Chickenfoot – III

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Produced by Chickenfoot & Mike Fraser

After a thoroughly successful debut album and tour Chickenfoot should need no introduction to classic rock fans. The members of the “supergroup” certainly don’t. Fronted by ex-Van Halen singer Sammy Hagar, the recording band comprises famed virtuoso guitarist Joe Satriani, former VH bassist Michael Anthony and Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith. Drum legend Kenny Aronoff is set to step in for Smith for any immediate touring behind the album.

The oddly titled III is the band’s second album (such an advancement, says Hagar, that they felt like they’d skipped their second album and gone straight to their third), following a live DVD in 2010, and aims to carry on the grooving hard rock sound they started with the self-titled debut in 2007, albeit this time as more of a united band, meaning the individual performances of the members stand out less than they did before. Particularly in Satriani’s case, where his playing is as stellar as before, but more integrated within the songs.

There are however a couple of places where Chickenfoot lose the identity they built up with the debut. First, Tedious radio rocker Alright Alright sounds like it comes from the catalogue of ’90s indie rock outfit Reef; it’s four-and-a-half minutes feel like an awful lot longer. That’s followed immediately by more saccharine radio rock, this time in the shape of Different Devil, which could be a collaboration between Bruce Springsteen and Bryan Adams. Or something from the most recent couple of Bon Jovi records.

Other than those two tracks, things are firmly in the grooving hard rock territory Chickenfoot set out to occupy two years ago. Opener Last Temptation goes for a straight-forward melodic hard rock approach, back-to-back pairing Up Next and Lighten Up carry the hardest riffs, while other highlights come in the shape of brooding semi-ballads Come Closer and Something Going Wrong. Second single Three And A Half Letters gets a little bogged down in its own point about unemployment, but still isn’t the low-point Alright Alright and Different Devil are, and is followed up by another real groover in lead single Big Foot.

Overall III is probably a little better than Chickenfoot. The debut had three lows to III‘s two, so it’s a stronger 4/5 this time. In both cases the albums have been let down by drifts into watered-down radio rock. Drop those for something closer to the now-trademark sound and they should be able to come up with the quintessential Chickenfoot record.

The most surprising thing about III though is its non-musical aspect. Chickenfoot boasted heat-sensitive packaging which revealed the true cover art and tracklisting when warmed up. This time the gimmick for the first pressing of the album is 3D artwork, and it’s remarkably good. The album comes packaged with a pair of cardboard 3D glasses, and these can be used to either view the 3D images on the inside and back covers and the four excellent photocards provided, or to reveal hidden messages. The front cover itself is poor. Using the glasses simply reveals a big “III”, which can more or less be seen without them. And the hidden message on the inside cover can also been seen without. The lengthy one on the top surface of the disc itself though, can’t, and the 3D photos are very well done.

A good package in total then, but a shame Europe isn’t treated to the deluxe edition North America gets, which includes the 2010 special edition of the debut (with bonus studio tracks and a live concert DVD), and the DVD from the regular special edition all in one package. Maybe only of interest to people who don’t yet have the original, but still would have been nice for fans in other territories to have that option.

“ a stronger 4/5 this time ”

Tracklist: Last Temptation / Alright Alright / Different Devil / Up Next / Lighten Up / Come Closer / Three And A Half Letters / Big Foot / Dubai Blues / Something Going Wrong
Limited Edition Bonus DVD: EPK / Big Foot (music video) / Turning Left (Live in Phoenix) / Sexy Little Thing (music video)

Photo(s): LeAnn Mueller | www.leannmueller.com

Written by Andy Lye
More: 2011, Albums, Hard Rock, Chickenfoot