You couldn't ask for a band with an easier attitude and more laid back version of "in your face" Sleazy Rock.
'Rock 'N' Roll' will be the seventh full-length album from this American Hard Rock band since they formed in 1995. I hesitate to use the phrase "classic Buckcherry" because of their varied discography but this latest album has almost all the characteristic flavours that old fans will love.
'Bring It On Back' kicks off with that gloriously Sleazy sound and heavy backing vocals. Josh Todd sounds in great shape, backed up by Keith Nelson's trusty edgy guitar sound and a clean, twisted solo. 'Tight Pants' is almost Jazzy with a Big Band feel. There's a tight, staccato rhythm, the kind of punchy performance Buckcherry can pull off on records and live. Buckcherry's lyrics tend to be a mix of crass innuendo, self-hatred and contempt; '...Pants' says it all in the name.
The production isn't as clear cut as the last album ('Confessions') but the dirtier sound speaks more of their earlier work so there's something for all fans really. This band have always managed to pull off ballads with a rough-around-the-edges style and lyrics that crack with feeling. 'The Feeling Never Dies' has a sense of nostalgia and hope rather than regret and Todd uses a clean voice into the higher register that works fantastically.
Nelson gets to work with a right dirty sound for 'Cradle', rippling the guitar behind the vocals. 'The Madness' is cleaner but harder and it's evidence that Buckcherry have done well with a blend of sounds on this album. They always deliver a great variety of tracks and appear confident of their own sound; even the guitar gives off a sort of snide, twisted mood.
'Rain's Falling' is another example of a classic Buckcherry ballad; not too slow and not too sad but clean and a little bit off beat and quirky. Todd's voice meanders through the melody (without wandering off) with a beaten charm to his flat-sounding voice. Nelson picks and strums, almost carelessly, in all the right places and like all good guitarists, he shows he knows when not to play.
'Sex Appeal' has the rhythm of a girl dancing; it's got pace, tightness and smokiness. The album closes with the short and snappy 'Get With It', combining a Hard Rock sound with Todd's chatty, straight-talking vocals.
It's an album packed full with pace, edge, pinches of sentiment and stacks of arrogance. Whether it'll draw in new fans I'm not convinced. There doesn't appear to be that many tracks on par with their more popular songs like 'Sorry', 'Crazy Bitch' or 'All Night Long', but it's a well-rounded album all the same.
You couldn't ask for a band with an easier attitude and more laid back version of "in your face" Sleazy Rock.
Sophie Brownlee
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