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Blues Underground Network |
Black Country Communion "Black Country"
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I had the good fortune of being a teenager in the late 60's and early 70's and being able to listen to all the iconic groups and waited with anticipation as their next Albums were released. Kids nowadays can certainly listen to the great music from that era by the likes of Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Alice Cooper, and Jethro Tull, to name a very small few, but there really isn't anything like experiencing the thrill of music as it is first released and as it is relevant to your generation. It has been a very long time since I have gotten a thrill out of a new release like I used to, especially a rock release, until I had the good fortune of being sent "Black Country" by Black Country Communion. Black Country Communion has been hyped to hell and back and the fact is that so much was expected of their new release, that if it wasn't one of the best Rock Albums to come out in many many years, they would have been referred to as the laughing stock of the year. Funny thing happened though, not only did they put together a literal dream team of Artists, in forming Black Country Communion, they also lived up to, or should I say, far exceeded expectations, with their Debut Release "Black Country". Black Country Communion has been referred to, and for good reason, as a Supergroup, and really, how could you possible bring together such titans as Joe Bonamassa, Glenn Hughes (Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, Trapeze), Jason Bonham (Led Zeppelin, Foreigner), and Derek Sherinian (Dream Theater, Billy Idol, Alice Cooper) and not expect it to be a Block Buster of a Band. Black Country Communion will of course be compared a little to some of the Supergroups past, such as Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple to name a few, but those were Bands unique for their music and their era and perhaps that is how we should all define Black Country Communion because they are certainly unique to our era in both musical composition and style. They are nothing less than a completely refreshing style of Rock that cuts through all the humdrum Rock that has to often permeated our eardrums and in doing so shows us what the term "The Real Macoy" is all about. "Black Country" starts off like a wild horse who has just escaped too many years of captivity and does not slow down. From the spectacular Bass work of Glenn Hughes in the opening of their title track "Black Country" to the final closing notes of the epic last track, "Too Late For The Sun", which clocks in at an amazing time of over 11 minutes, this Album will simply not let you go. Now I have listened to a lot of Albums and more than often there are a few so so tracks, even on the best of them, but not this Album, not in the least. Even when I thought that a song was going to head to So So Land, it magically kicked into high gear and like all the other Tracks on "Black Country", it would simply blow me away. "Black Country" consists of 12 Tracks and clocks in at a just over 72 minutes, yes you heard me right, 72 minutes. When was the last time you had a Album in your hands, recently, that was 72 minutes long, heck there are movies out their that are not that long. 10 of the Tracks were written solely by Glen Hughes. 1 Track was co-written by Hughes, Bonamassa, and Kevin Shirley (Song Of Yesterday). Bonamassa takes credit for writing one Track, (The Revolution In Me). Glenn Hughes is credited for Lead Vocals on all Tracks except for "Song of Yesterday" and "The Revolution in Me", for which Bonamassa blows us away with his impressive vocals. The packaging of "Black Country" is second to none and really shows an immense respect and courtesy to their fans. Not only does it contain a wonderful booklet chalked full of great info, such as liner notes on each track by Hughes, but also lyrics, instruments used, thank you's and messages from individual band members. As a great added bonus, there is also a DVD which contains, a music video, interviews, behind the scenes, photos, and producer's note and clocks in at over 40 minutes, making this complete package a wonderful collectors item. When listening to "Black Country", I can only imagine how spectacular Black Country Communion would be to see live, and as a matter of fact fans will get that opportunity in 2011 as they are planning a tour to some select venues, and plan to take what happens from the response they get from the tour, in regard to future plans. From the quality of the music on this Album I can only say that seeing them live would have to be amazing and very very special. "Black Country" is a Rock Fans dream come true. Unlike some great Albums in the past, this one has a completeness to it that some have lacked, and by completeness, I mean that all Artists on "Black Country" shine throughout and you remember the Drums of Bonham, the Vocals and Bass of Hughes, the extraordinary Guitar of Bonamassa and the gentle weaving of the Keyboards by Sherinian, compared to a Band like Boston for which Guitar, Guitar, Guitar, is what is best remembered. "Black Country" draws you in with not only great music but with also creative, engaging lyrics. From the music to the packaging and beyond, "Black Country" and Black Country Communion, is an experience not to be missed, regardless of whether or not you are a die hard Rock Fan. It has been said, by a recent reviewer that "Black Country", "is the best debut disc I've heard by a new rock band in the last twenty years." I really was not able to find any facts that would dispute that quote, "Black Country" is purely and simply, a great Album put together by a great Band. As a side note, I know this is not a Blues Album, but I also love great rock and I could not resist giving this gem a listen and doing a review for it. Review By John Vermilyea (Blues Underground Network) Other Info And Reviews Review By Pico When I heard at the beginning of this year that Joe Bonamassa had formed a supergroup with some other heavy hitters and that these guys were in the studio making a record, I gotta admit, I was pretty excited. Bonamassa has pretty much reached the pinnacle and done it all as a solo blues-rock musician; joining a band as a peer seemed to be the logical new frontier for a former prodigy who has done nothing but fulfill the promise he showed at an early age (and then some). Tomorrow, that self-titled record is out, introducing a band you might be hearing a lot of in the coming months. First, though, about the band itself. If you like metal, there's a new name to remember: Black Country Communion. Black Country Communion is the conception of Bonamassa's producer, the renowned Kevin Shirley, who witnessed Bonamassa rip it up on stage with bassist/vocalist