Album Of The Week - 26th October : Wolfmother - Cosmic Egg

I have to start this off by saying there weren't really any new releases this week that jumped out at me as being worthy of album of the week. I vowed to keep this blog going though so I have chosen to go for Australian rock band Wolfmother's new release 'Cosmic Egg'. Technically this is the bands second album but a lot has changed since their debut self-titled album released in 2005. Originally a three-piece band, the bassist and drummer both left in 2008 leaving just the vocalist/guitarist Andrew Stockdale. The new lineup is now a four-piece with three new members joining this year.

This album was recorded in LA and produced by British producer Alan Moulder (Nine Inch Nails, Billy Corgan). The band have a sound that would not have been out of the place in the 70's with influences such as Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin having a clear impact on their music. Despite the big lineup changes since their previous album this album does follow on in a similar vain and definately does sound like another Wolfmother record. In fact the highlights of this album are when they are doing what they do best with their throwbacks to the 70's on tracks like the brilliant Zeppelin-esque "New Moon Rising" or the Sabbath style track "10,000 Feet". Where the album is let down is where the band try to broaden their horizons and attempt to experiment with different styles. Most of the second half of the album is an attempt to master the art of the ballad and it really doesn't work for them. Every track that doesn't start with a crunching guitar riff is pretty much destined to be skipped within seconds.

This album has some great tracks on it, "New Moon Rising" and the White Stripesy "White Feather" being the highlights for me. They are great at doing what they do best and recalling the riff led rock of the 70s. Unfortunately when they try and prove that they are not a one trick pony and go for a more mellow sound it proves quite the opposite! The album is worth checking out though just for the songs that do show what they do best, feel free to skip the rest!
Wolfmother – Cosmic Egg