19383-Bellfuries_20Cover_20Final_201500x1500_20300dpi

Passionate, rootsy rock & roll come right out at you immediately from Austin’s The Bellfuries.  This band, who’s been around for a while, have upped their game with this latest album, the cleverly titled Workingman’s Bellfuries.  A mix of that classic Texas twang, the Sun sound and rhythms that swing has to be good, right?  Right.  Let’s make that clear now.  Simply mix a little Elvis, Marty Robbins, Roy Orbison and a smattering of Buck Owens, Big Sandy and Los Lobos for good measure and that pretty much personifies The Bellfuries’ sound.  Add to that a production quality that brings you right into the late ’50’s/early ’60’s, which sounds natural and pure and it’s a “can’t miss”.  Dig?

About the songs, it’s simple:  “Loving Arms” kicks off the album with a good old-fashioned swing that you, indeed, can’t resist tapping your toes to; “Bad Seed Sown” sounds like something Elvis would have recorded and “Why Do You Haunt Me?” is my favorite and the album’s standout with its Tex-Mex feel.  “Make The Mystery No More” starts with a strident drum, reminiscent of Phil and Don’s “Cathy’s Clown” with a great reverb guitar body; “Letter To My Baby Maybe” has a wonderfully crisp tempo and a joyride riff and “Beaumont Blues” chugs along with a classic melody and some tight harmonies.

An album I’d love to be driving down an open road listening to – as cliched as that may sound, it’s a great way to gauge an album’s pleasure factor.  And this one has it in spades.  So keep an eye out for The Bellfuries.  They’ve got it – and they’re bringing it all back.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Workingman’s Bellfuries will be released Friday, August 21st, 2015

http://thebellfuries.com/

https://youtu.be/eP0NOP9ip9s

About the Author

Rob Ross

Rob Ross has been, for good, bad or indifferent, involved in the music industry for over 30 years - first as guitarist/singer/songwriter with The Punch Line, then as freelance journalist, producer and manager to working for independent and major record labels. He resides in Staten Island, New York with his wife and cats; he works out a lot, reads voraciously, loves Big Star and his orange Gretsch. Doesn't that make him neat?

View All Articles