Various Acts - 'Desert Sessions 9 & 10' (Ipecac)
4/5
By: Joshua K
For the uninitiated, Desert Sessions is one of the many side-projects of ex-Kyuss / current-Queens of the Stone Age frontman, Josh Homme - a series of spontaneous collaborations with talented friends, jammed and recorded over short periods in a studio/home in Joshua Tree, CA. (Think Rockfield Studios moved to the desert.)
Started in 1997, Homme is now up to volumes 9 and 10 in his series, and there's a reason it has lasted this long: the music, man. The cast is palpably, screamingly exciting for any casual rock fan, from our host himself to PJ Harvey, from Ween's Dean Ween to ex-Marilyn Manson collaborator Twiggy Ramirez. And the eclecticism that such a group suggests is ever-present and ever-refreshing.
Yes, Queens fans will feel right at home with opener 'Dead in Love', 'In My Head... Or Something' and the thrash-tastic instrumental 'Covered in Punk's Blood', which all effortlessly recall 'Songs for the Deaf'. But this is not simply QOTSA under another name. 'I Wanna Make It Wit Chu' is almost Beatles-esque, while PJ Harvey's star-turn, 'There Will Never Be A Better Time', has a haunting, tormented mariachi vibe.
Meanwhile, 'Creosote' weaves together what the liner-notes accurately describe as 'weird guitar', 'bizarre guitar' and 'boom bap baboom' to create twisted bluegrass. 'Shepherds Pie' is oddball ranting and raving by sleep-deprived sheep-shaggers on meth. And f**k me if 'Powdered Wig Machine' isn't electro.
Put simply, the electric joy of true musicians getting together and doing what they do best emanates from every track. And - as such - forms an indispensable listen.
Artists in this article: Various Acts
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