Released as a Record Store Day exclusive, the title sort of gives it away, This Is Black...is a compilation split into two sides (this is the digital version of a vinyl release).
Side A is a selection of studio b-sides, covers, and un-released while Side B is full of live tracks a few cuts featuring some of their friends as special guests, joining in the fun with Chris Robertson, vocals/guitar; Ben Wells, guitar/vocals, John Fred Young, drums and Steve Jewell Jr. on bass/backing vocals.
So we get going with American Horse, a cover of The Cult featuring John Cooper of Skillet and guitarist Ayron Jones, this is right in the hard rock wheelhouse of BSC, with lots of similarities to the original but that riffy chug of the Cherry and moves into Out Of Pocket, a recent single in a different version with Jesse Leach of Killswitch on vocals.
So far so good then, as they plump for two covers in a row, Tina Turner's What's Love Got To Do With It and Give Me One Reason originally by Tracy Chapman are both great but for me What's Love works a little better. From here there's a couple of B-sides/additional tracks from extended versions of previous albums and then it's into the live songs.
These will be more familiar, an anthemic acoustic version of Peace Is Free features Lzzy Hale while the three recorded at Hellfest are the biggest tracks from the band; Lonely Train, Blame It On The Boom Boom and White Trash Millionaire. It's a compilation of well known, unknown and new versions that the band likes, the title even says so. It's these curios that always come around on Record Store Day and BSC give you a lot of bang for your buck. 8/10
Ally Venable - Money & Power (Ruf Records)
Ally Venable is a blues rock machine, the Texas based guitar slinger has been fighting for the recognition of women in the blues rock world for a while now, but she has never been more combative than she is on her sixth record Money & Power.
It's about women taking what they deserve, kicking down the door of the smoke filled rooms and claiming their seat at the table. She's got the vocals of Shemekia Copeland and guitar licks of Christone 'Kingfish' Ingram, two forces of nature in their own right, joining her on this album of celebration.
Now Venable is pretty productive, this record following 2023's Real Gone, as Venable took up residence in Nashville with producer/drummer Tom Hambridge and let rip on this sixth album. Dripping with attitude on the title track, calling out for a drink on the thirsty Brown Liquor, where Christone 'Kingfish' Ingram duels with Venable, while Heal Me is a smoky tribute to the power of music.
On all of these songs Ally's gritty vocals singing these tracks with passion while she rips up the guitar like another guitar great SRV, though Ally used a Les Paul rather than a Stratocaster, the scuttle-buttling of Stopper Back Papa very in the SRV vein.
Money & Power like I said is a record to empower women, with the two tracks Unbreakable featuring the incredible vocals of Shemekia Copeland while Stepping Stone is driven by years of being overlooked and undervalued in the music industry.
Well Ally Venable deserves all of your attention, a blues rocker with a foot firmly in both camps. Bluesy riffs and bags of attitude this is Ally Venable taking the Money & Power. 8/10
Laurenne/Louhimo - Falling Through Stars (Frontiers Music Srl)
The Frontiers label boss loves these sort of collaborations between two vocalists, way back in the mists of time the rising popularity of the label could have been put down to the Allen/Lande albums, since then Frontiers have been trying to recreate that success with varying results.
Laurenne/Louhimo is the collaboration between Noora Louhimo (Battle Beast) and Netta Laurenne (Smackbound), an all Finnish affair both singers come from bands with different styles so their vocals mix plays off against each other well while colliding in union for the whole album.
Netta co-produced the record with her husband Nino, (who also plays guitar and co-wrote) so it has a big sound to it the album taking from several decades. The 70's on Damned and Rotten Gold, 2000's on To The Dark, the 80's influences on the gothy The Cradle and FTS.
So a mix of styles from two powerhouse singers on another duo album from Frontiers. You know what you'll be getting, is it the next Allen/Lande? No but an entertaining listen. 7/10
Ernie Graham - Ernie Graham: Remastered Edition (Cherry Red Records)
Originally released in 1971 the debut album from Ernie Graham, now remastered it's a lost classic for lovers of heartfelt, roots music that takes in folk traditions and rock n roll. Ernie made his name with Eire Apparent who's album was produced by one James Marshall Hendrix, Ernie signed as solo artist to Down Home Management and then Liberty Records.
The acoustically strummed Sebastian has the vocal styles and troubadour tendencies of Dylan by way of Belfast. This record features Down Home Management alumni Help Yourself and Brinsley Schwarz acting as his backing band, like how The Band did the same for Dylan after he went electric.
This debut album is a bit of an overlooked gem, critically successful but not so much commercially, it's now given a new lease of life by Cherry Red with a bigger modern remaster so you can pick out the delicate instrumentals that drive tracks such as the haunting Sea Fever or the bluesy For A Little While or Belfast which is steeped in Irish storytelling.
Ernie Graham's solo record should be heard of you're a fan of that late 60's early 70's folk/rock/singer songwriter style. 7/10
Well Ally Venable deserves all of your attention, a blues rocker with a foot firmly in both camps. Bluesy riffs and bags of attitude this is Ally Venable taking the Money & Power. 8/10
Laurenne/Louhimo - Falling Through Stars (Frontiers Music Srl)
The Frontiers label boss loves these sort of collaborations between two vocalists, way back in the mists of time the rising popularity of the label could have been put down to the Allen/Lande albums, since then Frontiers have been trying to recreate that success with varying results.
Laurenne/Louhimo is the collaboration between Noora Louhimo (Battle Beast) and Netta Laurenne (Smackbound), an all Finnish affair both singers come from bands with different styles so their vocals mix plays off against each other well while colliding in union for the whole album.
Netta co-produced the record with her husband Nino, (who also plays guitar and co-wrote) so it has a big sound to it the album taking from several decades. The 70's on Damned and Rotten Gold, 2000's on To The Dark, the 80's influences on the gothy The Cradle and FTS.
So a mix of styles from two powerhouse singers on another duo album from Frontiers. You know what you'll be getting, is it the next Allen/Lande? No but an entertaining listen. 7/10
Ernie Graham - Ernie Graham: Remastered Edition (Cherry Red Records)
Originally released in 1971 the debut album from Ernie Graham, now remastered it's a lost classic for lovers of heartfelt, roots music that takes in folk traditions and rock n roll. Ernie made his name with Eire Apparent who's album was produced by one James Marshall Hendrix, Ernie signed as solo artist to Down Home Management and then Liberty Records.
The acoustically strummed Sebastian has the vocal styles and troubadour tendencies of Dylan by way of Belfast. This record features Down Home Management alumni Help Yourself and Brinsley Schwarz acting as his backing band, like how The Band did the same for Dylan after he went electric.
This debut album is a bit of an overlooked gem, critically successful but not so much commercially, it's now given a new lease of life by Cherry Red with a bigger modern remaster so you can pick out the delicate instrumentals that drive tracks such as the haunting Sea Fever or the bluesy For A Little While or Belfast which is steeped in Irish storytelling.
Ernie Graham's solo record should be heard of you're a fan of that late 60's early 70's folk/rock/singer songwriter style. 7/10