What's up, Stompers?! I'm back already, this time with something a bit outside the norm. And before anyone asks, no, this isn't an April fool's joke. In fact, for me, April 1st will no longer be associated with tom-foolery and shenanigans. Instead, it will henceforth be known as the day that the greatest band on the planet released their 5th studio album. What does that have to do with Kentucky?
Because Kentucky is where they call home. Just like you and I. They love it. They breathe it, and they live it. They preach it, and they write about it. They spread the 'good ole boy gospel' all across the globe, and they wave their bluegrass banner proudly. Just like you and I.
But UNLIKE you and I, these guys have legions of fans all over the world. They're literally one of the top music acts out there today, of any genre. It's pretty amazing to know that four guys from the Edmonton and Glasgow area are able to say that. They're the epitome of hard work and dedication. The epitome of believing in yourself and never giving up...and solid evidence that you don't have to surrender your identity, compromise your values, neglect your faith, or conform in general, to make it big. That's a feat very few seem to accomplish. They did it, and they're continuing to do it. Kentucky proud, indeed. In the decade+ that they've been together, they've accomplished a great deal. From rubbing elbows and performing with legends, to winning awards and selling out shows all over the globe. Europe in particular seems to love these guys just as much as the good ole U.S. of A.
These accomplishments don't go unnoticed. Music aficionados near and far consider them to not only be a solid collective unit, but each individual member to be a technical master of their chosen musical disciplines. John Fred Young one of the most technically proficient drummers/percussionists living today. Being a capable drummer is an extremely complicated and complex process, and he does with ease what most others can't at all. He's also known for his showmanship, and rightfully so. Rhythm guitarist Ben Wells is a virtuoso. There's no other way to describe him. The licks and riffs alone that he comes up with are technical and emotional wizardry. His solos are enough to make the most seasoned guitarists jaws drop. It's the sort of thing that is sorely missing from a lot of modern music, and he's bringing it back with a vengeance. Lead singer and lead guitarist Chris Robertson has a voice that is unmatched. It's soulful, it's raspy, and his pitch control and vibrato are incredible. His guitar work is out of this world, lending that down and dirty signature sound of theirs to their poly rhythmic repertoire. There are a lot of musical exchanges between him and Ben. They play off each others energy and styles very well. Bassist Jon Lawhon is much of the same with his crushing bass lines and clean, crisp rhythms. He's an invaluable asset to the quartet. I could go on about the technical prowess of music all day. With my marching band/drumline background, it's something that I know about first hand, and have always carried with me through the years. It's an art form, and those of us who have played til our hands bled just for the sake of that art form, love and respect it for what it is.
I suppose I need to go ahead and come clean about something. I hadn't intended on doing a written review about this album. I had fully intended on doing another one of my unboxing videos on my youtube channel and simply talking about it as I went along. That didn't happen. I had everything set up, and just when I was ready to begin, my tried and true trusty tripod broke. After nearly 20 years, I had to bid it farewell. It was tragic.
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| RIP :( |
So, that sucks.
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| Seriously, I had everything laid out and ready to go! |
Nevertheless, when I got home this evening and I saw that big, beautiful brown box sitting on my porch, I could do nothing but smile. I pre-ordered this bundle back in December, so it's been a long, sometimes impatient wait for it to arrive. But, today was the day.
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| And so far, it was worth the wait. |
With a few swipes of papaws old hunting knife, I was inside the box. Immediately I noticed what was on top.
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| Hopefully it fits. |
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| Kentucky blend, baby! |
The shirt itself is nice quality. It's a poly blend fabric and it has some weight to it. I don't think it will shrink in the wash and it should last awhile. I thought it was a really cool bonus!
I literally fell asleep after I typed that last sentence, on the couch, with my laptop across my stomach. But anyway yeah, the shirt. I like it! I plan on wearing it today.
I've got the album on now, listening to it for the second time since opening it last night. I'm liking it more and more. I can already tell it's going to be an instant classic and one of my personal favorites. It is just as crushing as it is melodic, as sleazy as it is deep, and they can speed it up or slow it down anytime. More on that a little later. Let's dig a little deeper into the box o' goodies....
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| Ahh there it is, the crown jewel. |
The album itself, very appropriately titled "Kentucky". I love the cover art, and I'm sure there's a story behind why they chose that particular picture. It's obviously a very Kentucky-esque setting with the small, older white house with a porch, isolated and on its own. The front yard is filled with fallen leaves with a slight path leading to the front door. Just like home. Withered trees are on each side with a smaller tree and bush almost engulfing the right side. There's some stuff sitting on the porch, and if you look closely, there's a smaller "junk house" type building around back. The sky is cloudy and gloomy, really capping off the picture as an obvious Autumn scene in rural Kentucky. It's all captured perfectly in this one picture. As far as why those chose this location, it could be something sentimental to one of the members, or it could just be close to where they live and thought it looked cool. We may never know.
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| Had to include a back shot. |
On the back, we have the guys standing confidently towards a sunrise (possibly). If that's the case, then I see it as being very symbolic of their journey so far. They know where they stand, and they confidently stare towards a new day. An unknown new day, but a new day nevertheless. It could also be the sun piercing through the gloominess from the front of the cover, capturing the duality of living in Kentucky. A lot of interpretations could be made here, but it's possible that I'm just reading too deep. I tend to do that.
