Here we are, starting a new year full of hope and joy (that's the best I can wish you) but we are also mourning the loss of huge legends of music like Natalie Cole, Lemmy Kilmister or David Bowie.
We can at least be proud and happy to have enjoyed their music and spread the word for the future generations by digging in our music library and play their records.
Basically, that's what we're going to do in The Blend #2. Let's enjoy gems from ever-shining music stars.
Sometimes being kicked in the ass could be great, at
least figuratively. To describe it as it is that's exactly what happened to me
when I first heard Blackberry Smoke’s
southern rock. Like a drift in the dusty sand, a wonderful Saturday night
sunset introducing an amazing night up to come, their music is made to be part
of life.
Blackberry Smoke
Maybe working with a producer such as Brendan O’Brien, who worked with rock
legends like AC/DC, Aerosmith or Neil Young, adds a bit to the alchemy. They’ve got a thick and
powerful sound with nervous guitars and this south spirit that reminds us Lynyrd Skynyrd. Actually it ain’t such
a surprise. Blackberry Smoke used to play opening acts for many artists,
including Lynyrd Skynyrd and ZZ Top.
Coming from Atlanta,
GA, Blackberry Smoke is a mix of peaches sweetness and blackberries
sourness. Despite the cooking analogy, Holding All The Roses, their fourth album, is a lovely combination which leads
to such an energy like a Chevrolet speeding on a highway. Their compositions
grab you instantly, for your own good.
We get filled with a freedom feeling and joy which
would make impossible to anyone not to dance. Songs like “Let Me help You” will make you wriggle almost immediately. But who
would complain about it? True rock spirit here we are. Blackberry Smoke explores its own style with great talent. From
soft classic rock to really hard one like “Holding
All The Roses”, they pledge their allegiance to rock’n’roll like many
before them. They’re no rookies and we can hear it. Rhythmic and guitars are
well mastered without mentioning the quality of vocals harmonies.
If I should tell what I think about this record, I
would tell it is great. But, actually it’s more like: “wow man, you should
listen to it right now, get up and dance!” It’s this kind of work. The one you
listen to and then ask to yourself this stupid rhetorical question: how would I
ever live without knowing about this? Obviously, that’s what an instant classic
is.
Critically acclaimed, Holding All The Roses is a milestone in Blackberry Smoke‘s career. A long trip with a fan base slowly
growing to be international and highly loyal now. Guitarist Charlie Starr explains why the band
took time to achieve such a record: "In the past, we never really had the
resources to make the kind of records we wanted to make, […] but this time around,
everything lined up, and we were able to create an album that covers a lot of
musical ground and works as a listening experience from beginning to end."
Indeed this album is a real journey to fully enjoy. Blackberry Smoke is not an old band, since
their first album came out in 2004, but you can already store it on your music
collection shelf next to rock legends like Aerosmith,
Kiss, Lynyrd Skynyrd or AC/DC.
A classic I told you.
Americana and Rock lovers, here’s a band you should know about and will love for sure. Originally coming from the San Diego’s area but relocated in Brooklyn, NY in 2012, I want to introduce you to Delta Spirit. This band makes an amazing powerful blend of Folk, Country and Rock, subtly infused with electro-pop hints. As a result, their music is strongly catchy.
Delta Spirit is Matthew Vasquez (Vocals, Guitar, Harmonica, Piano, Drums), Kelly Winrich (Piano, Keyboards, Guitar, Drums, Vocals), William McLaren (Guitar, Vocals), Jonathan Jameson (Bass, Vocals), Brandon Young (Drums). Those guys have got a ten years career with Delta Spirit (except for McLaren who’s been part of the adventure since 2011) and it still continues with their latest album released in 2014 : Call Into The Wide.
But, even if it is a good record, it ain’t the one I want to focus on right now. Let’s stop in 2012 when they left the West Coast for Brooklyn. That year a new album of their own was released and like a molting, they start anew with this self-titled brand new CD. It is the Delta Spirit that caught our attention.
As soon as you start listening to it, it’ll never let you go away, always renewing your interest with eleven superb songs from quiet ambient harmonies to nervous and electric powerful moments. You loose yourself in their music from start to end, unable to miss any part. Is it the definition of a great album ? Maybe. At least we could agree with them when they say : “We found the sound that we've been looking for, that we've been growing into.” This record has the sound of maturity. Even though is something we did read and hear a lot about any artist’s work at some point, and frankly most of the time it’s a pointless expression, it’s got real meaning here.
Delta Spirit, the band and the album are truly one in this work. We strongly feel that unity. Something very clear is happening in the sound, the melodies, the vocals, the energy, the lyrics… Something like it was meant to be this way. When we listen to tracks like “Home” or “Yamaha”, we are drowning in some kind of an obvious awake dream with melodies looping like a mantra. But on the other hand, this record is made of a wide range of compositions, all really complex. Actually, the previous examples are more like pauses in a way more energetic work. Due to their ability to mix music genres, they can connect different atmospheres in one song, getting guitar distortions and keyboards to work together and then shifting the emotions. Everything is moving in this record. Like it’s said in “California”, an anthem to trip, you must move for yourself and not for anyone else.
So, this record is a road trip. It’s a way to open your mind, to free it. Don't be shy, scream, run, jump, dream, and most importantly, enjoy the moment.
Good music comes from everywhere. Thus, I lead you to Sweden this time, with a band called Baskery. A sister trio with an impressive style : a rock’n’roll feeling put into an acoustic string band. Greta, Stella and Sunniva Bondesson are skilled with a lot of instruments but their best assets are guitar, upright bass and percussions.
With that kind of tools we would imagine a bluegrass band or an old-time music crew. But, it’s way different. This acoustic sound doesn’t mean a girlish and springful music, maybe a bit boring. Actually, "energy" is probably the main word that comes to me when I think about Baskery.
Their music is rich and hard to define. You can call it the way you like : Banjo-Punk, Folk-Rock, traditional kickin’ music or whatever. The only thing that matters is how good it is. Between the nervosity of those girls, an electric guitar mixed with a rockin' banjo, and a melodic touch half from the acoustic sound and half from their hearts, they easily capture our brains. To speak frankly, I doubt we would struggle anyway. Their close voice harmonies also add a bit of a charming touch and softness over the global work.
Their third album is called Little Wild Life. They obviously picked the good name, because there’s wilderness in their voices, their music and their conviction to play. Like nature, it's strong, powerful, and captivating by the only force of its true beauty. It’s like looking at a storm and say to yourself : “wow, that’s impressive”. It might scare you but you can’t turn your eyes from its majesty. In the same way, Baskery is stunning and that’s what we like. They push us away from our comfort zone. This kind of music can always be renewed and that’s what we expected.
A new generation brings its own rules. They are no better nor baddest. They are necessary. Music is still living like a torrent and the raging sound you’re hearing is what is all about. The flow is strong and we’re up to follow it gracefully and joyfully.
