country

(8/10) Sascha Vollmer (alias Hoss Power) and myself, we have at least one thing in common – we share the same city of birth and that’s already a good reason to follow the musical career of the Swabian cowboy from the Oschdalb.

Vollmer’s main band is The Bosshoss, a rock’n’country outfit he’s running since several years together with Alec Voelkel (alias Boss Burns). I not the youngest anymore, but I can remember the early days of The Bosshoss, a time when they rocked smaller venues in the province. These nights were just awesome – good music and a few beers, that was all you needed at that time.

The Bosshoss could enlarge their fan base enormously within Germany, Austria and Switzerland. What unfortunately happened in parallel was that the songs became more average and trivial with every new longplayer. The last album made me even think about the guys riding a dead horse - sticking to the cowboy metaphor.

OK, enough about The Bosshoss. This review is about Hot Boogie Chillum, which was Vollmer’s first band. Vollmer reactivated the trio and re-released the legendary “15 Reasons to Rock’n’Roll” from 2005. The songs are remixed and remastered and there it is again – the good old rock spirit, the vibe and the groove that also has been a fundamental part of The Bosshoss' early days.

This longplayer combines rockabilly, blues and country to something that’s puts a spell on you. Standing still while listening to these songs is a mission impossible. Uptempo rockers like “I Wanna” are brilliant tracks that make your day. The same goes for the opener “What Happened to Me”; inspired by Jethro Tull’s “Locomotive Breath” basic theme, and the 60’s rocker “Penetration”.

“18 Reason to Rock’n’Roll” doesn’t include any boring song. Each of these tunes is a little highlight in itself with the remastered version bringing this even more to forefront.

By the way, if you think that the ‘18’ is a typo you’re wrong. The new version comes with three extra songs, all together creating a real rock’n’roll volcano. You shouldn’t miss this album, regardless if rock’n’roll, country and/or blues fascinates you. And even if you’re a metalhead with a passion for riff power you should check out this album. It's pure entertainment and fun. More of this.

(8/10)

Tracklist:

1. What Happened to Me
2. Oh Well
3. Triple Extroversion
4. Pure
5. Chickpulling Machine
6. Boogie & Harmony
7. Butterfly
8. I Wanna
9. Love and A 45
10. Good Cooking
11. Penetration
12. Send Me Your Love
13. Volcano
14. Come on
15. Widow Wimberly
16. At Least I'll Try
17. The One
18. No One Will Ever Know

Label: Internashville Recordings

Genre: Rock'n'Country

Release Date EU: April 6^th, 2018

(8/10) It was a tough time for Supersuckers mainman Eddie Spaghetti. The singer and bassman has been confronted with the diagnosis of cancer, right at the time when the band's newest album was ready to be released. Eddie went into a period of treatment for fighting cancer and the "Eddie Spagehetti Cancer Fight Fund", he set up, supported very much financing all the expensive treatments.

But Spaghetti is a fighter and the new album will see the light of day as we speak. "Holdin' the Bag" is the name of the disc and it's a pretty cool record.

The lonplayer begins with a very melancholic song called "Hidin' the Bad" - the title track. The song starts with a harmonica and a acoustic guitar, a very silent beginning. It develops to a melodic folk rocker with an excellent melody without getting reallt loud. In one or another way a was reminded of the Leningrad Cowboys.

The next number fits into the general theme of this album but it's a bit faster than the opener. It's a mix of Social Distortion and some folk. "Man On a Mission" could become a part of a western movie soundtrack before one of the highlights takes over. "I Can't Cry" is a very touching track with a lot of feeling embedded. It's the shared vocals of Spagetti and Lydia Loveless which gives this song a very special touch. Again, for me one of the best ones on this album and I wonder how much the recent experiences of Spaghetti impacted on this tune.

But there are the positive vibes on "Holdin' the Bag" too. "Let's Bounce" is a track that comes with this optimistic approach. It's a Southern rock track that sounds like something from Kid Rock, just better.

You want it more rock'n'roll? No problem. "Jibber-Jabber" is the most rocking track on the album, build on a irresistible groove and a crazy piano.

You wonder if all this diversity fits together. I can affirm this, the whole album feels like one unit that shows the musical flexibility of the Supersuckers.

I like this record even though it's not metal. Anyhow, it's cool and honest music. It his highly entertaining and gives you a good time.

(8/10)

Tracklist:

1. Holdin' the Bag
2. This Life .. With You (feat. Hayes Carli)
3. High and Outside
4. Man on a Mission
5. I Can't Cry (feat. Lydia Loveless)
6. Let's Bounce
7. I Dow What I Can
8. Jibber-Jabber
9. That's How It Gets Done
10. Shimmy and Shake
11. All My Rowdy Friends
12. Georgia on a Fast Train (EU Bonus)
13. Loaded (Vinyl Only Bonus)

Label: Steamhammer/SPV

Genre: Rock

Release Date EU: January 29th, 2016

(8/10) Ten years ago The Bosshoss from Berlin, Germany released their first album called "Internashville Urban Hymns". From this moment on the band constantly developed their sound and became to one of the most popular German acts.

