BUCKCHERRY - 15 CD Review
BUCKCHERRY 15 Released 2006 (Eleven Seven) Billboard Chart Position #48 Track List: 01. So Far 02. Next To You 03. Out Of Line 04. Everything 05. Carousel 06. Sorry 07. Crazy Bitch 08. Onset 09. Sunshine 10. Brooklyn 11. Broken Glass 12. Back In The Day (*Japanese release only*) 13. Pump It Up (*Japanese release only*) Band: Josh Todd - vocals Keith Nelson - guitar Stevie D - guitar Jimmy Ashurst - bass Xavier Muriel - drums Additional Musicians: Mark Watrous - keyboards Production: Produced by Paul DeCarli, Keith Nelson and Mike Plotnikoff. Review: I like Buckcherry. I like them because they came around at a time where being a screaming rock 'n' roll band with energy was not exactly "cool" in the media contrived music world. In other words, Buckcherry bucked the system. And, with melodic songs like Lit Up, it was a natural they'd stand out as a musical force. After a hiatus caused by the band splitting in 2002,, they've returned in 2006 to release their third album titled "15." And, it certainly is an interesting bag of tricks. Their debut album was very melodic with Josh's voice and guitar hooks being what took the album to the heights it did. The second album titled "Time Bomb" had a lot heavier guitar sound which I personally enjoyed. "15" doesn't have anywhere near that same heavy guitar. In fact, the guitar is so un-loud, if that's a word, this could pass for classic rock and not sleaze rock. Is that a good or a bad thing? Well, I'm torn. I think rock 'n' roll is rapidly approaching a major problem in that rock that actually bothers to have guitar hooks and a chorus is called "melodic rock." Perhaps I'm old school but I thought a song involved hooks and a chorus and not having that is what you call noise. So, with everything getting so heavy and losing track of where it came from, albums like this and Warrant's "Born Again" do sort of remind people, "You can rock without just playing loud as hell." That said, this album does not have near the energy of the band's first 2. Josh has one of those great screamer voices. But, it isn't on display very much in this album. In fact, in songs like Next to You, he sings so un-metal that he almost could pass for one of the 15-year-old (pun intended) punk singers that all sound exactly the same. Ther eis next to no reaching to hit notes or screaming except, and even this is up for debate, in the chorus. The song I have heard a lot of hype about is called "Crazy Bitch." Sounds like a great sleaze rocker, doesn't it? And, it is. But, the lyrics are such that it just can't be played on radio. There's a difference between "Are you f***ing High" which can be clipped for radio play and "Hey, you're a Crazy Bitch but you f*** so good..." Yada, yada yada. Don't get me wrong. The song rocks hard and has great vocal hooks but the lyrics are just so vulgar! While it isn't the single or the most popular song on the album, I think the song Broken Glass kicks the most ass off the record. This song picks up the pace a whole hell of a lot. it's a shame it's the last track on the disc. Don't get me wrong... The songs are very well written and they all contain hooks and a guitar solo. So, that hasn't changed. But, the sound of the album, possibly thanks to production, is way more classic rock than sleaze rock if you ask me. Perhaps that's why the nerdy music magazine writer showed up at a Buckcherry concert recently and was shocked to hear them sounding like "an 80's hair band." You must remember nerds like that couldn't get laid in the '80's so they hold a grudge. Overall, I must say I like the album but I'm not as wild about it as I expected to be. Nonetheless, I give the band kudos for putting together another solid album and keeping rock 'n' roll alive. If you liked either of their first few albums, pick it up and notice the changes. If you are trying to discover who Buckcherry is, pick up the first one or "Time Bomb." I think those 2 have more bite to them.
:: DISCUSS THIS POST
ON THE FORUMS! |
JOIN YOUR FELLOW METAL HEADS ON THE EPICENTER FORUMS!
|
|
Recent Reviews:
ERROR
Category does not exist
|
The information on this website is exclusive property of Epicenter International and cannot be used elsewhere without proper link credit. All mail (electronic or postal) sent to this site becomes property of Epicenter International which allows the site to reprint that e-mail in it's entirety by doing so, if the email is considered newsworthy.