Walking Papers

American rock heavyweights prove themselves more than the sum of their parts on their impressive first album.

If ever the term 'Super Group' was applicable, it is to Walking Papers. For those of you not yet in the know, Walking Papers consists of Barrett Martin (ex-Screaming Trees Mad Season) and relatively unknown singer and guitarist Jeff Angell who has had a quiet career making records with his two previous bands Post Stardom Depression and The Missionary Position. These two are joined by the almost legendary Duff McKagan on bass, and occasional guitar solo interjections from Pearl Jam's Mike McCready; quite a pedigree.

Usually, when such a world class group of musicians get together, it is ultimately disappointing (think Audioslave and Brides of Destruction), but what Walking Papers have put together is a solid, interesting body of work opening with the subtle, quiet, but still menacing beneath the surface Already Dead. There is a marimba accompanying your standard rock instruments delicately layered on top of a fidgety beat. It feels like the brooding calm before the storm, and so it proves to be.

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