JOHN PAUL JONES New Project

[SteveAJones]

Them Crooked Vultures consists of a power trio

GRAHAM ROCKINGHAM

FOR METRO CANADA

November 19, 2009 4:26 a.m.

Them Crooked Vultures

Album: Them Crooked Vultures

Label: Universal

Rating: ****

David Grohl, Josh Homme and John Paul Jones must have been listening to a stack of old Cream records when they decided to put together their own supergroup. The comparisons between Cream and Them Crooked Vultures are too tantalizing to ignore. We've got three giants of their genres Grohl, frontman of the Foo Fighters and and drummer of Nirvana, Homme, guitarist and singer for Queens of the Stone Age; and Jones, bassist and keyboard player for Led Zeppelin coming together to form a power trio. Dreamy high-pitched vocals ala Jack Bruce, distorted guitar riffs ala Eric Clapton and crazed discordant drumming ala Ginger Baker. Tracks like Scumbag Blues, Bandolier and Elephant could easily have fit onto Disraeli Gears. But who could ever fault three master musicians putting aside egos, to come up with what they used to call, back in the day, a very "heavy" record. Thank goodness, there's no 16-minute drum solos.

http://www.metronews...of-a-power-trio

[SteveAJones]

Vultures make for a likely supergroup

The IQ's in the playing, not the pretty words

By MARK LEPAGE, Freelance

The Gazette (Montreal)

November 19, 2009

Them Crooked Vultures

Them Crooked Vultures

Interscope

Rating 4 out of five

- - -

Vultures are crooked-looking - creature-as-metaphor, with that broken neck, thug brow and beady eyes - but of course, they serve a vital purpose, disposing of the carcasses that would otherwise toxify the planet. Nature's garbagemen.

Which brings us to classic rock. Never entirely dead, but long past its prime, rock's pachyderm lumbers around in the consciousness, looking for a place to keel over. Imagine all those riffs and grooves just putrefying all over the rock landscape? No. Someone has to devour, digest, regurgitate. And perhaps give birth to a new monster.

Which brings us to Josh Homme, Dave Grohl and John Paul Jones. On one level, Vultures make for a likely supergroup. Two Zep fans, one Zep legend, yeah, I can see that... And on the other, you imagine Jones entering in a bowler hat and Homme, with greasy hands and a how-ya-doin'!, slapping him too hard on the back.

Nobody Loves Me opens with a lecherous grind. Mind Eraser, No Chaser lurches into the syncopations of New Fang before hi-falutin' playing reveals a catchy number in Dead End Friends.

And they don't come more aptly named than Elephants, trundling and proggy in the Physical Graffiti sense. Indeed, that album lurks in the shadows and the DNA here, especially later in the album.

But back to the personalities involved. There is a lingering surprise in finding JPJ here with the guy whose mindset produces titles like Interlude With Ludes and Caligulove. Everything Homme plays has a louche swagger, a kind of prog-porn oomph. "Slick back my hair/

You know the devil's in there."

But to these guys, the IQ is in the playing, not the pretty words. Scumbag Blues drops an irresistibly funky Stevie Wonder breakdown on the keys (by Jones?) into its equally irresistible bad-acid stomp. Bandoliers drops little hints of Ten Years Gone. Warsaw or the First Breath You Take After You Give Up lives up to its epic title. The soon-to-be-classic Caligulove and Spinning in Daffodils illustrate a flair for the immensely, Cream-ily stoned. There's something very L.A. about it all. And Dave Grohl, who hasn't been mentioned here, can pretty much play anything on drums, give it weight and power it forward.

They're called an "alt-classic supergroup." I don't know how "alt" it is - dirty riff-boogie jam more like it - but it is as large as its preceding reputation would guarantee. Now, melodies and meaning, mind you ...

Ah well. The rock landscape is bereft of the Great Beasts these days. How much "meaning" does life need in November? Are we not all waiting for the vultures to claim the year? To drag its carcass offstage into the wings of existence? If it's a scavengers' dance, then strike up the heavy band.

Podworthy: Scumbag Blues

http://www.montrealg...9124/story.html

[SteveAJones]

Them Crooked Vultures

(Wiltern Theater; 2,200 capacity; $59.50)

By Andrew Barker (Variety)

Presented by Live Nation. Reviewed November 17, 2009.

Band: Josh Homme, John Paul Jones, Dave Grohl, Alain Johannes.

Super groups have a nasty history of raising impossible expectations only to fall short. Although Them Crooked Vultures are certainly one of the best projects ever to be saddled with that label, their fierce stand at the Wiltern nonetheless could not transcend it. It's unfathomable that a band with Led Zeppelin, Kyuss, Nirvana, Queens of the Stone Age and the Foo Fighters on its collective resume could fail to thrill, and during the better half of Tuesday's 90 minute show, they didn't. But the band will need to sheer its rougher edges to become more than just an exciting experiment.

