The sophomore effort, with the sophomoric title, Chickenfoot III, shows this super group, in the words of Sammy Hagar’s buddy, Chef Emeril Lagasse, kicking it up a notch. While the band, which features Hagar, along with guitar wizard Joe Satriani, bass player Michael Anthony and Red Hot Chili Pepper’s drummer Chad Smith, did well enough with their debut album to earn a Gold album for sales of over a half a million copies, they should go platinum this time around.

The album features better music, guitar solos and, yes, even lyrics, which was one of the major knocks on the first effort.

The band are still having a ton of fun and rocking their balls off, but they are very serious about the music they are pumping out. While the first album still had the stink of ‘experiment’ and ‘getting to know each other’, musically, this one fits like a glove. Chickenfoot are a band and this album proves that this is more than just a weekend recreation for the four talented musicians.

The album opens with a blues-rock scorcher that is all Sammy titled “Last Temptation.” This song alone proves that the Foot are kicking ass and taking names.

This song has a more pop flavor to it but, hey, but this Hagar and nothing goes down smoother than a shot of Cabo than a party song sung by the Red Rocker.

This song would fit very well on a Sammy Hagar solo record like VOA or Standing Hampton. It’s emotional and the tempo is softer. Consider it a heartfelt song that fits well on the album.

Joe Satriani busts out a killer riff and later in the song brings a killer solo to this tune about immortality. Sammy recently lost his best friend, and Chickenfoot manager, Carter, yep, just Carter. The song sees Hagar talking about the next life in only the way he can.

If there is a song on III that could have been on a Van Hagar album then “Lighten Up” is it. The guitar texture brings a cool groove, as Satriani pushes Hagar to the side and takes center stage on this song, proving he really is as damn good as all of us critics say he is. While a lot of his over the top soloing is made possible by the space created by the rhythm section of Smith and Anthony, Joe does a great job on this, and every song on the album.

This one is a ballad and is placed at a good spot in the track listing. While it provides a rest from the songs that come before it, this writer admits it is not a tune that will be played over and over, as it lacks the intensity of the rest of the album.

Sammy brings the angst of a struggling nation to life with a song that tells the tales of homelessness, job loss and veterans returning home from war with no where to go. The song is very powerfully, both musically and lyrically. A video to this tune would make this message that much stronger. The music is loud and angry and, once again, the bald guitarist takes this tune to another level with his musical mastery, while Hagar turns out one of his most impassioned vocals ever.

Unless you’ve been totally asleep for the last couple of weeks, then you’ve seen this video, or heard this tune. “Big Foot” is a great Sammy party song. Satriani has a guitar riff that makes one crank up the volume while Sammy wails about everything under the sun. The rest of the band keeps this funkafied rocker going strong throughout.

Buried deep on the CD is one of the most musical songs on the entire album. This one is funky, bluesy and rocking. Borrowing heavy from the classic “I Ain’t Got You,” “Dubai Blues” is one of the best songs Chickenfoot has ever written. This is a great example of what can happen when you take four world-class musicians and put them in a room for all of the right reasons. This is one muther of a song.

Ending the album is a very 1970’s sounding rock tune that sees the band adding another sound to their repertoire. This is serious rock n’ roll that builds on a theme. Vocally, Michael Anthony and Hagar harmonize well. Musically, this is true throwback to the glory days of epic rock music. It is a perfect example of what is missing in the world of music today.

So, there you have it. Chickenfoot III is a shoe in for everyone’s best albums of 2011 list. To close this review I will turn it over to Mr. Chickenfoot, himself, Sammy Hagar:

“I am very proud of the new album. We're calling the album Chickenfoot III because it's so good, the songs are so tight, it's like we jumped right past having to make a second record. We've established a real trust, Joe and I, we truly bring out the best in one another, and that spreads to the whole band."