Album Review: Desert Sessions - Volumes 11 & 12

Desert Sessions' Volumes 11 & 12 does what it says on the tin. It’s basically a glorified jam session between rock'n'roll's crème da la crème, a tradition founded by Queens Of The Stone Age frontman Josh Homme in 1997, but this version really does sound like teens in their garage phase.

Listening to this collection you’d be forgiven for thinking this was a release from Queens Of The Stone Age, Homme's influence and production decisions are so evident. That being said, the clear-cut styles of each individual musician manages to come through with fervour. 

From the blues licks of ZZ Top to the alt-rock heaviness of Royal Blood, the sonic flair of Scissor Sisters to the synth experimentation of Warpaint, this album is a hotchpotch of styles and influences. It also serves as a peek into what happens when musicians get away from the luxuries of a pimped-out studio and get down and dirty – an interesting experiment. 

Isolation in the arse-end of nowhere seems to be the recipe for rustic goodness, producing 12 volumes over 22 years. After all that time, Homme and his mates are still coming up with the sonic goods.