SteveAJones Posted November 17, 2009 Share Posted November 17, 2009 (edited) Impressive combo strikes rock gold Rockers Dave Grohl and Josh Homme join one of their rock idols, Led Zeppelin's John Paul Jones, in a beyond powerful, creative effort. by Kevin Brosky The Temple News November 17, 2009 The term "supergroup" has been stamped on a lot of bands. Since it originated in the 1960s, the term has come to be associated with any band comprised of musicians from various already-established bands. A few years back, multitalented drummer/vocalist Dave Grohl (Nirvana, Foo Fighters) began talking to Josh Homme, guitarist/vocalist of one of his favorite bands, Queens of the Stone Age, about starting a brand new collaborative music venture. When they recruited one of the all-time best bassists, the legendary John Paul Jones, of Led Zeppelin fame, the term supergroup didn't even seem sufficient for the newly formed Them Crooked Vultures. The group sold out shows internationally before ever even releasing a song. The hype behind the band's anticipated debut album grew steadily with each thrilling performance. The self-titled LP, released today in the United States, combines some of the best elements of the members' past bands, and the result is utterly mystifying. It's instantly catchy at times, dark and mysterious at others. It's altogether dangerous. "Elephants" begins with a "Kashmir"-esque backbeat and Zeppelin-sized guitar riff. After a couple bars, the tempo suddenly doubles, with Jones mirroring the quickened riff on bass. The song highlights one of the album's most intriguing, admirable facets its unpredictability. Jones' meandering bass lines give the album its spine and his mastery for the instrument, as well as a few others, shines through as he is able to adapt to the newly evolved sound of his bandmates, both of whom cite Led Zeppelin as a major influence. Grohl's impassioned drumming maintains the album's high pace from start to finish. On the frenetic "Mind Eraser, No Chaser," Grohl and Homme trade vocals on a chorus that evokes uptempo Foo Fighters material. Grohl's varying rhythms across the album provide a diverse backdrop for intertwining, technically sound guitar licks. The shuffling opener, "No One Loves Me & Neither Do I," powers through with pounding bass grooves while the choppier "Scumbag Blues" employs effective pauses and a funky clavinet part played by Jones. Homme's vocals, mysterious in certain places while volatile at others, elevate the songs' mystique and add a separate unpredictable element. While it might be easy for his lyrics to get buried beneath such overpowering instrumentation, they create a perfect balance. On the Vultures' first single "New Fang," for example, Homme switches to an elated falsetto that highlights the chorus between energized verses. On the dark and rhythmically bouncy "Gunman," his singing is wholly haunting as it creates a evocative atmosphere for the song. Them Crooked Vultures is a lot of things. On first listen, it's an eruption of raw rock power, the likes of which is rarely felt in popular music anymore. On a deeper level, it's mesmerizing and intriguing for all its technical skill, balance and eclecticism. TCV is an absolutely exciting band that rock music enthusiasts should be thankful exists. http://temple-news.c...ikes-rock-gold/ Edited November 17, 2009 by SteveAJones Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveAJones Posted November 17, 2009 Share Posted November 17, 2009 What's up my fellow Zeppelin droogies?!? Well, guess who was at Them Crooked Vultures gig at the Roxy last night? Yes, me, your ever-faithful Zephead Strider....bwaaahahahahahahahaha! YESSSSSS!!!!!! This is why I live in Los Angeles! Where one minute you are sitting around with your pal watching Monday Night Football and the next you're standing mere feet away from John Paul Jones in a tiny club! So glad to hear this! When lifelong fans such as yourself are in the house it makes the occasion all the more special. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveAJones Posted November 17, 2009 Share Posted November 17, 2009 This from photographer Robert M Knight: John Paul Jones invited me down tonight to see the new band that he, Josh and Dave Grohl have play the Roxy. Them Crooked Vultures - amazing stuff, unlike anything I have heard before! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveAJones Posted November 17, 2009 Share Posted November 17, 2009 (edited) Hulking, skulking & super, the Vultures have landed By Chris Richards Washington Post Staff Writer Tuesday, November 17, 2009 When rock bands swarmed Earth 40 years ago, they seemed otherworldly -- hirsute tribes clad in kaleidoscopic garb, brandishing their guitars like medieval weapons. But over time, these mongrel hordes and their misshapen songs assimilated into American culture so seamlessly, they practically vanished into the normalcy of popular music. Today, our guitar heroes reside mostly in video games. In that sense, supergroup Them Crooked Vultures makes for an evocative throwback, recalling an era when riff-hurling rock troupes felt dangerous. And bizarre. And totally worth listening to. This is a trans-generational supergroup that's earned its "super." Vultures' singer-guitarist Josh Homme leads Queens of the Stone Age; Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl reprises drummer duties from his days in Nirvana; and bassist John Paul Jones once laid the bedrock for the mighty Led Zeppelin. The trio does not