Black Country Communion (CD/DVD)

Black Country Communion | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 21, 2010)
• Original Release Date: 2010
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: J&R Adventures
• ASIN: B003XQRZ7E
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (107 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,306 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Black Country Communion...
...is a devastating head-on collision between American
and British rock influences a true supergroup that
delivers a titanic rock experience greater than the sum of
its supremely talented parts.
The brainchild of producer Kevin Shirley (Black Crowes, Aerosmith,
Led Zeppelin), the band combines the rock lineage and forces of legendary
frontman and bass guitarist Glenn Hughes (Deep Purple, Black Sabbath,
Trapeze), master blues-rock guitarist Joe Bonamassa, powerhouse drummer
Jason Bonham (Led Zeppelin, Foreigner) and keyboardist Derek Sherinian
(Dream Theater, Billy Idol, Alice Cooper). Named after the industrial area in
Britain where both Hughes and Bonham were born and raised,
Black Country Communion began rehearsing and recording tracks written
by both Hughes and Bonamassa at Shangri-La Studios in early 2010.
Their new Self Titled Debut Album will release on September 21, 2010
and the band is planning a tour of select venues in 2011.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

41 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Black Country Communion's first (and hopefully not last) album, September 21, 2010

By 

Doug Lindsay "JimiRayClapton" (Denver) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Black Country Communion (CD/DVD) (Audio CD)

This is a great first album. The musicianship and song execution deserve a five. The strength of the songs and lyrics varies a lot more and I would give a four on average. Some of the lyrics feel like their really reaching to fill in some blanks (freak flag fly, mojo, etc...) but overall pretty good. The basic tracks were recorded in four days mostly "live in studio" and I think that adds to the feel in a good way. Unlike the other reviewer I really like Glenn Hughes vocals, especially on the rock-ier stuff as he has an edge that few vocalists get. I'm sure there will be "Dio" comparisons both favorable and unfavorable but he really has his own voice and they were peers. Joe sings lead on several songs as well. I have to admit I saw Trapeze in the Cotton Bowl in '75 and I thought they were better than the Stones, Eagles and Montrose that day, so you can count me as a long time fan. I also must confess that I have been following Joe since 2003 and I'm a huge fan there as well with all albums and I see him every time he's in Colorado. Jason is an amazing drummer and Derek Sherinian is excellent on keyboards although not as present in all of the mixes as the others, which tends to happen with keys in guitar oriented blues-rock bands.

The opening track "Black Country" comes out with all guns blazing and could be the hardest rocker. I loved it instantly, which rarely happens. Most of the rest are mid-paced rockers. Stand out tracks to me are "One Last Soul", "Beggarman" (which has a very interesting string bending riff), "Song of Yesterday" and "Medusa". I have had it a week and listened several times and feel like it has grown on me with each listen. I can easily listen to the album all the way through, which is more than I can say about many album purchases that only have one or two songs that I like.

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Eclectic supergroup mix that lives up to hype, September 30, 2010

By 

RWISH (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Black Country Communion (CD/DVD) (Audio CD)

I typically don't put much stock in music reviews and rarely post my own but felt compelled to comment on the new BCC effort. It's perfectly fine to not like something but I think some of the reviews are really off the mark. Some of the comments such as how this is a "half-cocked effort", "the guitars blare (out of sync), that "All aspects of this effort are less than mediocre" and "there literally is no redeeming quality to this outing" are completely off base. The guitars blare and are out of synch? No redeeming quality? I think most comments of this nature are coming from Joe fans who don't like seeing him stretch out his wings in new territory and as such are harshly biased.

The reason in a nut shell that I like this CD is because I'm a classic rock fan at heart (although I'm also a fan of blues, metal and some jazz) and this has the unique ability of sounding like it might have come from the 70's yet at the same time feels fresh. It's 70's classic rock 2010 style. The musicianship in this band is phenomenal given the short amount of time they've been together. A perfect illustration is "Song of Yesterday" where there are many tempo changes with each member adding his distinct flavor without stepping on the toes of the other band members. This song really has great emotion and is my current favorite but it certainly isn't the only one that displays the excellent band cohesion. Most CDs today I'll listen through several times and eventually will cherry pick the most listenable ones. This CD however has legs from start to finish and is solid throughout.

Pick up a copy and be your own judge. I'm willing to bet the vast majority will like it. If not that's fine but I can guarantee you that this is certainly not a "half-cocked effort" or "out of synch".

