Buffalo Killers - Let It Ride (CD)

All Music Guide

The Buffalo Killers narrow their range and sharpen their sights for their sophomore set. Riding roughshod over RB, in a distinctly late '60s/early '70s vein, the trio create an album that's mostly downbeat and badtempered. That's evident from the get go, as the band launch into the antiunity "Get Together Now Today", a song which musically nods to both the Rolling Stones and Cream. That number sets the stage for the rest of the set, with its midtempo rhythms, murky production, and down and dirty delivery. The title track is even more ramshackle, deliberately so in order to capture the jammy feel of the period, while "It's a Shame" is so intense, one could swear it was recorded live, accept it wasn't. The production blurs the edges of all the tracks, suggesting the band is either trying to recreate the muddy sound of period bootlegs, or have spent too much time listening to them. Either way, it gives Let It Ride a surprising authenticity, even when the Killers occasionally wander into o...ther fields. "Give and Give", for example, features bright harmonies and lustrous acoustic guitar, bringing a touch of '60s folk to the set, while "Heart in Your Hand" tips a hat to the California scene. "On the Prowl", in contrast, stalks around a honkytonk. Yet even these excursions enfold RB into the brew, while other numbers are tinged with psychedelia or in the case of "Black Paper", progrock, with the vocals adding a touch of glam to the mix. The lyrics are awash in melancholy, with loneliness strewn throughout the set, and lyrics that suggest the band are grappling to express inexplicable emotions. The strong melodies and occasional anthemic choruses, however, act as a counterweight for a heavy set of hardrock delights. - JoAnn Greene, All Music Guide Read more Less