Critical Voices 2.0: The Dead Weather’s Horehound
Posted by: James McGrory in Leisure, Vox Populi, tags: Critical Voices 2.0
It’s time to erase the word “supergroup” from your vocabulary. After so many pretentious, lackluster efforts made solely for monetary gain (ahem, Chickenfoot), “supergroup” has become shorthand for any collection of like-minded musicians drawn together for all the wrong reasons. And that’s a pity because occasionally groups of already established musicians can actually be spectacular.
The Dead Weather is one of those special cases. With The Kills’ Allison Mosshart on vocals, Queens of the Stone Age’s Dean Fertita on guitar, Jack Lawrence of The Raconteurs on bass, and the almighty Jack White on the drums, The Dead Weather seems more an artistic endeavor than an attempt at harvesting cash crops.
Each and every part of this puzzling arrangement was perfectly chosen to progress further the bastardized blues so familiar to Jack White’s fans. There are hints of so many different influences in the band’s debut release, Horehound (available July 14th on Third Man Records), that it doesn’t fit into any specific genre classification too snugly. A toned down, droning guitar rocks thick blues riffs that mesh beautifully with Mosshart’s somber and dreary vocals, while Jack White takes the back seat for a few moments to pound out some simple cymbal clashes and snare roles.
Opening track “60 Feet Tall” begins with slight disorder, fairly undistorted guitars, and a swelling drum beat, with Moshart’s vocals drenched in reverb. As an intro, it sounds hollow, and acts as a precursor to the immense fullness of The Dead Weather’s sound.
As the lengthy five minute track drones on, listeners are tricked by a constant crescendoing into thinking the song could break at any moment. When it finally happens at around the halfway mark, it quickly returns to a steady tempo that continues to rock until dissipating into the simplistic ‘hi-hat, hi-hat, snare’ one, two, three of “Hang You From The Heavens.”
Jack White finds himself taking lead vocal responsibilities on a few tracks, but who could really have expected him to simply sit idly at the back of the stage? “I Cut Like a Buffalo” plays like a perfect mash up between blues and reggae, with a throbbing organ thrown in to keep measure amongst the chaotic passages. White’s staccato and out-of-focus voice plays perfectly with the slightly unsettling song format.
Slightly more preferable, though, are White’s accenting vocals, like on that of “Treat Me Like Your Mother,” where his cacophonous call “It’s time to manipulate!” plays off of Mosshart’s uniquely bellowing female touch on the microphone.
All of the alubum’s 11 tracks have their own merits. Whether it’s their unique take on Bob Dylan’s “New Pony” or the eerily subdued “Will There Be Enough Water?” there’s plenty here to please. This music is dark, and it’s undoubtedly got it’s own unique pulse. Horehound is a creature that carries a sting and a bite, and never lets this “supergroup” fall into stale territory.
Listen to the album in it’s entirety on that Facebook advert that you can never get to leave you alone.
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I hate when people open their mouths without thinking or even taking the time to look into something before making a comment. Chickenfoot album for the money?? Are you serious?? Money is the last thing any of those guys need, for christ sake Sammy Hagar sold 80% of his Tequila company for 80million dollars, still owns 20% and did you forget the fact he fronted Van Halen for a decade! I’m pretty sure Chad has a little cash in the bank from a little known band called RHCP and Mike Anthony played in VH for 20 years. Joe makes tons from guitar endorsments and equipment and has sold millions of records. I don’t think money was anywhere on the radar when these guys got together and if you had done some research you’d have heard them all say this is purely for the fun and music. One last final comment, all four members of Chickenfoot have contributed more to rock as individuals than the entire collection of those mentioned above. May not be everyones taste but judging by album sales and longevity i think there may be just a little support for these guys that will outlast Jack White and the rest of the no names above!
Hmm. maybe my message was slightly skewed, haha, but either way it’s a lackluster effort for a bunch of ‘rock legends’ to get back into the game. It’s standard rock garbage, but you shouldn’t take my opinion seriously. I’m reviewing indie music on a blog, so I’m pretentious.
[...] are still on sale for The Dead Weather’s second show at the 9:30 Club. These guys rock it like no other, and you have the opportunity to [...]
I think the blogger has the right idea about Chickenfoot… the only contribution those guys have made to rock is that they’ve made it even more generic and appealing to the masses. Sure the artists in The Dead Weather (apart from Jack – HE was the one chosen to represent a generation in It Might Get Loud, and also to open for and play with the Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan) aren’t as well known, but down the road I think they will be more memorable for their creativity and talent.