disappoint. Them Crooked Vultures' self-titled debut is churning with neoclassical rock-and-roll, summoning the heaviest qualities of Jimi Hendrix, Black Sabbath, Cream and Iron Butterfly. Guitars crunch, drums pummel and songs sprawl for minutes on end, creating a brawny ambiance that approaches unimpeachabililty. And air-drummers, rejoice! With Them Crooked Vultures, Grohl cements his rep as our greatest living rock percussionist (a fact that makes his nearly 15 years of playing guitar for Foo Fighters really sting). Jones, who helped forge the sound of heavy metal with former-greatest-living-rock-drummer John Bonham, makes an ideal partner for Grohl, as evidenced on the album's most hulking track, "Elephants." It's a tempestuous tempo-shifter, where the band's death-march riffs break into a stampede, and back again. While his rhythm section toggles between stomping and sprinting, Homme moans: "We're unwanted strangers/exploited and dangerous/unable to hide, or even dream of it." The album's core is truly molten. "Scumbag Blues" sits near the center of the track list, all speed and snarl. And just when the tune's riffage couldn't get any more righteous, a Clavinet lick arrives with a delightful, Stevie Wonder-inspired stutter. The funkiness continues with "Reptiles," reanimating the jitters that Zeppelin achieved in 1971 with "The Crunge." It's a vista that Stone Temple Pilots always threatened to colonize but could never pull off. (They also never had a member of Led Zeppelin playing bass.) Jones plays a supporting role on this album, but, as with Zeppelin, these towering tunes would surely crumble without him. And while Grohl's backing vocals serve as melodic crab grass, both omnipresent and irrepressible, "Them Crooked Vultures" is largely a souped-up Queens of the Stone Age album, with Homme crooning in the same snooty, disaffected sneer that's bedraggled his previous work. The guy sounds as if he wears a monocle into the recording booth. But that's okay. Even vocalizing at half-throttle, he can't suppress the instrumental heft that he and his bandmates generate -- a din that deserves to flood from your speakers at the highest volume tolerable. If you have a home stereo that can reach 100 decibels and neighbors who won't call the cops, put away the earbuds. This is an album that works best when it's actually shaking the air molecules of your personal living space. http://www.washingto...9111603758.html? Edited November 17, 2009 by SteveAJones Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kirchzep27 Posted November 17, 2009 Share Posted November 17, 2009 i just bought this cd today, very interesting listen. its like a hybrid of music, sort of like the -queens of the stone age record -grohl played on. it has a heavy jpj sound, where you can hear how john paul jones and grohl played well together and it must have been just great for them to jam. i hear an original sound, yet i hear alot of little influences in style or sound, from punk rock to the doors,quite a few to mention actually, which is cool. it makes for a very good record. with the negative views lyrically and expressing the times....it goes with the interest of the music, makes one see the positive through the negative times. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveAJones Posted November 17, 2009 Share Posted November 17, 2009 (edited) Television Advertisement: Them Crooked Vultures Album Edited November 17, 2009 by SteveAJones Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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Stevedore Posted November 18, 2009 Share Posted November 18, 2009 (edited) Just under five hours till showtime tonight at the Wiltern. Cannot fucking wait!!!! Hey Strider, I should have joined you at the Roxy last night. I was watching the same lame ass football game you were watching. To think you just rolled up a half hour before the show, got in line and fucking got in!! Wow!! Wake the fuck up Los Angeles!! Looks like it will take the December issue of Rolling Stone for people out here on the left coast to wise the fuck up about this obviously great band. Cannot wait to get mind blown tonight!! Edited November 18, 2009 by Stevedore Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joao Posted November 18, 2009 Share Posted November 18, 2009 Great interview with Josh on the Record Store Day website, some bits about JPJ an Zeppelin. J: No. And in fact, listening to Jones tell Zeppelin stories… hearing a Zeppelin story first hand is kind of trippy. RSD: Gotta be one of the great things about touring with the man. J: Well, it’s not reams of Zeppelin stories, so it’s not like sitting around a campfire where someone’s just spouting off, you know. He’s not telling a Zeppelin story, he’s telling us about his life and his friends. Honestly, he’s a friend, and I don’t think of it like it’s too fanboy, it’s just talking about life. And what I like about Jones is, Zeppelin is so idolized, his stories humanize things. It’s just a band of people, doing stuff. The song is called “Black Dog” because there was a black dog outside. Full interview here: http://www.recordstoreday.com/NewsItem/1817 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveAJones Posted November 18, 2009 Share Posted November 18, 2009 (edited) Jessica Simpson Goes Out and Rocks Out Tue, 11/17/2009 - 8:30am by PopSugar Jessica Simpson joined friends at the Roxy in LA last night to check out a show from Dave Grohl's new band, Them Crooked Vultures. Music was the theme of the