BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION - review added 22nd September 2010
Album Review: Black Country Communion (self-titled) (2010)
For fans of: Bluesy Rock... and awesome line-ups
If you haven't heard of Black Country Communion by now you must have had your ears and eyes stored in a security deposit box. This is the latest in a recent return to the super group formula, as popularised by Chickenfoot and Them Crooked Vultures.
BCC certainly compares in the big name stakes, boasting vocalist/bassist Glenn Hughes (Trapeze, Deep Purple, Voodoo Hill), vocalist/guitar virtuoso Joe Bonamassa, drummer Jason Bonham (Air Race, Foreigner, Led Zeppelin), and supremely talented keyboard player Derek Sherinian (Alice Cooper, Kiss, Dream Theater).
The resulting sound is almost exactly what you'd expect; a bluesy take on hard rock that combines mostly retro elements with a few more modern symphonic-esque concepts. Some of the guitar playing is seriously off-the-scale. If you've never heard Joe Bonamassa, he really is astonishing...and he shines here. The drums are big and beautifully boisterous. The vocals - both from Joe and Glenn - are excellent (although Glenn has arguably sounded a hair's-breadth better elsewhere). The keyboards, although obviously good, often get lost in the mix. They come to the fore in a few songs, but occasional doubts creep in as to why Derek Sherinian has blessed the band with his genius. Shame.
The frantic opener 'Black Country' is a characterful bass-led track with just about the fastest guitar solo you could ever hope to hear. 'One Last Soul' is a more restrained effort, yet works even better than the first. Cool chorus. 'The Great Divide' is a brilliant big event of a song that's hard to describe using mere words. I'm afraid you'll need to listen to it. 'Down Again' is good, if a tad anonymous in the general scheme of things. 'Beggarman' is a cool funky-tipped track with a lively vibe. Definitely one for the live stage. 'Song Of Yesterday' flits merrily between soft blues, hard rock, and both vocalists. It's a really interesting track with bags of depth.
'No Time' is a pleasant song saved from obscurity by the Led Zep symphonic section in the middle. 'Medusa' is a big-hitting retro entry - almost Sabbath-heavy but with acres more panache. 'The Revolution In Me' initially sounds like Hendrix. As a whole it's not one of the album's stronger efforts. 'Stand (At The Burning Tree)' varies in speed and weight, and perhaps suffers as a result. Still, a good track by normal standards, and again boasts a touch of Sabbath lurking beneath the surface. To my tastes 'Sista Jane' is the best track here. It's a riotous song and you tell the guys had fun making it. Final entry 'Too Late For The Sun' feels subdued after the previous track, but is a nice bluesy close to the album.
BCC's self-titled debut is definitely one of the best efforts from these super group projects. It has a proper 'band' sound, is cohesive in the extreme, and is filled with a bunch of great songs. Nope, it's not perfect, and the keyboards don't always get the share they deserve, but these are small criticisms. As a whole this is about as good as bluesy rock albums get these days. We like.
Check out... 'Sista Jane'.
Track List:
01. Black Country
02. One Last Soul
03. The Great Divide
04. Down Again
05. Beggarman
06. Song Of Yesterday
07. No Time
08. Medusa
09. The Revolution In Me
10. Stand (At The Burning Tree)
11. Sista Jane
12. Too Late For The Sun
Label: Mascot Records
Artist's website(s): Black Country Communion | MySpace | Facebook
