Review Summary: Magic Mountain, but with a little more magic this time.
After their last album, “Kentucky” Which was a major step up from their previous avalanche, known as “Magic Mountain” Black Stone Cherry decided to make that album again.
“Sex women and Drugs?” The producer asked.
After examining his mind, looking for any songs with depth, he quickly found that he was all used up.
“Sex, women and Drugs.” Chris Robertson said with a grin. “A grand old time”
And this is a grand time indeed. This menagerie of an album takes all the worst elements of Magic Mountain, and all the best parts of Kentucky, to create an awkward middle ground that is one hell of a ride. It’s just a fun time. It maintains that hard full warm sound that they are known for. Although lyrically it’s a deep as a puddle. These esoteric poems, pulled from the deepest bowels of Chris's psyche are about as simple as it gets, with no lines in between the other lines. Which thank god for that because, the text is always super small and hard to read. Kinda like Chad Kroeger, but with a little more shame and integrity.
Of course I’m not comparing Black Stone Cherry to Nickelback, Nickelback is to Black Stone Cherry, as this analogy is to a good analogy.
But on a technical level, and from a musical aspect, it’s great. Chris Robertson is an excellent vocalist, much better than some of his other buddies in the butt rock scene. His vocals come off as soulfully and passionate as ever. And along with strong instrumentation from every band member, this is an album that you can rock out to, and have a wonderful time doing it.
That isn’t to say that this album is completely the same as their previous output. For starters, this one is their second worst album. But it also changes their sound just slightly, and it’s gotten a little more bluesy than their previous records. Various other smaller changes, can be seen throughout the album, like the gospel sounding chorus, in Ain’t Nobody. Or the beginning of James Brown, which I’m not even sure how to describe, but needless to say- I love it.
AND NOW!
I will be going over some tracks that I enjoyed more than the other ones.
A definite highlight has to be “Southern Fried Friday Night”. This drunken stupor of a song is the very definition of “fun” and I like fun. (I’ll get to that album eventually) Funky, Bluesy guitar riffs, over top of a bouncy drum beat that make you want to just get up and dance. Lyrics aren’t important in this situation because everything else is done so well.
“Dancin’ in the Rain” is another stand out. I have no clue who Warren Haynes is and I’m not going to pretend like I do. But from what I’ve gathered is that he is a pretty decent singer, that serves to improve an already fantastic song. With guitar work that sound like it came right out of a Gray Clark Jr. song.
“James Brown” might be the best song on the album and you should just listen to it for yourself.
In conclusion Family Tree is Magic Mountain 2.0. Thematically, it’s very similar. Tonally, it’s very similar, with both albums being much more upbeat and happy. I thought Magic Mountain was a lonely train wreck, but this album (along with Kentucky) has it back on its tracks.
(Also quick side note, I predicted this back when the second single was released, and if you look at the sound offs you will see that I saw this one coming.)
