Album Review: Taylor Hawkins & The Coattail Riders – Get The Money

Taylor Hawkins is rarely seen without a million-dollar smile spread across his face. And, really, who can blame him? As Foo Fighters’ drummer and other big mouth, he is in the world’s biggest rock band and regularly takes centre-stage during shows to belt out Queen covers on the world’s largest grandstands. Consider every rock star fantasy fulfilled. Hence why this resurrection of sometime side-project The Coattail Riders for a star-studded jam with mates like Duff McKagan, Chrissie Hynde and, yes, Dave Grohl, feels less like a cash-in and more an excuse to keep the party going.

The undisputed highlight is the title-track, which lambasts the self-importance of rock stars. Taking a slinky reggae groove for a walk on the wild side, Taylor trades barbed quips with Pretenders’ Chrissie Hynde. ‘You’re a spoiled brat / Think you deserve this crap?’ he shouts, knowingly; ‘A grown man acting like a child,’ she purrs. Yet it’s the subsequent voodoo meltdown that amazes. The flamenco-flavoured drama even causes guitarist Joe Walsh of the Eagles to lose his characteristic cool, delivering a squiggly blues solo at finger-blistering velocity. Simply, it’s conga-slapping magic.

It’s a shame, then, that these moments where the sheer madness of rock’n’roll takes over are so few and far between. The multi-passage songwriting is ambitious, sure, but the prevailing mid-tempo chug drags like an unwelcome drum solo at a wedding. Meanwhile, the bombast at times overshadows Taylor’s guests, making you wonder where exactly Roger Taylor – his idol – is hiding in closer Shapes Of Things.

Get The Money might not set the world ablaze like the rock bands to which it is clearly indebted, but it sounds like Taylor burning one while rocking on. Which means there’s still plenty here to put a smile on your face.

Verdict: 3/5

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