I can see these guys polarising opinion but after a few spins I’m very much in the ‘yes’ camp especially when you get to the simpler fare like ‘X-Girlfriend’ which melds acoustic and sleazy aggression with a dab of Metal in the breakdown and some sweet harmony.
Budderside remind me of so many bands without being just like any of them, they mix hard rock, metal, acoustic and an alternative and progressive mindset.
At times it can be so simple like on the lilting ‘Clear Blue Sky’ which has some beautiful keys and a little of Blind Melon about it. The best thing about the band though is that it all sounds fresh and there are some real surprises too, and unlike a lot of albums that mix sounds and styles it doesn’t sound forced or disjointed. If you loved bands like ‘Mother Love Bone’; ‘I Love You’ even ‘Love/Hate’ but also have time for bands like Pearl Jam then there’s definitely something here for you.
Add to the mix the Hard Rock of ‘Open Relationship’ which sports screams up against the melodies and pop-rock chorus – and the funky almost Chillis meets Counting Crows scat of ‘My Religion’ and you have an album that isn’t afraid to draw influences from anywhere and everywhere – it really shouldn’t work, but it does.
Produced by Paul Kilmister (son of the sadly departed Lemmy) and with a band consisting of Patrick Stone (Quiet Riot, Velvet Revolver and Adler’s Appetite); Michael “The Stoneman” Stone on bass, Rich Sacco on drums and Johnny Santoro, (Still Standing, Rock Sugar) on guitar Budderside has the experience and the chops and in a way that makes the resulting ‘soup’ even more refreshing.
When you think that the album began with the trio of ‘Genocide’ – a quirky explosive semi-psychedelic swirl of a song; ‘Ska Bra’ (featuring Motorhead’s Phil Campbell on guitar) and the most experimental left-field track here channelling, as it does, electronic ska (!) and upbeat pop; and the single ‘Pain’ a funky dancy radio rocker which if taken in isolation really will throw you off what this band is all about: you’ll be pleased with the variety that follows.
Budderside is quirky, is un-straightforward and may not be for everyone, but it’s just what the doctor ordered as far as we’re concerned. Alternatively if you just want big chunky rock try ‘Envelope’ then dig backwards…
