WOLFMOTHER
"Wolfmother"
(Interscope/Modular; 2006)
Reviewed by Jeff Rogers
Few bands have the ability to make retro music popular again, especially when they probably spent their days
dodging crocs and salivating over Nicole Kidman. These boys hail from Australia and
they sound like those guys from England, most notably Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath. They also have a mix of The White Stripes
and Queens of the Stone Age swirling around them as well. Considering these blokes are a power trio, they create a full sound.
The most popular song (which you have probably heard) is “Woman.” It’s the music
in the commercial for PlayStation's "Guitar Hero II" and it can also be heard on the intro to “Driving Force” on A&E. Either way, these guys are permeating the airwaves with a great debut hit.
The guitar is very Led Zep and there are plenty of fuzzy solos to go around. The keyboards are Sabbath to an exact point. The drums are good and pound away with no recoil.
Vocalist Andrew Stockdale sounds like Robert Plant and he’d better with all the influences listed above. Now,
I know since Wolfmother sounds like all these other bands they must be a tribute band
of sorts, right? Well, they don’t seem to be plowing that route. I think they just recognize the
70s as a time when hard rock and stoner music was forging the way and they just want to remind you of that fact.
I’ll admit the songs sound like “something you have heard before” but the music of that time should remain timeless, no matter who’s playing it. Wolfmother do have about four bands that they pull from, so if you’re wanting a mirror effort from a band that sounds like Zeppelin then you will have to wait for that release. They do,
however, combine Zeppelin, Sabbath, plus The White Stripes and QOTSA very well. The songs may fire on too many cylinders
at times and take a few turns that you don’t expect but stay with passion of this
band and I think you will be surprised.
The best cuts are “Woman,” “Apple Tree,” “Colossal,” and “Love Train.”
Wolfmother: Andrew Stockdale – guitar and vocals; Chris Ross – bass and organ; Miles Heskett – drums.
For more information, check out http://www.wolfmother.com.
Rating Guide:
A classic. This record will kick your ass.
Killer. Not a classic but it will rock your world.
So-so. You've heard better.
Pretty bad. Might make a nice coaster.
Self explanatory. Just the sight of the cover makes you wanna hurl.
Copyright © 2007 by R. Scott Bolton. All rights
reserved.
Revised: 14 Mar 2012 00:54:06 -0600.
