SONG OF THE DAY
JOE BLACK'S ARMAGEDDON
Just added to KB Indie Radio at 1:38 pm 3-12-19
London, Ontario Canada
“What Radio Used To Be”
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Joe Black has poured the concrete for Charlie Farren’s Balloon and Black’s other main group, Ball ‘n’ Chain, for decades now, keeping the foundation for some of Boston’s best hard rock.
On Armageddon, the single from the first Joe Black solo disc, the bassist gives the fans what John Entwistle, Bill Wyman and Paul McCartney initiated years before, another musical perspective from the guiding rhythmic hand of the band.
“It only takes a few bad apples/to burn it to the ground” gives you a sense of the dire warnings in “Armageddon.” Starting off with early Jethro Tull-esque guitar strums the song explodes into power chords till the bleak, apocalyptic threat is revealed. Produced by Black and his Ball ‘n’ Chain guitarist/engineer, Aart Knyff the musicians on the CD single are: vocalist Jeffrey Baker, guitarist Johnny Press, drummer/keyboards Dave Pontbriand and Kenny Kalayjian (from Balloon) on mandolins. Joe Black is on bass on these two compositions.
“Love Goes on Forever” begins with magical jazz inspired flavorings, think Pat Metheny meets Rush, outer space ACHR (Adult Contemporary Hard Rock) with absolutely lovely guitar phrasings from Press and an exquisite hook that comes cascading in. “Just like you and me/ beautiful indeed. Green mountains and blue seas, beautiful indeed.”
Jeff Baker has his own style with the tonal quality of Extreme’s Gary Cherone. Placed over a plodding (Joe Black) Sabbath tempo, the vital 70’s guitar leads abound and take control, the chorus then swelling up behind this terrific mix of sounds. Intricate changes give this power ballad some musical depth…and it is a beauty indeed.
http://www.tmrzoo.com/2013/56940/review-joe-black-cd-single-armageddonlove-goes-foreverBLACKENSTEIN review, with the single ARMAGEDDON
By Ed Wrobleski of Talking Hendrix Radio / Activate Media
Joe Black’s first solo album – Blackenstein – does not have a bad cut on the entire album. The title song could be the answer or possible sequel to Edgar Winter’s “Frankenstein” as Black goes about painting a different picture for each piece on the CD. Unlike some artists who can’t seem to get out of their own way, repeating the same style and guitar riff(s) repetition, Joe Black likes to keep the listener’s attention by adding clever twists. You can, however, hear some possible influences that may have inspired the founding member of Ball and Chain for this collection of material.
Although Black stays within the eighties and nineties classic hard rock genre – for the most part – he does delve into multiple genres, as with the track “Uncle Elihja” with its southern-tinged rock flavor to it – very reminiscent of a Lynyrd Skynyrd feel. It’s nice to hear a newly written essay paying homage to a veteran classic rock band. “Monster” belongs in a horror film – a classic Halloween slasher kind of flick where you can visualize the villain doing his dirty work with “Monster” playing throughout it.
“Shake A Leg” has some LedZeppelin overtones surrounding its aura while “I Care About You” is paying respect to the great power ballads of a metal time gone by while painting a portrait of love one may have for a significant other. “Armageddon,” the first CD single, will keep the hair band fans happy, but its statement and vision takes it beyond that format. This cd has such an infectious sound that it will just keep you wanting more, 31 minutes and 47 seconds is just not long enough….it’s over before it even really gets started. Encore.
Thanks to guest contributor Ed Wrobleski
http://www.tmrzoo.com/2018/72585/joe-black-blackenstein-rocks
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