This is the highly anticipated debut from a group of Australian riff rockers. You can add Wolfmother to the growing list of bands that have succeeded because they had help from the Internet. The speed at which a band can succeed makes this a wonderful time for music. Reaching more ears faster is the name of game, and they've mastered it.
Bands cannot beat the exposure that comes from making a few of their songs available for download. If their songs are good, which this band's songs are, it can get them a better deal inked for that crucial debut, instead of something compromised and filtered. With write-ups in such highly distributed magazines as Rolling Stone, Entertainment Weekly and Maxim, it tells you a little something about the accessibility of their music - it rocks, but not so much the masses are going to get turned off.
So does that mean this is something to be lumped together with the rest of watered down corporate crap that those magazines cum all over themselves for? That would mean the band would have had to sacrifice their own creativity (cough..Nickleback..cough) to the almighty masses for the subsequent dollars. With just one listen through, it was apparent to me that these guys not only shouldn't be lumped in, but they should be taken seriously.
From the opening stoner riff it became clear to me what these Aussies were all about. They are all about fun and fast-paced songs, which cross styles with such notable giants from the past as Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, and Led Zeppelin. Don't pull out your Hammond organ and Leslie Speakers just yet. While each tune seems to cross one or more of those three ground-breaking, seed-spreading bands, it does have that up-to-date makeover feel that the White Stripes and their ilk have made popular in the last few years. The combination of styles scream Stoner Rock and that's exactly what you get.
Yet, the fuzz isn't as thick like say Fu Manchu; there is clarity on board not usually afforded new bands recording their first album. This allows the listener to hear what was actually intended the first time around. That's why many bands go back and re-issue their early stuff later in their careers. (When they have the money.)
Article comments
1 - Vern Halen
I saw them playing a tune on TV the other night (O'Brien? Letterman? Whatever it was). It was decent, but I don't know if they'll last any longer than any decent band does nowadays, the Vines being another example from Ozzieland.
2 - Guppusmaximus
Nice Review.... I too wish they were a bit heavier with that raw/semi-polished sound but then we could say they would be going into C.O.C. territory. I do say they are quite refreshing even though they are somewhat retro.
My biggest gripe... They repeat certain lyrics way too much like in the song, "Mind's Eye" ....Oh well, I'm a picky MuthaF'er.
3 - Brian Gould
Thanks for the kudos Guppus. I agree with the COC comment, I wish they would have teetered that direction instead of the "The White Vines" direction. Name combination intended.
4 - Guppusmaximus
I hear ya... They sound like they could be a killer band for a young band. They could blaze some killer Led Zep/Black Sabbath/COC for the 2k's considering noones' done that type of retro stuff yet,atleast commercially. But, I think this generation idolizes "The White Vine" sound way too much so they will probably get popular and release a "filler" sophmore album. It's not about musicianship anymore...It's about looks and simplicity. I call it cellphone music because it's what people listen to when they are chattin away....
5 - Lester
Good 'ol vintage style power rock. Heavy but not ridiculously over the top punchy like many other bands today. It's easy to imagine I'm listenning to some 60's band.
6 - Bad
i like the wolfmother band!!!!!!!!!!!
7 - jane
i like the wolfmother band!!!!!!!!!!!