J. Roddy Walston and the Business - Essential Tremors

  by Tony Gaughan

published: 7 / 4 / 2014

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Review

‘Essential Tremors’ is the third studio album for the Baltimore, Maryland rockers, and is named after an affliction suffered by front man J Roddy Walston of essential uncontrollable shakes, which quite honestly I have also had since discovering this lot purely by accidental means if this record is not near to hand. It has been on constantly, both in the car and at home. I just can't get enough of it. It is utterly compelling listening and a real luxury from a band well known in the States but still relatively unknown still in Britain. Opening track 'Heavy Bells' is an unashamed rock classic waiting to happen. AC/DC or Led Zeppelin would have killed for the riff or chorus on this. 'Marigold' and 'Take It as it Comes', with its aching chorus, will have your head searching for comparisons and draws likenesses with, to name but a few, the Black Keys, Kings of Leon and Jerry Lee Lewis. ‘Essential Tremors’ also recollects T Rex and Mungo Jerry, particularly on 'Black Light' and 'Sweat Shock'. This is classic old school rock and roll mixed with garage blues and some great hooks. Ballads like' Nobody Knows' and the heart-wrenching and tear jerking 'Boys Can Never Tell' show the ability of the band in clear light. 'Hard Times' and 'Same Days' are the most amazingly well-written delivered and addictive tracks, as is the rock and roll gem ‘Tear Jerk’ which comes towards the end of this long player. Every song on this eleven track record is placed beautifully . There is not a sign of any weakness from start to finish ,' Tremors' is already my album of 2014, and right now I can't see anything else touching it this year. Essentially a must own.

Track Listing:-

1 Heavy Bells
2 Marigold
3 Take It As It Comes
4 Black Light
5 Sweat Shock
6 Nobody Knows
7 Hard Times
8 Boys Can Never Tell
9 Same Days
10 Tear Jerk
11 Midnight Cry

Band Links:-

https://www.facebook.com/jroddywalston
http://jroddywalstonandthebusiness.com
https://twitter.com/jroddybusiness

Label Links:-

http://atorecords.com/
https://www.facebook.com/atorecords
https://twitter.com/atorecords
https://www.youtube.com/user/atorecord
https://vimeo.com/user1005122
https://instagram.com/atorecords/