Wolfmother brings music back
It is an absolute delight to finally hear rock music with integrity, innovation and viability. Wolfmother, a four-member Australian band, has given listeners a reason to love music again.
When Robert Plant parades himself on a stage, his characteristic enigmatic charm washes over the audience. When he opens his mouth and lets that distinctive soulful drawl fall from his lips, he captures generations. He, alongside the other members of Led Zeppelin, possesses an epic quality that popular rock bands of today undoubtedly lack. The original Woodstock-era musicians share a raw dynamic energy that is momentarily absent on the music charts. Their brilliant music and psychedelic song writing has been replaced by the likes of Fall Out Boy and Good Charlotte singing “dance, dance” and “I don’t wanna be in love.”
It’s therefore an absolute delight to finally hear rock music with integrity, innovation and viability. Wolfmother, a four-member Australian band, has given listeners a reason to love music again. Vocalist, Andrew Stockdale is the most captivating, curly-haired frontman since Julian Casablancas (of The Strokes), wailing, crooning and shrieking his way through the band’s newest LP “Cosmic Egg.” The album is brimming with powerful songs that would do its predecessors proud. Take for example, the exemplary “New Moon Rising.” Drummer Dave Atkins pats out a steady rhythm, under guitarists Ian Peres and Aidan Nemeth’s instrumental grunting. All the while Stockdale moans (See the small town boy now/from a small time family/He’s got to find his way now/gotta find himself a woman). It has been decades since the music industry has heard lyrics so simple, primal and honest.
The band continues its conquest of rock and roll with the hard-driving “10,000 Feet” and the eternally cool “Cosmic Egg,” which is featured both electronically and acoustically. Wolfmother boldly finishes its album attempting a feat many musicians lack the gumption to even try. The Aussies flawlessly and soulfully cover Jimi Hendrix’s “If 6 was 9.” Proving yet again that their signature uniqueness garners them a place among rock royalty, the musicians lay down the number with staggering precision. It is without a doubt the best rock album of the year. Congratulations to Wolfmother for finding the music again.
Grade: A+
Download (don’t steal): “White Feather” by Wolfmother
