Them Crooked Vultures

by Butler Bad in Album Reviews, Musician Reviews, Reviews, bands to watch

Them Crooked Vultures is the musical love child of Led Zeppelin and Nirvana consummated in the California dessert. The group was conceptualized in the mid 00’s but did not officially form until 2009.  Their self titled debut album was released in November 2009.

 The musical triumvirate, which I think sounds cooler than super group, of John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin), Dave Grohl ( Nirvanna & Foo Fighters), and Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age) play bombastic guitar driven rock that is in your face and unapologetic.  This is to say, they play rock music as it should be played. 

Jones, predictably, plays bass and occasionally keyboards (Mind Erase, No Chaser & Scumbag Blues), Grohl is, again nestled behind the kit, and Homme riffs on guitar and covers the vocals.  As is to be expected with a band that has this type of pedigree, the elephant in the room is, does the hype equal the output.  And the simple truth is no, but the reason is that there is no way that it should.  Seriously, we are talking about the founding members or Led Zeppelin, Nirvana, Foo Fighters, and the talented Josh Homme.  How can anyone live up to that expectation?  Grohl captured lightening in a bottle with the Nirvana and Foo Fighters but how lucky can one guy get. 

Given that Homme sings and plays guitar, it has a certain Queens of the Stone Age feel but as the album moves on, it just rocks.  It has moments that recall Zeppelin and others that have the feel of three guys having a quickie because it feels good and in this case, sounds good. 

I found the album to be entertaining  not requiring a lot of thought which is what a good rock record is all about.  You can listen and not feel like you wasted your time, nor will you find yourself trying to decipher and find the hidden meaning behind the lyrics.  You will tap your feet, strum your fingers, bob your head, listen, and take pleasure in the music.  This is the kind of music that would have Beavis and Butthead rocking out and playing air guitar and thinking that it did not suck.