Toplining Queens frontman Josh Homme and his longtime co-conspirator Alain Johannes (on lead and backing guitar/vocals, respectively), the Vultures most resembled a steroid-charged version of Homme's Desert Sessions groups - loose assemblages of open-minded rockers let loose to experiment at will. Powder keg drummer Dave Grohl has, of course, collaborated with Homme before for Queens' masterwork "Songs for the Deaf," but it was the inclusion of Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones that made the group truly special, considering his unparalleled ability to transform even the most turgid metal riffs into seductive, swinging grooves.

Homme may be the least famous of the group's three core elements, but it was his idiosyncratic take on hard rock conventions that supplied the band with a surfeit of swagger. He's still a more confident songwriter and guitarist than he is a singer, and his vocals were often swallowed up in the Wiltern's echoing expanse - though his Jack Bruce-like falsetto was wonderful when he did push it to the forefront, particularly on the delightfully adolescent lyrics of show opener "Nobody Loves Me and Neither Do I."

Last night's setlist was almost suicidally front-loaded, as the band lined up its five briskest, catchiest songs all in a row, charging headfirst through "Dead End Friends" - think Nirvana's "Very Ape" further along the evolutionary chain - and the inhumanly propulsive "Scumbag Blues." The latter tune allowed Jones a brief bass solo that rivaled that of "The Lemon Song" in its tasteful funkiness. The last half of the set was dedicated to the shaggier, proggier moments from the band's self-titled debut (released yesterday), and while "Bandoliers" and the phenomenally-titled "Caligulove" managed to be late standouts, the imbalance between the two halves of the show was jarring. And in a move that was refreshingly unbecoming of the "supergroup" title, Them Crooked Vultures refrained from playing a single song from any of its members' storied back catalogues.

http://www.variety.c...egoryid=34&cs=1

[SteveAJones]

Critical Voices: Them Crooked Vultures - Them Crooked Vultures

Author: Sean Quigley The Georgetown Voice November 18, 2009

Supergroups pretty much always leave fans disappointed. You know the drill: the individual stars are too unwilling to compromise their personal aesthetic, the members never make the effort to gel as a group, the songwriters horde their best material for solo efforts, etc.. But when former Led Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones enlisted the help of drummer Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters, Nirvana) and guitarist Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age, Kyuss) to form Them Crooked Vultures, he was choosing two of his former group's most ardent disciples, and the result is unsurprisingly cohesive and powerfula loud, crunchy throwback to the heyday of classic hard rock.

Grohl and Homme sound thrilled just to be in the same room as Jones. Homme crunches out vintage riffs throughout the record, squeezing in as many knockoff Jimmy Page solos as he can in the process. Grohl's drumming seems equally inspired by Jones's presence, and delivers everything from thick, punishing beats to timely, precise fillscementing his place as one of the top rock drummers of his era (though also making his time spent as frontman of the Foo Fighters just that much more depressing). The group is at its best on tracks like "Elephants," starting out in a driven frenzy and never really relenting. But about halfway through the record, it becomes evident that the Vultures have little more to offer than spirited rehashes of the kind of hard-rock staples that their individual groups have been churning out for years.

That's not to say, however, that this isn't a thoroughly enjoyable record. Homme's vocals are placed low in the mix, drowned out by the sea of raucous noise the group produces. Most importantly, the three sound like an actual band, not just a trio of stars messing around in an expensive recording session. It's a chance for Jones to prove he's still cool, and it lets Grohl and Homme live out their childhood Zeppelin fantasies. This transgenerational collaboration is best played with the volume all the way up to 11.

Voice's Choices: "Elephants," "New Fang," "Reptiles"

http://www.georgetow...ooked-vultures/

[SteveAJones]

Them Crooked Vultures leave nothing left to want

Naheil Qudah

Daily Skiff

Issue date: 11/19/09

Who are they?

You've heard these guys in other incarnations: Dave Grohl from Nirvana and Foo Fighters, John Paul Jones from Led Zeppelin and Josh Homme from Queens of the Stone Age. During the past four years, they have collaborated and appeared live as a band, including a performance in Austin, before releasing their self-titled first album in the U.S. on Tuesday.

As a band

It's easy to be wary of supergroups. When musicians with incompatible sounds and styles decide to play together, it sounds a bit like your mom put all of Sunday's leftovers in one container. But don't expect to hear anything of the sort when you pick up this album. Yes, their styles are pervasive. With Grohl on drums, Jones on bass and Homme on guitar and lead vocals, you'll be able to hear the distinct sound that each musician developed during their decades of work in the music industry. But instead of sounding like a hodgepodge of the trio's previous bands, each track is a completely new, interesting and cohesive product from three talented musicians.

