Released November 17, 2009
What will probably be one of the highlights of 2009 has finally unleashed their first project to the world. Them Crooked Vultures released their self titled debut in November to great acclaim and a successful first week selling 70,000 copies. Of course, this is no surprise. This band is a super group of epic proportions being composed of Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters, ex-Nirvana), Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age), and John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin).
Undoubtedly there were high expectations for this project since it was announced. Upon listening to the album, however, it seems the band probably didn't feel that pressure, making an all around fun album with a nostalgic rock Americana feel. The songs rock on a level that only your parents could understand but still stay within familiar territory for the youngins and modern rock enthusiasts alike.
There is lots of simplistic guitar playing,but it carries such an incredible level of energy that it really makes you forget what decade you're actually living in.
"No One Loves me and Neither do I" is such a trademark rock tune that it's hard to imagine any rock enthusiast who isn't compelled to move or bobbing their head along to the straightforward guitar riff that dominates the song. The subtle bluesy tinge really defines this song and gives it a very lively and energetic color. The song is without a doubt one of the best this group has written.
"Mind Eraser, No Chaser" almost tricked me into thinking I was listening to a White Stripes song until Dave Grohl's voice came in to save the day. Even so, the vocals on this song to a large extent resembles Brandon Boyd from Incubus which is probably the best part of the track. The song seems to have a lot of potential but falls just a bit short of what probably was intended.
The album is replete with bluesy rock riffs and power chords and very strong 4/4 time signatures stomped out by the drums.
The music proves itself to be larger than life, much bigger than this brand new musical project still gaining notoriety even being a super group. Songs like the single "New Fang" really emphasize that point to a great extent, taking the standard rock formula and flirting with a little bit of progressive rock.
"Dead End Friends" is another song with a strong nostalgic feel adorned by Grohl and Homme's harmonized vocals in the catchy verse that tends to bleed into the rest of the song. There is little structural similarities between this song and the styles that influence it. The straight 4/4 time disappears and they ditch the verse-chorus-verse-chorus structure.
One of the more odd songs on the album is "Elephants" which stands out because of its odd drum rhythm that is played during most of the tune. The song starts strongly with an almost Iron Maiden-esque riff that definitely recalls the rock of days and years past. After the odd drum rhythm the song goes into a very emotionally driven harmonized vocal line that really emphasizes a sort of 'dark' feel that the song has. The song clocks in over six minutes-one of the longest tunes on the album. The length is due to yet more deviations from conventional rock structure going back in forth between new and repeated segues which when put together makes one of the better tunes of the album.
In "Scumbag Blues" the band yet again takes off from normal structure. Within the first minute you hear a lackluster solo, yet finely placed and timed. Much of the song features Homme trying to play the blues solo of his life but it ultimately falls short and affects the song fully.
"Bandoliers" is one of the strongest pieces of the album. The guitars have a slight Spanish tinge which sometimes cause the vocals to feel inappropriate. This is rectified when the guitars and vocals harmonize, giving the song a feel of completion and well roundedness. At that point the vocals really begin to take directions from the music, making the song a big success by its end.
There are moments on the album that feel kind of off, such as "Reptiles" which starts off with an awkward guitar lick that reminds you of bands that are no longer relevant such as System of a Down or U2. It's apparent the direction they took in an effort to really make something modern, but this tune in particular really fails and seems way too playfully simplistic that it becomes hard to take serious.
"Interludes with Ludes" has similar issues. It almost sounds like a reject or B-side to an album by the band Tool. The vocals are simply bad and the music is lazy. This song immediately calls for it to be skipped. It has no resemblance to anything else on the album and feels terribly misplaced.
"Warsaw or the First Breath.." is another song that traverses sounds reminiscent of the past. The problem is that this tune borders on the cheesy with it's incessant flood of church organs and other synth sounds that just don't feel called for in this song. The song's speed kicks up a notch near the end when the song focuses on a strongly effected guitar solo that again feels a little inadequate on top of its musical support.
Probably the best track on the album is "Gunman". The song is a very modern tune that uses a more conventional structure. It's directed by a 'boing' type bass guitar effect that defines the song in a way that gives it an almost dancy feel. The dark and catchy chorus line really augments the almost seductive feel of the vocals during the verse. It truly feels like this would be a song that would play well in a nightclub and require no remix by some obscure DJ or dance band.
"Spinning in Daffodils" is perhaps the most straight forward song on the album. The vocals are anthemic and bear a resemblance to Rob Halford of Judas Priest. There are few deviations and as a result the song has a very defined direction, almost repetitive. However, that doesn't seem to affect the quality of the song, making for a strong toe tapper until the song finally does deviate into a rhythm guitar feature section.
The album has such strong moments that it's hard to understand how anyone could not enjoy this album. The low points on the album on their own are significant but when considered with the rest of the whole it loses its importance. For the reason that it does begin to let down near the end, a perfect score is probably too generous to grant for this release.
Score: 4.5/5
