BLACK STONE CHERRY – Black to Blues Volume 2
- Posted on 02-10-2019
As much as I like the first installment of the “Black to Blues” series by the renowned Black Stone Cherry (there is a review of it elsewhere on these pages), this new one comes across as more confident (and perhaps even a tad groovier too) compared to its predecessor. More importantly, “Volume 2” is more consistent and solid with respect to the quality of the songs, and this time around, it truly feels and sounds as if these skilled dudes had a blast whipping those old blues tunes by Robert Johnson, Otis Rush, Elmore James, and the likes into massive, gut-punching pieces with plenty of gusto to them.
The melancholy vibe of the originals is retained and yet Black Stone Cherry manage to add something new and different to the compositions and make them their own, which is just one of the things that sets this one apart from so many other covers albums out there. The rawness that one associates with old blues as well as the dynamics and liveliness of said genre are also very much present on “Black to Blues Volume 2”, which is brilliantly exemplified by its two highlights, namely “All Your Love (I Miss Loving)” and “Death Letter Blues”. The rumbling “Down in the Bottom” is another majestic cut that is wildly memorable and deserves closer inspection.
“Black to Blues Volume 2” sounds big, fat, and juicy, and if you want swagger and attitude, look no further than this entertaining 6-song offering by these Kentucky rockers. Somewhat ironically, I find their studio outputs containing original material to be a bit of a mixed bag, which is to say that some of them work for me while others do not, but this covers EP right here suits me just perfectly and I must admit that I thoroughly enjoy immersing myself in it. Strictly speaking, It may not be essential as such, but it is nevertheless a lot of fucking fun to listen to. Definitely recommended!