What to expect

Grohl slamming out interesting and unexpected shifts in time signature mid-song; guitar solos with unmistakable roots in blues music that speed up and intensify under Homme's quick fingers. Jones offering his heavy expertise on the bass guitar and making a gloom-and-doom appearance on the organ in "Caligulove". This album is the epitome of real rock music in an era of pansy rock (I'm looking at you, Coldplay) and presents vicious lyrics about human interactions and the struggle for power along with striking album artwork displaying only black, white and red coloration.

The best parts

Every track on this album is excellent, and there's not a song worth skipping over. But it's hard not to be partial to the expressively drawn-out vocals on the opening track "No One Loves Me & Neither Do I." The dramatic fuzz guitar solo on "Warsaw or the First Breath You Take After You Give Up" drives the rest of the song into interesting shifts in rhythm and melody. Lastly, hearing Jones on the organ is a treat not to be missed, so "Caligulove" definitely has a place on this list.

Ideal for

Disproving the theory that rock music is dead, bonding with parents over mutual respect for John Paul Jones (hey, he brought them "Stairway to Heaven" before he brought you "Mind Eraser, No Chaser"), gray winter days, tapping your feet on long drives, political discussions, air guitar, living room mosh pits. This album just raised the bar for rock music, so clear out some space on your shelf and get ready for a pleasant surprise.

http://media.www.tcu...t-3836181.shtml

[SteveAJones]

Them Crooked Vultures Self Titled

Album:

Them Crooked Vultures

Publisher(s):Sony Music (international), Interscope (North America)

Genre(s):Hard rock, Alternative rock

Rock Sins.com

November 18, 2009

So expectations are big for this album by Them Crooked Vultures, who if you haven't heard of (by some miracle) consists of John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin), Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters) and Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age).

Right out of the box the album kicks in with a killer song 'No One Loves me & Neither Do I' which doesn't disappoint any expectations. Its got the funky feel of Queens of the stone age, with a brilliant bass line by John Paul Jones, brilliant drumming as we have come to expect from ex-Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl and Josh Hommes High pitch, soft, catchy vocal points which always bring out the songs, and the album is all the better for it. His vocals are a welcome break away from a Queens of the stone age style track with fast heavy guitar, and sit right at home on top of a solidly backed track including great breakdown. A reassuring and a brilliant start to the album.

The Ferocity on the album is shown off in 'Mind eraser no Chaser' which was recently released for free on iTunes, a fast tempo rock song with oodles of punch. The Album continues with a Bar room jam type track 'The First Breath You Take After You Give Up', a dirty groove in 'Reptiles' and the Led Zeppelin inspired tones of 'Caligulove' that is so much better than a reunion of Led Zeppelin could ever could be.

The highlight of the album has to be Elephants, a song which kicks in with three different tempo's and winds its way into a mesh showcasing just how good the legends are.

A meeting of such legendary minds is rare, so be glad you got to experience it in your lifetime!

http://www.rocksins....lf-titled-1921/

[SteveAJones]

Filter Magazine

Them Crooked Vultures

Them Crooked Vultures

Filter Grade: 90%

by Lauren Novik | 11.18.2009

After the long-awaited release of Dave Grohl's heavily anticipated newest project, Them Crooked Vultures, the band's self-titled debut finally dropped yesterday. After fighting with the always too difficult to get off plastic packaging, I slipped the disc into my car stereo and was transported back to an era where bell-bottoms and drugs were easier to get than a sorority girl at a party. The Holy Trinity comprised of Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters), Joshua Homme (Queens of the Stone Age), and John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin), delivers original music the way it was meant to be heard in this resurgence of retro rock. With lyrics akin to prose and set to tunes of the heavily psychedelic sounds from yesteryear, the menacing menages of men present a taste of what The Doors once delivered—truly “making the possible, totally impossible.” The singles leaked onto the Internet, "Scumbag Blues," and "Mind Eraser, No Chaser," are both good, but the real tracks to check out are "Dead End Friends" and twelve "Gunman". Both offer more than a tiny taste of what lies hidden behind '70s style guitar riffs with just a hint of this millennium’s music. All in all, this visit to the free love, heavy music era will have you wishing you didn't have to travel back to the future anytime soon. I'd keep your DeLorean slower than 88 mph if I were you— these 13 tracks will be on a heavy rotation.

http://www.filter-mag.com/index.php?id=20076&c=3

[SteveAJones]

Them Crooked Vultures Rain Rockness Upon the Wiltern (11/16)

by Drew Tewksbury L.A. Weekly November 17, 2009

From fist-pumping stomps to face-melting solos, Them Crooked Vultures' performance at the Wiltern Tuesday wasn't an avalanche of hard rock--it was a monolith. From the very start, the Vultures had the Wiltern's sold-out crowd pulsating to the lumbering rhythms of "No One Loves Me & Neither Do I," a rafter-quaking riff rocker from their self-titled debut album, released this week.

The crowd's excitement nearly matched the energy blasted from a stage filled with hard rock's heavyweights: Led Zeppelin's bassist, John Paul Jones, Nirvana's drummer, Dave Grohl, and Josh Homme vocalist/guitarist of Queens of the Stone Age and Kyuss.

