Album: Great Western Valkyrie
Year: 2014
Rating: 87/100
Rival Sons have a sound that evokes the likes of Led Zeppelin and the Black Crowes, among others, without sounding a great deal like any of them. Where classic rock influences come into play, it's tricky to sound largely original, but the fact that they pull it off owes largely to the intelligent songwriting present on "Great Western Valkyrie". As always, the primary focus is the guitar work of Scott Holiday and the soaring, swooping vocals of Jay Buchanan.
What makes "Great Western Valkyrie" the masterpiece it truly is, is that there isn't a single track on here that could even remotely be deemed filler. "Electric Man" sets the tone of the entire album by roaring into life with a colossal guitar riff and Buchanan's melodious wail, not letting up for a second. "Open My Eyes" is punchy and exuberant, with a distant nod to Led Zeppelin in the drum intro, while "Good Things" takes things in a near-Motown direction, and "Rich and the Poor" showcases the band's versatility, adding Hammond organ to their sonic arsenal. Just when you think you've heard everything Rival Sons have to offer, though, closing track "Destination on Course" shows up to blow the listener's mind completely.
"Great Western Valkyrie" has shown that Rival Sons have developed long beyond mere classic rock copyists. While it has some fantastic individual songs, the whole in this case is very much greater than the sum of its individual parts, wrapped up nicely in some superb musicianship and Jay Buchanan's incredible vocals. Next time you hear someone complain that rock and roll is dead, hand them a copy of "Great Western Valkyrie". That ought to change their mind.
Track list:
- Electric Man
- Good Luck
- Secret
- Play the Fool
- Good Things
- Open My Eyes
- Rich and the Poor
- Belle Starr
- Where I've Been
- Destination On Course
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