The Desert Sessions is Josh Homme's (QOTSA, ex-Kyuss) long time project. With each Dessert Sessions he invites some big time musicians to play some music and think of cool concepts to record. In this record people like PJ Harvey (queen of rock), Dean Ween (frontman of Ween)and Jordey White and Josh Freese from A Perfect Circle. Don't expect to hear something that sounds exactly like QOTSA...although there are a few songs on here that are definately a bit like Homme's full-time band.
01 Dead In Love
This is a solid rock and roll track that has a really nice twist to it, with that eerie piano sequenced climax. 4/5
02 I Wanna Make It Witchu
A very catchy straight up rock tune. It's got a really nice solo by Josh at one point. 4/5
03 Covered In Punk's Blood
I think this is an old Kyuss tune redone...really short instrumenal and intense with that offbeat drumming. 3.5/5
04 There Will Never Be A Better Time
This is a creepy acoustic song with PJ Harvey dropping some spine-bending vocals...especially the intro is awesome. 4/5
05 Crawl Home
A real cool rock duet with PJ and Josh...with Josh (who is a big guy) doing falsetto vocals and Polly (who is scrawny as hell) singing with a very deep voice that sounds as if she is restraining lots of rage. The song flows very well. 4/5
06 I'm Here For Your Daughter
A really short Mexican-styled acoustic track by Josh...with some pretty sick lyrics. 3/5
07 Powdered Wig Machine
This is my favorite song on the record. It's a strange abstract electronica influenced track. PJ's vocals are simply incredible here...and Josh has really strange, but cool complementary vocals. 4/5
08 In My Head...Or Something
I love this one too...sounds alot like a QOTSA song. It's got a perfect balance between a catchy and a rock-out tune. And the chorus lyrics will stick in your head...or something. 4/5
09 Holey Dime
I really like this one too...it's really got that desert vibe...and the brass doesn't sound out of place. No question that this is desert rock. 4/5
10 A Girl Like Me
Blech!! This is the worst track in my opinion on Desert Sessions...as much as I love PJ Harvey, yet I wish she would just blend in with the other Dessert Sessions' guys, but in this song she is conforming her status as a female songwriter. Plus, her 'speaking vocals' are really annoying here. The music is still good however, and Josh shows he can keep a drum beat too, and some nice backing vox. I still hate this track with a passion. 1.5/5
11 Creosote
A nifty instrumental acoustic jam session-like track with a Mexican vibe. 3/5
12 Subcutaneous Phat
Really cool instrumental track featuring Dean Ween and has a very solid bass-line. It's got a really unique feel. 4/5
13 Bring It Back Gentle
The verses are really good in this track, but I don't like the chorusses. Josh is a great singer, but his voice just seems out of place on this track. I don't really hear anything I haven't heard before. 3/5
Total rating: 3.8/5
