Eleven will probably be forever best known as "hired guns" for such
hard rock heavyweights as
Chris Cornell and
Queens of the Stone Age, as well as at one point including original
Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer (and brief
Pearl Jam member)
Jack Irons in their ranks. But the group has always been about the multi-talented duo
Alain Johannes and
Natasha Shneider, who released the group's fifth release overall,
Howling Book, in 2003.
Eleven manages to retain the arty yet rocking sound of their earlier releases here, as evidenced by such standouts as the groove-heavy hard rocker
"Flow Like a River" and the moody, extended album closer,
"I Will Drink It All." Interestingly though, there are quite a few tracks here that would have sounded at home on
Chris Cornell's
Euphoria Morning -- especially
"Simple Kiss" and
"Kill Me No More." This shouldn't come as a surprise, however, as
Johannes and
Shneider co-produced, played on, and helped pen songs for the former
Soundgarden singer's solo debut. Longtime fans of
Johannes and
Shneider are sure to enjoy
Howling Book, as will admirers of original and uncompromising
hard rock. ~ Greg Prato