OK, let's forget Sammy Hagar's initial statement that Chickenfoot's music is going to remind people of classic Led Zeppeln...Page and Plant and crew it ain't, but the end results are quite good for this new supergroup. Upon first glance, one would think that Chickenfoot, comprised of Hagar, Michael Anthony, Chad Smith, and Joe Satriani, might come across as an ego soaked excuse for excess, but in fact that couldn't be further from the truth. This is a true band effort from start to finish, their self-titled debut a reminder of what a classic hard rock album should sound like. Remember those early Van Halen records, or the classic material of bands like Humble Pie, Montrose, UFO, and Thin Lizzy? Not only did they rock hard, but the music was fun to listen to, and the kind of stuff you could easily crank up in the car or at a party and get anyone listening totally into it. That's the same kind of feeling you'll get here, as Chickenfoot have delivered eleven songs that show a band having a great time together and really clicking with each other.
First track "Avenida Revolution" is a heavy rock gem, packed with sizzling guitar licks from Satch and a great vocal from Sammy. Nice to hear Anthony's bass high in the mix, and Smith shows he's no mere funk drummer. "Soap On a Rope" is a fun hard rock 'n' boogie tune, sure to become a favorite at your next keg party or BBQ, fueled by plenty of fun lyrics sung by Sammy and some chunky guitar riffs courtesy of Satriani.The obvious radio hit here is "Sexy Little Thing", a real catchy number that is the closest thing here to Hagar's days with Van Halen, complete with a great chorus and some varied textures from Satriani. Let's not forget the strong backing vocals from Michael Anthony, an element that will no doubt be missed in the current incarnation of Van Halen. "Oh Yeah" and "Running Out" are two fun bluesy-metal type pieces, certainly not the strongest songs in this set but fun to listen to, and they pave the way for the real scorcher here, "Get It Up". This one is a dramatic, heavy number, Hagar and Anthony layering in the vocals, fueled by heavy riffs and pounding drum work, Sammy screaming "Get it On, Ariba, Ariba, All Night Long, Get It On!" at the top of his lungs. Satch's solo is breathtaking on this number, and for a few bars he almost sounds like Uli Jon Roth from his classic work with the Scorpions.
"Down the Drain" is a slower, grinding, bluesy hard rock piece, Satch again digging deep for some inspiring guitar work, and "My Kinda Girl" is another radio friendly tune that allows Hagar to lay down his vocal charm. The ballad "Learning to Fall" follows, showing that these guys can write an effective tear jerker as well as crank out heavy rockers, and it's another vehicle for Hagar's confident vocals. The CD closes with the funk-metal track "Turnin' Left" and the rootsy "Future Is the Past", two strong cuts that show the diversity that these four musicians bring to the table.
Super groups such as this don't always deliver or live up to expectations, but Chickenfoot certainly have on this debut. The band have honed in on what we all loved from the 70's hard rock groups, and have made a fun album filled with memorable songs that rock and rock hard. Satriani fits right into the group atmosphere, and those who might have tired of his instrumental offerings will love his display of riffs, textures, and solos here, none of which are excessive and perfectly fit into these songs. Hagar still can sing with the best of them, Anthony's backing vocal harmonies are here as well as his solid bass grooves, and Smith shows some true rock firepower on his kit.
Chickenfoot have arrived people, just in time for summer, so start celebrating!
Track Listing
1. Avenida Revolution 5:56
2. Soap On A Rope 5:31
3. Sexy Little Thing 4:14
4. Oh Yeah 4:53
5. Runnin' Out 3:51
6. Get It Up 4:40
7. Down The Drain 6:16
8. My Kinda Girl 4:34
9. Learning To Fall 5:12
10. Turnin' Left 5:47
11. Future Is The Past 6:38
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