For those who like their Southern-styled music and know little of Chris Russell’s Chicken Walk, you’re in for a bit of a treat with their latest release, Drive. These guys have built quite a following in recent times playing Chrississippi Music – basically their own take on Southern blues rock. Don’t let the playful name lead you astray, there’s nothing gimmicky here. These guys execute seriously raw, grimy metallic sounds that are worlds away from new-age sleekness. This is outdoorsy music at its best, complemented by the wolf-like howling of the man at the centre of the picture, Chris Russell.
Key to the album’s success are the dark, evocative lyrics that have the power to transplant the listener to another world. Travel to a roadhouse diner courtesy of the album’s second track, Drive All Night, or follow the trail of the femme fatale in Snub Nose .38. Drive contains a mixture of up-tempo tracks and slow, brooding tracks. But as with any true Southern blues number, the subject matter is always on the grim side and laced with a touch of the surreal. Particular favourites include Blackwater and Mermaids, both of which have a timeless quality to them.
It takes a few listens to really get to the heart of some tracks – the lyrical genius can get lost as the gritty instrumentals clash with Russell’s howling. However, even purely as background noise, this album gives you some seriously stimulating listening. It’s been a long time since I’ve heard a band produce sounds quite like this, and I like it.
BY EBEN ROJTER
