Vols. 11 & 12

Vols. 11 & 12
Compilation album by
ReleasedOctober 25, 2019 (2019-10-25)
RecordedDecember 2018
StudioRancho de la Luna, Joshua Tree, CA and Pink Duck Studios, Burbank, CA
GenreDesert rock, stoner rock, alternative rock, experimental rock, indie rock
Length31:35
LabelMatador
ProducerJosh Homme
The Desert Sessions chronology
Volumes 9 & 10
(2003)
Vols. 11 & 12
(2019)
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic77/100[1]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
Kerrang!4/5[3]
NME[4]

Vols. 11 & 12 is the sixth compilation album by the desert rock supergroup Desert Sessions, a side project of Queens of the Stone Age frontman Josh Homme. It is a compilation of the group's eleventh release, titled Arrivederci Despair and their twelfth release, titled Tightwads & Nitwits & Critics & Heels. It was released in October 2019, the group's first release after a 16-year hiatus. The album features contributions by various rock artists including Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top, Stella Mozgawa of Warpaint, Jake Shears of Scissor Sisters, Mike Kerr of Royal Blood, Carla Azar of Autolux, Les Claypool of Primus, Matt Sweeney, Matt Berry, and Libby Grace.

Track listing

No.TitleLyricsMusicLead vocalsLength
1."Move Together"Billy GibbonsJosh Homme, Matt Sweeney, Carla Azar, Stella Mozgawa, Les ClaypoolGibbons5:04
2."Noses in Roses, Forever"HommeHomme, SweeneyHomme5:34
3."Far East For the Trees" Homme, Azar, Claypool, Mozgawa(Instrumental)4:53
4."If You Run"Libby Grace, Homme, SweeneyGrace, Homme, SweeneyGrace4:00
5."Crucifire"Sweeney, Homme, Mike Kerr, Jake ShearsHomme, Kerr, Shears, SweeneyKerr1:45
6."Chic Tweetz"Homme, Matt BerryBerry, Mozgawa, HommeTöôrnst Hülpft3:47
7."Something You Can't See"Shears, Kerr, Dave Catching, SweeneyKerr, Sweeney, Shears, AzarShears3:26
8."Easier Said Than Done"HommeHomme, AzarHomme3:06
Total length:31:35

Personnel

  • Josh Homme - Lead vocals (tracks 2, 8), guitar (tracks 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7), percussion (tracks 1, 4), harmony vocals (tracks 4, 7), choir vocals (track 4), synth (track 4), piano (tracks 3, 8), bass (2, 5, 7), production, mixing, engineering
  • Billy Gibbons - Lead vocals (track 1), guitar (track 2)
  • Stella Mozgawa - Drums (tracks 2, 6), synth (tracks 1, 3), percussion (tracks 1, 2)
  • Jake Shears - Lead vocals (track 7), backup vocals (tracks 1, 5, 6, 8), harmony vocals (track 8)
  • Mike Kerr - Lead vocals (track 5), guitar (track 8), acoustic guitar (track 7), bass (track 4), backup vocals (tracks 1, 8), percussion (tracks 1, 4), piano (track 8), choir vocals (track 4)
  • Carla Azar - Drums (tracks 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8), synth (tracks 1, 5), percussion (tracks 1, 3, 4, 8), steel drum (track 7), backup vocals (track 1), choir vocals (track 4)
  • Les Claypool - Bass (tracks 1, 2, 3)
  • Matt Sweeney - Guitar (tracks 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8), acoustic guitar (track 4), backup vocals (tracks 1, 2, 8), percussion (tracks 1, 4), choir vocals (track 4)
  • Libby Grace - Lead vocals (tracks 4), harmony vocals (track 4), choir vocals (track 4)
  • Matt Berry - Organ (track 6), inner monologue vocals (track 6)
  • Dave Catching - Synth (track 8)
  • Töôrnst Hülpft[a] - Lead vocals (track 6)
  • Mark Rankin - Mixing (tracks 1, 4), engineering

Notes

  1. ^ Many fans speculate that Töôrnst Hülpft is a pseudonym for a different artist. Proposals for his true identity include Homme, Dave Grohl, and Trent Reznor, among others. Homme has said that Hülpft is a stranger who showed up for the recording of "Chic Tweetz." Beyond this, Hülpft's identity has not been officially confirmed by anyone affiliated with the Desert Sessions.[5]

References

  1. ^ "Desert Sessions, Vols. 11 & 12". Metacritic.
  2. ^ Stephen Thomas Erlewine. "Desert Sessions, Vols. 11 & 12 - Desert Sessions". AllMusic.
  3. ^ Ruskell, Nick (October 26, 2019). "Album Review: Desert Sessions Vol. 11 & 12". Kerrang!.
  4. ^ Cooper, Leonie (October 24, 2019). "Josh Homme – 'Desert Sessions, Vol. 11/12' review: reckless abandon from an all-rock-star cast". NME.
  5. ^ "Who is Töôrnst Hülpft? The best theories about the mysterious Desert Sessions collaborator". NME.