Glenn Hughes on stage last November. Hughes, called “The Voice of Rock," earned that distinction from stints with Trapeze, Deep Purple (from 1973-76) and notable appearances on other metal act albums, such as Black Sabbath's Seventh Star. On top of all that, Hughes is a very nimble bassist who knows how to add the right layer underneath massive guitar riffs and work in sync with the drummer. Once Shirley sold Bonamassa and Hughes on the idea, he brought in Jason Bonham, who fills in for his late father whenever there is a Led Zeppelin reunion show and a fine drummer in his own right, and keyboardist Derek Sherinain, who was a member of the prime prog rock band Dream Theater from 1994 to 1999. Both Bonham and Sherinian have gone on to perform with some of the other biggest names in rock. Once those guys came on board, the new band quickly got to work on a new record of a dozen originals by Bonamassa and Hughes. Given the overall pedigree, this wasn't destined to be a blues band; it's an Anglo-American hard rock band. Best of all, it's the hard rock from its golden age of the 70s, when Deep Purple, Sabbath, Boston, Bon Scott-era AC/DC, etc., dominated the genre with memorable and anthemic riffs and buckets of attitude, while retaining some strains of blues and soul. If anyone is wondering if Hughes has lost any of his range, power and passion, he quickly dispatches all doubt on the calling card first track “Black Country." However, its Hughes' rumbling bass that gets the song going, and Bonamassa unleashes the dogs when it's solo time. The climax comes when Hughes and Bonamassa engage in vocal/guitar call and response “Whole Lotta Love" style; no surprise that Bonham knew just what to do there. The strong start continues with the hard grooving advance single “One Last Soul" (see YouTube below) where Hughes alternates singing in two octaves. “The Great Divide" continues the roll with Bonamassa's blues inflected attack and heavy riffs, as Hughes screams “I'm gonna let my freak flag fly" much more defiantly than David Crosby ever did. “Down Again" brings out the Bad Company brand of British blues-drenched rock. “Beggarman" is relentless like rolling thunder; Hughes and Bonham form a tenacious bass-drums combination, and Bonamassa kills it like a supercharged Jimmy Page, as he does just about everywhere else. Bonamassa, in case you didn't know, isn't such a bad singer himself, and he takes lead vocal duties for “The Revolution In Me," while sharing the mic with Hughes for “Song Of Yesterday" and the concluding “Too Late For The Sun." That last song is an eleven minute epic, and I'm not sure why it needed to run that long (although Bonham put in his best work on this song). But my list of quibbles with this record begin and end there. There's a limited tour planned for 2011 but it remains to be seen if Bonamassa, Hughes, Bonham and Sherinian are in it for the long run; how well this record is received will play a big part in those plans for sure. What's clear from their first album is that they put in some seriously good work putting together a set of songs that don't all sound the same and gets everyone involved and playing to their strengths. This sounds in no way like a half-hearted effort by a bunch of big egos; this sounds instead like a firm declaration to the Green Days and Foo Fighters out there that the old school hard rock guys are back. With a vengeance. Review By Tony Conley
"I am a messenger, this is my
prophecy.... That's where it all begins, following the most memorable intro to a rock and roll song that I've heard in way too long. It's the intro to Black Country, the lead track of the debut record by Black Country Communion, the super-group comprised of Glenn Hughes, Joe Bonamassa, Jason Bonham, and Derek Sherinian. Hughes's amazing bass line kicks off the tune like a clarion call to arms for rock and roll, and he's quickly joined by Bonham doing some nifty cymbal work before Joe Bonamassa fires off one of the coolest riffs ever to grace a rock record. Let's get one thing straight. If you want to hear comparisons to Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Free and The Who (and I'm not saying they wouldn't be favorable), you're gonna have to go elsewhere. What I will say is that this record is the best debut disc I've heard by a new rock band in the last twenty years. To waste our time trying to find comfortable reference points is to sell everything short - this project stands on its own and neither wants nor requires aid to describe the brilliance it contains. Regardless of the context in which you place it, it delivers the goods. I first heard the record described by Glenn Hughes back in February, shortly after I had written an optimistic blog stating that this combination of players could produce the sleeper record of 2010. Glenn initially spoke with a confidence and pride that had me reeling backwards, hopeful, but wondering if it really could be as good as he described. Subsequent to that initial interview, I began hearing comments from various sources who had heard material at producer Kevin Shirley's studio, or on the Bonamassa tour bus, and their comments were as powerful as Glenn's. Bonamassa bassist Carmine Rojas raved when we spoke in early May, after having just heard the final mixes, and Red Hot Chili Pepper and sometime Hughes confrere Chad Smith also waxed enthusiastically of the album's excellence. Black Country continues with Hughes belting out a veritable mission statement when Joe Bonamassa unleashes a furious wah infused solo that invokes much that we have nearly forgotten to expect from a rock record. I found myself laughing out loud at the power and beauty of it all. I hadn't gotten a goosebump from a new song in too long, had all but given up on the probability, yet there they were. Instantly Bonamassa assumes the title of rock guitar god - the world will have yet another accolade to heap upon the young guitar wizard when the record is released on September 21. Coming out of the solo section, Hughes sings the chorus a cappella with Bonamassa answering each line with a scorching retort that compares with the greatest call and response moments in rock and blues history before Sherinian takes the reins and leads the band out of one of the most memorable introductions I've ever heard. It's clear that the Black Country signifies to Hughes his early rock roots; this is firmly entrenched in the earthy depths of the soulful sounds he had described to me back in February, when he passionately described the kinship he felt for his homeland roots, where he had grown up with Jason's father, Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham (a huge fan of Hughes's early 70s band Trapeze), and how vitally important it was to have Jason in this group. Continue Reading This Extensive Review Here... Tracklist
1.Black Country 3:15 Listen To Samples Here...