evening, as she stepped out in her Eric Clapton t-shirt. Jessica has been chilling at home ever since she wrapped up her global tour for The Price of Beauty. She has been spending her time hitting the gym, and her efforts recently earned her lots of praise from little sister Ashlee. Photo gallery of Jessica attending Them Crooked Vultures concert at The Roxy: http://www.popsugar.com/6272424 Edited November 18, 2009 by SteveAJones Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveAJones Posted November 18, 2009 Share Posted November 18, 2009 (edited) Speigel Online (Germany) Them Crooked Vultures - "Them Crooked Vultures" (RCA/Sony, 20. November) Vergessen wir mal kurz den blöden Bandnamen. Them Crooked Vultures muss man sich ungefähr so vorstellen, als wenn die Youngsters Spider-Man und Johnny Storm von den Fantastic Four sich in einem Super-Team-up mit dem allmächtigen Thor wiederfinden und vor lauter Ehrfurcht glatt über sich selbst hinauswachsen. Der Comic-Vergleich passt deshalb so gut, weil der Gitarrist und Sänger Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age, Kyuss) und der Drummer Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters, Nirvana) zwar Rock-Superhelden sind, verglichen mit Led-Zeppelin-Bassist und -Musikgenie John Paul Jones aber lediglich als Sidekicks durchgehen. Zusammen haben die drei jetzt ein Album aufgenommen, das zweifelsohne zu den besten Rockplatten der vergangenen zehn Jahre zählt - wenn man auf klassischen, Blues-infizierten Rock anglo-amerikanischer Prägung steht, der nur wenig mit der musikalischen Wirklichkeit des 21. Jahrhunderts zu tun hat. Diese Einschränkung muss schon sein, denn was Them Crooked Vultures mit Verve und Virtuosität abfeuern, ist retrospektiv bis ins Mark. Dass Homme und Grohl versierte Led-Zeppelin-Adepten sind, haben sie auf dem Queens-of-the-Stone-Age-Album "Songs For The Deaf" schon bewiesen, das Zusammenspiel mit Jones aber lässt nun alle Dämme brechen. Homme versucht in manchen Stücken sogar, wie Robert Plant zu singen, obwohl er eine ganz andere Stimmfarbe hat. Grohls Drums wummern, als gelte es der "Battle of Evermore" noch einmal verspätet eine vernünftige Percussion einzuhämmern. In "Reptiles" und "Elephants" werden "Black Dog" und "Misty Mountain Hop" zitiert, "Caligulove" ist eine schöne Hommage an "Trampled Underfoot". Aber natürlich ist nicht alles bloße Reverenz. Über weite Strecken klingen die Songs wie Queens Of The Stone Age - allerdings musikalisch veredelt und klanglich perfektioniert. Es gibt Details und Ziselierungen auf dieser eigentlich schnörkellosen Rockplatte, die man wohl erst nach dem zehnten oder zwanzigsten Hören wird würdigen können. Und man hat sogar Lust, das Album so oft zu hören. Wenn's dann irgendwann doch langweilig wird, kann man immer noch das erste Masters-of-Reality-Album von 1988 herauskramen. Rockt genauso retro, ganz ohne Superhelden-Team-up. (8) Andreas Borcholte http://www.spiegel.d...,661752,00.html Edited November 18, 2009 by SteveAJones Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveAJones Posted November 18, 2009 Share Posted November 18, 2009 (edited) Posted: 11/18/2009 12:00 CST San Antonio Express-News Review: 'Them Crooked Vultures', Them Cooked Vultures Them Crooked Vultures Them Crooked Vultures DGC/Interscope Records Two of the three members of the exciting new rock 'n' roll supergroup Them Crooked Vultures are household names, and yet it's the other guy who sounds like the dominant force. That would be singer/guitarist Josh Homme, who apparently wasn't content to front two other great bands, Queens of the Stone Age and Eagles of Death Metal. So he teamed up with Led Zeppelin bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones and Foo Fighters' Dave Grohl (back behind the drumkit) to form this power trio. Though bits of Zep and Foo come through, Them Crooked Vultures (DGC/Interscope Records) sounds like the latest voyage through the alternately light-as-air and anvil-heavy stoner rock Homme has made since his days with Kyuss in the early '90s. Surprisingly nimble for a band dealing in sledgehammer riffs, these Vultures feed on a variety of contemporary and classic influences, sounding at one point like an unlikely cross of Alice in Chains and Cream, the Eric Clapton-led '60s outfit that set the power-trio template. Finally, a supergroup that actually turned out to be super. Robert Johnson http://www.mysananto...t/70327182.html Edited November 18, 2009 by SteveAJones Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveAJones Posted November 18, 2009 Share Posted November 18, 2009 (edited) Gear4Music.com November 16, 2009 Critics give thumbs-up to Them Crooked Vultures A new band featuring Led Zeppelin legend John Paul Jones on bass guitar is already winning rave reviews. The group, which consists of Jones with Josh Homme of Queens of the Stone Age on electric guitar and Dave Grohl on the drum kit, have just unveiled their first album. According to the Times, the trio's LP comes with very high expectations, as all three members of the band carry a "lot of baggage". However, the newspaper said their self-titled record is "thrillingly" and "breathtakingly odd" and far from boring. Meanwhile, the Guardian stated that Them Crooked Vultures are as "tight, loud and impressive as rock supergroupery gets". Duff McKagan of Velvet Revolver has also been full of praise for the new band, telling the Seattle Weekly that they have created a sound that is new and fresh. This, he said, is significant, because it