Artist: Black Stone Cherry
Title: Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea
Genre: Hard Rock / Southern Rock / Metal
Release Date: 27th May 2011
Label: Roadrunner Records
Album Review
BLACK STONE CHERRY was formed in early ‘00’s in Kentucky. They’ve previously released two albums; after the self-titled debut studio album (2006) came out they gave their fans ‘Folklore And Superstition’ in 2008 (there were also some singles and a live album). Now they’ve brought out their third one ‘Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea’. Their dilemma seems to have been how to get away from balancing the styles they delve into; the scale has decisively turned into more of the Southern Rock territory. At times they remind me of PEARL JAM (mainly when it comes to vocal), and a country cousin of ALTER BRIDGE. The album is supposed to sum up their experiences gained between their youth lived in Kentucky and their embarking on travelling the world, being enabled to do so thanks to their music.
The first two songs sound to me the most interesting, mostly because they are harder, and at times more dipping into the Heavy Metal. The first, ‘White Trash Millionaire’, opens as a real stomper with a powerful opening rift, the confrontation here has some balls and easily connects and involves one into it. ‘Killing Floor’ has a very slight oriental tinge to the guitar, which soon turns Metal-menacing, again the hard and harsh attitude suits the song excellently. It gets more rockier as the song goes on, but the Metal shroud still makes this song interesting and better as with the next one ‘In My Blood’ it turns into a more Rock position with its Southern flavour. It is in this song that Robertson’s voice makes me think somewhat of Eddie Vedder. The lyrics are bit of a letdown, they’re tediously simple and I’ve heard their story about zillion times - making this song a yawner, together with the fact that musically it also visits quite a few musical clichés as well as the lyrical ones. I’m really wishing that they’ve stuck with the harder sound as most of the songs then blend into what is quite skilfully played but not a very interesting blend of Hard-to-Southern Rock.
The balladry ‘Stay’ was sort of... well, cheesy is the word, it’d have probably appealed to me if I was still a teenage girl, but I’m well past that and the ending was just downright ear-annoying, as an effect it missed the target. ‘Change’ picked up my interest some more, again thanks to the hardened sound and more confrontational tone of the song, the hook was good to sweep me along. ‘All I’m Dreamin’ Of’ although lyrically still not very interesting (too obvious, observations stated by many before in a style that brings nothing new to it), the country components are incorporated quite well here, and though it’s not exactly a rousing and wonderful finale, it’s just good enough not to end this on a disappointed note. I think that this will make those who enjoy Southern Rock enthusiastic, even though they are not the best in the field. Personally I’ll be more enthused when they’ll harden up their sound and sharpen their lyrics, make them more interesting and at least slightly more outstanding. Their vocalist though good, didn’t sound entirely confident enough to me on this album, as if there was something holding him back, keeping himself in too much of a control. It’s an album with some good, promising moments, but one that hasn’t impressed me much.
Tracklist
01. White Trash Millionaire – 3.18
02. Killing Floor – 4.00
03. In My Blood – 3.47
04. Such A Shame – 3.25
05. Won’t Let Go – 3.17
06. Blame It On The Boom Boom – 3.09
07. Like I Roll – 3.31
08. Can’t You See – 3.31
09. Let Me See You Shake – 3.05
10. Stay – 3.22
11. Change – 3.03
12. All I’m Dreamin’ Of – 4.03
Line-up
Chris Robertson - lead vocals, rhythm guitar
Ben Wells - lead guitar, backing vocals
Jon Lawhon - bass guitar, backing vocals
John Fred Young - drums, percussion, backing vocals
Websites
http://www.blackstonecherry.com/ / www.myspace.com/blackstonecherry
Cover Picture
Rating
Music: 6
Sound: 7
Total: 6.5 / 10
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