Post by thesoundmonitor on Dec 1, 2003 18:33:51 GMT -5
FIVE HORSE JOHNSON
Last Men On Earth
(Small Stone)
by Nathan Peauril
While this is Five Horse Johnson’s fifth studio outing, it’s actually my first exposure to the band. Within minutes I was asking myself why the hell hadn’t I heard them before? This is the best damn southern rock/blues band I’ve ever heard, and it all comes down to how funky - yet rocking - the album is. Each track instantly grabs you -1 or 2 listens and you will be hooked. Hey, you know you’re onto a good thing when one of the opening lyrics makes reference to Karma to Burn (“Why does a Heathen, wear Karma to Burn”).
Guitarist Brad Coffin knows how to wield an axe, creating some great riffs and killer solos. The welcome addition of slide during some songs adds to the overall southern blues feel of the album. With Eric Oblander’s harp playing and rough edged vocals suiting the style of music perfectly, you can hear years worth of alcohol consumption coming out in every note. Mike Alonso displays some damn cool drumming even during the verses, as his beats drive the guitars. While Steve Smith on bass completes the perfect grooving rhythm section which keeps you nodding along throughout the whole album.
Lyrically, the songs are mostly about drinking, conjuring up images of a Blues Brothers-style, badly lit, dusty country bar in the middle of nowhere, complete with cowboy hats, spurs and chicken wire covering the stage. This is the soundtrack you want when sitting around your favourite bar with your mates putting down the whiskeys.
Every song on the album is truly awesome but stand out tracks are ‘Killing Mood’ for it’s funky blues/rocking sound, and ‘Sawhill’ for its killer riff and catchy vocals. At 10 tracks/45 minutes the album sucks you in so much that the experience comes to a halt before you’re ready… and that’s when you finally get some use from ‘repeat’ button.
Last Men on Earth is not only a decent album, but it inspires further research into their discography also.
Last Men On Earth
(Small Stone)
by Nathan Peauril
While this is Five Horse Johnson’s fifth studio outing, it’s actually my first exposure to the band. Within minutes I was asking myself why the hell hadn’t I heard them before? This is the best damn southern rock/blues band I’ve ever heard, and it all comes down to how funky - yet rocking - the album is. Each track instantly grabs you -1 or 2 listens and you will be hooked. Hey, you know you’re onto a good thing when one of the opening lyrics makes reference to Karma to Burn (“Why does a Heathen, wear Karma to Burn”).
Guitarist Brad Coffin knows how to wield an axe, creating some great riffs and killer solos. The welcome addition of slide during some songs adds to the overall southern blues feel of the album. With Eric Oblander’s harp playing and rough edged vocals suiting the style of music perfectly, you can hear years worth of alcohol consumption coming out in every note. Mike Alonso displays some damn cool drumming even during the verses, as his beats drive the guitars. While Steve Smith on bass completes the perfect grooving rhythm section which keeps you nodding along throughout the whole album.
Lyrically, the songs are mostly about drinking, conjuring up images of a Blues Brothers-style, badly lit, dusty country bar in the middle of nowhere, complete with cowboy hats, spurs and chicken wire covering the stage. This is the soundtrack you want when sitting around your favourite bar with your mates putting down the whiskeys.
Every song on the album is truly awesome but stand out tracks are ‘Killing Mood’ for it’s funky blues/rocking sound, and ‘Sawhill’ for its killer riff and catchy vocals. At 10 tracks/45 minutes the album sucks you in so much that the experience comes to a halt before you’re ready… and that’s when you finally get some use from ‘repeat’ button.
Last Men on Earth is not only a decent album, but it inspires further research into their discography also.