contains no obvious nods to any of their previous or current groups. "The band's sound is startlingly refreshing," McKagan commented. http://www.gear4musi...s/K5/2009-11-16 Edited November 18, 2009 by SteveAJones Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveAJones Posted November 18, 2009 Share Posted November 18, 2009 (edited) Drowned In Sound.com Them Crooked Vultures Them Crooked Vultures 5/ 10 by Andrzej Lukowski One of the delightful things about rock supergroups is that no amount of empirical evidence will ever QUITE persuade us that the next one to come across the horizon isn't going to be unutterably brilliant. Them Crooked Vultures are a band that consist of the bassist from Led Zeppelin, the drummer from Nirvana, and the man who to all intents and purposes is Queens of the Stone Age. It in no way follows that their music will therefore sound like a perfect, synergised combination of the three acts. And nobody really believes they will... but it's not really about belief, more hope. What with Homme indisputably being A Talent, it being okay to like Led Zep again, acceptable to rate Dave Grohl so long as he's drumming, and the general surfeit of rock lore sloshing about in general, why not allow oneself a little daydream about the contents of Them Crooked Vultures? I suppose the main reason is that one day you'll actually have to listen to it, whereupon you'll have to decide between a cold hard look in the eyes at a faintly pointless record, or else allowing your mind to gather up the evidence of genius on display and call it something special. If you take the latter approach to Them Crooked Vultures, you will in all likelihood be paying extra careful attention to the drumming, any riffs that lean toward the classic side, and will probably end up nodding sagely about how 'tight' it all is. I tried doing that the first time around, but my mind experienced a little drift halfway through, and I kind of forgot what exactly it was I was listening to. "Oh," thought I, "this appears to Queens of the Stone Age. Not sure which album. Definitely not one of the best ones". It was a gut impression, but I'm having a bitch of a time shaking it off. John Paul Jones has done some cool things post-Zeppelin, but writing lots of brilliant songs hasn't been foremost amongst them. Dave Grohl writes crap AOR for a living, and retains his impeccable drummer credentials only through not actually drumming in Foo Fighters. And then we have Josh Homme. Josh Homme sings and writes lyrics for Them Crooked Vultures. He is also the sole guitarist in what is, essentially, a guitar band. He's a man well used to accommodating famous collaborators, both within the mercurial QOTSA line up (one Dave Grohl having put in a solid turn on Songs for the Deaf) and also with his collaboration-centric Desert Sessions Sure, you can find Grohl and Jones' influences within the music (a little shy of halfway through opener 'No-One Loves Me & Neither Do I' a riff strikes up that sounds so like the Zep that you can imagine this sole bit of music to have virtually been the point of the project for its two younger members), but it's unlikely that you'd pin the record on either of them without forewarning. Whereas you wouldn't be gobsmacked to discover anything on Them Crooked Vultures was a QOTSA song; certainly at its strangest moments (the lullaby/Lullabies-ish 'Reptile', the wheezing, dissonant fairground folk of 'Interlude With Ludes') it's virtually inconceivable that it was the work of anyone but Homme. So a de facto QUOTSA album with Grohl and Jones as players and collaborators: good, right? Um, occasionally. There are some almighty grooves here, ones that filter Homme's penchant for the evil and off kilter through a once in a life time, classic-in-the-best-sense-of-the-word rhythm section. The prolonged, ghostly coda of 'Warsaw or the First Breath You Take After You Give Up'; the tightly-coiled but oddly woozy 'New Fang'; the gristly four to the floor squelch of 'Gunman'; all very impressive moments, ones that it's fair to say are better existing than not existing, lest people turn to Wolfmother in their hour of desperation. But for all the nice fragments, the songs are rarely satisfying within themselves. Considering Grohl and Homme's pop nous, there isn't really a decent chorus to be found, with many songs feeling like a leaden exercise in making it through to the last minutes, either for a groove-tastic wig out or for Homme to do something weird (or both, in the case of the tedious for five minutes, brilliant for two 'Elephants'). You suspect they were all having such a good time that self-editing wasn't really that high on the agenda; though there aren't any comedy drum solos (which might have been rather fun), the three players sit at the top of the mix almost constantly, busily clattering away for nigh on the album's entirely hour-plus duration. It becomes rather jarring, and leaves little space for Homme's voice to assert its feminine strangeness. Presumably one of the reasons people remain optimistic about supergroups is that while we're aware they tend not to be great, it's rare that they leave enough of an impression for anyone to really be particularly scarred by the memory. Them Crooked Vultures does not remotely represent the best work of anybody involved. I'm guessing this partly because for all Homme's undoubted influence he clearly couldn't play dictator, partly because nobody felt any obligation to compete with their dayjobs or legacies, partly because the