This nexus of rock titans has been slowly rolled out since the rumors of the supergroup began circulating across the internet. Like the sighting of a sasquatch, the outline of the band would appear in the distance. Shaky iPhone video of performances metastasized across social media networks. MP3's would suddenly appear on blogs. Surprise shows at small venues spawned hearsay and speculation. Then on the stage of the Wiltern, the full beast came into view.

Homme, coolly swaggered to the mic, wafting falsetto vocals over the grungy guitar chugging and sludge-rock riffery. Behind the drums, Grohl furiously pounded away, his hair flying up into his face with each cymbal smash. John Paul Jones ran through an arsenal of instruments including a 10-string bass, a mandolin, a keytar, an organ, and two other multi-stringed instruments that probably don't even have names yet.

Unlike many reports, Them Crooked Vultures actually isn't a supergroup; it's essentially Queens of the Stone Age plus JP Jones. QotSA's ablum, Songs for the Deaf, featured Grohl on drums and multi-instrumentalist Alain Johannes, who joined the band on tour, has been part of Homme's operation for years.

But the undeniable influence of Jones' mastery of florid arrangement and soulful groove (he's responsible for the string section on Led Zep's "Kashmir" and the Clavinet groove on "Trampled Under Foot"), meshed well with Homme's sun-scorched brand of desert psychedelia.

When Jones' stutter stepping bass line perfectly interlocked with the tight drumming, on "Scum Bag Blues," the 63 year-old classic rock icon looked back at Grohl, who cracked a smile as he sang backup, relishing in the approval from the man who started it all.

It was a quandary for the audience's Rock Band enthusiasts and air musicians. With so many idols on stage, it was hard to pick. Execute a perfect air guitar bend, or perhaps attempt a raucous thigh slapping drum solo? One audience member was a virtual one-man-band of invisible instruments, attempting air bass along to Jones' solo in "Scumbag Blues--left hand in the air, fingers curling around imaginary frets--while his right hand matched snare hits on his cargo pants.

"There's a lot of love in the air tonight," Homme said before launching into the slinky fuzz guitar of "Caligulove."

The song, like "Dead End Friends" and "Mind Eraser, No Chaser," could have been a Queens of the Stone Age B-Side, where Homme's spacy guitar and airy vocals were layered over driving beats. But the focus would change when the connection between Jones and Grohl would take over. Instead of stitching their old bands together, like most supergroups, Them Crooked Vultures' blurs their influences at the seams, creating a singular sound, deep, pulsing, and thickly layered.

​John Paul Jones closed the set with a solo piano piece that, like his bass playing, seemlessy shifted from soulful to baroque and recalled his dreamy interlude on Led Zeppelin's "Song Remains the Same." As his final notes rang, the band left the stage, leaving behind a silence that was satisfying, a calm after the storm...

...that is, until the jazzy free-for-all jam in the low-slung blues encore, "Warsaw or the First Breath You Take After You Give up," broke down into a sonic tsunami with sound so thick, there was not enough room to breathe.

But how else would you expect hard rock's finest to go out: With a bang or a wimper?

Photo Gallery:

http://blogs.laweekly.com/westcoastsound/last-night/them-crooked-vultures-rain-roc/

[SteveAJones]

Spinner.com 11/18/09

Them Crooked Vultures Impress Slash in L.A.

Them Crooked Vultures -- the supergroup of Dave Grohl, Led Zeppelin's John Paul Jones and Queens of the Stone Age's Josh Homme -- kicked off the start of a brief American tour in Los Angeles this week. The band, who just released their heavy, self-titled debut album, got the chance to show off their skills to around 2,000 fans at the sold-out Wiltern on Tuesday.

"Ladies and gentlemen!" was Homme's opening greeting to the crowd -- which included actor Breckin Meyer and Homme's wife, Brody Dalle -- before he provided an introduction. "We're a new band called Them Crooked Vultures and we're gonna have a good time."

The band whipped out a host of their new ones including 'Dead End Friends,' 'Elephants' and 'Caligulove' throughout their nearly two-hour set. Slash managed to sneak into the gig three songs in, wearing a backward baseball cap and with his hair in a ponytail. Before the set ended, he revealed on Twitter that he was impressed, writing "Them Crooked Vultures at the Wiltern, F---ing genius."

With only a handful of dates, including ones at Britain's Reading and Leeds festivals over the summer, under their belt, Homme offered a second introduction to the group three-quarters into the night.

"This is Mr. Dave Grohl on drums," he said before introducing the rest of the band, which included touring guitarist and songwriter of Adam Lambert's 'Time for Miracles,' Alain Johannes.

