STACK NZ Sep #66

MUSIC

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Supergroups are back with a vengeance in September. when the stars align The DeadWeather

On the JB Stereo

L et's hear it for supergroups – well, the idea of them at least. Sure, they more often than not fail to live up to expectations – remember the Mick Jagger-Joss Stone-Dave Stewart folly Super Heavy? – but there is always the promise that something very special will emerge from even the most unlikely of alliances, whether it be Crosby, Stills and Nash or Them Crooked Vultures. It’s a concept that has never gone out of fashion (and probably never will) but it seems to be enjoying a resumed burst of popularity: this month sees the release of three new supergroup albums. The biggest is undoubtedly the charity effort Hollywood Vampires, named after the notorious ‘70s Los Angeles drinking den of legendary rockers like John Lennon, Harry Nilsson, Keith Moon and Alice Cooper. The latter, together with pal Johnny Depp, decided that the club should be resurrected (minus the boozy misbehavior) and over the last two years an amazing selection of modern day ‘vampires’ have been recording tracks by their dead friends and heroes. As well as Cooper, Depp and Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry, the star- studded line-up includes Perry Farrell, Dave Grohl, Paul McCartney, JoeWalsh, Slash and Robbie Krieger; one of the tracks even includes an intro from Christopher Lee, recorded just prior to his death. With a tracklisting that includes classics like Whole Lotta Love , My Generation and a mash-up of School’s Out and Another Brick in theWall , this has got to be worth a look.

Keith Richards Crosseyed Heart

The Chills Silver Bullets

My Dying Bride Feel the Misery

supergroup', but if anything they are even more appealing. The Arcs is the brainchild of The Black Keys’ Dan Auerbach and includes singer-songwriter Richard Swift, who has served on an expanded touring version of the Keys and is also a member of The Shins; Homer Steinweiss and Nick Movshon from Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings; Leon Michels, the co-founder of retro R’n’B label Truth & Soul; and country guitarist Kenny Vaughan. They are joined on their albumY ours, Dreamily, by all-female mariachi band Mariachi Flor de Toloache, and judging by the first single it should be a cracker. Meanwhile, JackWhite has resurrected his side project The DeadWeather, whose third album Dodge & Burn is out at the end of September. This indie supergroup is made up of White, Jack Lawrence – who also plays in another White-affiliated side project The Raconteurs – Queens of the Stone Age’s Dean Fertita, and Alison Mosshart from British garage rockers The Kills. The latter takes most of the lead vocals withWhite serving mainly as a drummer, and this will be a must for garage rock fans. Incidentally, Keith Richards is no stranger to the supergroup concept: as well as the New Barbarians with RonnieWood, he also famously performed with John Lennon, Eric Clapton and Mitch Mitchell as The Dirty Mac on Rock and Roll Circus . Although his latest offering Crosseyed Heart is a strictly solo effort, there is no shortage of big name guests: WaddyWachtel, Aaron Neville, Spooner Oldham, Norah Jones… now that would make a pretty awesome supergroup. JB Listener

Gurrumul The Gospel Album

Bullet For My Valentine Venom

Various Artists Born To Dance Soundtrack

Metallica Kill 'Em All

Dr Dre Compton

David Gilmour Rattle That Lock

Beach House Depression Cherry

The other two albums probably fit more comfortably into the sub-category of 'indie

Keith Richards

The Arcs

SEPTEMBER 2015

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