pop song writers couldn't be arsed to write any pop songs. It's an oddball groove-rock album, played very well, imprinted with Homme's undeniably interesting personality. Yet when all's said and done, it's not particularly memorable and entirely lacks the type of yee-haw exuberance that might have made it a sloppy treat. Fanboys and girls of all three musicians will find a little something to enjoy here; few if any of them will still be listening when the next 'dream' line up comes our way. http://drownedinsound.com/releases/14876/reviews/4138415?ticker Edited November 18, 2009 by SteveAJones Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveAJones Posted November 18, 2009 Share Posted November 18, 2009 (edited) The Skinny.com Them Crooked Vultures - Them Crooked Vultures Posted by Stephen Toman, Mon 16 Nov 2009 Queens of the Stone Age recruit Led Zeppelin bassist and Nirvana drummer for latest release. What do you get when you cross Led Zep's John Paul Jones with Jimmy Page worshipper and Queens of the Stone Age frontman Josh Homme, and Dave Grohl arguably the rightful heir to John Bonham's drum stool? The new Queens of the Stone Age album, that's what - backed by one of the best rhythm sections (which until now existed only in pub discussions). Josh Homme's effeminate 'Ginger-Elvis' vocals and distinct thrummy guitar dominate proceedings (making QOTSA the logical touchstone), with Jones and Grohl providing the drive, changing direction on a pinhead, piling riff upon riff, each of them playing a different tempo (witness Elephants a groovy lick propelled by incessant drum and bass). Wah-drenched leads splatter the already Pollock-esque canvas, backwards loops and Jones' mellotron, mandolin and slide bringing depth (as on Physical Graffiti). Loud, idiosyncratic, and for three older blokes with beer bellies - suprisingly sexy. [stephen Toman] http://www.theskinny...rooked-vultures Edited November 18, 2009 by SteveAJones Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveAJones Posted November 18, 2009 Share Posted November 18, 2009 (edited) Gigwise.com Them Crooked Vultures 'Them Crooked Vultures' (Sony) Released 16/11/09 The 'Vanity' in vanity project more than the 'Super' in supergroup... by David Renshaw Monday, November 16, 2009filed in: Rock (3 1/2 out of 5 stars) Jack White must be furious- someone has started a superband without him. It's a debate as old as time- who would you have in your dream band? Ignoring the fact that the results would often sound awful the fun had dreaming up your perfect combo has fuelled pub conversations for decades and it's clearly being going in Los Angeles between Dave Grohl. Josh Homme and John Paul Jones too. A band consisting of members of Queens Of The Stoneage, Foo Fighters and Led Zeppelin whet the worlds appetite when project Them Crooked Vultures was announced in the Summer. The chance to see these three rock Gods together must surely have been the end result of many of the aforementioned musical debates. Secret appearances at festivals and an Arctic Monkeys support slot at Brixton Academy gave people their first insight into what to expect from the project . Live the Vultures pounded hard and heavy, Grohl and Homme looking like they escaped from a heavy metal asylum with Jones driving the band along with a stomach churningly distorted turn on the bass. With this is mind it's somewhat surprising that the first few spins of 'Them Crooked Vultures' is a disappointingly light affair. It feels like the bottom heavy distortion and robust rhythms have been left behind in the debris of a festival aftermath and instead we're left with something too heavy for Foo Fighters and too soft for QOTSA. Sure, 'Elephants' is packed full of riffs and aggression and the same goes for 'Gunman' but it feels like the band have been caught in the no mans land between the aggression we all know the band posses and the good time party vibes they're clearly aiming for. For when Them Crooked Vultures aren't letting rip on a fuzzy future Guitar Hero anthem they're aiming their sights on the house party soundtrack. Whilst far from lazy you get the feeling the three band members could have written this album in a spare afternoon such is the predictable nature of it. Josh Homme writes songs like 'New Fang' and 'Scumbag Blues' for breakfast and Grohl's drumming throughout is pedestrian. It's worth noting that 'Songs For The Deaf' came out in 2002 and despite being very productive Homme is yet to even come close to matching it's brilliance- a purple patch indeed. The other question this album begs is why exactly are they doing it? All three members come from more illustrious backgrounds and can't exactly need the money so why even sell this album? A far more interesting way around things would have been to give it away for free and continue to play the small, unannounced gigs rather than relying on the goodwill of their existing fan base and then hauling their wares around venues the size of which are beneath them yet far from intimate or unique. Do we really need to see a band who garner interest on who they are not what they sound like? That said, at times Them Crooked Vultures sound fantastic. 'Mind Eraser, No Chaser' boasts a sexed up, cocky strut and a massive chorus courtesy of Grohl who must end this decade as one of the best pop writers around. Elsewhere Homme's flirtations with the psychedelic culminate in 'Caligulove' which sounds like a monastery being possessed by the Devil and burning to the ground. Them Crooked Vultures are the 'Vanity' in vanity project more than the 'Super' in supergroup but a band with foundations this strong were never going to truly disappoint. 