Various Artists
Desert Sessions, Vols. 11 & 12
Release Date: Oct 25, 2019
Genre(s): Pop/Rock
Record label: Matador
Music Critic Score
How the Music Critic Score works
Buy Desert Sessions, Vols. 11 & 12 from Amazon
Album Review: Desert Sessions, Vols. 11 & 12 by Various Artists
Excellent, Based on 5 Critics
Based on rating 4.0/5
'Volumes 11 & 12' is a lean, mean rocking machine. The Desert Sessions. For some, it's a name that will hold absolutely no meaning or worth, and considering how long the project has been out of commission, it's completely understandable why. The last time we saw The Desert Sessions active was way back in 2003 - that was sixteen years ago, and a lengthy hiatus to say the least.
Based on rating 8/10
Josh Homme always meant to get back to the desert, it just took him nearly 16 years to do so. Homme never officially put his Desert Sessions project on ice, but Queens of the Stone Age kept him busy, as did domestic duties, so the call of the wild remained muted for year after year, until the collective finally returned in 2019 with Desert Sessions, Vols. 11 & 12.
Based on rating 4/5
The Queens of the Stone Age frontman headed into the Californian desert with pals Jake Shears, Royal Blood's Mike Kerr and - maybe - even Dave Grohl. Fun times ensued It can't be too difficult to get your kicks when you're a rock star. You can drive a very expensive and very shiny car, very fast. You can buy the fanciest wine in Waitrose, pour one small glass and leave the rest of the bottle to go funny without the cork in and not feel guilty.
Opinion: Excellent
You could be forgiven for thinking it was Josh Homme on vocals for the opening track on Desert Sessions 11 & 12 (Arrivederci Despair/ Tightwads & Nitwits & Critics & Heels). But it's actually Billy Gibbons. From ZZ Top. And if you've been following Homme's work for a while, you'd know that Gibbons played on QOTSA's 2005 Lullabies to Paralyse.
Opinion: Great
The Lowdown: Josh Homme is one busy gentleman. It seems like whenever he has some free space on his desk planner, he is quick to fill it with one of his many projects: Queens of the Stone Age, Eagles of Death Metal, Them Crooked Vultures, or the on-again/off-again Desert Sessions. Homme bills the latter as a "music collective" that goes back all the way to 1997, when Homme and some pals congregated at the studio Rancho De La Luna in Joshua Tree (Vol.
'Desert Sessions, Vols. 11 & 12'
is available now