Them Crooked Vultures
The Band
Them Crooked Vultures are a "
supergroup" composed of
John Paul Jones,
Josh Homme, and
Dave Grohl. By all accounts it was mostly Dave Grohl's who started it all, having met Jones when he scored some trumpets for a
Foo Fighters song. Dave had mentioned that he might want to do something with JPJ, and later started talking to Josh Homme about doing something with Jonesy. Homme was, by his own report, skeptical that Grohl would actually get John, reportedly saying “that’d be awesome. And I’ll ask… The President. And we can put it all together.”
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Nevertheless, Dave did begin corresponding with John, and soon, he and Josh found themselves seated together at
Medieval Times, celebrating Grohl's 40th birthday, with him watching over them from the tier above. By all accounts, John and Josh hit it off, and a new band was born.
The Album
Their first album (self-titled) was released November 2009 (the exact day differed between countries).
Alain Johannes recorded backing vocals on tracks 4, 8 and 9, and also plays as a live guitarist. The artwork, etc. was done by
Liam Lynch, with
art direction by
Morning Breath. The mastering was done by
Brian Gardner, with the album production credited to Them Crooked Vultures.
The Review
of the album
I believe it to be probably the best album released this year (
2009), and certainly the most refreshing. The tracks are eclectic whilst always being based in hard rock, featuring Josh Homme's excellent guitar-playing and lyricism, and Dave Grohl's extremely solid drumming, with Jonesy offering some fantastically sexy
basslines (as well as some brilliant piano and keyboards). Several of the songs are punctuated with some impressive time changes (difficult even for accomplished musicians) and the ordering of the tracks, a small but still important part of a record, is very well done.
Track Listing
1. Nobody Loves Me & Neither Do I
2. Mind Eraser, No Chaser
3. New Fang
4. Dead End Friends
5. Elephants
6. Scumbag Blues
7. Bandoliers
8. Reptiles
9. Interludes With Ludes
10 Warsaw Or The First Breath You Take After You Give Up
11. Caligulove
12. Gunman
13. Spinning In Daffodils
1. Aniquiet Interview With Josh Homme