'Them Crooked Vultures' feels far from essential or important but as a foray into three rock Gods playing fantasy band it's pretty damn good. http://www.gigwise.com/reviews/albums/53453/Them-Crooked-Vultures-'Them-Crooked-Vultures' Edited November 18, 2009 by SteveAJones Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveAJones Posted November 18, 2009 Share Posted November 18, 2009 (edited) New fangs, same bite Grade: A Jameson Butler, Asst. Arts Editor The Spectrum - The Independent Newspaper of the University at Buffalo November 16, 2009 Vultures are disgusting creatures. Them Crooked Vultures, on the other hand, is a disgustingly gifted flock of musicians. Them Crooked Vultures have swooped down and grasped as many drug-loving minds as humanly possible. The band consists of three masters the rock music trade. Joshua Homme, from Queens of the Stone Age, rocks the guitar. John Paul Jones, of Led Zeppelin fame, lays down the bass and Dave Grohl returns to beating the drums as he did in Nirvana.Them Crooked Vultures starts off with the dark "No One Loves Me & Neither Do I," on which Grohl brings the listener in with a tantalizing rhythm. Homme gives the song a strong shot of Queens of the Stone Age with both the guitar and the lyrics. "So I told her I was trash/ she wait til after and said 'I already know… I've got a beautiful place to put your face'/ and she was right," Homme cries. One of the best songs on the Them Crooked Vultures debut is the second song, "Mind Eraser, No Chaser." As soon as Homme strikes the first chords, the listener's feet can't help but start moving. Not only does "Mind Eraser, No Chaser" take a jab at current society, it shows off all three super stars' strengths. The third song on this self-titled masterpiece is the first single, "New Fang." Sounding like a B-side to Queens of the Stone Age's latest creation, Era Vulgaris, the song entices listeners with a gnarly drum introduction that leads right into a beautifully placed slide guitar section. The song "Elephants" shows the band's members mixing their sounds. The track blends Jones's Led Zeppelin roots and the ever-apparent Queens influence that Homme brings to the table, and the result is brilliant. The award for the creepiest song on the album goes to "Interlude with Ludes." Not only do the instrumentals mess with the listener's head, but Homme makes sure you can completely visualize what he is envisioning. "By the skin of my teeth/ That's how I'm gonna drive you/ On the good ship Lollygag/ LSD and a bloody pile of rags/ I hate to be the bearer of bad news/ But I am, but I am, I am…" Homme bellows in a haunting manner. Them Crooked Vultures shows a lot of Queens of the Stone Age influence, but Jones and Grohl add their own stylings to it to make it one of the best albums of the year. http://www.ubspectru...m/article/40857 Edited November 18, 2009 by SteveAJones Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveAJones Posted November 18, 2009 Share Posted November 18, 2009 Herald (Everett, WA) November 15, 2009 Vultures deliver solid debut The supergroup Them Crooked Vultures will release its debut album on Tuesday. TRIVIA: The band includes Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters, Nirvana) on drums, John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin) on bass and keyboards, and Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age) on vocals and guitar. STANDOUTS: Each band member dares the others to new heights on “Elephants,” a song that features sudden shifts in tempo and Satan-referencing lyrics. FANS DIG: The color red. ANDY SAYS: The guys in Them Crooked Vultures are all about blunt force, grabbing powerful chunks of classic rock and grunge, then soldering them together to create a beastly weapon. The group revels in dark flamboyance on tracks like “Caligulove” and “Nobody Loves Me and Neither Do I.” The album is a little long at 66 minutes — you get the impression the group couldn’t pass on the chance to have an unlucky 13 songs — but hard rock fans will be satisfied. GRADE: B-plus. Andy Rathbun http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20091115/LIVING/711159981 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveAJones Posted November 18, 2009 Share Posted November 18, 2009 (edited) Chicagoist Rockin' Our Turntable: Them Crooked Vultures We were not sure why Them Crooked Vultures wasn't calling themselves Queens Of the Stone Age, since singer Josh Homme leads that group, Dave Grohl has spent a fair amount of time drumming for them in the past, and the addition of a new bassist -- in this case Led Zeppelin's John Paul Jones -- is really nothing all that unusual. After listening to their self-titled debut though, we can see why a name change was in order. Them Crooked Vultures shares many similarities with Queens Of the Stone Age, but the former is a group effort while the latter is driven by a single man ... and it shows. The album opener, "No One Loves Me & Neither Do I," creeps in with a bluesy boogie riff, and while we dig it we were slightly worried slightly that the album would continue along that path. A slightly heavy classic rock disc. Then, at the 2:45 mark the bottom drops out and a crushing groove settles in decimating everything else in its path.We realized everything was going to be A-OK. THIS is what it sounds like when three titans