The main trademark of Boss Burns and Hoss Power is the mixture of country, rock and metal. In the early days the guys covered various songs and gave those a unique country rock touch. Highlights like "Jesus Built My Hotrod" from Ministry and Plastic Bertrand's "Ça plane pour moi" are awesome interpretations that still get some rounds on my record player.

From "Stallion Battalion" onwards The Bosshoss started with own songs. Right in time, but the question that came up was, if they could continue with their successtory by releasing own songs. Yes, they could.

End of September we can welcome the eighth album of the Spree-rockers from Berlin. "Dos Bros" contains eleven songs. On an extra CD the guys go back to their early days and recorded some covers - some of those done with their jury-colleagues from the "Voice Of Germany" days.

But let's focus on the 'real' album first. The longplayer starts with a typical rockin' country track a la The Bosshoss. "Wait For Me" is a cool opener, but the title track, following the opener, is the first real burner on the new disc. Not for nothing this number became the first single release; by the way with a cool video.

With "Joyride" an acosutic country track follows before "Today Tomorrow Too Long Too Late", an Elvis-like rocker, takes over. The song is easy going and invites to lean back and enjoy life.

"I Like It Like That" grooves pretty well and the whistling in "Star Of The Roadcrew" adds a western touch to The Bosshoss' sound. Things get harder again with "She Is A Little B". Drums kick-off this tune and the beginning sounds almost like Iron Maiden's "Run To The Hills". I like The Bosshoss' most when they play harder and with a real rock'n'roll vibe. "She Is A Little B" belongs to this catergory and therefore it's for me one of the best tracks on the album. More of this please.

The next piece is called "Tennesee Woman". It's an excellent smasher that could also come from Everlast. The piano plays an important role in "I'm Coming Home"; a song that has a Southern Rock flair. The beginning of "Lady JD" reminded me to "The Fall Guy" while the tune itself is a soulful ballad that reflects The Bosshoss' mellow side. The closer is called "A Cowboys Work Is Never Done" which a more average song on "Dos Bros".

As mentioned earlier, CD 2 comes with cover versions that are interpreted The Bosshoss style. The most standing out cover is Marilyn Manson's "Beautiful People" which got a total new expression. The other songs are more a kind of revisit of the early days. Tracks like "Walking Away" with Rea Garvey are well done. The same goes for The Commodores' "Easy", eventhough the ultimate cover was done by Faith No More some years ago.

To sum up: The Boshoss has shown in ten years a constant development by gaining more and more new fans. With "Dos Bros" the guys continue walking on this road to success and fans of the Berlin-based cowboys will have fun with new album. I personally missed a few more real hits on the album. The density was bigger on the last releases. Also after a few rounds on the record player it's the title track that is the real smaher. The rest is good stuff and well done, but not real standing out. However, "Dos Bros" is an album that let the sun shine during grey autumn days.

(8/10)

Tracklist:

CD 1:

1. Wait For Me
2. Dos Bros
3. Joy Ridin'
4. Today, Tomorrow, Too Long, Too Late
5. I like it like that
6. Star Of The Roadcrew
7. She Is A Little B
8. Tennessee Woman
9. I'm Coming Home
10. Lady JD
11. A Cowboys Work Is Never Done

CD 2:

1. No Diggity (feat. Xavier Naidoo)
2. Jolene (feat. The Common Linnets)
3. Geronimo (feat. Aura Dione)
4. The Beautiful People
5. Walking Away (feat. Rea Garvey)
6. What I Did For Love (feat. Nena)
7. Candy Shop
8. Thrift Shop
9. Easy
10. Boom Boom (feat. Graveltones)

Label: Universal Music

Genre: Country Rock

Release Date EU: September 25th, 2015

German urban cowboys The Bosshoss released a first video from the upcoming album. The tune they guys have chosen is the title track from the upcoming album "Dos Bros". The video reminds to a Tarantino video and is worth to be watched. 

The song itself is a cool groove rocker that raises curiosity for the album. Release date is Septmeber, 25, 2015. Check it out.

German rodeo rockers The Bosshoss have been in the studio to record a new longplayer. "Dos Bros" will be released on September 25 and a first teaser is already available.

Furthermore Boss Burns and Hoss Power will join the third saeson of Germnaies music show "Sing mein Song - Das Tauschkonzert", which is an interesting format with various German musicians, performing songs from the others.

(8/10) This album is much more than just a live album from Lynyrd Skynyrd. This disc gives you the chance to experience a special night that took place in the Fox Theatre in Atlanta, GA on November 12, 2014.

