Earache; Release date: July 26, 2011
THE DEAL: Gritty rock 'n' roll revival quartet, Rival Sons, based in Los Angeles releases its debut album.
THE GOOD: What's good about this album is the same thing that's bad with it (see below.) When people often say, they don't make music like they used to, it's because of electronic advancements, changes in genres, etc. There have been various retro-rock movements over the years and plenty of bands taking advantage of the sounds made before them — that means you, Wolfmother — and Rival Sons' classic rock falls into that same category. The music and vocals are strong, but they all sound a bit too familiar. So, while it sounds like it's all been done before, it also stirs up the nostalgic feelings of sounding like so many bands you love.
THE BAD: Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but this album plays like a "forgotten tracks of the '60s" greatest hits collection. Each time I listen, I am all at once confronted by feelings of strong enjoyment mixed with elements of "these guys sound just like Led Zeppelin — where's the originality?" Every time I listen to the title track, I immediately think of "Good Times, Bad Times."
THE VERDICT: There's some solid songwriting here, but it's hard to think these guys aren't riding coattails on the wave of Zeppelin in music and lyrics. It's a strong classic rock album from start to finish, but it's going to take a bit of time for them to prove they're more than a mimic.
CD review
Rival Sons
music