Customer Reviews

Volumes 3 & 4

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This second installment in Man's Ruin Records CD compilations of the DESERT SESSIONS 10" series is great. Although the first CD (covering volumes I & II) is definitely superior, this disc is still certainly a worthy follow up that's well worth your ear's attention. Chock full of heavy tunes, this entire series is a real stand out among hollow releases of late. Tracks such as "The Gosso King of Crater Lake" hooked me immediately with, what sounds like, a huge old troll voice bellowing out the vocals over a Tom Waits BONE MACHINE like rhythm that starts and stops with furious thundering. Not enough Acid Kings and Melvins in your life? Then you need to pick up The Desert Sessions today!

The seeds for the `revolving door' line-up method that Queens of the Stone Age has become famous for were originally sown in another related project, the Desert Sessions. Dating back to the `80s, guitarist Josh Homme and his pals would throw what would become known as `generator parties' - consisting of live music played for a bunch of friends out in a secluded part of California's Palm Desert, the electricity for the amplifiers being supplied by a power generator. Between his exit from stoner rock groundbreakers Kyuss and the formation of Queens, Homme found himself with plenty of free time on his hands, and he decided to start up these get-togethers "once more." ~http://www.methodshop.com/mp3/. The only difference was that this time, Homme would record the proceedings - dubbing them `the Desert Sessions' - while a rotating list of quite recognizable names of hard rock would be invited to participate.

This is a great piece of stoner rock played with panache for the pure love of it. I seldom dish out five stars (only to truly historical benchmark albums). My only wee grissle, track 7 Jr High Love, as fun and punky as any Ramones or Rancid number, just doesnt fit the overall trippy ambience of the other tunes. Favorite bits - the chorus progression in avon and nova. I'll be listening gladly to this disc for years to come.

It ain't the bottom-heavy grumblings of Kyuss or Fu Manchu or any of the other big boys of Desert Rock, but, man, the little super-groups on this CD really showcase some talent.

I particularly dig The Eagles of Death Metal, who perform three crazy tunes on this CD. If you're just looking for heavy rock, try somewhere else. But if you're looking for some great experimental stuff from stoner rock's pioneers, pick up this one!

If you like loud guitars and marijuanna you cant go wrong with this record. This is heavy metal without drum machines or mtv gimmicks. The real stuff. If you have a record player, avoid the cd and buy the two ten inch records, if you can find them.

If you are not a HUGE fan of desert rock, you will be dissapointed. If you are a fan, please dig this. Really expiremental, but the line-ups are amazing collaborations from the Gods of the Desert movement.

Swell, this album is swell. Not great, not horrible, but swell. It's actually only a two star record to be honest since the production is crap, but gets three because it contains:

a) the introduction of the best riff ever created in Avon/Nova.

b) midget pics! Love the little people. That was a stroke of brilliance.