| Sonic Evolution was a live performance featuring surviving members of Mad Season performing with guest musicians (most notably, Chris Cornell of Soundgarden and Audioslave stepping in for deceased lead vocalist Layne Staley) as well as the Seattle Symphony orchestra. The strength of this album is in the performances of original instrumentalists, Mike McCready (guitar) and Barrett Martin (drums) and in the fantastic textures and layers provided by the addition of the Seattle Symphony. There are some downsides, in that none of the vocalists can really capture the energy brought to the songs by original singers Layne Staley and Mark Lanegan (who was absent for this performance). Even Chris Cornell sounds a bit flat and inhibited here in unfamiliar territory. In spite of these drawbacks, the songs still shine and the record is worth a listen, especially for fans of grunge and 90s rock, and Mad Season followers. But if you're looking to hear strong live versions of these songs with the original singers, check out "Live at the Moore" from 1995 instead. |
