Them Crooked Vultures
Mind Eraser, No Chaser [Single]
Release Date: November 3rd, 2009
Label(s): Sony BMG, DGC/Interscope, Columbia
Genre(s): Rock

Them Crooked Vultures’ debut, out November 17th, is easily one of the most anticipated albums of this year. A trio of world-class musicians (Josh Homme, Dave Grohl and John Paul Jones), the group announced plans for an album a few months ago and have since been blowing away fans world-wide on tour.

On November 3rd, the group released the second single from their debut self-titled LP, entitled “Mind Eraser, No Chaser”. First and foremost, if you’d like a free copy, hurry on over to iTunes and pick it up.

Fans who have seen the band live, or listened to concert bootlegs, have noted that the group is really heavy on Josh Homme’s sound, and that is truly a fair assessment. The group resembles the Queens Of The Stone Age much more than any other band, but regardless — this trio of musicians are ready to rock your face off, and after hearing “Mind Eraser, No Chaser,” they aren’t going to have much trouble doing just that.

The track is arranged like any traditional rock song, but the trio sounds so well rehearsed and prepared that production wise, the track is nearly perfect. Josh Homme takes on the lead guitar work and lead vocals, Dave Grohl controls the drums like he did back with Nirvana, and John Paul Jones, well, JPJ does whatever the hell he wants.

Josh Homme’s vocals are an acquired taste — if you don’t like QOTSA, you won’t like his vocals in TCV any more, although in this case Dave Grohl is also offering a bit of background vocalwork. Together the two create a pretty interesting dynamic and it leaves one wondering what the rest of their album is going to have to offer.

There are a few questionable moments in the track, just past the 2:30 mark, random synth comes in and accomplishes literally nothing except distracting you from the song. The same thing happens at the end of the track when the song ends with a useless, irritating 20-second outro featuring some pretty lame horn-work. Why? Who knows? Honestly though, the track is pretty outstanding and as a single does just what it should — I’m anxiously awaiting the album and I’m sure everyone else who grabs the track will be as well.

Again, if you’d like a free copy of the track, head on over to iTunes and grab it before it isn’t free anymore!

Rating: 8/10

Good: Dave Grohl’s raw drumming, John Paul Jones, Homme’s blistering guitar work. Yay!
BAD: Random useless synth, stupid outro