By David O’Neill
In the week of the 50th anniversary of the archetypal southern rock single ‘Sweet Home Alabama’ being released by Lynyrd Skynyrd, California rockers Robert Jon & The Wreck release their latest album, ‘Red Moon Rising’. Unlyke Skynyrd (sic), no members of RJ&TW are from any of the southern states of America. However, this doesn’t prevent the band grabbing hold of the genre and making it their own and yet still include everything expected in a surrrn rawk song. Having been one of the many bitten by this style of music (among many others) all those years ago, it tends to be one of my staple listens. Any music from The Cadillac Three to Black Stone Cherry and these guys will always get my attention at some point.
Having caught my attention with the single ‘Ballad Of A Broken Hearted Man’ with the acoustic guitar intro, the clarity of the vocals and addition of keyboards with the lilting musical path through the five minutes, reviewing the album was going to be on my radar.
The album opener, ‘Stone Cold Killer’, has an opening guitar riff from Henry James Schneekluth that lets you know what to expect, as it sounds like an old western train before Robert Jon opens the first verse and the rest of the band continue in the style to be expected with slide/bottleneck guitar at the breakdown it leaves no doubt what the genre is. Great upbeat start!
A bass line and low guitar opens ‘Trouble’ that bounces and lilts through the track leaving you tapping your feet and nodding your head in time until the breakdown guitar solo… dang, that’s good! ‘Ballad…’ is next in line and I really like its huge opening before the instruments lie subtly underneath the vocals: this could easily be a film title track. The acoustic guitar underpins the whole track until the breakdown guitar solo of Schneekluth: fabulous stuff indeed.
The title track is lyrically about all the mythical powers a red moon is supposed to have on changing behaviour. It’s quite a funky bass line of Warren Murrel driving the track that carries the vocals from verse to chorus and back again. The drum style has some nice patination to it that just oozes the skill of Andrew Espantman.
‘Dragging Me Down’ has a staccato feel that accompanies the vocals but the guitars of Robert Jon and Henry James provide some depth and warmth to the tone of the track despite its message in the vocals. ‘Hold On’ has a classic rock opening guitar style but it soon ditches that for the addition of the vocals and rest of the band. Approaching the crescendo all the instruments and vocals support the song to its breakdown and another searing solo from James.
‘Down No More’ has an Allman Brothers sound to the guitars tone that provides a different sound to the rest of the album so far but the backing vocals add an extra layer to the track. ‘Help Yourself’ opens with a piano and bottle/slide guitar tone and a more southern feel to the lilting track that was a bit absent in the first few tracks (not that variety isn’t good). This is a bit more “good ole boys” in its feel.
‘Worried Mind’ again uses an electro-acoustic sound in the opening bars. I can imagine this around a campfire (especially with the added harmonica). The breakdown has a more obvious slide guitar section in it. It’s a relaxed feeling track. Towards the outro, the Allman Brothers guitar tone comes back in, it really reminds me of Jessica in its tone. ‘Give Love’ is a real toe tapper with the drum opening and the clean piano sound throughout, and it adds to the lyrical meaning of the track.
The first CD only bonus track, ‘Rager’ is a real upbeat rocker and the guitar solo is absolutely stellar, with some hints of Ritchie Blackmore in there. The final bonus track guitar goes straight back to the Allman Brothers tone, but the vocals continue in the style that Robert Jon has made his own on this and the previous albums. The addition of the keyboards has made a huge difference to the depth of sound in this album, the subtle (or not so) nods to the guitar heroes of Henry James and Burrison adds to the variety of the music on offer. It will also add to their fanbase, I’m sure.
This is a good album and I would like to get to see them next time they are in the ÜK if they are in my vicinity.
- ‘Red Moon Rising‘ is out now.
- Robert Jon & The Wreck are currently on tour in the ÜSA, returning to the EÜ and Europe later this year:
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