BLACK STONE CHERRY
''KENTUCKY''
APRIL 1 2016
60:26
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01 - The Way Of The Future 03:53
02 - In Our Dreams 03:49
03 - Shakin' My Cage 04:10
04 - Soul Machine 04:01
05 - Long Ride 04:03
06 - War 04:07
07 - Hangman 03:57
08 - Cheaper To Drink Alone 03:51
09 - Rescue Me 03:46
10 - Feelin' Fuzzy 03:15
11 - Darkest Secret 04:01
12 - Born To Die 04:33
13 - The Rambler 05:09
14 - I Am The Lion (Bonus Track) 03:35
15 - Evil (Bonus Track) 04:11
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Chris Robertson - vocals, guitar
Ben Wells - guitar, vocals
Jon Lawhon - bass, vocals
John Fred Young - drums
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REVIEW/AMG
Thom Jurek
Sometimes you need to look back in order to move forward. While Black Stone Cherry have had increasing chart success -- 2014's Magic Mountain hit number five on the U.K. charts and number 22 in the U.S. -- the band felt a lack of creative control over their recordings. To that end, they left Roadrunner Records and signed to Mascot, run by Ron Burman (the man who signed them to Roadrunner in the first place). Earlier Black Stone Cherry albums were always imbalanced: songwriting was sometimes sacrificed in an attempt to replicate the band's live sound; at other times, it was the reverse. Kentucky is a self-produced, back-to-the-roots affair (with participation from a host of local players and singers). Opener "The Way of the Future" walks the line between gnarly, riff-tastic hard rock and heavy metal. Frontman/guitarist Chris Robertson's rant against greedy politicians is fueled by his and Ben Wells' twin-guitar attack, grooving tom-tom, kickdrum fills from John Fred Young, and a fuzzed-out, Geezer Butler-esque bassline from Jon Lawhon. The two proceeding tracks, "In Our Dreams" and "Shakin' My Cage," are equally bone-crunching. The gears shift on "Soul Machine." It blends greasy Southern-fried funk and adrenalin-fueled blues-rock, with Robertson backed by Stax-style vocalists Sandra and Tonya Dye. Black Stone Cherry can still write killer hooks, too: "Long Ride" is a power ballad in classic '70s rock fashion, complete with a rousing anthemic chorus and melodic guitar fills by Wells. The band updates Edwin Starr's psychedelic soul classic "War" with fat baritone saxophone, brass, dirty, in-the-red distorted guitars, and a large backing chorus. Robertson's vocal is filled with righteous indignation as the band swells toward volcanic eruption. The vintage Southern rock vibe on "Cheaper to Drink Alone" is classic BSC, but it's steeped in such a catchy melody, it will likely be covered by harder, edgier contemporary country acts. Wells' guitar break is one of his meatiest on record. "Hangman" is steeped in squalling, hard-riffing blues with a hooky chorus, while "Rescue Me," despite its brief gospelized intro, is the meanest, leanest thing on the set. The groove-centric intro of "Feelin' Fuzzy" gives way to a funky backbeat with guitars on stun. Closer "Darkest Secret" closes the album circle with off-the-rails metallic hard rock (complete with a Black Sabbath-style breakdown), though the chorus is drenched in Southern groove. Kentucky marks the first time BSC have balanced all of their writing strengths with their concert presence. The album is a grower. After a listen or two, Black Stone Cherry's back-to-the-cradle approach proves that track for track, Kentucky is not only more consistent, but more satisfying than previous albums.
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BIOGRAPHY/AMG
Megan Frye
Fiery Southern rockers Black Stone Cherry originally hailed from a small rural town in south central Kentucky. According to the bandmembers, none of whom were born before 1983, the lack of anything to do in their hometown, coupled with a rich musical background in their community and families, led them to start playing music. Lead vocalist and guitarist Chris Robertson met drummer John Fred Young (the son of Kentucky Headhunters' Richard Young) in school, and the two played music together throughout high school. In June of 2001, Black Stone Cherry officially formed with guitarist Ben Wells and bassist Jon Lawhon. They began holding shows at clubs in the area, and after a short while they gained a large all-ages following.
Folklore and Superstition
The band recorded its first album for In de Goot/Roadrunner Records, and after returning from the recording session, Black Stone Cherry held a homecoming concert at the local high school. Their self-titled debut album was released in July of 2006, followed by Folklore and Superstition in 2008. It performed well on the charts, both in America and across Europe. The band's third album, 2011's Between the Devil & the Deep Blue Sea, was recorded in Los Angeles with producer Howard Benson (Daughtry, Three Days Grace). It peaked inside the Top 40 of the album charts in their home country, and hit the top spot in Great Britain. The band toured the globe in support and won fans as far away as Japan.
Magic Mountain
In 2013 the country duo Florida Georgia Line covered the band's "Stay" and hit the number one spot on the country chart. Later that year the band reentered the studio with producer Joe Barresi. In April of 2014, Black Stone Cherry issued a preview single, "Me and Mary Jane," which entered the chart at number 29 before their fourth album, Magic Mountain, was released in May. After American and U.K. tours, the band took a break in early 2015. They played the summer festival circuit and reentered Barrick Recording Studio, where their eponymously titled debut album had been cut. Thank You, Live, a DVD from their Magic Mountain tour, was released in October. In December of 2015, the new single "The Way of the Future" was released, and "In Our Dreams" arrived in January of the following year. The self-produced album Kentucky, which Black Stone Cherry called a back-to-the-roots affair, was released in April of 2016.
