Buckcherry

Vol. 10

Spherical Hill

Jul 26, 2023
Net Unique

By Frank Valish

Get together rock is a tough “style” to objectively assessment. One man’s “Women, Women, Women” is one other man’s, properly, “Women, Women, Women,” if you already know what I imply. Buckcherry has ridden this celebration rockin’ vibe from the late ‘90s and continues to be going sturdy, evidenced by Vol. 10 being the band’s second album in three years, following 2021’s Hellbound.

The issue is, listening to those albums back-to-back, Vol. 10 appears to be a vastly superior product. Let’s attempt to break it down. When Buckcherry is sweet, it’s nice. Singer Josh Todd is likely one of the finest rock voices to guide an up-tempo blues-based rock outfit since, properly perhaps Axl Rose. Nevertheless, Buckcherry each succeeds and fails on the tune degree. When issues are good, the songs pop with vitality. Lyrical themes, whereas admittedly by no means probably the most intellectually stimulating, retain a sure edge to match the musical and vocal depth (learn: they don’t seem to be objectively silly or blatantly offensive on their face). When it’s dangerous, and I’ve alluded to this already, the lyrics are restricted to cliche or trope, and even worse gratuitous swearing for no cause or sexual offensiveness. At at its worst, this results in celebration rock that’s merely boring, which was too typically the case on Hellbound. That mentioned, Vol. 10 is a totally totally different story.

First off, it swings. From the opening riff and vocal traces of opening monitor “This and That,” the band, led by Todd’s high-octane vocals, merely grooves. Certain there are thinly veiled sexual allusions (with this band, what else would you anticipate?), nevertheless it nearly doesn’t matter what Todd is singing. It’s concerning the how. And when the band rips proper right into a riff that might have come from Weapons ‘N Roses circa 1987 (and with guitar solos to match) with “Good Time,” the listener is aware of the band’s not messing round.

All the time a sucker for an influence ballad, Buckcherry can undergo from hit-or-miss on this space as properly, however “Feels Like Love,” sequenced strategically on the album’s midpoint, perfects the system. A stretch maybe, nevertheless it nearly seems like Todd is channeling Foreigner (a very good factor on this context).

Not all the pieces hits with the identical depth. “Shine Your Gentle” and “Let’s Get Wild” could possibly be described as cookie-cutter. However the album finishes sturdy, with one other official exhausting rocker, “With You,” and one other gigantic ballad, “Ache.”

At 37 minutes, Vol. 10 doesn’t overstay its welcome. It hits like a sledgehammer and peaces out, satirically with a “bonus monitor” cowl of Bryan Adams’ “Summer season of 69,” which additionally isn’t as dangerous as you may think.

Once more, reviewing a brand new Buckcherry album may look like an unenviable job. Objectively, to borrow a phrase, this band is what it’s. Nobody would accuse Buckcherry of being mental music or sonic groundbreakers. However that’s not the purpose or the aim. Because the band’s self-titled 1999 debut, Buckcherry has been one of the best when it’s been the rocking-est, the funnest, and the largest, probably the most amphetamine-drenched up-all-night rock and roll celebration with a mushy aspect equal to one of the best of late-‘80s energy ballads. And with Vol. 10, the band delivers the products. (www.buckcherry.com)

Writer score: 7/10