Reviews roundup – Jack Tempchin vs. Rocha vs. Neverlight vs. Chickenbone Slim
JACK TEMPCHIN
Peaceful Easy Feeling: The Songs of Jack Tempchin
Blue Elan
If you’re someone who reads the small print on record labels and you have a yen for country rock then you’ll know the name Jack Tempchin.
He co-wrote some very well known songs for the Eagles back in their heyday with the late Eagles singer / guitarist Glenn Frey including the near title track of this album, ‘Peaceful Easy Feeling’. For some reason he wasn’t picked up by a record label back in the early seventies and by the time he did release a solo record (in 1978) the heady days were gone. He continued to write with Frey after the Eagles split including songs like ‘You Belong to the City’ and ‘Smuggler’s Blues’ as well as having songs recorded by the likes of George Jones, Emmylou Harris and Glen Campbell amongst many others.
This album sees him looking back over his career as well as paying tribute to his friend and songwriting partner of over 40 years, Glenn Frey. And it’s very enjoyable indeed. The songs are bona fide classics and the stripped back, acoustic based arrangements let the melodies shine through. You can tell, though, why he made not have made it as a solo act, as he’s not the greatest singer. But many worse have made it. He’s also brought in some friends to help out hither and thither and the duet with Rita Coolidge on ‘Slow Dancing’ is a definite highlight. There are also appearances by Janiva Magness, Chris Hillman and Herb Pedersen along the way on what should be an essential purchase for fans of seventies country rock.
ROCHA
Unum
Raging Planet
Here’s a strange one. Prime time early eighties AOR meets Westcoast but all the way from Portugal in 2017.
Rui Rocha is a Portuguese gentleman responsible for this. He’s the keyboard player who has written all the songs on this album. But to get that smooth AOR sound he’s looked to the home of the genre and drafted in the likes of Jeff Paris, Jeff Pescetto on vocals plus Michael Thompson, Tim Pierce, Michael Landau, Paul Pesco, Vinnie Colaiuta and Lenny Castro. Factor in the production skills of Keith Olsen (Whitesnake, everyone else) and it’s no surprise that this ends up a winner.
Of course it wouldn’t work if the songs were rubbish but they’re not. Granted, there are a couple of songs that don’t quite make it but pound for pound this is as good as a genre album as you’re likely to hear this year. Songs like ‘I’ll Keep Holdin’ On’ and ‘Hold On You’ are manna from heaven for folks who like their AOR on the gentle side. a gem of an album.
NEVERLIGHT
Nova Red
independent
Some female fronted near symphonic metal from Colorado.
I say “near” because even though the band describe themselves as “Evergrey meets Nightwish meets Maleficent” it’s the former and the latter that are closest to the mark.
They’ve had an EP and an album out prior to this one and theirs is a sound that will appeal to fans of nineties styled progressive metal rather than out and out symphonic metal followers. The guitars are definitely out and out metal with plenty of meaty riffs to get your teeth into.
They’re definitely on the heavy side with a side portion of deep melancholy thrown in for good measure on songs like ‘The Revenant’ and the epic title track. The vocals of Amanda Farrell work well with the music and with some help from well known faces like Dirk Verbeuren (Soilwork), Ruben Wijga (ReVamp) and Ray Riendeau (Halford) helping out it certainly doesn’t lack in power. Well worth a listen.
CHICKENBONE SLIM
The Big Beat
Le Fi Mer Records
Some old fashioned blues courtesy of Chickenbone Slim (aka Larry Teves), a chap who remembers that the blues can sometimes be fun.
It’s a set of all original material which mixes up blues rock, country blues, jump blues and all points in between. The performances, especially the guitar work is exemplary throughout and with his associates – Kid Anderson: guitar; Jon Atkinson: guitar, bass, harmonica; Scot Smart: bass, guitar; Marty Dodson: drums – Chickenbone Slim has pulled together a very enjoyable release.
It’s his second release following on from “Gone” and if this is anything to go by he’s assured of a strong following in the world of the blues. Songs like ‘Long Way Down’, ‘Vodka And Vicodin’ and ‘Long Legged Sweet Thing’ already sound like long lost friends with wit and panache etched into the grooves. An instant hit, this is a good one.
_____
St Columba’s Hospice Tribute Fund for Linda Hamilton
http://linda.hamilton.muchloved.com/
_____
The Rocker - The Artist Formerly Known As Zeitgeist. TAFKAZ 
Leave a comment