Josh Freese Notorious One Man Orgy CD

This debut from drummer-to-the-'90s-rock-stars Josh Freese delivers so much massive guitar pop that just a couple of listens will be enough to hook music fans looking to fill a hole in their collection of good-time pop-punk. With titles like "Rock and Roll Chicken" and "Why Won't Left Eye Get With Me," Freese's light-hearted solo sentiment is in stark contrast to the drummer's more celebrated employers, A Perfect Circle and latter-day Guns 'n' Roses. Headier tracks "Ass Backwards" and "Caffeine and Vaseline," while just as catchy as Freese's campier material, don't approach the musician's quirky lyrical standard. Hardly enough to exercise listeners' aural shock absorbers, these bumps in the road have the impact of a crushed frisbee. With the support of a major label and more refined production, Freese could easily realize his lyrical potential, and join Phil Collins and the similarly influenced Dave Grohl in the improbably exclusive club of former drum sidemen turned outright pop stars. All career considerations aside, The Notorious One Man Orgy is a splendid romp that provides all the pop to both satisfy and surprise fans familiar with Freese's impressive punk, new wave, and metal discography. ~ Vincent Jeffries

An instantly catchy collection of power-pop-punk tunes from THE VANDALS drummer Josh Freese, this record was originally recorded for the label owned by Stone Gossard (PEARL JAM's Guitarist). Stone folded the label recently and Kung Fu Records seized the opportunity. Despite being a person who many consider to be the "best drummer in the world," it is song writing, not drums that are the focus of Freese's solo work. For The Notorious One Many Orgy, Josh has composed 12 amazing songs that he not only sings, but he also played guitar, bass, keyboards, and drums on all of them. With a little help from some notable guest musicians like Warren Fitzgerald, Michael Ward, Lyle Workman, Stone Gossard and Jason Freese, Josh's self produced debut solo effort is full of infectious melodies and slices of life, if your life includes things like a Rock n' Roll Chicken alarm clock, or pining away for Left Eye (from TLC).

Josh is currently on the NINE INCH NAILS tour playing drums for A PERFECT CIRCLE, the new band fronted by Maynard from TOOL. While he plays drums at night, Josh's days have become a Kung Fu Records press tour by default, being that he is interviewed daily for his participation in the tour. We've been doing a fair amount of piggybacking.

This is only the tip of the iceberg as far as Josh's stellar career goes. As most people know, Josh has been the official GUNS N' ROSES drummer for the past two years, playing on their yet to be released album as well as his current post as official drummer for DEVO. The list goes on and on, but if you heard him play drums on the Chris Cornell, Paul Westerberg, School of Fish, Tracy Bonham, Mike Ness, Infectious Grooves and Suicidal Tendencies or Juliana Hatfield records, you haven't heard the half of it. You need The Notorious One Man Orgy.

Personnel: Josh Freese (vocals); Mike Ward (guitar, electric guitar); Lyle Workman, Stone Gossard, Warren Fitzgerald (guitar); Jason Freese (saxophone, piano).

Audio Mixers: Josh Freese; Tom Weir; Chad Fischer.

Recording information: Formula One; Outland Studio; Weir Recording.

Photographer: Bryan Lopes.

Personnel includes: Josh Freese (vocals, various instruments); Warren Fitzgerald, Mike Ward, Lyle Workman, Stone Gossard (guitar); Jason Freese (saxophone, piano).

Engineers: Chad Fischer, Tom Weir, Josh Freese.