Eagles of Death Metal
Zipper Down
After seven years of near-silence, the silliest duo in rock are back with what might be their best work. Despite the ridiculous innuendo, simplistic songwriting, and...just...they're just ridiculous, Zipper Down proves that Eagles of Death Metal can still rock, hard.
The album kicks off with the best single EoDM has released since "I Only Want You." "Complexity," apart from being brilliantly written and perfectly produced (something the duo has had issues with in the past), it also serves as a manifesto for the pair's music and lifestyle. As co-founder Jesse Hughes said in a recent interview, Eagles of Death Metal are just fans of rock & roll, and are really just joining a party.
But no matter how much they downplay their talent and play-up their seat-of-the-pants vibe, Zipper Down proves Jesse Hughes and Josh Homme are world-class songsmiths, and clearly the life of the party. No rock album this year--and probably several years in either direction--is this much fun. From the silliness of anti-hipster anthem "Silverlake (K.S.O.F.M)," to the brilliantly produced sultriness of "Oh Girl," to the greatest cover the duo has attempted, this album is dance-the-night-away material.
Speaking of that cover, one of Duran Duran's "Save a Prayer," it is not only an odd choice compared to the ZZTop and Stealers Wheel that would seem normal, but it is absolutely fantastic. In what is by a wide margin the album high point, EoDM's version of "Save a Prayer" highlights all the band's best strengths: Jesse Hughes crooning and swoon-worthy guitar, and Josh Homme's unbelievably great production talent, which has to this point been almost unheard anywhere outside of his own projects. This song cannot be recommended enough; it outdoes the original 100-fold and showcases Eagles of Death Metal at their very best--hopelessly romantic.
We can only hope this is the first in a new resurgence of Homme quality output. The seemingly infinite break between Queens of the Stone Age albums and even longer one between Eagles of Death Metal albums was nigh-unbearable. And if Zipper Down is any indication, the resurrection will be the most awesome party in human history.
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