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| A closer shot of the track list. |
1. The Way of the Future
2. In Our Dreams
3. Shakin' My Cage
4. Soul Machine
5. Long Ride
6. War
7. Hangman
8. Rescue Me
9. Feelin' Fuzzy
10. Darkest Secret
11. Born to Die
12. The Rambler
This album is all over the place and very ambitious, but they've still managed to keep their signature sound while doing so. That's talent. You've got the hard rocking and slightly unusual "In Our Dreams", to the emotional, County, almost Folk-like ballad "The Rambler". They even included some funk with a horn section with "Soul Machine" and a great cover of the Edwin Starr classic "War". The inclusion of Brass instruments was something I absolutely wasn't expecting, but I've always loved a good solid brass section. Does it work with this style of heavy southern rock? You damn right it does! They also mentioned once in an interview that there was no digital editing with this album. That means everything you hear was exactly how it was played in the studio. There was no auto tune, no pitch bending, no adding in pre-recorded parts, none of that garbage. Everything was played, sang, and accomplished in real time by THEM. In other words, they actually know how to sing, and they actually know how to play their instruments with precision.
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| The sticker on the bottom... |
I assumed there was a download card included, but a slipmat and a clip from the Mascot Messenger Newspaper? What?
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| Well sho 'nuff! |
In case you're unsure of what a slipmat is, it's a piece of [foam?] rubber that goes over the platter of a turn table, so your record will be protected on the bottom, and keep it from jarring around. A very cool, quirky extra. Very nice!
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| An insert from the Mascot Messenger. |
I have to admit, I'm not familiar with the Mascot Messenger, but on the front page, it has a huge picture of Joe Bonamassa, who, if you haven't heard of him, go RIGHT NOW and look him up. It also has a story about Black Stone Cherry signing to Mascot Records. Again, a cool gift and something neat to include with the package.
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| The all important download card. |
For when you can't take your turntable with you. It also included 3 bonus tracks!
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| The record sleeve. |
Very thick, high quality, glossy sleeve. There are pictures of the guys with their production crew, and of their kids (or dogs, which can also be kids).
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| The other side of the record sleeve. |
On the other side of the sleeve, there are four great pictures of each band member doing their thing with the proper credits at the bottom. I literally just looked, because I thought to myself "These pictures look a lot like the kind Rob Fenn would take" and sure enough I saw his name on the credits on the opposite side. Mr. Fenn is a great photographer, and I recommend you check out his work.
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| My oh my... |
Of course, that beautifully pressed 180g vinyl. This was the limited edition gold pressing. I think this was limited to maybe 500 pressings. It sounds amazing. I don't want to get into that old discussion or debate about "which sounds better", but I do love the sound and interactivity of vinyl. I love my Ipod too, I'm still wowed at the fact that I can fit my entire music library in my freaking POCKET, something I could only dream of while lugging bags of cassettes around as a kid, or Cds as a teen. That's some Star Trek crap right there. But, my love for physical media will never cease. With the massive resurgence of vinyl over the last few years, it's made it a fun ride for people like me.
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| A different angle. |
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| Side A label. |
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| Side B label. |
And, just when I thought things couldn't possibly get any better; when I assumed every goody in the box had been uncovered and gazed upon...
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| ........ |
In the very bottom of the box...underneath the bubble wrap and all that...was an autographed picture. I was shocked. I just sat there for a minute and looked at it. I didn't expect it. I didn't expect any of the goodies that came with it, but I really, REALLY didn't expect this. Words honestly fail. They didn't have to include this, and there was no warning that they were going to. There was no "Hey pay us more money and the first 10 people will get an auto pen autograph from the band, maybe!" addition to the product description. They did it because they wanted to, because they wanted to give their fans a little something extra for supporting them. Pure class acts.
This is a solid 5th entry into Black Stone Cherry's discography. There's something here for everyone. Their technical abilities shine through with each note, as does their love and passion for what they're getting to do. The fact that there were no fancy digital editing tricks are ostensive, undeniable proof of that. I don't have a favorite song just yet, though I'm leaning toward "The Rambler" and possibly "Rescue Me", though I dig the overall feel of "Soul Machine" and the "War" cover. "Feeling Fuzzy" is pretty great as well. Who knows, I'll likely change my mind a dozen more times before all is said and done. I love the bold direction they took, being able to play many different styles, and in some cases cross genres, while keeping their signature sound. That's very difficult to do. Frankly, I could listen to Chris sing "Wheels on the Bus" while John Fred beat on a coffee can, and I'd be happy. Every song is great though, just as with every album before. Kentucky is likely to be my favorite after all is said and done.
As always, I appreciate you taking the time to read. I know this was a step outside the usual material, but I've always wanted to include cultural pieces as well, in addition to the restaurant reviews. Four great, humble, blessed guys from our beautiful Bluegrass state making it big in the music world definitely falls under the culture category. This was also my first "music review", something I said I really never wanted to do. Now that I have, I may do more in the future. I know of a few other Kentucky folks making some waves in the industry right now *coughcoughchrisstapletoncoughcough*. So, if you somehow haven't heard of these guys and you like some good ole Rock n' Roll, check them out, buy their album, seek out their past works, ("Peace is Free" is one of the greatest songs ever written, bar none) and lend them your support.
ALWAYS support local musicians and local dreams, no matter the genre, and no matter how far out of reach those dreams may seem to be.
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