Monday, May 12, 2014

J. Roddy Walston & the Business

Rock and roll.  The rhythm section is well versed and deeply steeped in the Led Zeppelin tradition - booming kick drum and tight time-keeping snare over simple driving bass.  Vocals and guitar don't hold a candle to Plant/Page, so the comparison ends there, but even if these guys aren't golden gods, the music is fun, playful rock with a southern bent that is really good.  Most popular song is Heavy Bells, which is Kings of Leon-esque until the screaming kicks in:


Freaking weird video, but hella good rock song and I can see it being a blast to see in person.  At the 2:42 mark, tell me that is not a Zeppelin inspired breakdown.  Go ahead, try to tell me.  Nope.  But since Zep is freaking amazing, then I have zero issues with these boys paying homage in making some jangly amazingness of their own.  Here is their second most popular song from Spotify - Don't Break the Needle:
They've got three albums on Spotify, with the 2010 J Roddy and the Business being my favorite.  2007's Hail Mega Boys is raw older Kings of Leon-style yelpy rock, and I think they've improve immensely since there (the best song on here ended up on the 2010 album).  Their albums are not all cranked-to-11-rock, they also roll out a few chilled balad-style tunes about love and what it can never be.  But the heavy rock is fantastic and loose and fun.  Definitely want to see them play it live.

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