Coming at you like that badass 1970s hairdo that your dad will remember forever because it was just so damn hot, Wolfmother's debut album is deliciously downright dirty. And, from the sounds of it, they're probably going to try and get a piece of your mother.
Crikey, these Aussies just don't take any prisoners. Launching straight into recent single, 'Dimension', with an unearthly wail, you can imagine Andrew Stockdale stomping around the studio, laying luscious, protracted, bluesy riffs over the vicious beats behind him. He squeals through every single track like a young Ozzy Osbourne, giving an exhilarating and energetic sense of desperation and cathartic fulfilment that you can't help but join in with. This is a party band. You're going to want to dance to this.
Every song is seemingly about a different woman (see: 'Woman') and the album has that cracking retrospective feel about it throughout. Y'know, when you hear a song and it sounds like something decades old; something with real pedigree, but then you find out it's brand new and that really excites you because you'll be able to see them down your local club in a couple of months. Fans of The White Stripes will lap this up with an extra helping of filth.
Remember Jet? Yes, the last Australian retro rock band. I hope that Wolfmother aren't about to start calling themselves original or different because it's more like they too are hoping that everyone missed the 1970s. Sounding like a heady mix of every unoriginal reference point you could possibly have from that decade - Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath and Motorhead - the trio ply their psychedelic grooves without a care in the world.
Maybe Wolfmother have created an album which will serve as an ideal entry point to a different generation of music. Maybe they are merely playing a kind of music that, in this beautiful world of irony and self-flagellation, is deemed "cool". Maybe they've just made a record with staggeringly backward-looking artwork with a whole bunch of even more backward songs to put inside.
Whatever they've done, prepare yourself for their onslaught because sadly, once they start, I find it difficult to see who's going to try and stop Wolfmother.
i really like this record after initially having the same concerns
i thought at first it was a rip off of those old 70's bands, but i think its cleverer than that and somehow manages to avoid cliche / pastiche a la the darkness
i'd give it a go. gets better with every listen. not amazingly new, more of a solid move on from those iconic bands i'd say
Ditto....
It's a darn good listen after a few plays to get used to. Think I would award it an '8' but I can understand why it's not everybody's thing.
its quite a decent record
although its influences are too apparant for me to easily ignore.
The Guardian
called them 'Aussie Osbourne'. I wish I'd thought of that.
so obvious
but so accurate
"I hope that Wolfmother aren't about to start calling themselves original or different"
Too late: http://www.drownedinsound.com/content/view/670768 ... Q. How would you describe your sound? "Extremely unique!"
Their Myspace is hilarious. Influences include Miles Davis and Boards of Canada, apparently...
i dislike this band a great deal.
yes!
yes again...
stupid hair and songs sounding like endless climax do not a good band make
And there was me thinking
I was the only person who didn't really like this lot.
OMG, I'm Blown Away
I caught these kids on Letterman and can't get over it. They simply kicked my Rebel ass.
Look guys, I'm the metal bitch grandma from hell. I speak Pantera, Megadeth, Sepultura, Slayer, Anthrax - you name it, I'm all over the old Headbanger's Ball and today's Metal Mania, not to mention VH-1's excellent "Heavy: The Story of Metal" and "Supergroup".
My darling grandson and I are having a fit with Wolfmother. I can hardly wait to see these kids on Jimmy Kimmel on June 15th.
To each his/her own, but Zeppelin fans will be in their element again with Wolfmother. Hard for me to believe that just 3 kids can do what these guys do.
ummmmmmmmm
Afraid not. Bit too much like an Australian 'The Darkness'. This is not a good thing. If they received as much media attention i'm sure they too would start wearing silver leotards and we'd be cursing them all too quickly...
If you don't take it too seriously then it is inoffensive, if not a bit of fun at times, but spot the influences is just far to easy with this band!
p.s. sorry about posting a 'review'... thought I was leaving a comment...
...
Tried not to like this band - really, really tried - but I failed! Maybe I'll whisper it quietly though!! haha!!
Three Aussies making one hell of a racket
Ace, crazy straight up rock music, I love all their influences and I'm loving Wolfmother! So refreshing to hear loud, heavy rock n roll sounding this good. Stunning album artwork too.