Artist: Blackberry Smoke
Album: the Whippoorwill
Bitrate: 256kbps avg
Quality: EAC Secure Mode / LAME 3.98.4 / -V0 / 44.100Khz
Label: Southern Ground
Genre: Country
Size: 105.34 megs
PlayTime: 0h 54min 31sec total
Rip Date: 2012-09-06
Store Date: 2012-08-14
Track List:
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01. Six Ways to Sunday 3:27
02. Pretty Little Lie 3:34
03. Everybody Knows She's Mine 3:49
04. One Horse Town 4:16
05. Ain't Much Left of Me 4:58
06. The Whippoorwill 5:31
07. Lucky Seven 4:17
08. Leave a Scar 3:34
09. Crimson Moon 4:00
10. Ain't Got the Blues 4:04
11. Sleeping Dogs 3:23
12. Shakin' Hands with the Holy 3:45
Ghost
13. Up the Road 5:53
Release Notes:
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My first encounter with AtlantaÆs Blackberry Smoke û Charlie Starr on Lead
Vocals, Guitar, Richard Turner on Bass, Vocals, Brit Turner on Drums, Paul
Jackson on Guitar, Vocals and Brandon Still on Keyboards û was seeing them open
two shows for ZZ Top at the Beacon theater. The neo-Grecian Beacon was
originally a deluxe movie place designed Chicago architect Walter W. Ahlschlager
of Chicago and , since 1989, most famously the home for the Allman Brothers
yearly New York City spring residency.
Both shows were great,as a Texan I am obligated to see all ZZ Top shows in a 50
mile radius, and Blackberry Smoke easily won over a crowd in the unenviable spot
opening for a legendary band. The band won the crowd by performing their
no-frills brand of Southern rock, that rowdier sibling to the Progressive
Country movement. The blend of blues, country rock, r&b, rock, southern soul and
gospel forged by pioneers like The Allmans, ZZ Top, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Black Oak
Arkansas and others provided a rich terrain for the band to work.
Newly released The Whippoorwill, their third studio album and first for Zac
BrownÆs independent label Southern Ground, proves the quintet has 12 years of
road-honed musical contributions to the cause. This is made clear by the brash
opener ôSix Ways To Sundayö continues that tradition. Fueled by a Still æs
barrell house piano, and fuzz guitar boogie and blue-collar come-ons like ôIÆm
chasing my tail, and a couple other ones tooö cements the song as a staple of
their live performance from years to come.
ôPretty Little Lieö and ôEverybody Knows SheÆs Mineö are excellent romps on
romantic denial and celebration respectfully. Both songs deftly fuse country and
rock so organically and soulfully that they stand, not only as great songs, but
as sharp contrasts to Music CityÆs recent pathetic attempts to create the same
sound.
ôOne Horse Townö leans toward folk before kicking into a rock groove detailing
the isolation of rural living. The same quiet opening lures you into AinÆt Much
Left Of Meö as the big rock sound sweeps you up. The title cut is a choice slice
of Southern soul that stretches out like a country road baking in the Summer
sun.
ôLeave A Scarö is a pure piss. vinegar and whiskey rave-up offering a less than
PC refrain of ôWhen I die put my bones in the Dixie dirtö and ôI may not change
the word but IÆm gonna leave a scar.ö Kinder and gentler this aintÆ.
Southern rock continues to be maligned in the current genteel musical landscape.
More for, I feel, cultural baggage rather than musical merit. The celebration of
Southern history, culture celebrated sincerely without a a wink and a smirk
pitiable strikes some as fodder for knuckle-draggers. In the end Blackberry
Smoke makes great, well played, music loyal to tradition, to to thier fans.
TheyÆd sure prefer you to enjoy it, but if you donÆt IÆm sure they give a good
goddamn.
While other contemporary bands, Like the Drive-By Truckers, use Southern rock as
an element of expression; at the first whiff of commercial acceptance they
jettison the style like an old pair of overalls to court their new-found
demographic thus losing their soul and much of their base.
ItÆs great to hear this level of love and joy Blackberry Smoke brings to their
music, a style that is obviously not a marketing contrivance. The album has just
been officially released but has been available at their live shows for some
time as a reward to their long-time fans. As Starr says ôThere is no way on
GodÆs green earth that we are not going to put this in the hands of people who
have spent their money night in and night out when weÆre out doing shows. If
weÆve got it, they are going to get it. IÆd give them away, I donÆt care. I
didnÆt want to make them wait another six months. TheyÆve been there for us, and
we wanted them to have the music first.ö
This, ladies and gentleman, is the real deal.