Customer Reviews

American Minor

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

From: Michelle Isham in CDT

If you've been pining away for the guitar rock of the '70s and '80s, your time has come ... again.


The guitar solo has returned with a vengeance. Justin Hawkins and the Darkness brought it back like a slap in the face with zebra-print spandex and a karaoke bar falsetto. The Kings of Leon gave it a southern accent. The Donnas, after years of prolific recording, finally caught hold. Perhaps it's a backlash against tightly scripted bands such as the Hives, or maybe it's because you can suppress the desire to rock out with an air guitar for only so long.


The latest incarnation of the classic-rock trend is American Minor, a five-piece southern rock band from Huntingdon, W.Va. Following an appearance at the South By Southwest Festival in Austin, Texas, the band was signed by Jive records, a label better known for its staple of pop and R&B moneymakers including Britney Spears, R. Kelly, N' Sync and the Backstreet Boys. With an endorsement like that, it seems like a safe assumption that southern rock is the wave of the future


With more of a stadium rock feel than the Kings of Leon and more thought-provoking lyrics than The Darkness, American Minor cannot be classified as derivative. The band's sound is distinctive not simply because McCutcheon sings as though he needs to clear his throat.


The band's music is colored by the influences of youth, resulting in songs that fall outside the girls, cars and booze scope. "Buffalo Creek" tells the story of a 1972 West Virginia dam collapse and flood that was caused by negligent strip mining. "Movin' On Up" describes a mentally ill Vietnam vet living on the streets. McCutcheon's raspy vocals perfectly convey the gritty reality of living in a dead-end town.

Despite the weighty subject matter, American Minor won't leave you reaching for a drink in which to drown your sorrows. The musicians' straightforward southern-rock sound will have you singing along to songs such as "Walk On," even as you find yourself asking "Did he just say 'capricious?' "

When American Minor released their 4 song 'Buffalo Creek EP' in 2004, I knew this band would be a force to be reckoned with. Now with the release of their self-titled debut on Jive Records, American Minor is set to take the rock music world on like rolling thunder!

American Minor is, Rob McCutcheon on vocals, Bud Carrol and Josh Gragg on guitars, Bruno on bass and Josh Knox on drums. What this five piece rock band from Virginia brings to the table is rock sound that is filled with passion, soul and tons of rock and roll attitude. Think Bad Company combined with the Americana flavor of Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers with a dash of Cry Of Love thrown in to spice things up.

The passionate soulful vocals of Rob McCutcheon are amazing. His vocals shine brilliantly throughout the whole album. If Paul Rodgers and Janis Joplin had ever hooked up Rob McCutcheon would be their offspring. An amazing talent indeed. As is evident on the opening track, "Walk On". Then you have the twin guitar exertions of Carrol and Gragg that compliment each other really well. At times reminded me a lot of the work of another American guitar tandem, the legendary, Gary Rossington and Allan Collins of Lynyrd Skynyrd. That chemistry is present throughout the album. Especially on tracks like the bluesy pearl, "Cheaters & Non-Believers", the down and dirty swagger of, "Mr. Queen" and the guitar driven, "Buffalo Creek" and "Shine".

Hands down! Anyway you slice it, this is a great straight ahead rock album! American Minor is a rock band you'd go see and there would be no fancy clothes, no half dressed chicks dancing on stage, just a bunch of guys in jeans and t-shirts with some Marshall's, cranked to the maximum, and their instruments. They'd plug in and they'd blow you away! There is no doubt that American Minor will have rock and roll fans kicking out the jams to for quite a very long time! This album comes highly recommended.

Let it be known that critics (except me, of course) cannot be trusted. While every music expert proselytized about the death of rock and roll, thousands of teen-aged proto-rockers were preparing to prove them (us) completely wrong. The result is that we suddenly find ourselves in the midst of a rock and roll renaissance. In America, the best of it is coming out of the south, as evidenced by the success of Kings of Leon and now, American Minor. Flaunting mid-`70s influences such as Foghat, Bad Company and Humble Pie, American Minor are, in virtually every way, a traditional hard rock band. The real question, though, is whether that's a good thing or a bad thing, and the answer is mixed.
By relying on classic rockers from the `70s, American Minor manages to sound more like the imitative classic rockers from the `80s and `90s who did the same thing. Comparisons to the Black Crowes and Tonic are inescapable, and the clichés pile up like cars in an ice storm. Every track on this CD is well executed, with good to excellent musicianship, strong vocals and tight arrangements, but something gets lost in the execution. It sounds like they lifted all of their riffs from a mid-`70s rock and roll playbook. If rock and roll was a sport, they'd get their obsolete asses kicked by the competition. Any band that can sing the lines `Shine your light down on me" (from, "Shine", obviously enough) or "As we get older..this world it gets colder" (from Sleepwalker") without irony must know that their grasp of rock and roll poetry is a bit excessive.
The good news here is that there isn't a bad song on the entire album, and there are no power ballads. The bad news is that it sounds like they stole an old master tape from the Black Crowes. Maybe it's true that there really is nothing new under the sun, but it does make me glad to hear that good ol' arena-style rock and roll is still here to stay.
B Tom Ryan

