LISTEN: Them Crooked Vultures' New Album
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Them Crooked Vultures
All-star rockers Them Crooked Vultures -- featuring Foo Fighter Dave Grohl on drums, Queen of the Stone Age's Josh Homme on guitar and vocals, and Led Zeppelin's John Paul Jones on bass -- have posted a YouTube stream of their 13-track, self-titled debut album one week before its November 17 release. Hear it all below!
Prior to today, only "New Fang" had been available for streaming via the band's MySpace.
Fans also got a taste of TCV's new tunes in-person, starting with their live debut in Chicago back in August; live versions of "Dead End Friends" and "Nobody Loves Me and Neither Do I" surfaced on YouTube around that time. The band's full U.S. tour kicked off Oct. 1 in Austin, Texas.
Take a listen and tell us what you think in the comments section below!
LISTEN: Them Crooked Vultures, "Them Crooked Vultures"
MORE ON SPIN.COM:
>> Them Crooked Vultures Launch U.S. Tour
>> Watch: Them Crooked Vultures Live
14 Comments
Click here to comment- Posted By baco
11.25.09 3:09 AM
i think just listen right without pretends about some interesting to say. sometimes it`s boring tryin to explain someone how this or those musics have magic power. the lost sustance in the rock that we can find in old albums can born again and again while our opinions keep on the line not for the observer but the actor. like be present close to that almost old heroes.
just think in the personality of grohl who was the indestructible wall on nirvana. changes the history of drumming!! when he shows to many drummers that seek the music just behind the exercises its being a little selfish with all the people that expects GOOD ROCK, he still shows that rocks its always just more simple that very semi.rockers tryin to do puting the instruments over the song.the line that cross all this wonderful album says here we are three leaders of different lines of the history.
continue with dave...its like he never let the drums and take something in the level he could learn more about the instruments and his own voice with foo fighters.
or homme. tall guy with an interesting personality. and a great capacity to create dynamic riffs which are the base of the rock sound.
the displacements and off beats puting in right place tell us the cientific disposition to change something more to the final product.
when something isnt sounds good just listen again and again,maybe you can catch interesting rythims for your personal mind games.
- Posted By Anonymous
11.12.09 4:36 PM
I'm the "boring" guy. While I'll admit to liking the Probot "Shake Your Blood" video, I'm not a TMZ viewer. My boring comment and Probot reference comes from the heavy Josh thumb print on this record. So many of the songs start with wicked riffs and then energy seems to slide into snoozeville when Josh starts singing. Check out the first 20 seconds of Dead End Friends and tell me it isn't a let down when he starts singing. The very next song, Elephants, starts with some popping interplay and ends up sounding like the Moody Blues. Even with lenghty songs they still never really breath with his atonal guitar sound. Without question, Dave is my favorite drummer and he is definitely playing his ass off, but the vocals and flat guitar sound are shoveling sand on the fire. I guess I'm just not into the QOTSA dynamic.
- Posted By Useful Idiot
11.12.09 2:44 PM
Well, there isn't much left to say. The first guy who was bored with TCV obviously needs a show like TMZ, with its ever-in-motion camera, to keep his attention. I have a feeling that whatever this album sounded like, he would have the exact same sentiments. His desire for more Probot suggests that he's a die-hard heavy metal fan. Open your mind, dude.. not every song requires overreverberrated (new word?) shrieks and lyrical content pertaining to mythical folklore about dungeons and.... well, dragons.
Don't get me wrong, I love the Probot disc as much as the next guy and trust me, I understand how incredible his drum work was on said project, but musically overall, does not hold a candle to teaming up with Josh Homme and John Paul mother****in' Jones!
As for Billyumh, if you don't expect the world, you will find that the letdown will be much less severe, some would even say non-existent. YOU'RE generic and uninteresting.
And Joe Mif, you've covered the rest. Front row at the Detroit show melted my face off.
Hey, I guess there WAS much left to say.
Thanks for the drumstick, Mr. Grohl.
