Blackwater James from Nashville, Tennessee play music that sounds exactly like what you’d expect a rock band from Nashville, Tennessee to sound like – hard-rockin’ party tunes interspersed with heavy blues riffs doused in an ample amount of Jack Daniels. Unlike fellow Tennesseans Kings of Leon, Blackwater James have chosen not to wander into trendy indie territory as the Followills have and are instead sticking with their old school influences.
As the EP kicks off with opener and lead single ‘Blackheart’, Blackwater James already begin to show signs of another group of well-known Southern rockers, the Black Crowes, although with much bigger riffs. Singer Christopher James even bares some resemblance to head Crowe Chris Robinson with his soulful and infectiously melodic vocals. Other noticeable comparisons could be made to the likes of Aerosmith and even elements of Guns N’ Roses’ more bluesier moments. However, Blackwater James themselves are probably overall more similar to another group of Slash’s cohorts, Velvet Revolver, thanks to the band’s use of pop-inspired, sleazy hard rock.
Coming from the home of country music, barn dances and the like, Blackwater James have given an edge of party anthems to their songs. As well as being mouth-wateringly heavy in places, their music is a mixture of feel-good rock tunes that are only too easy to dance to – in a barn or otherwise. Tracks like ‘Burn This City Down’ and ‘Closer to Free’ are the kind of irresistible, solo-infused hard rock songs that could go down as easily well in a nightclub as at a summer festival. In places, the familiar sound of harmonic backing vocals gives this EP the feel of a genuine feel-good rock record not heard since the earlier days of bands like Kiss.
Closing track ‘Set It Off’ is probably the most modern-sounding song on the EP with its Foo Fighters-like guitar intro and verse, giving an appropriately alternative end to an often daringly old-fashioned record. An all-round Southern sound from an all-round Southern band, but what’s next for Blackwater James? Is the EP’s closer a sign of things to come for this four-piece? Maybe. But then again, going by this record, it sounds as though they’re having too much old-fashioned fun to care.
Stereoboard Rating: 6/10
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Coming from the home of country music, barn dances and the like, Blackwater James have given an edge of party anthems to their songs. As well as being mouth-wateringly heavy in places, their music is a mixture of feel-good rock tunes that are only too easy to dance to – in a barn or otherwise. Tracks like ‘Burn This City Down’ and ‘Closer to Free’ are the kind of irresistible, solo-infused hard rock songs that could go down as easily well in a nightclub as at a summer festival. In places, the familiar sound of harmonic backing vocals gives this EP the feel of a genuine feel-good rock record not heard since the earlier days of bands like Kiss.
