Them Crooked Vultures
Them Crooked Vultures

On 11/17/2009, the debut (self-titled) album of Them Crooked Vultures was released. This supergroup is a trio composed of none other than:

Josh Homme (Queen Of The Stone Age) on vocals and guitar, John Paul Jones (if there's any need to say, Led Zeppelin) on bass, and Dave Grohl (no need to mention, right) on drums.

The result is an album brimming with energy and rock spirit, the product of the stylistic blend of these three gentlemen, and rich in noir atmospheres alternating with more vibrant climates. Kicking things off is "No One Loves Me, Neither Do I", a two-faced track that takes a hypnotic turn after providing a taste of the overall mood of the album. I advise against listening to the last ten seconds of drums if you suffer from premature ejaculation. Next is "Mind Eraser, No Chaser", the only track on the list where you can hear Dave Grohl's voice in a highly effective chorus. "New Fang" and "Dead End Friends" take a leap back in time, presenting more old-school sounds, and both tracks are noteworthy. With "Elephant" and "Scumbag Blues", the album reaches its highest levels: almost seven minutes of rock (with a capital "R") in the first case, and a psychedelic heart in the second. Although "Bandoliers" and "Reptiles" require more than one listen to be fully appreciated, one cannot help but notice the excellent artistic production of the guitars in both tracks, as well as the choice of sounds for the drums on all tracks—a step back as much as it is a perfect fit for the album's style.

After "Interlude With Ludes", a (fantastic) interlude probably resulting from some acid, we return to the rock with "Warsaw Or The First Breath You Take After You Give Up", which after almost four minutes of song becomes a Blues with a constant increase of BPM, culminating in a dark and insistent guitar and bass riff. "Caligulove" and "Gunman" offer two of the most accomplished vocals of the entire tracklist, keeping the rhythm and level of the album high, leading to the piece that concludes TCV's work, "Spinning In Daffodils", a track built almost entirely on a single guitar riff, which only at the end gives way to an engaging whirlwind of guitar riffs.

An album that may not bring anything new, but surely offers an hour of excellent music, played by those who have taught music to many.

This is my first review on DeBaser, perhaps driven by the excitement for this newly born project, but I trust the impact. Be RUTHLESS.

ROCK!

Key tracks: "Mind Eraser, No Chaser" / "New Fang" / "Scumbag Blues".