Judge Jackson
Allow me to start by dropping some names you might have heard of – Tesla, John Waite, Steel Panther, S.U.N, Doobie Bros, Cheap Trick, Buckcherry, UFO and Joe Bonamassa – what have these all got in common? The common factor is nomadic rock unit Judge Jackson, a band who have amounted more than a decade of experience, 1, 200 live shows and five albums, as well as shows with all of the above mentioned bands. Now primed with their 6th offering, appropriately titled 6, the band are once again setting out to show off their passion for music, and camaraderie of rock within their ranks. With influences ranging from Lynyrd Skynyrd to Led Zeppelin, Black Crowes to Guns N Roses, and Iron Maiden to Stevie Ray Vaughan, this is an album which promises indelible melodies, sing along lyrics and choruses to literally die for – which sounds pretty cool to me.
Opening proceedings with Top Of The World we’re launched straight into a funky and groove orientated melee of soaring guitar lines, hooky vocals and deep powerful bass rhythms, immediately getting you moving and shaking along with the band. Catchy from the word go, this is music that’s going to penetrate into your soul, hook you in and get you involved in what you’re hearing. Imagine the perfect music for a sunny day with friends, beers and damned good times and you’re getting somewhere close to the mix on offer here, setting the album off to a damned good start indeed. Continuing this approach into Done the funky riffs once again greet us before those awesome vocals come in to take the lead. Powerful yet restrained enough to keep that sense of real rock ‘n’ roll moving throughout, once again we’re presented with a track designed to get you singing along and joining in, catchy from the word go and not pulling back until the band are good and ready. Listening to the album, it’s easy to see how they’ve amassed 1, 200 gigs under their belt as quite simply, this is music which is made for the live scene, presenting you with music to dance to, sing to, and have a damned good time to.
Pulling back from the edge for the opening moments of Keep On Truckin’, the power fades out to a laid back and almost emotional approach, before once again picking up the pace to kick things in fully. What’s striking here is how the guys have formed a mix out of the vocals and drums during the verse section, accentuating the vocal line fully before bolstering the mix back to full power for another seriously catchy chorus. Once again managing to form a track that’s impossible to resist, this album seems to present us with classic after classic, refusing to settle or make do and pushing themselves to the max with every single moment. Even throwing in the compulsory ballad moment in the form of Hold You Tight, there doesn’t seem to be anything the band aren’t capable of doing. Laid back and emotional yet catchy at the same time, the track evokes images of swaying hands, lighters in the air, and a feeling of simple, laid back calm. Despite the laid back and ballad like vibes of the track, this isn’t cheesy in the slightest, instead managing to still sound real, genuine and heartfelt from start to finish, standing out as a track with some serious single potential.
Pushing on through Dynamite, My Word, Born Free and the very laid back and chilled out Cool, track after track seems to simply flow out of the speakers, keeping the album moving and the listener involved. Even managing to differentiate their style through Rise, January Blues and the even softer and more heartfelt Laid To Rest (which is quite simply an unbelievably beautiful song), the band continue to demonstrate their understanding and ability through track after track, refusing to compromise and instead, sticking to their guns and their accomplished ability.
Picking up the pace once again for #13, we’re once again thrown into that funky and groovy mix that welcomed us to the album. Fast paced and chunky from the word go, there’s a real sense of good old rock n roll flowing through this track, getting you out of your seat and moving along from the word go, throwing out hook after hook to reel you in. Packed with intricate lead lines and vocals that are sure to get you singing along, this is another track which seems to hold some serious single potential, and a moment to make sure you check out. Sticking to their upbeat approach for Suck It Up , we’re led ever closer to the conclusion of the record, yet the band are still working hard to keep the sound as fresh as it was at the start. Catchy and packed with elements that will have you cranking the volume up notch after notch, prepare to play this one loud – it’s the perfect rock track, and a moment that stands out as my personal favourite from the record.
Closing with California, the album comes to a close on a veritable anthem, the sort of track which is going to finish a live show, getting everyone singing along for one final hurrah. As a final moment on an album this does what it should, bringing to a close an album that’s held hit after hit, and leaving you safe in the knowledge that you’ve discovered a new band to return to time and time again.