- Posted By Anonymous
11.11.09 6:12 PM
when i first heard of this "supergroup" i immediately looked for some evidence as to their existance. being a HUGE Queens fan, especially the time they spent with Grohl, this band seemed to call out to me. when i first heard those 30 second teasers i immediately began to countdown the days till their debut album.
they have such a great blend of Led/Queens bluesy riffs which captivate anyone and bring heart into their songs. they didnt set out to speak their minds, but to just create good music.
its true that their names set the bar way too high, but in my opinion they delivered on each song. its great that theres still someone out there who can show us all how its done.
my only regret is that they did not even come close to my hometown. hopefully they will add another leg to their tour.
- Posted By Joe Mif
11.11.09 12:43 PM
You've obviously never seen this band live or any live band for that matter...If the band is truely any good at what they do it will translate live. Them Crooked Vultures is certainly the sum of their parts and then some. The Vultures completely slayed at the Roseland show, which I was fortunate enough to have attended. Dave Grohl did sing harmonies on some songs, as did John Paul Jones. Grohl unleashed his inner John Bonham and the combination of his thunderous drumming paired with John Paul Jones created a rhythm sextion not seen or heard since Led Zeppelin. Josh Homme, whom I consider to be the weak link of the group, isn't even a weak link or whatever insult you want to call the guy. Josh certainly injects and flexes his Queens of the Stone Age type influence rather frequently throughout the album but let that man rip solos and goddamn..he's legit. Homme's vocals are good but if you've listened to alot of Queens' songs, you'll already know what to expect.
BillyUMH, yes I'm calling you out, why no mention of the beastly Led Zep Stomp of Elephants or Edgey Blues-Funk rocker Scumbag Blues or the Semi-Industrial Punch of Gunman or the Laid Back Psychedelia of Interlude with Ludes, which yes, has the same exact vocal melody of "I Am Designer" by Queens of the Stone Age. Think "And either way I get screwed" That section of the melody.
Overall, you really can't complain unless you've personally set some unrealistic unattainable goal for the band. You really need to see them live to get that missing element; studio recordings can only do an excellent live band so much justice. I must say that I do really dig that it was a self-produced album and how they've been marketing essentially on the strength of their talents is remarkable.
I feel like Dave Grohl hadn't been challenged enough by anyone else that he's drummed with or for to really want to get back on the kit. I'm glad that John Paul Jones is not wasting his talent and has found two gifted friends and bandmates in Grohl and Homme.
Them Crooked Vultures is a 5/5 for me
- Posted By BillyumH
11.10.09 11:07 PM
Generic and uninteresting. Repetitive after only one listen. Disappointed that it lacked Dave singing harmonies, in my opinion he is a better singer than Homme. John Paul Jones is solid, but unremarkable. Dave is a fantastic drummer, but this recording didn't capture his sheer power.
Of course the bar for this record was set beyond anything these guys could deliver simply from their rock star status'. However, if the same songs were released by a group of unknowns 90% of you wouldn't even give it an ear.
The album contains a few catchy tracks that quickly lose their sparkle after a few listens. The rest seems like filler.
Super-group or aging lounge act? Where the is this albums "edge"?
Download worthy tracks:
1. No One Loves Me and Neither Do I
3. New Fang2.5/5.
- Posted By Joe La
11.10.09 8:27 PM
The person who posted the first comment is definitely WAY off... this is not boring music whatsoever. There are much genre-bleeding here, which is refreshing in rock, not too mention you have the return of a truly great rock n' roll songwriter/bassist in John Paul Jones. While it still feels more to me like a Queens of the Stone Age side project rather than funky new blues, it's a step forward for Josh Homme and Dave Grohl. As long as those two continue to collaborate, rock will stay interesting.
12.15.09 9:16 PM
This band is amazing! I saw them in Boston and they played like the gods they are! What an amazing group of supremely talented musicians. I only hope they keep it coming. Who cares about the mainstream - I like being on the path less traveled. This music is at once sinister, aggressive and fun - like your favorite serial killer dressed up as Josh Homme. JPJ continues to be one of my favorite bassists and Dave Grohl is the consummate drummer - he has mad skills. I would call this Industrial rock - so many of the songs have a driving force, kind of like steel being hammered into. The only psychedelic song is Interlude with Ludes. The rest is so well synchronized and then interjected with these "high" moments in the choruses. I love it start to finish. Josh Homme is hot in QOTSA, here he is like the "devil in the garden" - in flames.