Tag: blackberry smoke

This is a reissue of the band’s 2003 album on their own label, 3 Legged Records. I think country rock sums them up nicely, they are definitely southern fried. Although, they have a huge roadhouse barroom boogie about them as well.

Nothin’ For You is just one of those songs, and Steve Earle would have been proud of that one. They certainly get a huge guitar sound. Train Rollin’ sounds massive and is definitely my favourite tune. I definitely like them more when they crank the power up and they get locked into a southern groove, but Charlie Starr has one of those great storytelling tones to his voice that all the great country singers have. This comes through on Sure Was Good, which is a great song. There are three live songs tagged on and they just rip it up. As a bonus there is a killer rendition of Scare The Devil Outta You, which is a close to being my favourite tune.

You can’t beat some honest rock n’ roll and these guys sure deliver.

8/10 from The Grooveman.

This is a bit of an oddity. This was part of RSD in 2021 and was recorded live in one take at 1979 Studios. It consists of seven of the band’s favourite Rolling Stones tunes done in their own style, with that huge hint of the south thrown into the mix.

All Down The Line kicks things off and I have to say it gives the original a run for its money. Great opening! Sway feels like a Lynyrd Skynyrd song the way it’s played here. My all time favourite Stones song follows with Can You Hear Me Knocking, and it doesn’t disappoint here either. Of course it’s all about the middle jam section and how the groove just takes it away. Tumbling Dice, Just My Imagination, I Got The Blues, and Street Fighting Man don’t stray too far from the path.

A fun release and if your into the Stones, what’s not to love.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

Among the new breed of heavy blues rock bands to appear over the last few years, Blackberry Smoke are one of the most melodic.  This is their sixth album, released back in 2018.

Things open up nicely with the heavy groove monster that is Flesh And Bone (my favourite track). A killer simple riff, great vocal from Charlie Starr, and it’s a winner all the way. Run Away From It All mixes things up with a heavy country vibe – love the middle section in this. The Crooked Kind is pure southern barroom rock n’ roll. We are in Allmans territory with Medicate My Mind, both are from Georgia so no surprise there. I’ll Keep Rambling is superb with Robert Randolph guesting, this is chicken pickin’ a go go. There is a lack of southern rock n’ roll bands in the mainstream with that Skynyrd vibe, and Till The Wheels Fall Off scratches that itch for me. A solid album and they put on a good show to.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.