RGG August 2016 - p.20
Long Ride is Kentucky’s first slower moment
and is a classic BSC ballad. It’s really well put
together and the chorus is built to be sung along
to. If you’re a fan of the band you’ll know exactly
what kind of track I’m talking about. It isn’t quite
Soul Machine but the band’s cover of the Edwin
Starr classic War is incredibly good fun. You
couldn’t get more of a protest song but hearing
the band rock it up with the aid of that brass
section again put a huge smile on my face. On
paper it has no right to work but somehow it
really does, it’s definitely one of the album’s
highlights.
In an age where bands and artists are seemingly
always trying to latch onto the latest gimmick or
hot new trend Black Stone Cherry feel like a bit
of a throwback. This is especially the case on
their brand new and fifth studio album Kentucky.
The band have embraced their roots harder than
ever and have produced a mighty fine rock
record to boot.
The album’s opening track The Way Of The
Future really sets the tone for what is to follow.
The fuzzy guitars which bring the song slowly,
growling to life are a thing of beauty, and the
political slant on the lyrics is something of a
feature on the album and shows the band’s
increasing maturity in regard to their song
writing.
In Our Dreams initially shapes as though it will
be a mellower affair but those thoughts are soon
banished as some seriously meaty guitars
crunch in from nowhere. BSC have always had
a gift for writing mega choruses and that shines
through here, I absolutely love the hook on this
track. Following song Shakin My Cage is a little
more and restrained through the verses but
again just explodes into one hell of a crescendo
for one of those big ass rock choruses.
Normally when to comes to picking favourite
songs from albums I’m about as decisive as your
girlfriend picking a restaurant for dinner but
straight from the first play I fell in love with Soul
Machine. I mean the kind of love you feel when
your favourite takeaway throws in some extras
because you’re a regular, REAL love. The
Hendrix reference at the start of the track is a
great touch, the brass and the backing singers
are fantastic and the guitar solo is nothing short
of exceptional. BSC love a back to basics rock
track but this track shows that they are more
capable of upping the ante when required. This
tune will sound incredible live, I promise you.
