Off the Dial

Written by: Nic Gouveia

I fucking hate the concept of a super-band. It’s kinda like a threesome with one girl and two guys. Sure a few holes are getting filled, but once you cross swords the realization hits that this is less a collaborative effort and more of a circle jerk where loser gets sloppy seconds.

With that in mind (you’re welcome) think of Them Crooked Vultures‘ self titled album as a threesome made up of you (girl or guy should work) Carmen Electra, Jenna Jamison and a bottle of cheap whisky. Everyone’s in it for a good time and with no strings attached, you might even come out better for the experience.

That’s what this album is all about, having a good fucking time. “No One Loves Me & Neither Do I” sets the tone of the album with a lust filled 5:10 of growling guitars and bass work reminiscent of a time long ago when a bass guitar could get you higher than an eight ball of coke… okay maybe not that high, but you get the idea.

Admittedly “New Fang” and “Reptiles” do have noticeable touches of Queens of the Stone Age and the Foo Fighters but that’s easy to forgive when you remember that The Vultures are more of a jam session band rather than an entirely new incarnation. If anything, I hear far more Led Zeppelin as Josh Homme and Dave Grohl display their undeniable fandom in playing with a legend like John Paul Jones.

All that being said, “Gunman” really stands out on this album as my “what the fuck was that” song with a progressive structure and a hook that takes you off the rocky dirt road and into a psychedelic trip that will have you checking the liner notes to see if Trent Reznor was somehow involved. (Sadly, he’s not)

So to the douche bag in the back screaming “it sounds like Queens or the Foo’s or Zeppelin” go fuck yourself! The album isn’t too ambitious and isn’t trying to reinvent the wheel. It’s sex, it’s drugs and it’s mother fucking rock and roll in all it’s glorious depravity… and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

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