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RATINGS: A = must own B = buy it C= average
D = yawn F = puke |
Rating: A
Producer Kevin Shirley gets credit for pairing up the #
1 blues guitarist in the world, Joe Bonamassa, with the
legendary Deep Purple and Trapeze bass player and
vocalist Glenn Hughes. The brain thrust was to put
these two together and put out a pure, solid rock n’
roll album. Joe and Glenn became fast friends and
rounded out the super group with drummer extraordinaire
Jason Bonham and keyboard wizard Derek Sherinian.
The
album title refers to Hughes homeland, and the
birthplace of British Hard Rock, the Black Country in
England (see Zeppelin, Sabbath and Priest). Glenn has
decided, at this stage of his career to forgo his funk
leanings and to rock out for the rest of his days.
Bonamassa, a child blues prodigy, is also a huge fan of
classic Hard Rock and this project gives him the
leverage to reach out and stretch his wings. Joe is on
the verge of becoming a rock star. Everyone who has
followed his successful blues career will wet their
pants with excitement when they hear him blast out
massive, full-bodied, distorted rock solos.
The
CD will be released in the US on September 21st.
From the opening bass riff of “Black Country” all fans
of Classic Rock Revisited will be memorized.
“Beggarman” is a blues/rock tune that grabs you by the
balls and forces you to pay attention. “Song of
Yesterday” is a rocker that is so passionate that it is
sure to become a classic. This tune features Joe and
Glenn in a duet as the song ranges from surreal and soft
to powerful and zealous.
There is not a weak song on the disc. “The Revolution
in Me” is Bonamassa at his best. “One Last Soul” is a
rocker that the band hopes gets them noticed. In this
day and age when most rock releases get pushed under the
table by the corporate music business, one can only hope
that people are smart enough to realize that this is a
masterpiece. Don’t miss out on the musically religious
experience that is Black Country Communion.
By
Jeb Wright |
