The Georgia Thunderbolts 'Rise Above It All' Album Review
Wow, this one caught me by surprise!
As Rockgig’s resident redneck – all things Southern or Country tend to come my way.. and looking at the name I thought “here we go, another Cadillac Three rip off…” but NO!! I Was COMPLETELY wrong.
So… keep your arms inside the car at all times, ensure all valuables are stashed away, and anything you hold dear is nailed down as this is going to be one hell of a ride….
Opening track “Gonna Shine” lays down the Georgia-based quintet’s credentials by performing as good a Southern Rock track as you’ll ever hear.
..and then .. just as I’m expecting another.. “Rock n Roll Record” hits the speakers in all its moody Bad Company (the track and the band) loveliness. Maybe the PR company have messed up the stream here.. nope .. same band. Nice!
Track 3, the Title Track “Rise Above it All” is a magnificent track, and once again twists the genre stereotypes by almost having a classy 90’s Seattle feel to it. (I never said Pearl Jam – you thought it)
Where are we going next? - Track 4 “Moonlight Play” – Again some beautiful Paul Rodgers vibes in a really classy mid tempo song.
Hello Slide Guitars, we’ve missed you, took your sweet time turning up, we’re on track 5 already… old school southern blues with “Aint Got No Money”
“Wait” is the Harmony vocal, jangling acoustic guitar ballad of the summer. Period. Its so good that after one play a) you know the words and b) you swear you first heard it in a field with 100,00 others all drinking Red Label Thunderbird in the 80’s
“Crawling My Way Back to You” showcases T.J. Lyles smoky and emotive vocals over a simple background of acoustic guitar until the rest of the band join in but keep it restrained and bluesy.
You know from the kickdrum intro of “She’s Gonna Get it” that this is going to rock. A number of big haired, tight spandex crotched singers would have killed their own mothers to have written this track.
“Little Jim” keeps the standard high and then there’s another WTF? moment when the riff of “It AInt Easy” starts up.. who knew Southern Rock Reggae Blues Gospel was a thing ? Bloody Marvelous.
Obviously by Track 11 Zach Everett on Bass had said “come on boys, let me start a track”.. and then the band kick in with the powerful, memorable “Stand Up”
It shows the Thunderbolts confidence and skill that it’s not until Track 12 on a Southern Rock album that we get to the Whiskey song… “Whiskey Talkin’ “. As a lifelong Blackfoot fan I think its safe to say that this is up there with anything that Mr Medlocke has written.
I’m assuming these guys are playing Gibsons through Marshalls, because the final track “Pricetag” sounds like they turned them up to 11 and riffed the bejesus out of them, but again it is held together with beautiful harmonies and melody.
..and that’s it we’re done. A magnificent rollercoaster of all killers no fillers as we coast over the final line, arms in the air, still screaming with joy and just a little trace of yesterdays lunch in the back of our throats.
A truly wonderful album, full of emotive vocals, harmonies, creative songwriting, fantastic hooks and melodies. This might have toppled Robert Jon and Wreck from the Death Decks in Rockgig Towers…….. Loved it. Loved it. Loved it.
NR
