Georgia's Blackberry Smoke have slowly been making a name for themselves around the globe, though to date they are leagues more popular over in Europe than here in their native North America. That should start to change with the release of Holding All the Roses, their latest studio set, which was produced by the famed Brendan O'Brien and has all the elements that presumably give them their first true hit album here in the US. Is it Southern Rock, Country, Folk-Pop, or Classic Rock? Well, the music of Blackberry Smoke is all those things rolled up into one. Brisk, catchy Southern Rock fare like "Let Me Help You (Find the Door)", "Holding All the Roses", "Payback's a Bitch", "Fire in the Hole", and "Pearls" are chock full of blistering guitar licks, emotional vocals, and plenty of groove, while the country twang of "Rock and Roll Again", "Living in the Song", and "Women in the Moon" seem tailor made for today's modern country audiences. In the end, this collection of Southern anthems just really works, whether the band is pumping up the 'rock' part of it or getting all rootsy on us. "Wish in One Hand" combines the two, coming across like a mix of Lynyrd Skynyrd and the Atlantic Rhythm Section, while the honky tonk boogie of "Lay It All on Me" could serve as a sweaty bar room soundtrack as well as a sing along to your next campfire outing. Through it all, Charlie Starr delivers the exact kind of vocals that you'd want from this fun, twangy music, surrounded by irresistible grooves, layers of red hot guitar work, and some smoky keyboard textures.
If you crave the glory days of the Southern Rock greats like The Allman Brothers Band, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Charlie Daniels Band, Atlanta Rhythm Section, Wet Willie, The Outlaws, .38 Special, Marshall Tucker Band, and The Black Crowes, then you need to investigate Blackberry Smoke, who have taken those classic sounds and added in some modern country pop elements for a style that has wide appeal. Holding All the Roses is another winner in their already strong discography.
See more about this release on our recent YouTube show!
Track Listing
1) Let Me Help You (Find the Door)
2) Holding All the Roses
3) Living in the Song
4) Rock and Roll Again
5) Woman in the Moon
6) Too High
7) Wish in One Hand
8) Randolph County Farewell
9) Payback's a Bitch
10) Lay It All On Me
11) No Way Back to Eden
12) Fire in the Hole
13) Pearls (bonus track)
14) Ain't Got the Blues (bonus track-live acoustic)
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