D3

Adam Davis

Stumble Upon

del.icio.us

Digg

Facebook

Print

Email

Speak Up

Them Crooked Vultures

1 of 2

Them Crooked Vultures

If you're a fan of heavy rock and roll from it's creation to present day, you're really going to like Them Crooked Vultures.

Featuring Josh Homme (Kyuss, Queens of the Stone Age, Eagles of Death Metal) Dave Grohl, (Nirvana, Foo Fighters) and John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin), this is one supergroup that lives up to expectations. That list of members alone should be enough to have most hard rock fans running to their local music store to pick up this CD.

It seems a bit too easy to say they sound like QOTSA meets Led Zeppelin but that does pretty much sums up their sound. There's the bluesy riffs of Led Zeppelin with the dark feel of Queens throughout, and Grohl's drumming is spot on.

The album doesn't have one bad song and it just gets better and better every time you listen to it.

Personally, I'd buy an album of these three just sitting around talking about music. To have a CD of original music by them is just amazing.

Highlights include New Fang, Scumbag Blues and Bandoliers.

Julian Casablancas

Phrazes for the Young

Strokes frontman Julian Casablancas' first solo release doesn't stray too far from the sound he's known for but that isn't necessarily a bad thing. In fact if you're a fan of the Strokes and longing for a new release, this album should please you.

The best way to describe the sound on Phrazes for the Young would be the Strokes with a heavy dose of keyboard. This may take a moment to adjust to but, in the end, it seems to work. The fast-paced pop rock sound with catchy choruses that Casablancas is known for writing is all on this album, there's just more of an electronic feel.

My only real problem with the album is that there are only eight songs which is kind of short for a full album release.

But, in the end, Phrazes for the Young is a great album that Strokes fans should pick up.

Highlights include Out Of The Blue, 11th Dimension and River of Brakelights.

Katie Perry

MTV Unplugged

Back in the '90s, MTV's Unplugged was a popular show that offered fans a different perspective on their favourite artists, stripping them down to acoustic instruments, set in an intimate venue.

At the time, a who's who of musicians and bands including Eric Clapton, Nirvana, Neil Young, Pearl Jam and Alice in Chains all took part. Now Katy Perry offers fans a chance to hear her songs in this format.

Personally, I'm not much of a Katie Perry fan but hearing her play in this stripped down setting did give me more of an appreciation of her talent.

Two of her hits -- I Kissed A Girl and Waking Up In Vegas -- are featured on the album along with a new song and cover of Fountains of Wayne's Hackensack.

While the album has only eight songs, there is a bonus DVD included that has the entire album performance and an interview included.

If you're a Katie Perry fan, pick up this CD. Highlights include I Kissed A Girl, Lost and Brick By Brick.

* Adam Davis is an avid music fan. His column appears weekly in Life & Times.