fall into lockstep, and it's like a blow to the solar plexus. "Mind Eraser, No Chaser" follows and Grohl's backing vocals provide a perfect counterpoint to Homme's creepy but forceful falsetto. Jones' bass lines add the perfect amount of bottom and his multi-instrumental skills are well placed to provide color above and under the attack of the guitar - bass - drum combo. See "Scumbag Blues" and it's wah-synths for a prime example of this. Lazy reviewers will probably tout this as the best Queens Of the Stone Age album since Songs For The Deaf. But more astute ears will recognize that Them Crooked Vultures has produced a group effort that towers over even that landmark in Homme's past. We've long maintained that his powerful personality thrives best when challenged, and in Them Crooked Vultures these perfect allies come together to create some of the most impressive music in each partner's career. From start to finish the album never lags or grows predicable -- each time you think you know what's coming they show a fearless desire to take three left turns and strand you somewhere completely unexpected before bringing you back to relative safety -- and the thrill ride never grows old. Them Crooked Vultures is out November 17 http://chicagoist.co...m_crooked_v.php Edited November 18, 2009 by SteveAJones Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveAJones Posted November 18, 2009 Share Posted November 18, 2009 (edited) 3 News (New Zealand) Mon, 16 Nov 2009 11:51a.m. Them Crooked Vultures From: Supergroup land Who: Them Crooked Vultures: Josh Homme (vocals, guitar), John Paul Jones (bass) and Dave Grohl (drums & vocals) The Scoop: The love child of Nirvana, Led Zeppelin, Queens of the Stone Age & Foo Fighters. As blunt a label as it is - it's impossible not to call TCV anything other than a supergroup. This group have been a rumour for about 4 years but this year have made it a reality. It's always hard to know what to expect when such a group with stellar CV's and separately seminal albums come together. The answer is a quirky, interesting set of songs. Although 'New Fang' has been released as a single this is really an album worth of work and it takes some work to get into it. There are lots of angles & surprises around every corner making it an album that you don't get comfortable with too easily. But would you expect anything else from these three cats? There are a lot of highlights but just hearing Dave Grohl back on the skins and delivering a bucketload of bang in his inimitable style is the peak for me. Their self titled debut album is released on Monday but if you want to hear it now the good guys at The Rock are streaming it in its entirety right here Shuffle with: Eagles of Death Metal, Wolfmother Play on: Friday night as the drinks start to kick in Links: myspace, official, facebook, live stream link http://www.3news.co....97/Default.aspx Edited November 18, 2009 by SteveAJones Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveAJones Posted November 18, 2009 Share Posted November 18, 2009 (edited) Monsters and Critics (Germany) Musik Kritiken CD Kritik: Them Crooked Vultures von Them Crooked Vultures Neue Supergruppe mit neuen Horizonten: Them Crooked Vultures veröffentlichen ihr heiß ersehntes Debütalbum Von Alexander Diehl 17. Nov 2009, 07:57 Es gibt gare und halb gare. Ungenießbar kalte und zu heiß gekochte. Die Rede ist nicht von Fleischstückchen, sondern von Supergruppen. Ein überstrapaziertes Wort ist es, wird gerne mal inflationär gebraucht. Dennoch: Them Crooked Vultures haben diese Bezeichnung verdient. Alle drei Mitglieder hinterließen auf dem Pfad der Rockgeschichte ihre Spuren. Dave Grohl trommelte bei Nirvana und steht inzwischen den Foo Fighters vor, Josh Homme ist der Kopf von Queens Of The Stone Age, John Paul Jones ist der Led-Zeppelin-Bassist. Ihr gemeinsames Motto: 'Making the possible totally impossible', so steht es wenigstens auf ihrem Wappen. Der Geier grinst dazu, zieht sich einen Anzug an und erscheint als Mischwesen auf dem Cover. Them Crooked Vultures: eine Supergruppe, aber kein Kuscheltier für die Massen. Ein Monster ist es. Das genannte Motto stammt aus dem psychedelischen 'Interlude With Ludes'. Dort geht der Text weiter: 'If you want me I'm yours & even if you don't want me - I'm trained & licensed & armed to the teeth.' Bewaffnet mit ihren Referenzen hüpfen die drei Herren auf einer Spielwiese herum. Peng. Die Referenzen fliegen, die Fetzen auch. Wer sie fangen will, hat Pech gehabt. 'No One Loves Me & Neither Do I' oder 'Elephants' sind Brocken. Das Monster frisst einige Hauptbands der Mitglieder auf und spuckt sie wieder aus. Zum Verdauen bleibt keine Zeit. Unweigerlich drängt sich einem der Gedanke auf: Käme dieses Album von einem Newcomer, sie würde bei einer Plattenfirma wie Sony nicht einmal als Kaffeetassen-Untersetzer Verwendung finden. Zu sperrig, zu Rhythmus-fixiert, zu sehr im freien Fall befindet sich dieses Monster, das kurz vor dem Überschnappen zu stehen scheint. In seinem Magen finden sich Alternative- und Classic-, Progressive- und Hard-Rock-Leckereien. Alles wird einem vor die Ohren geschmissen. Überleben werden die Stärksten. Die erste Single 'New Fang' vielleicht. Oder 'Mind Eraser, No Chaser', das sich anfangs wie ein zurechtgepicktes 'My Sharona' anhört. Oder das Ungetüm namens 'Warsaw Or The First Breath You Take After You Give Up'. Eine Kurzanleitung für die Platte. Der Städtename ein Wink Richtung Bowie? Möglich. Es gilt: anhören. Aufgeben. Langsam aufwachen. Geier sind keine Kuscheltier. Them Crookes Vultures auf Deutschland-Tournee 06.12., München, Zenith07.12., Berlin, Columbiahalle08.12., Köln, Palladium http://www.monstersa...rooked-Vultures Edited November 18, 2009 by SteveAJones Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveAJones Posted November 18, 2009 Share Posted November 18, 2009 Focus Online (Germany) New Albums From AC/DC & Them Crooked Vultures Reviewed: http://www.focus.de/kultur/musik/plattenkiste/ac-dc-them-crooked-vultures-purer-rock-fuer-herz-und-hirn_aid_453894.