Black Stone Cherry Still Searching For Its Identity On Sophomore Album
By Phillip Sayblack
Friday, August 22, 2008
Roadrunner Records came under a lot of fire when Canadian rock band Nickelback was first signed to what was a purely metal label before that signing. Since that time, Roadrunner has also signed the likes of Theory of a Deadman, Thornley, Doubledrive, and other even less known bands that go against what Roadrunner has been known for during its existence. That being the case, when Black Stone Cherry was signed to the label and released its debut album in 2006, the band was just another step in Roadrunner’s ultimate goal of broadening its horizons and marketability.
Black Stone Cherry’s debut was a straight forward rock album that sounded like so many other southern/sludge rock bands. It was a catchy record, but nothing new. Now, two years later, the band returns with an album that shows not so much growth, but an attempt to find the band’s identity among an ocean of similar rock bands. That search has led the band to try and balance the familiar hard rock sound of its debut with a more emotional side. That separation is evident in songs like: “Things my Father Said”, “The Key”, and “Peace is Free.“ These songs are just a small cross section of the overall album. But they give a good indication of how much the band is still struggling to find its own musical identity. “The Key” sounds, in itself, like an odd mixture of Soil and Sevendust. Perhaps both bands are influences to the members of BSC.
Lyrically, the songs on this album tend to vary. There are songs about lost love in “Sunrise”, “You”, and “Please Come In.“ The album opener, “Blind Man” seems more of a social statement. The other songs are left up to listeners to interpret for themselves. Despite that, they help serve as minor parts of a whole enjoyable album.
‘Folklore and Superstition’ is an overall enjoyable album. It’s evident that the band is still feeling its way through things, and trying to find its own identity in the current musical landscape. That has led to a lot of experimentation with differnt sounds. That, in turn, has made for an album that is anything but a sophomore slump. Nonetheless, fans should remember that this is only the band’s second full length studio release. Therefore, fans can only wait and see if the band becomes one of the elite that breaks the much laigned third album curse. In the meantime, the band’s fans will have an impressive record to tide them over in their wait.
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