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Written
by Ed Price, posted by blog admin
Led
by singer/songwriter Russ Still, sole author of eight of the album’s nine
tracks, Russ Still and the Moonshiners remember a time when the ol’ glory of
southern rock flew high. Back when bands
were finding a new way to reinterpret the well-worn shoes of country music,
there was a spark in innovation led by The Outlaws, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Blackfoot,
Hydra and several other notable artists.
Less riff-y and bombastic, and more entrenched in tasty licks and easy
breathing groove, Russ Still and his compatriots put on a good show here.
“Promised
Land” slams out riffs n’ home-cooked lead guitar with ample support from the
vibrant bass grooves and steady handed drumming. Tinkling ivories only further the highly
melodic element, the nice separation between instruments providing Still plenty
of room to exercise his blue-eyed soul rapture.
This is the good stuff from a bygone era brought back to life with
imagination and passion to burn. Working up an acoustic trot, “Long Way from
Home” simmers and works up a nice acoustic trot, but finishes at a hot electric
boil. The bass-centered “Glorine” is
packed with verse/chorus hooks from start to finish and paints the tale of a hard-edged
woman with a “cigar in her mouth,” with appropriately fiery wah-guitar bringing
the character to vivid life.
Kicking
off with a piano ditty before transitioning into an acoustic slow jam, “I Can’t”
is the album’s epic ballad and capped off by a rising swell of volume until the
electric guitars bring resolution and Russ’ voice finds the plateau. It’s a
great all around track and one of the album’s best. The acoustic/electric
guitar rocker “Goin’ Fishin’” makes for another high energy sing-a-along and
pairs nicely with the Pure Prairie League inspired “Juanita,” a catchy
country-rock burner where Still’s voice even manages to sound a lot like the
legendary Craig Fuller. “10,000 Ways” has
Freebird-esque sprawl and may strike some as an ode to the powerful, lengthy
album closers of the southern-rock heyday. The slovenly riffed lumber of
“Workin’ Class Hunter” and the punchy “Run Away” finishes the album on a lively
note.
Sophomore
slump is nowhere to be found on the sizzling electric smoke of Still Cookin’. These cats have command of their
musicianship, teamwork and songwriting; you can tell the entire band knows one
another’s strengths inside and out. This
is a great record that could have been released 30-40 years ago and would have
ended up a huge seller.
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