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveAJones Posted November 18, 2009 Share Posted November 18, 2009 Them Crooked Vultures The Roxy in West Hollywood, CA November 16, 2009 The new CD was sold at the show the day before it went on sale to the general public. Afterwards the band held a meet and greet at the On The Roxx VIP club upstairs, posing for photos and signing autographs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveAJones Posted November 18, 2009 Share Posted November 18, 2009 Them Crooked Vultures | Them Crooked Vultures DGC/Interscope (2009) By DANIEL BROCKMAN | November 17, 2009 The Boston Phoenix 2.0 Stars One day, maybe in a decade or three, somebody will dig this LP out of the future virtual version of a record crate in a Salvation Army and be blown away by the deep grooves this supergroup generate — sort of the way I was when I first heard West, Bruce & Lang’s Why Dontcha. In the here and now, however, an excitable rock fan who drops the needle on this debut by a supergroup drawn from members of Led Zeppelin, Foo Fighters, and Queens of the Stone Age will probably be disappointed by how ho-hum it is. The release is not without brief visits to riff heaven, and it’s in the details that there are pleasures to be found, whether that’s John Paul Jones’s “Custard Pie” bass in “Scumbag Blues” or the whiff of Aerosmith’s “Rag Doll” in the sleazy melody of “New Fang.” But too often you bop along to the tight drum/bass syncopations only to forget what you’re listening to — or worse, why. http://thephoenix.com/Boston/Music/93027-Them-Crooked-Vultures-Them-Crooked-Vultures-200/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveAJones Posted November 18, 2009 Share Posted November 18, 2009 ABC Local (WJRT) November 17, 2009 Pick of the Litter CD Review: Them Crooked Vultures by Josh Daunt REVIEW (WJRT) -- With so much buzz about Them Crooked Vultures, rock's newest supergroup, and such high expectations given the massive coverage the band's formation garnered, it truly is amazing that this trio was able to put out a product that matched the hype. But they did, and each member brings his own unique styles. The psychedelic metal of Josh Homme's Queens of the Stone Age, the exceptionally powerful and melodic influence of John Paul Jones and the heavy punk rock from Dave Grohl are all blended into a smorgasbord the likes of which has never been heard before. And while Jones is the biggest name involved, Grohl's work behind the kit is the driving force of the new album, "Them Crooked Vultures," in stores this week. That is not to at all discount Jones' contributions to the project. His bass lines, highlighted by the funky extended jams in "Scumbag Blues," are nothing short of incendiary. He also adds some incredibly haunting organ work, giving depth to "Bandoliers" and "Caligulove." And his slide playing on "Reptiles" and album closer "Spinning In The Daffodils" is awe inspiring. But Grohl's drumwork is spectacular. More than 15 years since his last regular gig beating the skins, he's obviously kept in shape for it while fronting the Foo Fighters. From the driving stop-and-go time changes of "Elephants" to the acid jazz subtlety of "Interlude With Ludes" and the pounding fury of "Warsaw Or The First Breath You Take After You Give Up," Grohl takes it all in stride as his stick work keeps impeccable time while adding mind-blowing fills. Naturally, as the frontman, Homme cannot be overlooked. From the crunching chords, searing licks and screaming solos, his versatile guitar work sets the mood of each track. And his vocals go from haunting baritone to seething snarls to octave-pushing falsetto to give added character. The album was recorded at Homme's Pink Duck Studios in Burbank, Ca., between January and August of this year, and it was written and produced entirely by the band. Homme's vocals are clear, the guitars are raw, ragged and rough, as intended. Jones' bass rumbles beneath and Grohl's drums seem to be popping out of the speakers into your soul. First single "New Fang", released in late October, is a charging, high energy rocker accented by Jones' slide undertones and a heavy, screeching solo to close the tune out. Recently released second single "Mind Eraser, No Chaser" kicks off with a distorted, whining riff leading into a harmonic call and answer chorus. The band has been giving curious music lovers lucky enough to get a ticket a preview of the album on their "Deserve The Future" tour, which stopped at the Fillmore Detroit Oct. 8. They've been playing to rave reviews nationwide, featuring nearly every song off the album at most shows. And now, the wait is finally over. Since their August live debut, anticipation for the album has been building. And Tuesday's release proves the fuss was worthwhile. http://abclocal.go.com/wjrt/story?se...ent&id=7123900 proves the fuss was worthwhile. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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