier songs on the album and allows Cornell to let rip in his usual way. Throughout the rest of the album he gets to show he is capable of a more restrained and melodic vocal.

Carry On touches upon a variety of musical genres. Arms Around Your Love is a mainstream pop song, Safe and Sound has a bluesy sound to it and Scar On The Sky has a hint of country in the mix. Those who hoped, or expected, Cornell to stick to the heavier rock material he usually performs may be disappointed. The rest of us will relish hearing one of the world's best male vocalists turning his hand to every style of music he can.

The oddest, but not altogether unpleasant, moment on the album is Cornell's cover of the Michael Jackson clasic Billie Jean. He strips the song away from it's R&B pop roots and reimagines it as a gently building guitar ballad. It's an interesting interpretation and bound to upset the many MJ fans out there but it's a pretty damn good cover.

Highlights on the set include Casino Royale theme You Know My Name, the beautifully haunting Disappearing Act and the punchy acoustic number Today which features a falsetto vocal from Cornell.

Carry On is a new start for Cornell. He has moved away from the dark, moody material of his solo debut and progresses from the all-out rock of his previous bands. He emerges from Carry On as an impressive songwriter and a promising solo artist. I for one can't wait to see him tour the album.