Alright, let’s talk about expectation.

   When I got wind of this project, I really felt like something divine was about to take place. You see, I have been anxious for guitar genius Joe Satriani to do a band project for a number of years, and there is no better host than Sammy Hagar when you want to throw a rock ‘n’ roll party. So, when I heard these two were pairing up in a band called Chickenfoot, I just about cried. And I’d like to make something clear here, I think Chickenfoot is a killer name. The name alone sent a message that this was going to be a fun party record with four guys that were just having a good time. The record instantly became a rock ‘n’ roll piñata that I couldn’t wait to take a swing at, just to see what awaited me inside. What I found wasn’t exactly what I expected, though.

   I guess what I expected to hear was a Sammy Hagar solo record in the same vein as VOA or Three Lock Box, except Joe Satriani would be lending his amazing guitar chops this time.  So, I guess when I heard tracks like “Runnin’ Out,” “Learning To Fall,” and “Future Is The Past,” I was a little disappointed. These are songs that sound like they were left off of one of the later Van Halen records, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but just not what I was hoping to hear. The rest of the record does depart from the “Van Hagar” sound, but that’s not necessarily a good thing. Songs like “Get It Up” and “Avenida Revolution” set more of a dark and somber tone, like something you might get from Alice In Chains. And, with the latter song kicking off this disc, you can imagine the expression I was wearing when I pressed play for that initial spin. This was hardly the party I was hoping to attend. The album does get rocking and definitely does assume a playful mood at various points. Tracks like “My Kinda Girl” and “Sexy Little Thing” rock like those Hagar tunes that I was wishing for, although they are a bit simple. But this record really kicks ass when its backbone stiffens up and it gets funky. Songs like “Soap On A Rope,” “Oh Yeah,” and “Down The Drain” rock hard with a tight and fastidious guttural attitude. “Oh Yeah” is the first single, as well it should be. It’s a fun rocker that will have you tapping a foot and pumping a fist as you chant along. “Down The Drain” is more of the sleek and sly, down and dirty rocker; a little dark sounding, but it has some great moments. There is another track called “Turnin’ Left” that has a big Satriani groove, but I’m just not fond of the overabundance of gang vocal throughout the song. I think it flattens out the song and gives it a monotone feel. The song I consistently find myself going back to is “Soap On A Rope,” though. This is a wicked track that finds Satriani laying down a riff that has a gigantic groove and a ton of muscle. We also find Satch adding some scratching effects and other interesting fills that keep this one fun. All of this is wrapped around a guitar solo that throws a tip of the cap toward guitarist Tom Morello and his unique and innovative Rage Against The Machine sound. Even Sammy throws in a straight-from-the-gut, Zach de la Rocha-type “Uh!” for good measure.

To see the video for the first single, "Oh Yeah," click here!!