Chickenfoot – Chickenfoot III review

Supergroups rarely work out because they are inevitably unable to manage the various super-sized egos at play. They will form to much hype and just as quickly dissolve due to “creative differences” (or release one disappointing album). Chickenfoot—the supergroup comprised of ex-Van Halen members Sammy Hagar and Michael Anthony, the guitarist Joe Satriani, and Red Hot Chili Pepper drummer Chad Smith—doesn’t have the same problems. This is clearly Sammy Hagar’s band, with the other members more than willing to come along for the chance to rock out.

However, Chickenfoot III, the band’s follow up to their self-title debut, is severely hampered by the overwhelming creative influence of Hagar. All of Chickenfoot III sound distinctly 80′s, and not in a good way. Guitars wail and big stupid choruses abound. The band is clearly enjoying themselves, but unless you stopped updating your record collection after 1988, you’ll feel like your stuck in a time machine.

The material could rise above being boringly retro if it had some sort of sense of humor and self-awareness to it, but a song like “Three And A Half Letters” with its “I need a job!” chorus, sounds unbelievably overwrought and out of touch. This kind of song is just Hagar slapping himself on the back for being so politically aware, when really it’s kind of a slap in the face to those who are actually unwillingly unemployed.

Songs like “Last Temptation” and “Different Devil” do manage to be gleeful fun, with Satriani’s immaculate guitar playing as the star, but little else excites. It’s good for Hagar and the rest of Chickenfoot that they are making the music they want to make, but for the rest of us who want to listen to some 80′s hard rock, just go ahead and pop in an old Van Halen record.