Rock’s legends create crooked vultures

Like the late Velvet Revolver and more recent Monsters of Folk, Them Crooked Vultures has emerged as the newest contender in the ring of rock super-groups.

David Grohl, former drummer of Nirvana and Queens of the Stone Age and current front man for The Foo Fighters has joined forces with fellow Queens of the Stone Age band-mate Joshua Homme, and legendary bassist John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin.

Behind the drum set of Them Crooked Vultures, Grohl still remains a solid rock entity. Like his work in the past; his drumming is hard, driving, a little over produced, but effective for mega rock band stardom.

The band’s self-titled debut is an album Zeppelin fans would swoon over. It is layered with heavy grinding guitar riffs, hard hitting drum solos and funky driving bass lines. Since the idea of a Led Zeppelin reunion is basically a historical allusion, Jones set out to create his solo Zeppelin record. This is Led Zeppelin V; his influences essentially overpower the younger and less-experienced Grohl and Homme.

In the heavy, eight-minute blues ballad, “Warsaw Or The First Breath You Take After You Give Up,” Homme does his best Robert Plant impression. He moans, playfully sings along with guitar riffs and climbs into his upper register. While this certainly isn’t the second coming of Plant, he doesn’t do a bad job.

On other songs like “Scumbag Blues,” Homme sounds more like Eric Clapton or Jack Bruce on the Cream album “Deserali Gears,” while on other songs he lazily belts it like his days with Queens of the Stone Age.

The band’s unveiling lacks a little creative dimension, and in the end you are left with nothing more than a fun and entertaining record. You’re not going to find any slow, melancholy love ballads here. Set aside some sloppily recorded one-takes, grab a couple beers and you’re left with a good ole’ fashion rock album from start to finish.

Grade: B-

Download (don’t steal): “Gunman” by Them Crooked Vultures