I must admit that I have been following the progress of Them Crooked Vultures since the news first broke of their inception. The combination of Josh Homme, John Paul Jones and Dave Grohl had such vast potential. A list of their combined bands (Queens of the Stone Age, Kyuss, Led Zeppelin, Nirvana etc.) reads like a list of the most influential bands spanning the last four decades. Apparently I was not the only one whose musical heart rate increased with the announcement of Them Crooked Vultures. Music fans and critics alike waited with baited breath for the release of the album.
So is the album good and does it live up to the hype? Yes and no. While the three musicians have clearly meshed well it is quite clear that the driving force for the project is Homme, whose tones and trademark harmonies create a very 'Queens-esque' atmosphere. The opening tracks of 'No One Loves Me and Neither Do I" and "Mind Eraser no Chaser" set this tone and drive through incredibly accomplished hooks and song writing. This is continued throughout the album with songs like 'Elephants' and 'Bandoliers' maintaining an exceptional level of production and craft. While Homme may be the leading figure in the project the influence of fellow band members is obvious on songs like 'Reptiles' where Homme pushes well beyond previous ground. Overall, the album sounds amazing and is a real testament to the power of modern rock music.
The second question I posed was in relation to the expectations surrounding this album. A common criticism seems to be the previously mentioned control of the project exercised by Homme. Many people seemed to have expected Grohl to take a more centre position in the band with far more vocal duties than are actually on the album or for Jones to completely overthrow the project with his musical mastery. While these people were certainly disappointed with the end result, it is their own fault. Each of the three musicians in this project expressed how happy they are with the album and the roles that each of them took. I love these musicians and as such, I love listening to what they want to play.
That is why I'm excited to have Them Crooked Vultures in these crooked times.
-The English Student
No comments:
Post a Comment