CD Review: Them Crooked Vultures

With the Foo Fighters just releasing a “Best of Compilation”, Queens of the Stone Age releasing their final album “Era Vulgaris”, and Led Zeppelin having only performed one reunion gig in God knows how long; I am assuming that Dave Grohl, Josh Homme and John Paul Johns were getting restless.  So what exactly is the end result of these three rock n’ roll super powers getting together and probably kicking out one of the sexiest musical  jams anyone’s ever had?  The result is “Them Crooked Vultures“.

A strange and oddly intriguing trip through three minds that none of us can ever possibly hope to understand.  The self-titled debut album, available now through Sony Music and ITunes, is rather an odd one.  You’d think you would hear the musical influence of The Foo Fighters, QOTSA and Led Zeppelin, and to a certain extent you do.  The opening riff to the track “Elephants” reminded me slightly of “Black Dog”.  The opening bass drum and guitar orgy to “Reptiles” really takes you back to the trip-out of a track that was “Kashmir”.  With Josh Hommes vocals,  it’s hard not to think you are listening to Queens of the Stone Age.  But somehow “ Them Crooked Vultures” pull off a compilation that bring a very unique and individual sound.

Josh Hommes voice hauntingly carries over the bizarre riffs, sexual lyrics and the pure drive and command that Dave Grohl has, and has always had over that drum kit.  It is fantastic to hear Dave behind the kit once again.  The last drum project he endeavored on was “Probot” (featuring Lemme of motorhead fame), and we all know how brilliant that was!   Add in the smooth and textured bass of John Paul Johns, and this band is set to spark.

Each track has its own presence, energy and even its own personality.  There’s the very sexual “No One Loves Me and Neither do I.” As a matter of fact, sexual undertones carry through this whole album, but I think that track in particular nails it (no pun intended) with the lyric: “Don’t hold it against me unless it gets hard”.  That’s right ladies; the boys know exactly what you think of us rock n’ roll types!

There’s the appropriately named “Elephants”.    This is actually one mind blow of a track.  It never goes exactly where you think it will.  It transforms into some kind of weird Pink Floyd-esque journey song with soaring melodies and an uneasy feeling that even David Bowie himself would say “Whoa that’s one groovy freak train baby!”

The album ends, in my opinion,on the greatest track on the album, “Spinning in Daffodils”.  With its creepy piano intro, vocal melodies that would scare Freddy Krueger, and psycho riffs that would make Chuck Norris question his manliness, this is a killer track.  The song ends on a strange polka, Christmassy kind of evil chant jam.  Imagine if the Hari Krishnas took on the beliefs of the Nazi Germany regime, then you’d be close.

Personally I think the album suffers from strange mixing.  The drums need to bought forward,  and with the double (sometimes triple) tracking of the guitars, I wonder how these guys will pull it off live.  I guess I’ll find out in January when they hit the Australian shores.  Overall, despite the odd mixing, this is one of the most unique albums to come out in a while.  Really bringing guitar-driven rock back to the lime light, where it deserves to be.  Do away with fresh new indie record you just bought, there are some badass Vultures in town and they are here to pick your mind open and leave it bleeding for months to come!  I rate it 7.5 out of 10.

Peace & Love Rob Ryles

Rob Ryles – Contributor (Australia)

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3. Them Crooked Vultures to Perform on SNL and Play Three East Coast Shows in February