What You Are
Audioslave · 2004
4 min · 1 track · alternative rock
A fusion of gritty guitar riffs and soaring vocals that captures the essence of early 2000s alternative rock.
Top tracks — play these first
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What You Are — This title track encapsulates the band's ethos, combining introspective lyrics with anthemic choruses that reflect both personal and societal struggles.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The song combines strong riffs and vocals but follows a conventional structure typical of its era.
What we noticed
- The song features a prominent guitar riff that drives the verses, with dynamic shifts to a more melodic chorus.
- The structure follows a traditional verse-chorus format, with an extended instrumental bridge that emphasizes the band's musicianship.
- Composition 25% of the score
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6/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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7/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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5/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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6/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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4/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. 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.
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Breakthrough — Established Audioslave's reputation after Chris Cornell's departure from Soundgarden.
- Themes
- personal struggle· early 2000s angst· alternative rock identity
- Career context
- Released as part of Audioslave's self-titled debut album, 'What You Are' marked a pivotal moment in the band's career following Chris Cornell's departure from Soundgarden. The album showcased their unique sound blending alternative metal with rock, solidifying their presence in the rock scene after forming in 2001.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Soundgarden· Rage Against the Machine· Stone Temple Pilots
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 What You Are 4:09
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
One by One
Foo Fighters
Shares the same gritty guitar riffs and introspective themes of personal struggle in early 2000s rock.
Shangri-La Dee Da
Stone Temple Pilots
Explores similar alternative rock identity with soaring vocals and a blend of heavy and melodic elements.
A Crow Left of the Murder...
Incubus
Combines angst-driven lyrics with a dynamic sound palette that resonates with early 2000s alternative rock.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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