Country soul flavoured rock 'n' roll equal to the best of Br
Greg Reilly | Melbourne, Australia | 12/10/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Chugging out of Motor City, the Deadstring Brothers churn out a mix of country-soul and rhythm-'n'-blues rock 'n' roll, reminiscent of late'60s-mid-'70s Stones and the Faces, with a hint of Allman Brothers Wipe the Windows-era southern rock. And, with their third effort, Silver Mountain, the band has released the best country-blues rock album (maybe the best rock album) of the year _ again.
Like their previous releases, The Deadstring Brothers and Starving Winter Report, their new CD is filled with memorable hooks, wonderfully loose licks, smart lyrics and catchy choruses, eddying along on dobro- and steel-threaded grooves. Consistency is the band's trademark, and there's no fill here.
The album opens with the churning AC/DC-like Ain't No Hiding Love, which has a familiar Keef-style dirty lick, with a distorted slide overlay. Singing is shared by Kurt Marschke and Marsha Marjieh and the pair kick out good and proper when they next launch into Meet Me Down at Heavy Load, a rollicking, whiskey-soaked Faces-inspired rocker, before rolling into the beautiful If You Want Me To, which could have been an Exile On Main Street out-take. Every track is a gem, but the achingly soulful title track; Queen of the Scene, with driving slide; the raw and scratchy blues of Some Kind of User; and the honky tonkin' You Look Like the Devil urge replay.
Hit the road, windows down and turn up the volume."
Classic Country Rock Done with Stones-Like Flair
Jeff Feezle | Indiana | 11/15/2007
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Here's an interesting band that you shouldn't miss. They are part of the Americana Roots movement combining Rolling Stones-type riffs with country-rock. Uncle Tupelo comes to mind. The strange contradiction is that the Deadstring Brothers started as a Rolling Stones cover band PLUS they came from Detroit. The leader and guitarist Kurt Marschke has found a wonderful blend of classic rock that is neither overproduced nor commonplace.
This is their third release, and all are highly acclaimed in previous reviews by the Indie music press. They have recently toured with Drive-By Truckers, Cat Power and other similar music acts. This is a band that will probably never receive the recognition they deserve simply because they are not a singles band. The songs on the cd work well with each other: none seem out of place. The best cuts: the first one: "Ain't No Hidin' Love" and "If You Want Me To." Both are easily remembered, but not slick and full of pop hooks. They are memorable simply because it's straight up rock and roll, ala 70's classic rock.
The first two releases: "Self-Titled" and "Starving Winter Report" are well worth obtaining, especially if you like the Black Crowes early material. Personally, I can appreciate and listen to this straight ahead approach to rock without getting burned out on the flavor of the sound. Recommended!
Jeff Feezle of Macafeez
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