Glenn Hughes - Lead Vocals, Bass About Black Country Communion is a devastating head-on collision between American and British rock influences—a true supergroup that delivers a titanic rock experience greater than the sum of its supremely talented parts. The seed for Black Country Communion was planted when legendary frontman and bass guitarist Glenn Hughes (Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, Trapeze) and master blues-rock guitarist Joe Bonamassa combined forces on stage in Los Angeles in November 2009 for an explosive performance at Guitar Center’s King of the Blues event. The brainchild of producer Kevin Shirley (Black Crowes, Aerosmith, Led Zeppelin), the band added to its rock lineage with powerhouse drummer Jason Bonham (Led Zeppelin, Foreigner) and keyboardist Derek Sherinian (Dream Theater, Billy Idol, Alice Cooper). Named after the industrial area in Britain where both Hughes and Bonham were born and raised, Black Country Communion began rehearsing and recording tracks written by both Bonamassa and Hughes at Shangri-La Studios in early 2010. Their debut Self Titled Album, will release on September 21, 2010 in the States on the J&R Adventures Label and September 20, 2010 in Europe on Mascot Records. The band is planning a tour of select venues in 2011. Glenn Hughes ‘The Voice Of Rock’ is
a true original. No other rock musician has carved such a distinctive
style blending the finest elements of hard rock, soul and funk. That
astonishing voice is Hughes' calling card. He's known as a singer's
singer, with 80+ gold and platinum albums and collective sales of over 100
million units to his name. Glenn has been at the forefront of the music
scene since first achieving success in 1970 with his band Trapeze, before
going on to worldwide recognition in 1973 when he joined one of the most
popular bands in the world, Deep Purple. Derek Sherinian A versatile keyboardist who mixes
technical proficiency with distinctively raw power, Derek Sherinian has
toured and recorded with some of the biggest names in rock. Sherinian got
his big break in 1989, touring with legendary shock-rocker Alice Cooper in
support of the multi-platinum albums Trash and Hey Stoopid. Jason Bonham The legacy of Led Zeppelin lives on in
Jason Bonham, British drummer and son of Zep’s legendary John Bonham.
Inheriting the best of his father’s skills while mastering his own
distinctive and dynamic technique, Bonham blasted onto the world stage at
age 17 with the band Air Race, opening for huge draws like Queen, Meat
Loaf and AC/DC. In 1988, Bonham took his father’s spot in the televised,
first-ever Led Zeppelin reunion at the Atlantic Records 40th Anniversary
Concert. Joe Bonamassa Part prodigy, part virtuoso, (the rest being mercilessly honed guitar skills and tireless work ethic) Joe Bonamassa has been building his reputation as one of the world’s greatest guitar players since his career started, at age 12, performing with B.B. King. Heavily influenced by British and Irish rock legends like Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and Rory Gallagher, Bonamassa went on to tour and perform with artists including Buddy Guy, Foreigner, Bad Company, Joe Cocker and Gregg Allman before beginning his recording career in the early ‘90s with Bloodline, a hard-charging rock-blues band with the sons of Robby Kreiger (The Doors), Miles Davis and Berry Oakley (The Allman Brothers Band). Going solo as a singer/songwriter, Bonamassa recorded his critically acclaimed debut album, A New Day Yesterday, with legendary producer Tom Dowd. Barley into his 30s with twenty years of experience in the music business and recorded a total of ten albums on his own independent label J & R Adventures (six of which debuted at #1 on the Billboard’s Blues Chart), Bonamassa sold out London’s prestigious Royal Albert Hall in less than a week in 2009 for a stunning performance filmed for the DVD Joe Bonamassa: Live From Royal Albert Hall, featuring a guest appearance by Eric Clapton. ‚Always on the road,? Bonamassa performs his transformational live act at more than 200 concerts around the world each year including touring during 2010 in support of his most recent release, the Billboard blues #1(and #39 on the Top 200 Chart) album Black Rock, and plans to reunite with Eric Clapton for the Crossroads Guitar Festival in Chicago on June 26. Black Country Communion performs - "One last Soul"
http://www.myspace.com/bccommunion http://www.facebook.com/bccommunion
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