PlanetMosh Keeping it Metal
Black Eyed Sons may be a new name, but not new faces, and are no strangers to the music industry. Familiar to many over the past twenty years as members of the Quireboys. This new endeavour sees them joined by an amazing collection of fellow musicians for a joyous celebration of mutual admiration and musical celebration on their debut album, “Cowboys In Pinstriped Suits”.
They released the first single from it called ‘Foolin Yourself’, on October 25th 2024 which I reviewed and it’s been a long wait to get the chance to review the album in its entirety.
Opening track, ‘Lie To Me’ has feelgood vibes that are thrown up with rhythmic blues beauty. A heart worn on sleeve vocal makes its point early, heading towards a harmonica drenched midsection, taking a well deserved breath, closing on the chorus’s refrain.
‘Medicine’ slides out on a balladic shuffle as piano picks up the pace towards the doo wop clapped choruses and wiry guitar lines.
First single (as mentioned earlier) ‘Foolin Yourself’ is a monster! It roars along on hefty harmonica prowess, prominent piano and an instantly memorable chorus.
‘Autumn Reigns’ has a vocal so quaint, it could fall apart at anytime as this sumptuous ballad could melt the coldest heart. A song of sheer beauty.
‘Cowboys In Pinstriped Suits’ has a broken glass chewed vocal, hypnotic guitar lines that weave around sparse piano nuances and a watertight rhythm section.
A Faces vibe comes in ‘Don’t Throw Me In The Corner’. It’s one of the heavier tracks here musically and emotionally, throwing up a brief barroom boogie piece, closing on a razor sharp guitar solo.
‘Your True Colours’ is another toe tapper, sung with a mean and moody snarl, capturing this sultry ballads plea for a happy ending of guitar wizardry.
‘Savoir Faire’ is an uplifting rocker that bounces along on smile inducing, near the knuckle lyrics, heading off down the tracks for a hot rails to hell journey.
‘Dig Me Out Of This Hole’ is by far the heaviest track here for six punchy minutes to raise its fists and yell, highlighting how music can put you back on your feet.
‘So Glorious’ lives up to its stature for this spotlight stealing number, ascending to the heavens on an almost whispered vocal and choruses that demand to be sung alone to.
Final track to this very impressive debut is ‘Can’t Put Your Arms Around A Memory’. I had it on repeat play as it’s as close as you’ll get to being the perfect song. Six minutes of Country and Western balladry eases along on gentle acoustic guitar, double bass, orchestral strings and the midsection is heartwrenching, pouring out the grief.
Purchase links to the album and other links are here:- https://offyerrocka.com/product-category/artists/the-quireboys/?fbclid=IwY2xjawINKMpleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHRlW/ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61564951567105
Lead singer and guitarist of Black Eyed Sons, Guy Griffin goes on to say,”Myself, Steve Conte and Kyf Brewer go back a long way. We have been friends since 1989. We first met at the legendary Cherokee Studios in Los Angeles when we were both finishing our own respective debut albums. As we were finishing the album, I felt we were missing on one last rocker. This is it, our very first single,’Foolin Yourself’.
Black Eyed Sons band personnel and album tracklisting is here :-
Band:
Guy Griffin (lead vocals/guitar)
Paul Guerin (guitar)
Keith Weir (keyboards)
Nick Mailing (bass)
Pip Mailing (drums)
Tracklisting:
1. Lie to me
2. Medicine w/ Josh Todd, Stevie D (Buckcherry)
3. Foolin’ Yourself w/ Steve Conte (NY Dolls, Mike Monroe) Kyf Brewer (Company Of Wolves/Barley Juice)
4. Autumn Reigns w/ Charlie Starr (Blackberry Smoke)
5. Cowboys in pinstriped suits w/ Joe Elliott (Def Leppard) Ryan Roxie (Alice Cooper) Chip Z’Nuff (Enuff Z’Nuff)
6. Don’t throw me in the corner w/ Chip Z’Nuff ( Enuff Z’Nuff)
7. Your True colours w/ Mike Tramp (White Lion)
8. Savoir faire w/ Alan Clayton (Dirty Strangers) Steve Conte(NY Dolls, Mike Monroe) Chris Johnstone (Quireboys)
9. Dig me out of this hole w/ Scotti Hill (Skid Row)
10. So Glorious w/ Dan Reed (Dan Reed Network)
11. Can’t put your arms around a memory w/ Ryan Roxie (Alice Cooper)
