Review by Paul Sabin for MPM
Recorded in Dave Cobb ’s studio in Georgia, the bands ninth album contains ten tracks that could well be some of the best they’ve produced.
The first track, `Sittin’ Pretty’ pulls out all the stops and pulls the listener in on this meaty rocker with a brilliant hook line. `Ashes In The Snow’ with its distorted slide guitar intro takes things easier but is still a memorable track.
The dual guitar harmonies on `Highway’ leap out at you on this infectious track. The pace slows with `Old Man’ which is filled with moody blues riffs and solo dripping with feeling. Robert Jon Burrison’s vocal smoulders affectively here.
`Dark Angel’ has the overall feel of the Eagles `File In The Fast Lane’ but is much more of an earworm. `Long Gone’ is a slow groover that is sassy whilst remaining easy to listen to. The funky guitar pushes the track along to great effect.
The Jake Abernathie’s honky tonk piano drives `Better Of Me’ along on this Southern rock masterpiece which also see some blistering guitars solos midway. `I Wanna Give It’ is another slower track that is still something of a monster as its more than the sum of its parts.
The title track is an atmospheric track that is full of drama and suspense and leads nicely to the final track, `Keep Myself Clean’ that is truly sublime. Gritty guitar parts lead up to a melody that is oh so good. What a way to close an album!
There is no filler on this album. In fact, every track can hold its own. There is variety between songs, but they all still retain that familiar Robert Jon sound that hits the target every time. Is the best blues infused southern rock album of the year? It just could be!
The album is available to pre-order worldwide on CD and vinyl from – https://shop.robertjonandthewreck.com/
