Eagles of Death Metal
(Downtown)
Imagine the Eagles of Death Metal in a world without sex. That's right, let's say that Heart On (heh, get it?) was beamed into a universe where people propagate by splitting off cells or are fertilized by roving bands of cyber bees. Would this slab of raging, rocking, eyebrow cocking come-on make any sense at all? Imagine parthogenetic societies trying to figure out the appeal of tight pants and jiggling rears. Picture them asking, "What exactly is he doing with his hand?" Nightmare, right? Absolutely unsustainable. Because Eagles of Death Metal breathes sexual innuendo the way that Martians breathe silica gas...or something like that.
Heart On is disc number three from the duo of Jesse "Devil" Harris and Josh "Baby Duck" Homme, and it shows very few signs of growth, maturity or artistic development. But honestly, why would it? Like Peace Love Death Metal and Death By Sexy the record snatches blues garage riffs from 40 years of rock and roll history, slathers on a layer of insinuating falsetto and pounds out the fuzz. There is nothing complicated about it, but it works. It's Led Zeppelin without the ambition, the White Stripes without the color coded cultural aspirations, AC/DC without the kilts, a super fun soundtrack for the mating bump and grind. It is also pretty funny. Harris spends a whole song ("Solo Flights") explaining to an ex- that he'd rather do it himself, thanks, and another ("[I Used to Couldn't Dance] Tight Pants") making fun of his disco moves.
The best cuts on Heart On, though, are pure mindless celebration, panting, yelping, clapping, double-timed "Wannabe in LA", uber-Stonesy, blues-addled "Heart On," and leering, fuzz-crusted "High Voltage." Beam these songs onto a sexless planet and who knows, they might just get something started.
Standout Tracks: "Solo Flights," "Heart On" JENNIFER KELLY
