Album review: The Dead Weather, 'Sea of Cowards'
2 stars (out of 4)
Having already established himself as the hardest working man in rock with the White Stripes and the Raconteurs, Jack White’s more-is-better approach to record-making reaches overload with his third band. Less than a year after its debut, “Horehound,” the Dead Weather return with the follow-up.
“Sea of Cowards” (Third Man) is bolder than its predecessor, mainly because it seriously dials up the flamboyance quotient. Singer Allison Mosshart shows off a few new moves, moving things from a simmer to a boil. The album feels looser, more daring in the way it plays with sound and arranging. Keyboards squeal and feed back like guitars on “I’m Mad,” and the instruments sound like they’re short-circuiting on “Looking at the Invisible Man.” But as with “Horehound,” “Sea of Cowards” is all about the volatile vibe rather than songs. When the vibe works, it’s a decent approximation of the band’s top-shelf live show. But beneath all the “Hustle and Cuss,” the tunes just aren’t there.
greg@gregkot.com
Having already established himself as the hardest working man in rock with the White Stripes and the Raconteurs, Jack White’s more-is-better approach to record-making reaches overload with his third band. Less than a year after its debut, “Horehound,” the Dead Weather return with the follow-up.
“Sea of Cowards” (Third Man) is bolder than its predecessor, mainly because it seriously dials up the flamboyance quotient. Singer Allison Mosshart shows off a few new moves, moving things from a simmer to a boil. The album feels looser, more daring in the way it plays with sound and arranging. Keyboards squeal and feed back like guitars on “I’m Mad,” and the instruments sound like they’re short-circuiting on “Looking at the Invisible Man.” But as with “Horehound,” “Sea of Cowards” is all about the volatile vibe rather than songs. When the vibe works, it’s a decent approximation of the band’s top-shelf live show. But beneath all the “Hustle and Cuss,” the tunes just aren’t there.
greg@gregkot.com