Buffalo Killers
(Alive)
Like a lingering reverberation out of the past, the Buffalo Killers buzz, boogie and roll through their hazy sophomore album. Though the retro-rocking trio lacks the songwriting chops of the 1960s and ‘70s staples they clearly idolize, the band still manages to make a great show out of mining the classics. Andrew Gabbard’s wailing slide guitar on “On The Prowl” conjures up the down-home dirty feel of the Faces, while the title track lands comfortably between Sly & The Family Stone and Cream. Baby-boomers beware – extended exposure to wah-wah jams may result in flashbacks.
The straightforward, crisp recordings – courtesy of producer Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys – sound incredibly period-authentic. By the end of side two, Let It Ride scrapes a little too deep into the resin left behind by Crazy Horse and the other giants of the early ‘70s. But what the Buffalo Killers lack in ingenuity, they just about make up in crunchy, classic rock.
Standout Tracks: “Leave The Sun Behind”, “On The Prowl” ZACHARY HERRMANN