The group carried on for a handful of additional songs including 'New Fang.' A piano solo by Jones ended the first part of the set and Homme joined the bassist center stage for a hug before the group departed, returning a short while later for a brief encore. The band now have three more American dates in Oakland, Seattle and Portland, Ore. before they head to Europe and Australia.

http://www.spinner.c...s-slash-in-l-a/

[SteveAJones]

The ABC12 Listening Room

Them Crooked Vultures

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. -- Josh Daunt

The ABC12 Listening Room staff: James Chesna, editor-in-chief; Josh Daunt, managing editor, photographer; Beth McEnroe, staff writer, photographer; Gwen Mikolajczak, staff writer; Eric Fletcher, chief photographer; Randy Cox, photographer; Chris Carr, photographer; Jessica Reid, contributing photographer; LeeAlan Weddel, contributing editor, writer; Shawn Light, contributing writer; Robin Chan, contributing writer.

http://abclocal.go.c...ment&id=7123900

[SteveAJones]

Them Crooked Vultures - Them Crooked Vultures (Sony)

by Jamie Horne

The Border Mail (Australia)

November 18, 2009

DAVE Grohl is officially the busiest man in rock music.

From Nirvana to his own Foo Fighters to Probot, Queens Of The Stone Age and several others, Grohl is never far away from a recording studio.

His latest project sees him team up again with QOTSA's Josh Homme and, get this, Led Zeppelin's John Paul Jones.

And with a pedigree like that, I don't need to tell you that Them Crooked Vultures rock.

Over 13 tracks, TCV has moments that mimic QOTSA (the addictive single New Fang) and others that recall Led Zep (the epic and punchy Elephants).

And there's Davey Grohl pounding the proverbial outta those skins!

All three rock gods bring their best on the opener Nobody Loves Me & Neither Do I, with Jones' gritty bass a highlight.

Reptiles and Mind Eraser, No Chaser are also recommended.

RATING: ★★★★ IN SHORT: Super-powered

http://www.bordermai...ny/1681344.aspx

[Reggie29]

The Courier Mail

Brisbane

November 20 2009

DO musicians talk shop when they dine together?

Apparently not if they have been set up on a blind date at a theme restaurant by a mutual mate.

http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,,26368123-5003421,00.html

[SteveAJones]

November 20, 2009, 1:23AM

Rock 'n' roadkill: Them Crooked Vultures

Them Crooked Vultures features Dave Grohl of Foo Fighters (and Nirvana fame) at his throne of drums, John Paul Jones of rock immortals Led Zeppelin on bass and Josh Homme from Queens of the Stone Age in the frontman role of singer/guitarist.

Stylistically, Them Crooked Vultures falls somewhere between the cracks of stoner, grunge and math rock, but in this equation, the whole is less than the sum of its parts. For a band with such a distinguished pedigree, they seem unnecessarily determined to prove how tough they are. Homme is clearly the weakest link but also plays the most prominent role. Surprisingly, Jonesy's bass lines struggle for attention behind Grohl's thunderous pummeling and Homme's squealing guitar tone.

About halfway through their self-titled album, things grow interesting. "Bandoliers" is a proggy epic that jumps between aggro riffage and expansive improvisation. "Elephants" offers a trunk-dragging groove that's one of the recording's best.

In a venue as small as the Roseland, their collective aura should overcome any matters of personal taste. Just expect to get your ears plucked out.

8 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 22, Roseland Theater, 8 N.W. Sixth Ave.; $44.50, all ages; 503-224-2038; www.themcrookedvultures.com

-- Kevin Friedman, Special to The Oregonian

http://www.oregonliv..._crooked_v.html

[SteveAJones]

Album: Them Crooked Vultures, Them Crooked Vultures (RCA)

(Rated 4/ 5 )

By Andy Gill

The Independent, Friday, 20 November 2009

At a time when it's widely assumed that Jack White and a handful of unknown indie chums merits the accolade, Them Crooked Vultures is a supergroup worthy of the term, in the classic rock tradition of Blind Faith and ELP.

Not only have its members – Dave Grohl, John Paul Jones and Josh Homme – garnered millions of album sales, but two of their earlier groups, Led Zeppelin and Nirvana, were the most important bands of their respective eras. In this case, though, it's Queens of the Stone Age's Homme who's most responsible for the Vultures' direction, contributing lyrics, vocals and the overdubbed guitar parts that throng the Zep-style bulldozer riffs of tracks such as "Gunman" and "No One Loves Me & Neither Do I" – the latter song comprised of bitterly sardonic lines lines like "You can't always do right, but you can always do what's left". Not all the lyrics are as sharp, but there's a chunky power to the trio's work that makes up for such shortcomings in tracks like "Dead End Friends". Jones is best represented on the elegant bassline of "Reptiles" and funky clavinet of "Scumbag Blues", while Grohl's drum barrage on "New Fang" is the perfect undercarriage for Homme's multiple staccato guitar lines.

http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/album-them-crooked-vultures-them-crooked-vultures-rca-1824458.html

[SteveAJones]

NME.com

November 20, 2009

Them Crooked Vultures planning second album

Dave Grohl and co want it to be louder than their debut

Them Crooked Vultures have confirmed that they are to start work on their second album.