Judge Jackson have got a pretty impressive resume, but listening through the album, they’ve got the goods to back up the words, something very few bands actually achieve. From start to finish this is a record which will get you singing along, get you thinking, and remind you of what real, solid, catchy rock n roll really is.
To find out more about Judge Jackson, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls
Opening proceedings with Top Of The World we’re launched straight into a funky and groove orientated melee of soaring guitar lines, hooky vocals and deep powerful bass rhythms, immediately getting you moving and shaking along with the band. Catchy from the word go, this is music that’s going to penetrate into your soul, hook you in and get you involved in what you’re hearing. Imagine the perfect music for a sunny day with friends, beers and damned good times and you’re getting somewhere close to the mix on offer here, setting the album off to a damned good start indeed. Continuing this approach into Done the funky riffs once again greet us before those awesome vocals come in to take the lead. Powerful yet restrained enough to keep that sense of real rock ‘n’ roll moving throughout, once again we’re presented with a track designed to get you singing along and joining in, catchy from the word go and not pulling back until the band are good and ready. Listening to the album, it’s easy to see how they’ve amassed 1, 200 gigs under their belt as quite simply, this is music which is made for the live scene, presenting you with music to dance to, sing to, and have a damned good time to.
Pulling back from the edge for the opening moments of Keep On Truckin’, the power fades out to a laid back and almost emotional approach, before once again picking up the pace to kick things in fully. What’s striking here is how the guys have formed a mix out of the vocals and drums during the verse section, accentuating the vocal line fully before bolstering the mix back to full power for another seriously catchy chorus. Once again managing to form a track that’s impossible to resist, this album seems to present us with classic after classic, refusing to settle or make do and pushing themselves to the max with every single moment. Even throwing in the compulsory ballad moment in the form of Hold You Tight, there doesn’t seem to be anything the band aren’t capable of doing. Laid back and emotional yet catchy at the same time, the track evokes images of swaying hands, lighters in the air, and a feeling of simple, laid back calm. Despite the laid back and ballad like vibes of the track, this isn’t cheesy in the slightest, instead managing to still sound real, genuine and heartfelt from start to finish, standing out as a track with some serious single potential.
Pushing on through Dynamite, My Word, Born Free and the very laid back and chilled out Cool, track after track seems to simply flow out of the speakers, keeping the album moving and the listener involved. Even managing to differentiate their style through Rise, January Blues and the even softer and more heartfelt Laid To Rest (which is quite simply an unbelievably beautiful song), the band continue to demonstrate their understanding and ability through track after track, refusing to compromise and instead, sticking to their guns and their accomplished ability.
Picking up the pace once again for #13, we’re once again thrown into that funky and groovy mix that welcomed us to the album. Fast paced and chunky from the word go, there’s a real sense of good old rock n roll flowing through this track, getting you out of your seat and moving along from the word go, throwing out hook after hook to reel you in. Packed with intricate lead lines and vocals that are sure to get you singing along, this is another track which seems to hold some serious single potential, and a moment to make sure you check out. Sticking to their upbeat approach for Suck It Up , we’re led ever closer to the conclusion of the record, yet the band are still working hard to keep the sound as fresh as it was at the start. Catchy and packed with elements that will have you cranking the volume up notch after notch, prepare to play this one loud – it’s the perfect rock track, and a moment that stands out as my personal favourite from the record.
Closing with California, the album comes to a close on a veritable anthem, the sort of track which is going to finish a live show, getting everyone singing along for one final hurrah. As a final moment on an album this does what it should, bringing to a close an album that’s held hit after hit, and leaving you safe in the knowledge that you’ve discovered a new band to return to time and time again.
Judge Jackson have got a pretty impressive resume, but listening through the album, they’ve got the goods to back up the words, something very few bands actually achieve. From start to finish this is a record which will get you singing along, get you thinking, and remind you of what real, solid, catchy rock n roll really is.
To find out more about Judge Jackson, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls