LEON RUSSELL GETS BACK, BILLY BRANCH & THE SONS OF BLUES, JOHNNY DEMARCO-CD REVIEWS JOHN EMMS

Leon Russell-“This is a record of my musical journey through life,” Russell writes in a package essay for Life Journey.  “It reflects pieces of things that I have done and things I never did, for one reason or another.”

Amen to that. This is classic Leon. Smart lean arrangement with Robben Ford on That Lucky Ol’ Sun,  Rockin 50’s vibe to his own Big Lips, a galloping stride on the classic Fever and Robert Johnson’s Come in My Kitchen kicks it off.

Johnny Demarco-Living Out Our Dreams-Demarco is a solid songwriter, no doubt. Big Bryan Adams influence on most of the album especially on the title track and  Never Gonna Be Good Enough. Superb acoustic version of Stop In The Name of Love

Billy Branch and The Sons of Blues-This is the real deal in blues, despite the fact that the album touches on a lot of genres. Great band feel on all tracks, in fact Billy’s band is super tight.

Sons of Blues works in horns, great lyrics and groove,  title track has a funk feel with nice slinky slide guitar from Dan Carrelli, Going To See Miss Gerri One More Time a song dedicated to 93 year old Gerri Oliver is hands down one of the best songs I have heard this year.  Other standout songs include a ripping take on Boom Boom and the swinging Crazy Mixed Up World.

JOHN EMMS is a veteran music journalist, online radio host and singer songwriter with Canada’s blues/roots rockers THE SHAFTMEN

 

ARDEN RULES ON NEW ALBUM, BACH REDEEMS HIS HARD ROCK POWER-CD REVIEWS BY JOHN EMMS

Jann Arden-Everything Almost-This can’t miss.

Teaming up again with Bob Rock this is a pop record that screams credibility. You Love Me Back has a magic modern production overlay, killer chorus and an almost Mutt Lange/Shania Twain sensibility.

Elsewhere Counting Mercies has a multiple tracked breathtaking lead vocal, while Hard To Be Alive offers up a bed of crunch guitars interwoven with  strings and almost Celtic feel in places.

The opening track Comin’ Round For Us packs a wallop of  stacked harmony vocals by Arden, while the closing title track is Arden longing and poignant.

This possibly is the best I have heard Arden sing in her career.

It’s a monster album, to be sure.

Not out till April 29th.

Sebastian Bach-Give ‘Em Hell–Roaring out of the gate with heavy riff dominated songs and lead vocals that will raise the hair on the back of your neck Sebastian Bach takes no prisoners on this new album.

On the tracks like Harmony, the opener Hell Inside My Head and the slow mid tempo  burn of  Push Away Bach sings his ass off.

Ripping falsetto, brash and dangerous all in one song Bach rules like never before, especially on the new single All My Friends Are Dead.

Solid cover of April Wine’s Rock N’ Roll is a Vicious Game, huge guitars, and help from John 5, Rob Zombie, Duff McKagan and scorching guitars from Steve Stevens this album will make a believer out of anyone who dares to crank it up and soak it in!!!  This album  is out today.

JOHN EMMS is a veteran music journalist read in over 100 countries, online radio host and singer-songwriter  with Canada’s blues/roots rockers THE SHAFTMEN
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