It is easy to get carried away talking about ‘supergroups’, but Them Crooked Vultures are the real deal. If their interviews alone are anything to go by, there are plenty of new albums to come in future too. A lot of discussion has focused on whether this group is a blatant dash for cash or just a massive ego stroke while it lasts. Regardless of public opinion, it’s hard to ignore or dismiss this formidable line-up of Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters), Josh Homme (Queens Of The Stone Age) and the legendary John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin).

The way the record company kept this band under wraps – all the while increasing the curiosity among music lovers through clever marketing and promotions - has had the desired result. There’s no doubt the chemistry between Grohl and Homme would have been heightened after teaming up on Queens Of The Stone Age’s Songs For The Deaf, but throwing the influence of John Paul Jones into the equation makes way for something pretty amazing. The influence of the QOTSA record does spill over onto this self-titled effort, with the resulting album being one to be taken in as a whole rather than via a few tracks here and there. Whereas most albums have a couple of dud tracks, there are none to be found here; right from the get-go with No One Loves Me And Neither Do I the trio shows they really mean business. Homme’s guitar work is riff-tastic and Jones keeps the rhythm section tight with thumping basslines backed by Grohl with some razor sharp drumming.

Classics for me include the likes of Caligulove, Dead End Friends, Reptiles and Warsaw Or The First Breath You Take After You Give Up. What more can I say? It’s a great record, so get on a plane, bus, train or car and get to Melbourne for this week’s tour to check these guys out.

Rob Lyon

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