Posted by From the unhurried melodies and slow burning charm of ‘Dig a Hole’ you know what you are in for. Blackberry Smoke are southern rock through and through and their eighth album Be Right Here reflects their infectious, country and americana tinged southern rock.
This barnstormer of a record – with tracks like the boogie woogie stomp of ‘Hammer And The Nail’ and the Status Quo like shuffle of ‘Don’t Mind If I Do’ – is business as usual and business is good. The Stonesy swagger and soulful backing singers of ‘Little Bit Crazy’ is the best of these bar room rockers, and it will burrow its way into your head with very little resistance.
This is the sound of a band who love what they do and are not trying to chase a particular style. The benefits of this relaxed atmosphere is plain to hear, one of which is ‘Be So Lucky’ and its moreish guitar melody. Just as moreish is the soft americana of ‘Other Side Of The Light’, complete with Allman Brothers sounding guitars and a silky smooth chorus. “I don’t worry, don’t get in a hurry” purrs frontman Charlie Starr on ‘Whatcha Know Good’, an easy going slice of sunshine. Perhaps my favourite number is the wistful ballad ‘Azalea’, a gentle folk song with a sweetly struck acoustic guitar.
Reinvention is not on the agenda here, you have almost certainly heard this music before but when it is this well made and this enjoyable that is besides the point. This is the Georgian rockers last album with drummer and co-founder Brit Turner, who passed away less than a month after release, and is a fitting tribute to the man.
9/10
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