What do you get, when you add two former members of Van Halen, a member of the Red Hot Chili Peppers and a guitar virtuoso? If you answered one of the greatest new rock and roll bands currently out today, then you are correct!
So is the case with Chickenfoot, the American hard rock super group composed of former Van Halen members Sammy Hagar on vocals, Michael Anthony on bass, Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith and perhaps the greatest guitarist in the world today, Joe Satriani.
The band formed in 2009, and have just released their second full length album, aptly titled Chickenfoot III. This fun, guitar driven hard rock record is filled with a refreshing energy which bleeds classic rock and roll and is one of the best releases of the year.
The Last Temptation is the opening song on the record and perfectly sets the stage for what is to follow on the coming tracks. The big ballsy bluesy riff of Joe Satriani drives the song as an energetic Sammy Hagar screams about avoiding all types of tasty temptations. This is followed up by one of the coolest rock and roll songs on the album, Alright Alright.
Alright Alright is a great upbeat track with a Rolling Stones type of vibe. It is a fun song despite negative lyrics about being sick of the person you are in a relationship with. Musically, the tune is both stonesy and bluesy with a straight grooving digging bass line, while the guitar at time is reminiscent of Keith Richards.
The next song on Chickenfoot III, is currently my favorite song off of the album and it is titled Different Devil. Different Devil is a potential VH1 radio hit with classic Sammy Hagar vocals. Lyrically, the track takes off where the previous songs ended and is about a relationship losing heat and the appeal to look elsewhere. However, the message Sammy delivers is that no matter who you end up with, you will still be stuck in the same hell only this time the devil will have a different face. The chorus is amazing and will have you playing air drums the moment it hits.
The strongest, meanest riff on the record is up next on the track Up Next. The song is full of attitude with a cool bass line and a dark, disruptive guitar solo which is similar to what you might hear on a Joe Satriani solo album. The darkness of the solo accommodates the song since the track is about potentially being the next to die. This fear however does not resonate with Sammy as he bellows out some of the wittiest lyrics I have ever heard from him in the form of “when I arrive at the Pearly Gates/ gonna have my swimsuit on/ flip-flops and a pair of shades.”
Lighten Up is the fifth song on the record and is a sleazy, down and dirty track with a Humble Pie type of vibe. The slow building budding intro is perfect for this track until the breaking point is finally reached and Sammy lets it all loose.
Come Closer is next and is a different ballad then what most fans would come to expect from a rock and roll band. The track is very tender and is reminiscent of old 1970's R&B soul tunes. Groovy drumming and great bass progression would make Come Closer not feel out of place on an Otis Redding or Teddy Pendergrass album and surprisingly it does not feel out of place on a Chickenfoot record either.
The next song on Chickenfoot III, is a spoken word song with no singing or chorus and is called Three and a Half Letters. It is one of the craziest tracks on the record and features just a bass line as Sammy reads letters from fans who need jobs and are willing to work. The bass line builds until the end of each letter when Sammy lets out a blood curling scream of “I Need A Job!, I Need A Job!” The big bad riff of Joe Satriani follows with Chad Smith going nuts on the drums and Michael Anthony ripping up the bass until the track calms down again so Sammy can read the next letter, and then it goes back to psycho. This track is a real complaint of the statement of our economy and Chickenfoot makes a belligerent musical statement with one of the coolest endings of any song I have ever heard. This is a real highlight on the album, with a fantastic fading screaming guitar and delta blues melody.
The huge riffs of Big Foot is next and is a bad ass rock and roll song about cars and sex. It is on this track, where Chad Smith truly shines as he dances around the riff of the grooving bass and guitar.
Bluesy smoking guitar sounds of Dubai Blues is next and is a song where you just want to jump into your car and go with the explosive bridge that sounds like polished razor blades. Dubai Blues is a great Chickenfoot ensemble jam speaking on how money can buy you everything but love as Sammy sings “I got a hundred acre theme park right there in my own backyard/ 365 Bentleys, 1 day for every car/ But I ain't got you!”
The tenth song is a song in which you can tell Chickenfoot took a chance with. Fortunately, their risk payed off and Something Going Wrong is one of the best on the album. A banjo is brought into play here and goes along wonderfully with the great exploding solo from Joe Satriani. The background vocals of Michael Anthony on this tune are the best on the album and really help the song shine, especially during the huge gorgeous chorus.
The last track is a bonus song on the deluxe edition of the album and is a Michael Anthony bass driven beast entitled No Change. Listening to the deluxe edition is definitely worth it as this is classic Chickenfoot and should not be missed out.
Chickenfoot has really delivered with an all out fun refreshing hard hitting album, that is definitely one of the best releases of 2011. Joe Satriani is an unbelievable musical genius and proves why he is considered to be the best guitarist in the world right now. His musical ability is unquestioned and he has put together a really great album. Vocally, Sammy Hagar has never sounded better and Michael Anthony once again reminds every one how foolish it was for Van Halen to not welcome him back to the band, as his bass playing and background vocals are the driving force of this record. Chad Smith's drumming sounds as good as ever and his craziness is truly exploited on this album.
Finally, one question that seems to be on everyone's mind, is why Chickenfoot decided to name their second record Chickenfoot III. The answer for this is simple as Sammy says it was to avoid making the dreaded second album, so instead they just skipped it and went to three. I wish more musicians would follow this plan as Chickenfoot III completely avoids the sophomore slump and is definitely an album everyone should check out.
On the Beavis and Butt-Head Scale,
4.5 Beavis' out of 5 Butt-Heads
Standout Tracks:
Different Devil, Three and a Half Letters, Big Foot, Something Going Wrong
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