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Finally, one of the most anticipated albums of the year is here with the release of Chickenfoot’s self titled debut album. Chickenfoot is a supergroup in every since of the word with all members of the band being huge names in the music industry by themselves.

In case you have spent the last year in a cave with no electricity or internet, Chickenfoot is made up of Sammy Hagar (vocals), Joe Satriani (Guitars), Ex-Van Halen bassist Michael Anthony, and Red Hot Chili Pepper’s Chad Smith (Drums), if anybody would seem out of place with the music Chickenfoot plays it would be Smith but his drum playing is awesome front to back on this album. I have to admit I am a huge Sammy Hagar fan and it is no secret he has one of the most recognizable voices in music and when you throw Michael Anthony into the mix there are bound to be endless Chickenfoot/Van Halen comparisions. Yes, this album does sound like a mix of Van Halen and Hagar’s post Van Halen solo albums, but the difference is Chickenfoot is better than any album Hagar did with Van Halen and when you add Hagar’s “Cabo Wabo Party Atmosphere” to the music you get a fun, rockin, filler free album. Satriani’s playing on this album is unbelievable, he is able to accomplish everything on guitar within the framework of the songs instead of going off on a tangent just for a solo like other well known guitarists are prone to do.

“Avenida Revolucion” kicks everything off, it is a heavy song with a pretty serious subject, Satriani absolutely shines on this song with some amazing playing but then again you wouldn’t expect anything less from him. “Soap On A Rope” and “Down the Drain” are both in the same vein with party jam vibe, which I imagine Satriani will just go crazy on in a live situation. Hagar’s vocals still sound great at 62 years old when most other singers have lost the power in their voice long before 62. “Sexy Little Thing” is a great catchy song filled with hooks galore, the way Hagar sings this song so laid back and relaxed you would think the man has absolutely no stress whatsoever in his life. I can definitely see this song getting tons of airplay. “Oh Yeah” has party tune written all over it much like Hagar’s “Mas Tequila”, “Shag”, or “Shaka Doobie (The Limit)”. “Runnin’ Out” has a bluesy vibe to it with some great gang vocals and some awesome bass lines from Michael Anthony.

“Get It Up” fall into the same catagory as “Oh Yeah” with more outstanding playing from Satriani and Anthony. Without a doubt “My Kinda Girl” is the catchiest song on the album, the kind of song you can’t help but to crank up and sing along with, another Chickenfoot song I can see getting tons of airplay. I’m not sure if “Learning To Fall” could be classified as a ballad but it is still a great song with some excellent background vocals. “Turnin’ Left” is another heavy jam song that sounds like Michael Anthony beat his bass to death recording this song. Clocking in at almost 7 minutes “Future In The Past” wraps the album up that starts out almost acoustic before it kicks in with a bluesy vibe with a honky tonk piano and harmonica thrown in, great way to close the album.

Unlike supergroups in the past that sound like they were thrown together at the last minute to record an album, Chickenfoot sounds like a band, tight and in sync with each other but more importantly they sound like everyone in the band actually wants to be there and that is a great thing because it could mean more albums to come and I for one am definitely looking forward to hearing what else these guys can bring us.

Rating:  Out of 10

Track Listing:

1. Avenida Revolution
2. Soap On A Rope
3. Sexy Little Thing
4. Oh Yeah
5. Runnin’ Out
6. Get It Up
7. Down The Drain
8. My Kinda Girl
9. Learning To Fall
10. Turnin’ Left
11. Future Is The Past

Chickenfoot is:
Sammy Hagar – Vocals
Joe Satriani – Guitars
Michael Anthony – Bass
Chad Stewart - Drums