Taylor Hawkins & The Coattail Riders - Taylor Hawkins & the Coattail Riders (Album)
Okay, let’s get this out of the way. Taylor Hawkins is the drummer from the Foo Fighters. Yes, just as Dave Grohl was the drummer of Nirvana. So it is fair to say that this debut album by Taylor Hawkins and his band The Coattail Riders has already sparked unfair speculation and comparisons to Grohl’s career.
The Coattail Riders are quite capable on their own, however, with Chris Chaney of Janes Addiction (no, not the Living End) fame taking up the bass for the recording of this album. And the album is quite good. The Foo Fighters inspiration is clearly apparent; a lot of riffs, baselines and even lyrics seem a little familiar, though Hawkins voice is not quite at the same level of Rock and Roll as Grohl. The songs earmarked for singles, ‘Louise,’ ‘Walking Away’ and ‘It’s OK now’ are really the weaker songs of the album and were no doubt chosen as singles because of the tracks musical similarities to the Foo Fighters. Hawkins voice though really shines through best in the slower tracks and the ballads rather than when he draws from the electric angle of the Foo Fighters – ‘Pitiful’ and ‘End of the line’ probably being this critics pick.
It would be unfortunate if this album ended up being ‘the Foo Fighters drummers side project,’ as has been recklessly bandied about in certain music circles, as there are distinct and excellent songs on this album with no discernable influence from the Foo Fighters or Jane’s Addiction.
All in All, Taylor Hawkins & the coattail rider’s first album is a solid affair. It is both a tribute to 1990’s rock and does on occasions push some musical boundaries, though less than it could have.
7 Foo Fighters references out of 10.
