It has been a while but it’s time for an album review, I’ve got an entire playlist of albums that are on my review list, that is, as soon as I can get to them all. But alas that is what’s to come, what we have now is a review of that album, yep “That Album” by the Scotty Bratcher Band. An EP released in October 2016, 13 songs of substance, style, attitude and of course tone. Scotty’s music, I would say falls in the style of Sean Chambers, Alastair Greene and KWS. Great tunes across the board, with a nice mix of gritty, grimy Strat voices ala KWS, SRV and the fat humbucker tones of a Sean Chambers, Alastair Greene, just dripping with crunch and attitude. I realty dig this guy, a cursory search has only yielded this particular work so far, but I am definitely on the lookout for more from Mr. Bratcher. Let’s take a look at the contents of “That Album” and see what we will find.
Right off the top we get thrown up against the wall that is, “Ain’t No Way I’m Coming Home”, just a great blues/rock cruncher, with a B3 break to keep you on your toes. Keep hands and feet inside the ride because we are just getting started, onward into “Disappointing Ourselves”, “Worry Me No More”, “Tables Turn and Bridges Burn”, quality blues/rock crushers. Next up “Hard to Feel”, which, at least to this author, has a distinct flavor of 70’s BTO, you know that one song that would have been released as “the single”. Take a deep breath, as Scotty slows it down a bit for you with the Hendrix Angel stylings of “Without Hope”.
What could possibly happen next, well how bout some guest artists to help out. Two excellent versions of “That’s Alright Mama” and “As the Years Go Passing By” with vocalist Jimmy Hall, who I admit I didn’t recognize, a quick check with Mr Google and we are pleasantly surprised to find that Jimmy Hall was the vocalist for Wet Willie from the 70’s. Both of Jimmy’s tunes are loaded with passion and soul, that Elvis only hoped for and Albert King would have been proud of, very tasty. “Let Your Soul Give Way” features the vocals of one Noah Hunt, with the KWS band, cruises right along with just the hint of KWS and SRV. Then we have “Rollin” with guitarist Greg Martin, what a gut-kick tune this one is, head must bob, head must bob. Now, the finale is probably the only acoustic version, and possibly the best cover of the Allman’s “Whipping Post” as I have ever heard. This one is well worth the price of admission. I’ve left a couple of songs unmentioned to allow you, oh gentle reader, a chance to discover something new yourself. Wow! Good Stuff Scotty! Can we please have some more?
