Black Stone Cherry (CD - 2006)

Black Stone Cherry: Chris Robertson (vocals, guitars, slide guitar); Ben Wells (guitars, electric sitar, background vocals); Jon Lawhon (electric bass, background vocals); John Fred Young (drums, percussion, background vocals).

Additional personnel: Reese Wynans (Hammond b-3 organ).

Proving that old music can become new again, young Edmonton, Kentucky quartet Black Stone Cherry surface with a debut album that recalls the peaks of grunge-flecked 1990s alt-rock, from Soundgarden to Stone Temple Pilots. Lead singer/guitarist Chris Robertson could certainly cover for anyone from Scott Weiland to Scott Stapp in a pinch, and though his vocal stylings are what will spark comparisons to earlier outfits, the band refuses to choke up on balladry, delivering a series of concussive, hard-rocking belts to the backside, most notable of which are leadoff track "Rain Wizard," the reckless "Backwoods Gold," and an impatient retelling of the Yardbirds' classic, "Shapes of Things." minimize