The heat sensitive packaging for this album is fun, I found putting a hot mug of tea and a CD straight out of the drive particularly effective at taking a peek behind the blackened shroud!
Avenida Revolucion kind of sounds like one long intro, it never really kicks off due to Chad’s drum part which is like a tribal tom thing which kind of reminds me of the intro to “Lay Your Hands On Me” by Bon Jovi although faster. I’m Not really getting into this track, even the guitars don’t really sound that inspiring. Weird track to open with, let alone open your debut album with.
Soap On A Rope – the lyrics might be a bit cheesy but the riff is rocking and my favourite on the album, I also love Joe’s outro solo which is reminiscent of Flying In A Blue Dream or The Extremist era Joe. Why on earth isn’t this track 1?!
Sexy Little Thing – I’m loving the bluesy Satch on this track it has classic rock stamped all over it with driving rhythm section and punchy crunchy guitars. This is another strong track and Sammy’s vocals are nicely complimented by Michael Anthony’s impossibly high range backing vocals, nice to hear Michael back in the mix always thought his vocals were a big part of the old Van Halen sound. Some tasty little bass runs from him too, I’m guessing he is loving this band.
Oh Yeah – another stompin riff and 80′s style chorus makes this a memorable track. I’ve heard a lot of criticism about the breakdown in the middle of the track saying it doesn’t fit the song and is just a device for a Satch solo, well yeah it is for Satch’s solo and it rocks I love it! What you all bitching about? It adds a bit of sonic texture to the song and you hear Michael Anthony pounding away which is awesome finally he is getting his bass heard on albums.
Runnin’ Out – nothing really special about this track just a mid album filler kind of song, nice Wah though.
Get It Up – arriba! Not like Sammy to have a sexual innuendo in the title… Another mid album rock stomper that does its job. Nice bit of vibe pedal action going on in the solo and another bit of “Flying…” style Wah flavoured single string fast picking.
Down The Drain – another high point of the album is the riff in this track, dark and broody down-tuned guitars that almost sound like Zakk Wylde’s slide playing in No More Tears. This track is very Sammy Hagar with his catchy harmonised chorus and yet it has a breakdown that is unmistakably Satriani leading into the solo. More great blues style playing which reminded me of Joe’s eponymous release from 1995.
My Kinda Girl – Nothing special about this track, feels like another filler and the kind of song you would hear on a Sammy Hagar solo album to be honest.
Learning To Fall – This track is a ballad which unfortunately reminds me of Poison. I know Joe likes ballads as does Sammy but I’m not a fan of this one and the lyrics aren’t really indicative of a bunch of 40 and 50 something year olds… well, unless you include Bette Middler.
Turnin’ Left is a welcome track after the lameness of Learning To Fall more straight ahead rock. Again nothing ground-breaking but some nice guitar playing and chunky rhythm tone from Joe.
Future In The Past – the final track of the album opens with a Jimmy Page-esque acoustic intro but that is really where the Zeppelin comparisons have to end it all changes once Sammy starts to sing. Luckily once the track kicks in after a minute it is one of the few tracks which does something a little different. It is more of an Eddie Van Halen (ooh am I allowed to say his name on the same page as Sammy?) kind of chord progression and riff which I like, really different for Joe and more like what I was hoping to hear throughout this album. I really liked Joe’s rhythm guitar tone on this track too, got that 70′s Marshall sound happening, considering recent news it may well have been!
I found this review quite hard because I am being pretty critical of a band that contains not only my personal greatest influence on guitar, Joe Satriani, but also 2 guys who were in one of the greatest band in rock ‘n roll history, Van Halen and as “Live Without A Net” was my introduction to Van Halen I’ve always been a fan of some of the early Van Hagar songs such as 5150 and Summer Nights.
If you are looking for a no nonsense rock album for a road trip then look no further, this should definitely be on your iPod but I am a bit dissapointed with this album as a whole. Chickenfoot don’t seem to have taken any chances or pushed any boundaries in a creative sense but at least you can hear Michael Anthony playing and Chad Smith isn’t playing a whole album of pussy ballads.
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