Despite their self-titled debut having only been released earlier this month, the three-piece say they are already thinking about its follow-up.

"I felt we've only just started to pick up steam. Why would we want to stop now?" singer Josh Homme told The Sun, while bassist John Paul Jones agreed. "We all know we have so much more in us yet," he said.

Dave Grohl said that "when we make our second record, it's going to be even more powerful than this one".

Meanwhile, Homme has said he doesn't like the band being labelled a 'supergroup'. "It's not that I hate that term," he said. "I just don't shave with it, I don't eat with it and it doesn't mean anything to me."

http://www.nme.com/n...-vultures/48484

[Joao]

If they don't release it as a b-side I hope that they include this song on their second album:

Highway One

[SteveAJones]

If they don't release it as a b-side I hope that they include this song on their second album:

Highway One

Yes, and it was performed in Oakland earlier tonight.

[Walter]

If they don't release it as a b-side I hope that they include this song on their second album:

Highway One

Watching those clips and the other songs from the Wiltern show are just f-in' amazing!! I may have to buy plane tickets to go see them, if they don't come to FL soon!

[SteveAJones]

Last Night: Them Crooked Vultures at the Fox

By Rossiter Drake

SF Weekly Blogs Fri., Nov. 20 2009 @ 7:58AM

Them Crooked Vultures

November 19, 2009

Fox Theater

Better Than: Listening to Robert Plant shy away from the high notes at Led Zeppelin's 2007 reunion show.

It's no accident that the supergroup has, in recent years, gone the way of New Coke, the McRib, and Lindsay Lohan's career. For every Cream - the bluesy British trio Eric Clapton dissolved after listening to The Band's Music From Big Pink and determining that his own band had lost its soul - there are too many Oysterheads and Chickenfeet, much-hyped pretenders whose star-studded lineups add up to less than the sum of their parts.

Them Crooked Vultures, the power trio featuring Josh Homme of Queens of the Stone Age on vocals and lead guitar, Dave Grohl on drums, and Led Zeppelin's John Paul Jones rocking the bass, are no pretenders. Whether the collaboration will prove anything more than a titillating one-off is anyone's guess - these guys have well-paid day jobs, Jones included - but for one night at the Fox Theater, they delivered a tight, take-no-prisoners performance that left the capacity crowd hungry for an encore.

Strolling onto the stage shortly after 9 p.m., the newly anointed Vultures launched into a thunderous rendition of "No One Loves Me & Neither Do I," with Grohl pounding the skins in typically authoritative fashion and the rest of the band (including Queens contributor Alain Johannes on rhythm guitar) joining him a few beats in with a slippery groove backing Homme's forceful but rarely overpowering falsetto.

The band followed with blistering renditions of two up-tempo rockers, "Mind Eraser, No Chaser" and "Dead End Friends," that would have sounded right at home on Queens of the Stone Age's Era Vulgaris but benefit greatly from Jones' punchy bass riffs. Jones, conspicuously absent from Robert Plant and Jimmy Page's mid-'90s reunion tours (and none too pleased about it), remains a formidable performer, and on this evening dominated the proceedings with his nimble finger work and surprisingly smooth supporting vocals.

If anything, it's Jones, more than Homme, whose influence is most evident on the band's eponymous debut album, which often sounds like Physical Graffiti-era Zeppelin, and in their willingness to indulge heavy, free-flowing jams on stage. (Grohl, who attacks his drum kit with the same ferocity he once displayed with Nirvana, seems content to toil in the shadows; the Vultures are neither as polished nor as radio-friendly as his Foo Fighters, but every bit as aggressive.)

Those anticipating flights of nostalgia - an impromptu cover of "Trampled Under Foot," perhaps - were destined for disappointment, as the band stuck to original material culled from the seemingly informal jam sessions captured on Them Crooked Vultures. No matter. As the band tore through a feverish "Scumbag Blues," a funky, fist-pumping epic boasting a frenzied Clavinet solo from Jones and plenty of Homme's trademark guitar heroics, it was less tempting to romanticize the past than to envision a future in which these Vultures fly again.

Personal Bias: If some obsessive soul were to hold a fantasy draft with the express purpose of creating the perfect rock band, I would pick Josh Homme and Dave Grohl in the early rounds. Other picks would include Trent Reznor, David Bowie, and Prince.

Random Detail: John Paul Jones once set a hotel room ablaze by falling asleep with a lit joint in hand. He's remarkably well-preserved, much more so than his former bandmates.