An extraordinary collection of artists gathered to perform some of the best songs of the legendary Southern rock band. As you can see on the tracklist it has been musicians like Peter Frampton who did an awesome rockin' version of "Call me the breeze", Cheap Trick that performed the mighty "Gimme back the bullets" and it was Blackberry Smoke that paid tribute to Lynyrd Skynyrd with their version of "Working for MCA". 

Those have been just three out of 16 great guest interpretations on the album. The cherry on the cake with this albums comes at the end. Lynyrd Skynyrd themself entered the stage and played three songs - their very greatest hits. 

It starts with "Travellin' man". It's not only Johnny van Zant doing the vocals. He's singing the song along with an archival video of his brother Ronnie who did far too early - five very moving minutes.

"Free bird" is the next song. Lynyrd Skynyrd reminds us with this performance to all the band members that are no longer with us. It's a very soulful moment.

A Lynryd Skynryd album can't live without "Sweet homa Alabama". It's the last track played that night and it's the entire group of artist performing it. Having so many musicians on stage gave the band classic a very special touch. It was a unique interpretation, being part of a very special night.

In this review I'm only refering to the CD version. But there is a DVD/Blu-Ray version available too and I could imagine that they make this concert to an even more intesive experience. I think the title says it all - "One more for the fans".

(8/10)

Tracklist:

1. Whiskey rock a roller (performed by Randy Houser)
2. You got that right (performed by Robert Randolpg & Jimmy Hall)
3. Saturday night special (performed by Aaron Lewis)
4. Working for MCA (performed by Blackberry Smoke)
5. Don't ask me no questions (performed by O.A.R.)
6. Gimme back the bullets (performed by Cheap Trick)
7. The ballad of Curtis Loew (performed by moe & John Hiatt)
8. Simple man (performed by Gov't Mule)
9. That smell (performed by Warren Haynes)
10. Four walls of Raiford (performed by Jamey Johnson)
11. I know a little (performed by Jason Isbell)
12. Call me the breeze (performed by Peter Frampton)
13. What's your name (performed by Trace Adkins)
14. Down South jukin' (performed by Charlie Daniels & Donnie van Zant)
15. Gimme three steps (performed by Alabama)
16. Tuesday's gone (performed by Gregg Allman)
17. Travellin' man (performed by Lynyrd Skynyrd with Johnny and Ronnie)
18. Free bird (performed by Lynyrd Skynyrd)
19. Sweet home Alabama (performed by Lynryd Skynryd and the entire cast)

Label: earMUSIC

Genre: Southern Rock

Release date EU: July 24th, 2015

(*/10) When I heard the album for the first time I was reminded to what German band The Bosshoss did as well. Taking well known songs and arrange them in a total different way. While The Bosshoss, in their early days, took pop songs as well as "Jesus built my hotrod" from Ministry and added a country touch to it, Hayseed Dixie started with a cover album called "A Hillbilly tribute to AC/DC". That was in 2001 and in the meantime the band released a few more records - some of them being quite successful in the US.

As the title of the new album suggests Hayseed Dixie re-arranged the songs they cover in a bluegrass style. With "Hair down to my grass" the band remains true to their style and continue with the bluegrass/rock mix.

Hayseed Dixie is also known for creating 'stories' around their albums. The first one was that they found out "that the "Lost Highway" of Hank Williams and the "Highway To Hell" of AC/DC were the same damned road". This was the inspiration for their debut. Now it was that, on a car ride from Dortmund to Frankfurt, they heard "Eye of the tiger" six times in the radio; each of those in a arranged differently. OK, there is a lot of creativity in creating those stories, but how about the music.

The band took some classics of rock like "Eye of the tiger from Survivor", Europe's "The final countdown" (doesn't work that well) and Motoerhead's "We are the road crew" (actually pretty cool) which they put into a bluegrass dress. Surprisingly also Pink Floyds "Comfortably numb" sounds quite good. Seems that you can't kill a great song.

The most funny part on the album is the German version of "Wind of change". It's called "Wind der Veraenderung" and it's hilarious.

This album has a huge comedy factor but also some songs on album got an interesting new interpretation. No rocket science, but fun and entertainment - that's "Hair down to my grass". Give it try.

(*/10)

Tracklist:

1. Don't stop believing (Journey)
2. Eye of the tiger (Survivor)
3. The final countdown (Europe)
4. We're not gonna take it (Twisted Sisters)
5. Summer of 69 (Bryan Adams)
6. Pour some sugar on me (Def Leppard)
7. Dude looks like a lady (Aerosmith)
8. Living on a prayer (Bon Jovi)
9. Wind der Beraenderung (Wind of change) (Scorpions)
10. We are the road crew (Motoerhead)
11. Comfortably numb (Pink Floyd)
12. Don't fear the reaper (Blue Oyster Cult)

Label: Hayseed Dixie Records

Genre: Rock / Dixie