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WEBSITE
**********
TO THE TOP
**********
''KENTUCKY''
APRIL 1 2016
60:26
**********
01 - The Way Of The Future 03:53
02 - In Our Dreams 03:49
03 - Shakin' My Cage 04:10
04 - Soul Machine 04:01
05 - Long Ride 04:03
06 - War 04:07
07 - Hangman 03:57
08 - Cheaper To Drink Alone 03:51
09 - Rescue Me 03:46
10 - Feelin' Fuzzy 03:15
11 - Darkest Secret 04:01
12 - Born To Die 04:33
13 - The Rambler 05:09
14 - I Am The Lion (Bonus Track) 03:35
15 - Evil (Bonus Track) 04:11
**********
Chris Robertson - vocals, guitar
Ben Wells - guitar, vocals
Jon Lawhon - bass, vocals
John Fred Young - drums
**********
REVIEW/AMG
Thom Jurek
Sometimes you need to look back in order to move forward. While Black Stone Cherry have had increasing chart success -- 2014's Magic Mountain hit number five on the U.K. charts and number 22 in the U.S. -- the band felt a lack of creative control over their recordings. To that end, they left Roadrunner Records and signed to Mascot, run by Ron Burman (the man who signed them to Roadrunner in the first place). Earlier Black Stone Cherry albums were always imbalanced: songwriting was sometimes sacrificed in an attempt to replicate the band's live sound; at other times, it was the reverse. Kentucky is a self-produced, back-to-the-roots affair (with participation from a host of local players and singers). Opener "The Way of the Future" walks the line between gnarly, riff-tastic hard rock and heavy metal. Frontman/guitarist Chris Robertson's rant against greedy politicians is fueled by his and Ben Wells' twin-guitar attack, grooving tom-tom, kickdrum fills from John Fred Young, and a fuzzed-out, Geezer Butler-esque bassline from Jon Lawhon. The two proceeding tracks, "In Our Dreams" and "Shakin' My Cage," are equally bone-crunching. The gears shift on "Soul Machine." It blends greasy Southern-fried funk and adrenalin-fueled blues-rock, with Robertson backed by Stax-style vocalists Sandra and Tonya Dye. Black Stone Cherry can still write killer hooks, too: "Long Ride" is a power ballad in classic '70s rock fashion, complete with a rousing anthemic chorus and melodic guitar fills by Wells. The band updates Edwin Starr's psychedelic soul classic "War" with fat baritone saxophone, brass, dirty, in-the-red distorted guitars, and a large backing chorus. Robertson's vocal is filled with righteous indignation as the band swells toward volcanic eruption. The vintage Southern rock vibe on "Cheaper to Drink Alone" is classic BSC, but it's steeped in such a catchy melody, it will likely be covered by harder, edgier contemporary country acts. Wells' guitar break is one of his meatiest on record. "Hangman" is steeped in squalling, hard-riffing blues with a hooky chorus, while "Rescue Me," despite its brief gospelized intro, is the meanest, leanest thing on the set. The groove-centric intro of "Feelin' Fuzzy" gives way to a funky backbeat with guitars on stun. Closer "Darkest Secret" closes the album circle with off-the-rails metallic hard rock (complete with a Black Sabbath-style breakdown), though the chorus is drenched in Southern groove. Kentucky marks the first time BSC have balanced all of their writing strengths with their concert presence. The album is a grower. After a listen or two, Black Stone Cherry's back-to-the-cradle approach proves that track for track, Kentucky is not only more consistent, but more satisfying than previous albums.
**********
BIOGRAPHY/AMG
Megan Frye
Fiery Southern rockers Black Stone Cherry originally hailed from a small rural town in south central Kentucky. According to the bandmembers, none of whom were born before 1983, the lack of anything to do in their hometown, coupled with a rich musical background in their community and families, led them to start playing music. Lead vocalist and guitarist Chris Robertson met drummer John Fred Young (the son of Kentucky Headhunters' Richard Young) in school, and the two played music together throughout high school. In June of 2001, Black Stone Cherry officially formed with guitarist Ben Wells and bassist Jon Lawhon. They began holding shows at clubs in the area, and after a short while they gained a large all-ages following.
Folklore and Superstition
The band recorded its first album for In de Goot/Roadrunner Records, and after returning from the recording session, Black Stone Cherry held a homecoming concert at the local high school. Their self-titled debut album was released in July of 2006, followed by Folklore and Superstition in 2008. It performed well on the charts, both in America and across Europe. The band's third album, 2011's Between the Devil & the Deep Blue Sea, was recorded in Los Angeles with producer Howard Benson (Daughtry, Three Days Grace). It peaked inside the Top 40 of the album charts in their home country, and hit the top spot in Great Britain. The band toured the globe in support and won fans as far away as Japan.
Magic Mountain
In 2013 the country duo Florida Georgia Line covered the band's "Stay" and hit the number one spot on the country chart. Later that year the band reentered the studio with producer Joe Barresi. In April of 2014, Black Stone Cherry issued a preview single, "Me and Mary Jane," which entered the chart at number 29 before their fourth album, Magic Mountain, was released in May. After American and U.K. tours, the band took a break in early 2015. They played the summer festival circuit and reentered Barrick Recording Studio, where their eponymously titled debut album had been cut. Thank You, Live, a DVD from their Magic Mountain tour, was released in October. In December of 2015, the new single "The Way of the Future" was released, and "In Our Dreams" arrived in January of the following year. The self-produced album Kentucky, which Black Stone Cherry called a back-to-the-roots affair, was released in April of 2016.
**********
WEBSITE
**********
TO THE TOP
**********
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