30 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Supergroup, super album!, September 22, 2010

By 

Baton Rouge Brent "Purplehound!" (Baton Rouge, Louisiana) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Black Country Communion (CD/DVD) (Audio CD)

"I am a messenger, this is my prophecy..." A bold statement of intent if ever there was one, and a lyric from the opening track on the new self-titled album by supergroup Black Country Communion. The album, Black Country Communion, due out September 20th in the UK and September 21st in the US, is definitely bold--in fact, it's the strongest new album release I've heard in two years. But when your band consists of the legendary Glenn Hughes (bass & vocals), blues/rock prodigy Joe Bonamassa (guitar and vocals), Led Zeppelin legacy Jason Bonham (drums), and Dream Theater, Kiss, and Alice Cooper alumni Derek Sherinian (keyboards), a strong, bold new album is almost certainly assured.

Produced by none other than Kevin "Caveman" Shirley (Iron Maiden, Led Zeppelin, and Black Crowes among others), the album sounds as it should... a raw, live-in-the-studio sound that hasn't been heard since the mid-seventies. And while this album certainly harkens back to those wonderful classic days of yore, make no mistake, Black Country Communion is a breath of fresh air! It's not overly-polished, it allows room for light and dark, and it's not afraid to let its musicians stretch out and jam, and in today's world of over-produced, bland, soulless fare, this album pulls way ahead of the pack.

Performances are tight but loose, often driving and forceful, powered along by Bonham's steam hammer drumming and Hughes' heavy yet fluid bass lines. Bonamassa, as in his solo material, continues to amaze, pulling out massive riffs, soulful blues licks, and incredible guitar solos that will blister the paint on the walls. Sherinian works his magic in a somewhat understated way, providing textures and moods, but occasionally taking the spotlight while Hughes' world-renowned vocals soar above it all. The band is tight and fit together just as smoothly as whiskey and soda, sounding as if they've been playing together for years, and although the performances are tight, the songs sound loose and comfortable, as if they were done live in the studio in one or two takes.

Black Country Communion starts off strong with the title track, forceful rock and roll with a locomotive bass line, loose and dirty blues licks, and blazing guitar solos, and never lets up from there. "One Last Soul" is the first single from the album, already the most requested song on the UK's premier Classic Rock radio station, Planet Rock, and is catchy enough to have you tapping your foot and digging the funky, soulful chorus. By way of contrast, "Down Again" is a heavy, riff-based rhythm machine powered by Joe Bonamassa's grinding guitar and the 16-ton weight of the Bonham and Hughes rhythm machine working to nail the song to the floor. Derek Sherinian shines on this one, employing organ-based keys to provide a hypnotic outro that absolutely mesmerizes. "Beggarman" is another straight rocker, a hard blues guitar intro leading into a riff as the organ and bass join in to drive the song. Jason Bonham shines here, beating and kicking the drums like an animal.

But while the band certainly rocks hard, they are equally adept at playing with light and shade. "Sista Jane" starts with a kick-in-the-head opening, but changes to a light, quiet verse with acoustic guitar, which then builds in intensity into a chorus that will have you banging your head old-school style! "No Time" boogies right along as if there really is no time before it breaks into a moody "Kashmir-esque," eastern-flavored keyboard melody, allowing for a change of mood and pace before building once again into its kick-ass chorus. The band's cover of the Trapeze classic, "Medusa," gives the band some breathing room as well, opening as it does with slow acoustic guitar and restrained vocals before they crank it up to 11 and the song becomes heavier than the stone into which Medusa's gaze can render you. Bonamassa rips into the rhythm with obvious relish, a strong monster groove that is held down by a massive bass and drum combo while Glenn's vocals soar like an eagle over this majestic track. The raw, blistering guitar solo affirms Joe Bonamassa's reputation as a living-legend guitar god, his guitar tearing away with whirlwind speed, echoing like a lonely cry in the wilderness. This song not only affirms the band's Black Country roots, but it sounds right at home on this album.

Two songs especially give the band room to move around and jam a bit; the eight minute, thirty-three second "Song of Yesterday," and the eleven minute, nineteen second "Too Late for the Sun." There aren't many bands these days confident enough to put long-running tracks on an album that allow the musicians to stretch out a bit, improvise, and jam, but Black Country Communion gives us two long-runners and they prove to be worth the risk. "Too Late for the Sun" is a remarkable piece, Sherinian's organ providing a nice sonic texture, and the band jamming along like so many bands are afraid to do these days.

Black Country Communion showcases the talents of four amazing artists, and the combination of these four talents makes for one hell of a great album! Glenn Hughes rolls out huge, thumping bass lines and turns in a vocal performance that proves why the man is a rock legend. Joe Bonamassa, young though he may be, plays guitar with the passion of an old soul and shines like few other guitarists on the scene today. Jason Bonham is an absolute drum powerhouse, playing with a ferocity that blazes, and along with Glenn's bass, is the unstoppable engine for this band. Derek Sherinian is artful in the textures and moods he creates--he shows tasteful restraint, but steps forward when needed. Delivering twelve solid tracks of bold, old-school rock and roll, Black Country Communion stands out as a masterpiece and an instant classic!

Brent Soileau
Deep Purple Hub