Review Summary: 2010's go-to album for classic rock fans.
There’s been a sort of supergroup trend going on in recent years. Particularly, rock musicians from the old days, often gone unnoticed since their prime, seem to be taking the opportunity to be put in the spotlight again, pairing up with their peers as well as younger generations of rockers. It is general knowledge that the results of these groups are virtually never what they are expected to be. ‘Not so super’ is the description that was given to the likes of Chickenfoot, but on better occasions, more successful and enjoyable bands like Them Crooked Vultures came along.
Bassist/vocalist Glenn Hughes (Trapeze, Deep Purple Mk. III) and blues-rock guitarist Joe Bonamassa were joined by Jason Bonham, son of the legendary Zeppelin drummer John Bonham, and ex-Dream Theater keyboardist Derek Sherinian, to form Black Country Communion, a supergroup that is still a far shot away from the best thing that’s ever happened the whole collective, but at least, as their debut
Black Country shows, they know how to rock pretty good.
Hughes’ funk influences, both in his playing and his singing, have remained, and it sounds like he’s still in great shape. Bonamassa’s playing can be pretty uninventive at times (albeit enjoyable), but the man certainly has his moments, while Sherinian doesn’t always get the very best out of his skills either, sometimes falling away in the mix. Bonham has never really lived up to his father’s legacy, but that’s not saying he hasn’t learnt a thing or two from daddy. Similar in style, but never as impressive. Still, fans of Led Zeppelin will certainly be enjoying themselves with the drumming. Black Country knows both great retro-rock tracks such as
One Last Soul,
The Great Divide and
No Time as well-done epic-lengths, particularly
Song of Yesterday and
Too Late for the Sun.
Black Country is hardly ever amazing, but then again, there will be few who will listen to it with that sort of expectation. Classic rock fans have been given something new to go by in 2010, and that’s most likely the goal this band has set. Black Country Communion works, and it wouldn’t be a punishment to see them make another album.
