NEW MUSIC CORNER #41 (RIVAL SONS and JOHN MELLENCAMP)

[Niels (Mod)]

RIVAL SONS - PRESSURE AND TIME (released june 21,2011)




1. Pressure And Time
2. Only One
3. Get Mine
4. White Noise
5. Face Of Light


From Live4ever.uk:

What would happen if you took a generous portion of Led Zeppelin, mixed it with some AC/DC, threw in a little Free and Bad Company, and seasoned with a touch of Black Crowes? The resulting gumbo would probably sound something like Rival Sons.Having being touted as ones to watch since self-releasing an album in 2009 and an eponymous EP earlier this year, the Californian band make their full label debut on Earache records with ‘Pressure & Time‘. Normally the preserve of thrash, grindcore and death metal bands, Earache does not initially seem like the obvious home for these unabashed blues rockers. However, the band have claimed that such incongruity is to their benefit, as it allows them so stand out from the label’s usual roster of relentless sonic assault.That’s not to say that their sound is without the requisite rawness and energy – Rival Sons deal in slabs of high-octane rock n roll, powered by bluesy riffs and the leather larynx of Jay Buchanan, which has apparently been cut from Plant and Rodgers cloth. Replete with vaguely pretentious artwork by the legendary Storm Thorgerson (the artist behind classic Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd sleeves), the album itself was written, recorded and mixed in just twenty days, which helps to retain a ragged live feel. Indeed, the raw urgency of the record only serves to highlight what a powerful live proposition the band are likely to be on their forthcoming tour.Opening track ‘All Over the Road‘ pretty much sets the tone for the album – a huge, driving guitar riff coupled with Bonham-esque drums, all held together with Buchanan’s soaring vocals. Sample lyric ‘Pull up your dress, I’m gonna show how the west was won’ is perhaps indicative of what to expect over the course of the record.It’s a taut, lean album with no weak songs, with the title track ‘Pressure & Time‘ being another highlight. Its towering riff, filthy bass line and urgent refrain all adding up to an irresistible noise. Elsewhere, ‘Only One‘ is perhaps one of the nearest things to a ballad that features on the record – channelling the sound of classic 70s rock, its mix of soulful vocal and restrained guitar recalling Free at their finest.As well as its obvious retro appeal, there are also shades of more latter-day Blues stylists among the tracks. ‘Burn Down Los Angeles‘ in particular revels in a staccato delivery and garage feel, which is reminiscent of recent revivalists such as The White Stripes or The Black Keys.‘Face of Light‘ closes the album on a lighter, more reflective note, being told from the perspective of a washed up fighter as he laments his past. It’s an unexpected curveball after the unapologetic machismo that has gone before, but it somehow works perfectly and serves as a fitting coda to this impressive collection.‘Pressure & Time’ is a genuinely thrilling debut and – clocking in at little over thirty minutes with only one song that troubles the four minute mark – is a record that has the added quality of leaving you wanting more. OK, they’re unlikely to be lauded for startling originality anytime soon and their influences are worn pretty brazenly on the sleeve, but when the end result sounds this good, who’s complaining?

From me:

I like this album a LOT!! I really like this type of music, and even though, they are very much inspired by Led Zep, it also sounds like they've been listening a lot to The Doors, Jimi Hendrix and even Pearl Jam. And like RJhog, I like these short tracks around 3 min. (well, sometimes, anyway). My only complaint is, that it's a VERY short album. Only around 37 min. and that's WITH 2 bonus-tracks!!! They should have made a 16-track album at 45 min. or something like that. I'm sure they have some songs lying around.

JOHN MELLENCAMP - NO BETTER THAN THIS (released aug 17, 2010)




1. Save Some Time To Dream
2. No Better Than This
3. No One Cares About Me
4. Love At First Sight
5. Each Day Of Sorrow


From AllMusic.com:

The first thing that grabs the listener about John Mellencamp's No Better Than This is its sound: mono -- recorded live to an Ampex 601 tape recorder circa 1955, with a single microphone without mixing or overdubs. It's warmth and presence are immediate and engulfing. Mellencamp and T-Bone Burnett cut the album while on tour supporting, Life Death Love and Freedom, Mellencamp's celebrated precursor. This album was cut in some very famous locales: First African Baptist Church in Savannah, GA (the first African American Christian church in North America), Sun Studios in Memphis, and in Room 414 of the Gunter Hotel in San Antonio, TX, where Robert Johnson recorded "Stones in My Passway" in 1936. While Mellencamp's last album was celebrated for its wonderfully crafted songs, it nonetheless reflected Burnett's dictatorially heavy-handed production style. This set feels far more like the artist. The songs are rooted in country, rockabilly, folk, country-gospel, and an even rawer Midwestern rock--Mellencamp's brand. The band is equal parts his standard road group and Burnett's studio crew, but the latter plays more of a supporting role than a guiding one; this set, with its brilliantly pruned songwriting, is Mellencamp at his focused best.The album's opener, "Save Some Time to Dream," is from the older, wiser songwriter who gave us "We Are the People," "Jackie Brown," "Human Wheels," and is a skeletal part two of "Your Life Is Now." These historic locales reflect the tunes somewhat -- especially the driving title track, "Coming Down the Road," and "Each Day of Sorrow" that come from, respectively, the rockabilly of Carl Perkins, early Elvis, and Johnny Burnette. "No One Cares About Me" is a pure Mellencamp lyric, but its sound is reminiscent of the Sun-era Johnny Cash. The spooky banjo of the minor-key blues that makes up "The West End" touches on the folk-blues Bob Dylan utilized on "The Ballad of Hollis Brown." "A Graceful Fall" is electric hillbilly blues. "Love at First Sight," with Mellencamp accompanied only by an acoustic guitar, is among the finest love songs he's ever written. "Don't Forget About Me" is a country ballad that acts as its mirror image and resonates deeply. He may be looking back at some earlier styles of music that influenced him, but these songs feel invigorated, unfettered; melodically and lyrically astute. He possesses an independent streak in abundance; he is making music only for himself now; as a result, he's in a league of his own. No Better Than This proves that good songs need very little to communicate instructive narratives and complex emotions, and that primitive recording methods are still sometimes the best ones.

