Its always nice to review something different to what you normally review, and this is what I got with this album from Sun King Rising.
A jazz, blues, soul inspired Americana-style of rock, Sun King Rising is the musical moniker of singer/songwriter and pianist extraordinaire John Blangero. Coming from New Castle, Pennsylvania, John started piano lessons at the age of five, joining his first rock band at fourteen years old, and it wasn’t long before he was composing and singing his own music.
Released on the Peacock Sunrise label, the offshoot label of Nick Katona, the album is a classic rock album from the late 60’s with a modern, soulful twist, and with a big brass section and huge backing vocals there is also a hint of Motown.
The album covers many themes from love lost, love found, family, historical burden, faith, betrayal, sin, and redemption and at times crosses over to the dark side which always keeps the listener engaged and not quite sure what is coming next. The album is a collection of Blangero’s southern noir stories set to music. Says Katona “with this album Sun King Rising has made a quantum leap. Musically and lyrically Signs and Wonders rocks hard while engaging the imagination. Its is thematically coherent, complex, and sophisticated.”
Recorded at Pittsburgh Maplewood Studio by David Granati, they managed to put together a 5-piece band, a horn section and backing vocals from the city’s most acclaimed singers and produced a big sound that blurs the lines between multiple genres.
Heavy guitars are still a big feature of the album, as are impressive wah-wah guitar solos, pounding drums and fantastic bass lines but the added use of synths and the brass instruments really gives the album breadth and depth and layered musical genius.
John’s voice has a broad range and its rough and readiness is a stark contrast to the subtle and delicate piano and brass sound, which is then a contrast to the rock feel the guitars bring into it.
This is a good album and I think it will appeal to a wide audience. 60’s rock fans will love it, soul inspired rock fans will love it, and blues fans will love it.
John describes his music as “the new wave of southern rock and soul” and I think that is the absolute perfect way to sum up. If you are a fan of musicians such as Bob Seger and Joe Cocker, please give this album a listen. I don’t think you will be disappointed!
Track Listing:
1. Bitter Waters Sweetened
2. No. 6 Magnolia Avenue
3. Lanterns On The Levee
4. Buried In The Blues Again
5. Jubal Takes A Wife
6. She Was A Blonde
7. One More Story To Tell
8. Low Wine And Cruel Ruin
9. Anchorless
10. Alabama Nocturne
This review is purely the property of The Metal Asylum
Metal Planet Media 