Hahaha you fucking indie guys make me laugh!!! So lets see you’re trying to tell me that Van Halen, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Montorse and Joe Satriani made less of a contribution to rock than those unkowns above. Hmmm wouldn’t making a big contribution to rock mean having you’re music appeal to the masses and have an affect on millions of people? You realize those guys combined have sold over 100 million records??? K open and play with the Stones?? Van Halen and RHCP are peers with the Stones and don’t need to open because they can headline their own show!!!! More memorable? Are you serious?? Hmm lets think about that?? Whether you like it or not Van Halen revolutionized guitar and the Chillis have won multiple grammies!!! Creativity and talent?? Hahahaha!!! EVH and Chad Smith have more talent in their pinkie fingers than those losers!! You Tube both of them and watch what a real musician can do with an instrument. These guys you are talking about won’t be remembered 10yrs from now, the members of Chickenfoot have already been kicking around for over 2 decades and are still making contributions!!! Those losers probaly grew up looking up to the guys in Chickenfoot. Just because something appeals to the masses doesn’t mean it isn’t creative. Both Van Halen and the Chillis were different when they first came out. Fuck the Chillis were so indie when they came out they didn’t become well know until 5 albums into their careers! Their sound is so unique and different thair hasn’t been anyone who can even try to copy. Flea and Chad are probably one of the greatest rhythm sections of all time!!! I don’t even need to explain Van Halen’s contribution to rock. Already members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Copied by millions but never dublicated. You Tube EVH and look at all the people who cover, imitate and just want to sound like the king!!! That is what a contribution is all about, making people want to pick up an instrument and want to play. Inspiring people to learn about music. Eruption was recorded in 1977 and changed guitar forever and still sounds fresh today. EVH isn’t indie but he is a talent that is beyond any of crap that you guys listen too.
The most ironic thing is Chickenfoot has been at the top of the Billboard Indie chart for the last 5 weeks!! Hahahaha!! All Indie means is that you don’t have a record label backing your album and fronting the cash because you suck and no one wants to risk their money on you. It doesn’t mean you are more creative or artistic! In Chickenfoot’s case it just meant they have so much cash they payed for the entire fucking thing themsleves!! Hahahaha!!
I’ve always listened to all kinds of music and I respect everyone who plays and contributes. Even the guys that you mentioned above, some of Jack’s stuff is so simple it’s genius. It just pisses me off that people like you write off stuff that’s popular just because you want to be different. It’s so stupid to be closed minded because other people like something. Weird!!!!
Van Halen? Sammy Hagar? Red Hot Chili Peppers? Chickenfoot?! Jay; aside from the obvious fact that you are a complete moron, its clear that you’ve grown used to your music being spoon fed to you by your local commercial radio station for the past three decades. At least I hope that’s the reason.
Furthermore, bands like Van Halen are fucking clown shoes compared to the legacy set by true blues rock bands like Led Zeppelin and the Rolling Stones. That being said; I would gladly compare QOTSA and Jack White’s flavor of music to that legacy before any of your so-called noise.
Also, just a reminder; popular music is synonymous with shit for a reason. It’s usually because its watered down gimmicky crap that was the architecture of some slimy record executive who used it as a means to make a truck load of money off of assholes like yourself who could never know the difference between “quality” and “contrived”
You couldn’t recognize authenticity if your life depended on it. Furthermore, you say these bands of yours contribute to music, but I beg to differ. I say they all led to the relative deathly state that its in today. They are examples of what not to do, and I certainly don’t see any prolific musicians naming them as influences today.
The really funny thing is, I would have probably agreed with your barrage of obtuse statements……. when I was in Junior High school. But since then, I’ve learned to look past the hype of mainstream marketing tactics (i.e catch phrases like “supergroup”) and decided to actually take the time to listen to the music.
I suggest maybe you spend less time on blogs that talk about things above your understanding and maybe spend some more time at that day job so you can afford tickets to the next Nickleback concert. I mean shit, why wouldn’t you? They sell an ass-load of albums so they must be good. Right?
Until then; maybe you should shut the fuck up and keep your opinions for the Sunday afternoon sporting events, because frankly they’re an embarrassment to people who know better, and a horrible example for any young mind that is searching for something inspiring.
Or maybe you should just learn to listen to music and then people won’t have to worry about wasting their time being on douche-bag patrol.
If you don’t like a particular style of music that’s fine but to judge something and critize simply because its popular or not your cup of tea is wrong. To even begin to suggest that EVH has not contributed or influenced musicians in a positive way is ridiculous. He completely chaned the way the instrument is played and whether you like it or not sits at the top of the guitar chain with the likes of Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, EC and Hendrix to name a few. Ask anyone who actually plays and each and every one of them will tell you how he impacted their playing. You seem to have respect for Zeppelin and the Stones who btw fall into that category called popular music which you seem to think is synonymous with shit. Were the Beatles shit too? Bands can sell an ass-load of albums and make a positive impact and even be inspiring. What was that bands name? Nirvana I think? Be open to all kinds of music and that’s when you learn and begin to appreciate and maybe even take something away from each style. My playing has been inspired by Metallica, Van Halen, The Yardbirds, Zeppelin, BB King, Nirvana, The Who, GNR, U2 and everything else in between. Do you even play an instrument? If you want some inspiration for a young kid to pick up a guitar tell him to dowload Fair Warning and take a listen. Maybe you should too! Closed minded fucks like you are so negative! Chickenfoot is for fun, it’s not meant to be serious or to change the face of music. Is there anything wrong with that for a change of pace every now and then? Does everything have to be so serious? Geez lighten up a little!