By the Way: Grohl, a self-described Zeppelin disciple who coaxed Jones and Page into joining the Foo Fighters on stage at a Wembley Stadium show in June 2008, first suggested recruiting Jones for Them Crooked Vultures. Homme assumed he was joking.

http://blogs.sfweekl...oked_vultur.php

[SteveAJones]

Concert review: Supergroup Crooked Vultures more than lives up to its hype

By Tony Hicks

Contra Costa Times

Posted: 11/20/2009 09:10:36 AM PST

The supergroup wasn't so super ... for about seven seconds.Them Crooked Vultures walked on stage Thursday at Oakland's Fox Theater, smiling to a warm reception. The first song started ... and singer Josh Homme's guitar sputtered and died. No worries: Drummer Dave Grohl calmly looped the beat while Homme and his roadie got it together. Homme finally looked back, nodded and everyone exploded into the fast part of "No One Loves Me & Neither Do I."

It was like a Ferrari sputtering on ignition, then launching itself onto the autobahn for 90 minutes of controlled death riding at 140 miles an hour.

So often a band of individual stars coming together for a "project" ends up barely being the sum of its parts. Them Crooked Vultures were the exact opposite Thursday melding individual star power into a stunningly effective mix in which the musicians pushed each other into places they don't go alone.

And it was an impressive thing to watch.

The engine of this machine is, of course, Grohl. The Nirvana drummer, then Foo Fighters' singer and frontman, returns to full-time drums with the Vultures and it is an exercise in sweaty, barbaric joy. He and bassist John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin) were so locked in through the heavy progressions it was like the cacophony of jets flying overheard in perfect formation. If anything, Grohl is a fuller, stronger drummer than he was in Nirvana.

With its only glitch out of the way, the Vultures banged through "Dead End Friend" and a relentless "Scumbag Blues" like Cream on steroids. Grohl looked like a kid on Christmas morning, grinning at childhood hero Jones (he got three Led Zeppelin tattoos as a youth), while Homme came swooping in with an intense, teeth-chattering guitar lead.

Grohl was pure animalistic fun and Homme, frontman for Queens of the Stone Age, was surprisingly good. But seeing 63-year-old Jones back in the spotlight and musically dominating, was inspiring.

The catchy "Bandoliers" was a nice break from the noisy relentlessness, and a great setup for the driving, call-and-response chorus between Homme and his rhythm section on "Mind Eraser." A good way to judge a live band is to listen to its new record after the show, and the live version of "Mind Eraser" benefitted more than any other song.

Jones delivered a jumpy organ solo during the methodic, psychedelic "Caligulove," (think "In a Gadda Da Vida" without the mumbling and better changes).

The band got serious at shows's end, with the long and dark shuffle of "Warsaw Or the First Breath You Take After You Give Up." Homme and second guitarist Alain Johannes shrieked feedback while Jones and Grohl slowly pulled the bottom line almost too low to hear, then drove it back up to an ear-bending peak for an all-band crash ending. It was an appropriate way to finish a breathtaking ride on a rock 'n' roll autobahn.

http://www.contracos...2894?source=rss

[SteveAJones]

Ultimate Guitar.com

11/20/09

Them Crooked Vultures Review

Sound: We’ve all seen many a supergroup come and go, but Them Crooked Vultures has the potential for staying power. Besides the obvious fact that vocalist/guitarist Josh Homme already has an established rapport with drummer Dave Grohl, there’s a familiar enough quality to the songs on Them Crooked Vultures’ self-titled debut record to not alienate any previous fans. To put it simply, if you’ve enjoyed the most recent work from Queens of the Stone Age, you’ll likely embrace TCV with open arms. And when you add in the wild card (i.e.. Led Zeppelin’s John Paul Jones on bass and keyboards), well, the cool factor has been solidified. It’s true that there are a few songs on the new record that veer into highly experimental and self-indulgent territory, but the vast majority of the 13 tracks maintain a good balance between melody and awe-inspiring arrangements.

Grohl and Homme have already made an obvious connection through their assorted collaborations, so one of the most interesting aspects was to see what Jones brought to the table. There are a few times along the way when the songs take a Zeppelin-type turn (and yes, Zeppelin’s influence is something found in a good deal of rock today), but for the most part it’s the dark, grooving QOTSA-like riffs from Homme that steer the way. “No One Loves Me & Neither Do I” starts it all off with the trademark sexy-scary sound, and the song features a variety of musical sections (other than the obvious chorus and verse). Most of the 13 tracks pack in some sort of surprise or twist that you wouldn’t necessarily expect arrangement-wise, and that’s one of the most intriguing aspects to TCV.

The first single “New Fang” is infectious from the opening slide work to Homme’s amazing falsetto abilities. Behind the generally enjoyable root melody to tracks like “New Fang,” “Elephants,” and “Bandoliers” is the creative approach take to layering the instrumentation. QOTSA utilizes this technique often, but TCV takes it to the next level, which becomes extremely obvious when you listen to the intricacies through headphones. Some might feel it’s all overkill with so many instrumental sections smashed together, particularly in the closing experimental track “Spinning In Daffodils,” but by the same token this is a band that is attempting to go beyond the norm.

