AARON BUCHANAN AND THE CULT CLASSICS – The Man with Stars on His Knees (Limited Edition reissue +5)
Heaven’s Basement (2008 – 2017) was without a doubt one of the best ‘new bands’ recapturing the classic hard rock style. Since joined them in 2010, lead singer Aaron Buchanan resulted a key factor for Heaven’s Basement sound – and quality. Buchanan left soon before the group split, created his own band and started a solo career.
”The Man with Stars on His Knees” is the debut album from AARON BUCHANAN AND THE CULT CLASSICS, reissued after they got signed by Listenable Records, a ‘Special Edition‘ including 5 bonus tracks.
Still retaining his hard rock roots, Buchanan has added a lot of diversity for his solo debut, resulting in a quite original music & sound. Indeed, Aaron and his Cult Classics sound like nobody’s else. It’s a really unique mixture of Queen hard rocking side from the Seventies, Eighties riffs, Nineties groove, and a bit of modern atmospheres.
What you are getting is quite honestly one of the most original rock albums in recent time, superbly written and performed. From the opening chords of “Show Me What You’re Made Of” you’re taken on a journey through an eclectic sound mix of clean – sometimes dark – guitar riffs and anthemic choruses, pompous epic moments and the hard rock angst of Buchanan’s previous band Heaven’s Basement.
The album, you have to say, is certainly diverse and therefore almost by default rides on your connection with Buchanan’s voice – and what a voice it is.
He can of course belt out the rockers like the anthemic ‘All The Things You’ve Said And Done’; ‘A God Is No Friend’; ‘Left Me For Dead’ and the heavier bulldozer rock of ‘Mind Of A Mute’ that can’t help you conjure up images of vintage Soundgarden.
But that’s just one side of a many-faceted story though.
And it’s not long before you get a taste of the richness within, even opener ‘Show Me What You’re Made Of’ is suitably grand, if teasingly short, and ‘Dancin’ Down Below’ has enough sheen and melody to suggest that Queen might be an enduring inspiration, which is of curse something that’s confirmed on tracks like the title track, but especially on ‘Morals’ which are very Mercury-esque.
It’s ‘Journey Out of Here’ though that really layers on the modern rock feel. I personally aren’t too keen to this style, however kudos to Aaron for trying something different.
”The Man with Stars on His Knees” is different, eclectic and always interesting, very well thought, written, performed and produced.
Highly Recommended
1. Show Me What You’re Made Of
2. All The Things You’ve Said And Done
3. Dancin’ Down Below
4. The Devil That Needs You
5. Journey Out Of Here
6. The Man With Stars On His Knees
7. A God Is No Friend
8. Left Me For Dead
9. Mind Of A Mute
10. Morals?
BONUS TRACKS:
11. Fire In The Field Of Mayhem (exclusive studio bonus track)
12. Undertow (exclusive studio bonus track)
13. Morals? (Live)
14. All The Things You’ve Said And Done (acoustic version)
15. The Devil That Needs You (acoustic version)
Aaron Buchanan – Vocals
Laurie Buchanan – Guitar
Tom McCarthy – Guitar
Mart Trail – Bass
Paul White – Drums
BUY
www.amazon.com/Stars-Knees-Aaron-Classics-Buchanan/dp/B07KLJNC2R/
