NEW MUSIC CORNER #204 EUROPE/BLACKBERRY SMOKE

[RJhog (Admin)]

by "Lover Of Many Styles Of Music" RJ

Europe - War Of Kings

1. Hole In My Pocket

2. Praise You

3. California 405

4. Rainbow Bridge

5. Light Me Up

Everybody is familiar with Europe.  Two and a half hit wonders during their original run.  But this is a different band than that.  A band that came back possessed.  Since their rebirth they have put out some very fine music, War Of Kings being their latest offering.

Blackberry Smoke - Holding All The Roses 

1. Let Me Help You (Find The Door)

2. Holding All The Roses

3. Woman In The Moon

4. Payback's A Bitch

5. Fire In The Hole

First, there are a couple of explicit lyrics here, so use your head phones.  Secondly, I'm not sure why I'm even posting this as there is very little love here for this band.  But who cares, right?  Blackberry Smoke's tag line is "too country for rock and too rock for country".  And that fits pretty dang good. This is a guitar band.  Charlie Starr is a bit twangy in his Southern drawl, but it fits the music so well.  Do yourself a favor an look at this as Rock/Country, not Country/Rock.  Maybe then you can open up your mind and find yourself some new Southern styled rock to listen to.

[Scott]

BLACKBERRY SMOKE ... Two thumbs sounding like a broken record

I'm going to be very predictable on this one, to no ones surprise I'm sure.  But I want to try to be clearer.  I don't NOT like this, But I think its cliché and been done before.  And that's the issue, theres nothing new to hear here.  And I do agree with you that as far as the music goes, this is in fact ROCK-COUNTRY versus the reverse, but lyrically its more COUNTRY-ROCK, and maybe that's where the real failure is here, at least for me. And maybe that's exactly what they are going for, the dual audience appeal.  But for me, bands like Poco, Eagles, Firefall are the templates for how this could be done right.  Each played COUNTRY-ROCK and ROCK-COUNTRY musically and did it while maintaining their identify, message and uniqueness.  This is a damn fine band but nothing gives them a uniqueness and identity that sets them apart...  My two cents.

[Jon]

Blackberry Smoke--Thumbs Up

Before even listening, I must say those are cool song titles. Will the actual songs live up to the titles? Let's find out!

I don't find him that twangy?

Ok, these songs mostly lived up to their wicked cool song titles, except for track #3 which was a little too country for my liking. The rest pretty much rocked, gave me a 70's country rock vibe. The harder country rock, not the soft stuff. I am pleasantly surprised with this so I'll go ahead and . 

[Scott]

Right ...  Kinda like how much I like Disturbed?

[Jon]

Nope.

[Jon]

Europe--Thumbs Up

Still amazed at what these guys have done the last five or so albums. Still doesn't make me wanna go out and buy their mid to 80's stuff since it's just not good, unless you're into that sort of thing. And I pity the fool that is! "California 405" drags a bit, but it's not a horrible song. They've kinda earned my respect, I suppose. Very nice melodic rock album.  

[TageRyche]

I really liked the Blackberry Smoke songs. Adding the disc to my want list.

[RJhog (Admin)]

Alright, two fans now.  And Jon to an extent.  Prolly not a purchase for him, but a thumbs up isn't too bad.

[Scott]

2 out of 3 aint bad!

[RJhog (Admin)]

Nope.  It's really the first really positive responses to my two Rock/Country bands (Whiskey Myers being the other) here at the bottom.  Makes me think there's hope after all

[Scott]

and then theres me...  no hope!

[RJhog (Admin)]

Can't please 'em all...that's what I say.  I'm gonna find something along this line that breaks down your walls one day.  

[Scott]

EUROPE ... Two middle thumbs up the but the bookend tracks are just "eh"....

How many years has it taken for this band to mature and grow into a serious rock and roll entity?  I really loved California 405, that's a really great tune.  Drove that stretch of pavement a few times myself!  The two tracks that precede it are also pretty good, not great but good.  But the last two tracks did nothing for me, especially Rainbow Bridge.  I like the direction of the band and that middle track was pure gold!  But not enough to spark any other interest