Here it is. The time
of the year when everything shines in red, white, silver and gold. The moment
for big family reunions and the joy to share with your friends a good
meal. Christmas time has always been a huge tradition in country music too,
whether it's a famous carol sung by our favorite artists or a brand new
songespecially written for this time of
the year.
I'm sure you know a
bunch of them by heart and you're probably humming one right now. So let's
spread happiness, warmness and the Christmas spirit around us and specifically
to the ones in need.
Here's my present
for you : a couple of very nice and moving tunes by Toby Keith and Trace Adkins
dug out from the internet archives.
The American Music Route podcasts continue with the first issue of Discovery Time. This format is dedicated to discover artists and records and obviously listen to their music.
Here we start with the first of our new podcast formats, starting with The Blend. It's a show made for good music regardless of its style. From Country to Folk-Rock, it's time to take a break and enjoy good songs.
Hi folks, it has been a bit long since the last time but it worth it. American Music Route is going to a new level. More than written reviews, it's now also a bunch of cool podcasts to listen to. I'm sure you want to know some more. So here is a presentation for you.
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.