From me:

I have'nt got a lot to say about this one. Just check out my review of a Mellencamp-concert in Copenhagen in the John Mellencamp "Group-page" here at CRB.


You can listen to this fine music right here:http://www.podsnack.com/playlists/270ab8b1aeee1fea731f599c4a738468

[Scott]

Just noticed the Mellencamp is on sale at amazon MP3 for 5 bucks the entire month of July!  For those who dont mind a download or two that is...

[RJhog (Admin)]

95% - 100% - A+ (I will buy this)

90% - 94% - A (there is a strong chance I will buy it)

80% - 89% - B (probably won't buy, but can't be sure at this point)

75% - 79% - C (don't hate it, don't love it, probably won't purchase)

70% - 74% - D (will not buy)

Below 70% is an F (will not spread the word that you posted this album)

 

Rival Sons (70%)

This is just okay to me.  I do hear all of those influences you mentioned and I hear some Rolling Stones as well (track 2 for instance).  However, it just sounds to retro to me.  Don't get me wrong, I like retro, but this is just too fuzzy and sounds too retro.  But I will say it's better than my next opinion.

 

John Mellencamp (20%)

...and that's being generous.  He goes back to roots rock?  I prefer to stay away from those roots.  It reminds me of the one song about "Grandma" on Scarecrow, that old sound and all of that.  But that worked real well where it was placed on that album, and to top it off, grandma was singing.  This just sounds too much like old, old country or something.  I love the album Scarecrow, but can't say I've loved anything else by Mellencamp.  Maybe he should just try writing some cool rock music.

 

Despite my lowly opinion of the second album, I'm glad you posted it.  This NMC is a great feature here and although I'll never like everything, I always love checking out what other folks around here (whom I hold in highest regards) are digging.

[Jon]

Even me?

[RJhog (Admin)]

Yep, even you.  And I meant to say the same about the Rival Sons album cover.  I just forgot 'cause I'm old.

[Jon]

SWEET!

[Jon]

That is a cool album cover. Rival Sons, of course. Not Johnny Cougar Mellencamp.

[Jon]

Rival Sons--B (stealing Rjhog's rating system)

Have heard the first song somewhere....and the rest was all over the board which is cool. "White Noise" gave me kind of a Beatles-on-drugs vibe, a psychedelic 60's heavy song. Not a bad track from the five posted. Possible buy, but will wait until I can get it cheap. Again, cool album cover.

 

Johnny Cougary Mellencampy--B

I really did like this, reminded me of the music from "O Brother, Where Art Thou" which I really like. Liked it so much that I bought the soundtrack. keep thinking about the three women in the pond and....well, you know. I haven't bought a John Coug Mell studio album since "Uh-Huh" and will probably keep that streak alive.

[Scott]

I too will be using RJ grading system going forward...

 

RIVAL SONS ... C+ (78.98%) 

I hear a but of Wolfmother in this, but Wolfmother just knocks it out of the park whiel this kind sits back and takes notes.  Hopefully they get thewre because there are some moments, just not enough to any better than average.

 

JOHN COUGAR COUGAR-MELLENCAMP MELLENCAMP ... D- (60% but after I applied the curve we get 70%) 

Really liked Save Some Time To Dream best, sure wich I could of heard it better.  The idea to record this way I think was cool, but I would like to hear the layers of rhythm, it may make this a better experience.  But! ... The songwriting is better than what I expected.  I wouldnt purchase this at all, but it was a worthwhile listen.

[RJhog (Admin)]

My rating system is still evolving.  I want to add in possible points for album art.  I'll probably be adjusting the scale slightly to account for that starting next week...in case you fellas were wondering.

 

 

[Jon]

Should make it a sticky or something so it always shows up and we can use it for reference.

[RJhog (Admin)]

Will work on that terrific idea.

[RJhog (Admin)]

Can't officially do "sticky's" on this network, but I did the next best thing.  The rating scale is now a "featured" discussion at the top of the AOTW page.