Jay Jesse Johnson Band – Down The Hard Road (CD)

Jay Jesse Johnson (not to be confused with disco/funk rocker Jesse Johnson) has released a bunch of high class albums since his solo debut “Strange Imagination” in 2004. Before that he recorded an album with pomp rock band ArcAngel (featuring Jeff Cannata) in 1983 and in 1989 he released the album “Electrocution of the Heart” with AOR band Deadringer (featuring Charlie Huhn and Barry Dunaway among others). His solo albums are however quite far from the melodic rock scene. “Down The Hard Road”, like Jay’s previous solo efforts, are all about the blues. The album is all originals except for Booker T’s “Born Under A Bad Sign” and Roy Buchanan’s “The Messiah Will Come Again”. I remember reviewing Jay’s previous album “Set The Blues On Fire” two years ago. The album was a nice piece of hard edged blues rock. On this album Jay is leaning more towards the classic side of blues rock and boogie and he’s even added some horns on a couple of songs and there’s a piano solo in “Drive Me Home”. Jay is an outstanding guitarist with both incredible feel and great technique. Most of the songs are classic blues rock numbers, while “Tears Of An Angel” is a slow and slightly heavier blues ballad and “Bull In The Barn” offers some swift chicken pickin’. The aforementioned Buchanan cover “The Messiah Will Come” also offers a slightly different touch to the album, and I honestly hadn’t really thought about how this number must have had a great impact on Gary Moore when he wrote “The Loner” and “Parisienne Walkways”. Sweet notes a’ la carte.

Janne Stark

Year: 2017

Label: Grooveyard Records

Country: USA

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Link: www.grooveyardrecords.com

Jimmy Ryan – 21st Century Riffology (CD)

Remember the days of shredders and instrumental guitar albums? Shrapnel Records? Back when Yngwie Malmsteen still could record an album that actually sounded good (and long before he thought he could sing). I was a huge fan of that genre and I had them all. Well, as time went by, I kinda lost interest as a lot of the albums were more about the actually shredding ability (aka guitar wanking) that about the song. Then came the drum machine/programmed drums and any natural feel in the song was just lost. Well, in later years there has popped up an instrumental album or two, that has caught my attention. Grooveyard Records and Shredguy Records are two labels that have released some really interesting stuff in that category. In my hand I have the solo release by Jimmy Ryan of The Flying Ryan Brothers, who have put out some great instrumental stuff. After a first listen, I do have to admit that Jimmy’s solo album is even more up my alley. 21 songs in 50 minutes may sound like a classic hardcore or punk album, but of course it’s not. What is good about it is that there are no songs where there are dragged out solo sections that go on forever without leading anywhere. These are actual songs, with melodies and structures. Short melodic movies. Even though the riff is in center throughout the album, the style ranges from softer, melodic songs, such as “Ad Astra”, “Stardust” and finisher “Zenology”, through straight ahead rock ‘n blues such as “Slipstream” to drop-D riff rockers that really groove. The eight heavy hitters in a row: “Thor’s Hammer”, “Stompbox”, “Mazerunner”, “Hammerhead”, “Untamed”, “Superchunk”, “Piledriver” and “X Factor” are prime examples of songs that are in a similar vein, yet quite different. I really love Jimmy’s melodic feel, the bluesy touch and his strong, determined tone. He really plays it like he means it. An excellent album, indeed!

Janne Stark

Label: Grooveyard Records

Country: USA

Year: 2017

Link: www.grooveyardrecords.com

ELECTRIC GUITARS – String Fever (CD)

The phrase “Danish dynamite” has somehow mostly been connected to hard rockers Pretty Maids. I would however like to widen that epithet to also include this powerful foursome. String Fever is the second effort from the Danish rockers fronted by guitarists/singers Soren Andersen and Mika Vandborg. Both have released their own, outstanding solo albums, while Soren has also been part of Glenn Hughes band plus Kick The Kangaroo, Mike Tramp etc. The title track opens the album with a groovy Hendrixy melodic rocker mixing cool vintage guitar sounds, loose drums, working bass and cool sassy vocals, ending in a full-on guitar orgy. I really love the production, keeping it fresh but still honouring the late 60s/early 70s in its dynamics and style. White Flag opens with one of the coolest, funkiest riffs I’ve heard all year (2015, that is). Makes me think of a mix of Philip Sayce and Frank Marino with a touch of Lenny Kravitz in his rock mood. Killer track! F***ing LOVE that riff!! Running Out of Time continues the riff mania and keeps the heaviness pounding with its intense and cool rhythm work. Another heavy hitter that just completely knocked me out! Girlfriend hits some others strings, surprisingly poppy and more akin to 70s Cheap Trick (which I happen to like). Day Off continues in a swampy southern early ZZ Top meets Blackberry Smoke vein, while She Wants My Guitar (feat. Ida Corr) draws more towards AC/DC meets The Black Crows with the addition of the vintage talk box effect. A cool hit-oriented rocker! I like the way Electric Guitars blend rough, riffy vintage sounding bluesy rock with quite poppy melodies, without sounding cheesy. The guitar work is totally stunning and the vocal qualities fits the style just perfectly, not too nice, not too, dirty. A killer band and a killer album, indeed!

Janne Stark

Label: Target

Country: Denmark

Year: 2015

Video: https://youtu.be/s26ArfXwPGk