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I wrote an overly-long, negative rant about why I am upset with negative reviews of the new Audioslave album, but I don't think I'll post it. What I will do is say the following:

Don't think too much about the music. Just listen to it, and feel it and try to understand what the artist is doing. Stop comparing albums and just let songs and albums speak for themselves. Know that the purpose of an artist is to evolve and change, or if he or she chooses, to remain the same. Artists can't win because if they change their sound, some people won't like it. If they keep the same sound, people won't like that either. When you're trying to evaluate an album, stop thinking that keeping a signature sound is a bad thing. It's called a style, people. Artists will always have their own style. Try to remember what made you love the previous albums. If the same things show up on a new album, just enjoy them.

Likewise, if an artist changes his or her sound, follow them to wherever they lead you. Things may seem strange at first, but you have to trust the artist. They spend a lot of time making these songs, so the least you can do is spend some time trying to understand them. Pay attention the music and let it seep into your soul. Good music should make you feel, great music makes you feel AND think.

I don't know where this is going, and it's turning into its own rant. So, to end, I'll just say that I wish people would start looking at what's good about the music instead of focusing on the negative and trying to make things fit their expectations.