Let me start out by saying that this album is truly amazing. American Minor is a fantastic band, a stunning mix of Lynyrd Skynyrd [especially their looks...], Led Zeppelin, and just about every other classic rock band... ever. Having seen this album played in concert, and listenned to it myself, it must be said that American Minor [the album and the band] both have incredible energy. If you have become frustrated with modern music, and pine for 1970's style rock with just a tinge of modern prog rock sensiblity, this is the album for you.

Hey guys, Tubetwang here reporting on American Minor. I was turned on to these guys by Plexi on 18watt.com. I liked their youtube video and ordered their CD. Tough band! Great songs...no filler, just killers...
If you're into guitars/amps and like Southern Rock...get the CD while you can.

It is pleasant to see a rock n roll band emerge from so much crap in the mainstream. These guys follow in the footsteps of good classic rock like Lynyrd Skynyrd. There are some standout tracks on the album such as "Walk On" and "Buffalo Creek" but as a whole the album falls a little flat. Most of the songs are filler and tuneless. If you like good rock n roll it's worth checking out but don't expect to love every song on the cd!!!

Rock 'n' roll has been on life support for so long now I'd nearly given up hope. But don't pull the plug just yet! There's still a pulse thanks to American Minor.

This band has been accused of immitating some of rock's great illuminaries from the '70s (Foghat, Bad Company, Grand Funk, etc.) I don't find this a problem. Every band borrows from some influence. They key is to make it fresh and make it your own. These five guys from West Viginia mining country get the job done.

A lot of reviewers have compared them to the Black Crowes -- I think that's fair, but American Minor actually rocks a little harder. I also hear big Humble Pie and Stones influences here as well. There's a southern rock feel to the proceedings too. American Minor is a classic ensemble: a lead vocalist, two guitarists, bass and drums.

I recently read an article that explained these guys grew up in a small mining town that had no cable TV and thus no MTV; in fact, not much television at all. The one entertainment they did get was the the music their parents were playing on the phonograph -- 70s rock 'n' roll. See what can happen when you raise your children right?

But its the songs, people. These guys can write. We'll see if that holds up on subsequent releases, but the potential is there. The lyrics are a cut above your typical hard rock ramblings. "Mr. Queen" recounts a neighbor's suicide attempt; "Buffalo Creek" tells of the mining disaster that devasted a local town many years ago. And they know how to write a riff. Crunchy chords, sonically crisp fills and leads -- it all begs for you to turn it up louder. The opening track, "Walk On," is a personal favorite; it's catchy, hook-laiden, balls-to-the-wall rock 'n' roll with no pretense and no apologies.

American Minor might just be the CPR good ol' rock 'n' roll needs.

How are these guys not famous by now? I think the reviews that pin them as "just" basic rock miss the point: it's not that easy to do. These are simply great rock songs, catchy and punchy.

First Silvertide's amazing debut CD, now this gem by American Minor.

First heard their single "Buffalo Creek" on the radio in early July. Then visited their myspace account, and heard my favourite song on the CD "Dont Jump the Gun"

Bought the CD on release day, and was amazed that every song was so good. Much like the Silvertide CD. Excellent guitar, groovy sounds, raspy vocals.

Cant wait to see these guys in concert next month. Hopefully more bands like Silvertide and American Minor come into the music scene. It feels good to hear this type of music again.

I downloaded "Walk On" after I read a review of the band in Guitar Player magazine. I then went out and got the album. There are no fillers on this album. Every song is great. This band is great because they capture that great 70's classic/southern rock sound without sounding like they're trying to sound retro. The vocals are great on every song; very soulful. Songs that stand out to me are "Walk On", "Break", and "Shine". All of them are just great, in-your-face hard rock songs. If you like authentic, good music, you won't be dissappointed in this album.