While Homme’s sonic guitar sound and capable vocals usually steal the show, Grohl and Jones have their moments. Grohl’s at his best in “New Fang” and “Gunman,” which both feature an unbelievably vibrant percussion section, as well as the uniquely timed “Mind Eraser, No Chaser.” The bass is always thick and is certainly a driving point to TCV, but Jones shines when he delivers a funky Stevie Wonder-like keyboard solo in “Scumbag Blues.” The sum total of instrumentation ends of being the key selling point, with Alan Moulder (Smashing Pumpkins, A Perfect Circle) often creating a head-scratching, but intriguing mix of the musical mish-mesh. // 9

Lyrics and Singing: There’s always an undercurrent of sexuality with Homme’s music these days it seems, and TCV keeps that tradition going strong. Of course, the key is to not make the topic mundane, and you don’t get the same old regurgitated lyrical content. Whether it’s the twisted and hilarious “Caligulove” (Hold me real close; Clap me in irons; Come on caligulove me”) or the tense “Reptile” (“Don't rest too long; It's a mistake we can't take back; Take one lying down for a change; And oh it's like cleaning up after an orgy”), it’s hard to not get sucked in to the unusual rhyme schemes that TCV devises. // 9

Impression: While there are a few moments along the way when TCV get wrapped up in what seems to be an extended jam session, for the most part the self-titled record is a satisfying one. There is no shortage of thinking outside of the box with song construction, and that’s refreshing in itself. From the slide work to the strong vocals to the often-changing rhythmic quality, the 13 tracks set the bar high. Again, there is an obvious extension from QOTSA that is undeniable, so your opinion of albums like Lullabies to Paralyze and Era Vulgaris will likely predetermine how you’ll respond to the Homme-Grohl-Jones trio. // 9

http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/reviews/compact_discs/them_crooked_vultures/them_crooked_vultures/index.html

[SteveAJones]

Caught Up In A Massive Sound.com

Album Review Them Crooked Vultures 'Them Crooked Vultures'

Nov 20, 2009

So where to begin with such an epic release from Super Group, Them Crooked Vultures. Containing the three parts, Josh Homme from Queens of the Stone Age, Dave Grohl from Foo Fighters / Nirvana and John Paul Jones from Led Zepplin, the sum of the individual parts are so much larger than the whole.

I've been wanting to write something for this blog so I've listened too it hard about 10 times.

The entire album has been streaming on Youtube for a whole week prior to the physical launch. I've heard it, it was free to my ears I didn't buy the CD or burn it but I've heard it in its entirety i think they gave you the courtesy of try before you buy what I would call a Clever. Marketing. Trick.

They are set to make it to Australia's shores in January next year with the concerts All Ages (with licensed areas) this clearly shows the big picture of the audience they are trying to reach. I think they know themselves the lack of limits to the demographics that may seek out TCV. I was born in 1977 Led Zepplin was something that featured in the era of Parents, Aunties and Uncles… In some ways I can see TCV's fan stretching from age 8 right through to people in their mid to late 60's.

There is no doubt or question that this album is magnificent. But for this writer it feels like too much sound an epic experiment in genius, crazy guitar timings, lyrically amazing moments where they seem to borrow from really whimsical children's books and quote books of old… One track just leaves my head spinning…

With two years of high school French behind me, I want to attempt to write a lovely little paragraph explaining it… perhaps I am too far out of practice maybe its time to do a refresher course.

Now that I have made up my mind, I'll lift my media ban and really start absorbing other people's reviews. I must read the Rolling Stone review now I've reached my own conclusions!

http://amassivesound...ooked-vultures/

[Stevedore]

If they don't release it as a b-side I hope that they include this song on their second album:

Highway One

Only song I didn't care for live. A lot of people were leaving their seats to go to the loo or to get a beverage during this song.

[Reggie29]

NME.com

November 20, 2009

Them Crooked Vultures planning second album

Dave Grohl and co want it to be louder than their debut

Them Crooked Vultures have confirmed that they are to start work on their second album.

Despite their self-titled debut having only been released earlier this month, the three-piece say they are already thinking about its follow-up.

"I felt we've only just started to pick up steam. Why would we want to stop now?" singer Josh Homme told The Sun, while bassist John Paul Jones agreed. "We all know we have so much more in us yet," he said.

Dave Grohl said that "when we make our second record, it's going to be even more powerful than this one".

Meanwhile, Homme has said he doesn't like the band being labelled a 'supergroup'. "It's not that I hate that term," he said. "I just don't shave with it, I don't eat with it and it doesn't mean anything to me."

http://www.nme.com/n...-vultures/48484

Let's hope Jonesy plays more keyboard this time.

[Joao]

Only song I didn't care for live. A lot of people were leaving their seats to go to the loo or to get a beverage during this song.

Really? I mean I know it's not a hard rocking song but it sounds awesome I can only imagine live sounding even better.