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BLACKTOP MOJO
Under The Sun
Sandhill Records

The world of Blues Rock has never exactly suffered per se, having enough sustained stylistic appeal and long running legendary acts like THE ROLLING STONES and ZZ TOP to ensure it remains alive & well. However, as with most longstanding music genres it has had its share of lulls when it comes to exceptional, consistent, high quality material that also successfully embodies the sounds of its given era. The past decade+ has marked a notable rise in both the appeal and quality of the Blues Rock genre with the likes of INGLORIOUS, BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION, BLACKSTONE CHERRY and an ever-growing list of noteworthy bands paving new paths of hard rocking consistency for fans both old and young, but with the honorable exception of SHAMAN’S HARVEST there is no band contributing more value, quality and dependability than the pride of Palestine, TX: BLACKTOP MOJO.

What truly elevates these remarkable Texas youths above their peers is the remarkable rate at which they’ve honed their sound to demonstrate how well modern Hard Rock styling can be melded with the timelessness of the Blues. With a soulful, passionate approach reminiscent of BAD COMPANY and early AEROSMITH singer Matt James and crew slather on a healthy coat of heavy guitars, searing solos, stylistic drumming and emotive vocal swagger for a perfect balance of hardness and heart. Add to that a more modern lyrical approach to the ever-relatable Blues tropes of infidelity, passion, regret & sadness and you find yourself with BLACKTOP MOJO’s third album Under The Sun, an album nothing less than perfect for the style and consistent quality that it represents.

Now, it’s essential to keep style and consistency at the center of this: Under The Sun is not to be taken as a clinic on prodigious musicianship, nor is it likely to induce a profound, life-changing experience; rather, the collective listening experience and exceptionally high replay value of anthemic, hard rocking guitar-driven tracks like “Lay It On Me” and “Keep” along with more bluesy swagger of "The Void" and “Under The Sun” flows throughout the entire album, growing more impressive with each lap, rendering it a considerably rare example of start to stop replay value wherein each song continues to ring true. Also worth noting is the rare feat of BLACKTOP MOJO having released such a complete album directly on the heels of their second album, Burn The Ships, a near-perfect album in its own right and impressive enough that it could have been the high point of a career for most bands; to have successfully matured from so many career-defining musical points into an even more refined recipe for everything great about the Blues and Rock with such success is a testament to the collective creative capabilities of every member involved. In a year so heavy with amazing musical releases they would stagger Atlas it’s no small statement for a humble group of guys from a tiny town in Texas to outswing every stylistic peer and rival that also stepped up to the plate in 2019, but the greater statement is that Under The Sun has the longevity to remain relevant and worthy for years and decades to come.

5.0 Out Of 5.0