Bloggerhythms

Paul Thorn’s music was so passionate. Hammer and Nail , his debut, and Mission Temple Fireworks Stand are terrific CDs that combine roots rock, blues, sad balladry, great hooks, and intelligent songwriting. Unfortunately, Thorn’s latest, Are You With Me , disappoints me because I wanted to love it so much. Are You With Me doesn't live up to any of its predecessors because Thorn has gotten away from making the music he does best. While I love artists who break the mold in an attempt to stay fresh Thorn's latest falls flat because Are You With Me is more blue-eyed soul than blues and there is little or no rock 'n roll. Most of the disc's songs are about relationships, a typical R&B topic, in lieu of his usual philosophical, and sometimes humorous, subject matter he liberally spices with religious imagery. It’s not that Are You With Me is a bad album, because it isn’t. It’s just not nearly as interesting or dynamic than all of Thorn’s previous CDs. Everyt...

With Private Drive , The Basics second independent release, and follow up to Bitter/Sweet their 2003 debut, the band gives us more of the same. Please don’t let that discourage you because in this outfit's case more of the same is a very good thing. The trio still sounds exactly the way they want to and that means they are a perfect American, post-British Invasion, pre-psychedelic, 60's era garage band. There is a little bit of almost every 60’s American rock band (except for the Beach Boys) implanted in the heart and soul of The Basics. Clean sounding American rock runs through their veins. This time around the group they most remind me of is Paul Revere and The Raiders but if you hear someone else I won't tell you that you're wrong. The band's emphasis on a long bygone era may make you believe that Doug Cowen and the boys just want to be throwbacks and that is not true. They still manage to offer their own distinctive flair that proves this album is a...