The Roads We Choose – A Retrospective
Chris Cornell · 2007
76 min · 17 tracks · alternative rock
A haunting blend of grunge anthems and introspective acoustic tracks, showcasing Cornell's powerful vocals and lyrical depth.
Top tracks — play these first
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No Such Thing Start here — accessible entry with immediate hook
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Black Hole Sun — This track is emblematic of Cornell's ability to blend haunting melodies with surreal lyrics, establishing it as a defining moment in grunge music.
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Hunger Strike — A powerful collaboration with Eddie Vedder, this song highlights themes of social justice and solidarity, resonating deeply within the grunge movement.
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Say Hello 2 Heaven — A poignant tribute that showcases Cornell's emotive vocal delivery and introspective lyricism, reflecting his personal struggles and triumphs.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album effectively highlights Cornell's range but suffers from the typical pitfalls of compilations.
What we noticed
- Several tracks are repeated in different versions, such as 'Black Hole Sun' appearing both in its original and acoustic forms, creating a thematic resonance.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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5/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- steady emotional exploration throughout
- reflective moments for quiet introspection
- powerful anthems for cathartic release
- haunting melodies that linger
- acoustic interludes for intimate connection
Maybe skip if you
- prefer fast-paced, upbeat tracks
- seek standalone, radio-friendly singles
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Deep Cut — A compilation that highlights significant works but isn't a primary entry point.
- Career context
- By the time 'The Roads We Choose – A Retrospective' was released in January 2007, Chris Cornell was already an established figure in rock music, known for his work with Soundgarden and Audioslave. This compilation album arrives four years after his last studio album 'Carry On' and serves as a reflection on his prolific career, illustrating both his commercial success and artistic evolution.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Soundgarden· Audioslave· Alice in Chains
Tracklist
- 1 No Such Thing Start here 3:44
- 2 Black Hole Sun 5:18
- 3 Hunger Strike 4:06
- 4 Outshined 5:10
- 5 The Day I Tried to Live 5:19
- 6 Fell on Black Days 4:42
- 7 Spoonman 4:06
- 8 Blow Up the Outside World 5:45
- 9 Be Yourself 4:39
- 10 Original Fire (acoustic) 3:22
- 11 Show Me How to Live 4:37
- 12 Can’t Change Me 3:23
- 13 Say Hello 2 Heaven 6:24
- 14 Like a Stone (acoustic) 3:50
- 15 Black Hole Sun (acoustic) 4:36
- 16 You Know My Name 4:00
- 17 Arms Around Your Love 3:34
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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