VOODOO MOONSHINE – Bottom Of The Barrel +1 (2022)

Formed in Memphis in 2003, VOODOO MOONSHINE‘s 2005 debut album Decade Of Decay garnered great interest and supposedly outsold work by far bigger bands such as SKID ROW and BON JOVI and then, inexplicably nothing since… until now.
With new singer Pedro Espada finally in place, after a few police sirens and a skewed version of the American national anthem, the Voodoo Moonshine comeback album “Bottom Of The Barrel” kicks off in fine style with the ballsy heavy blues rocker “Locked And Loaded” that has all the makings of an instant classic with its catchy chorus and pitch perfect playing. This is classic US hard rock with influences from BLACKFOOT to BADLANDS.
“Give It To Me” follows suit in marvellous swaggering fashion, before the very WHITESNAKE-like “Bring It Down”, and the beautiful ballad “Round And Round” with an understated and poignant Jeff Losawyer guitar solo.

Then we have the simpler but nice funk-rock of “Sometimes You Just Wanna” before we’re back in David Coverdale territory with the midtempo jam “What A Way To Go” that does have the makings of a great song but seemingly meanders indecisively between styles.
The finger snapping, joyous, gang style rocker “Swallow My Pride” lifts the mood back up and is surely a hit waiting to happen, or at the very least a stomping live favourite. The rather power ballad “Eden In Your Eyes” gives way to the rallying call of “Rise Free” that features yet another fine vocal, and the ever stylish rhythm section of Hector Acevedo on bass and Eddie Cruise on drums.

The production is punchy and efficient, and the band – and particularly original founder member Losawyer – are flawless throughout. Singer Pedro Espada‘s voice suits the songs perfectly and reminded me of Danny Vaughan from Tyketto at times, which of course is always a good thing.
“Bottom Of The Barrel” is the kind of albums rarely seen from the current US rock scene: classic bluesy hard rock sound done in a ‘blood & wood’ fashion – just musicians playing real instruments, no machines, programming, etc here.
And VOODOO MOONSHINE are darn good at it.
Highly Recommended

 

01 – Locked and Loaded (Redux)
02 – Give It to Me
03 – Bring It Down
04 – Round and Round
05 – Sometimes You Just Wanna
06 – What a Way to Go
07 – Swallow My Pride
08 – Eden in Your Eyes
09 – Rise Free
10 – Y’all Come Back Soon
Bonus Track:
11 – Eden in Your Eyes (Acoustic Version)

Pedro Espada – vocals
Jeff Losawyer – guitar
Hector Acevedo – bass
Eddie Cruise – drums

 

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