The self-titled debut from rural West Virginia's American Minor is a classic hard-rock album through and through. The advance press notes draw comparisons between the quintet and luminaries such as Bad Company, Tom Petty, Television and the Gun Club, but it's not so complicated as all that. Imagine if the Black Crowes were a bit more of a hard-rock band, or if Guns 'n Roses were a bit less of one, and you'd have a pretty close approximation of what American Minor sounds like. Their most obvious influence is none other than the Stones, who have sired more rock bands (legitimate and il-) than I'd ever care to count.
American Minor has excellent production values that showcase the impressive guitar work and tight rhythm section, with Rob McCutcheon's vocals alternating between a rock & roll screech and a bluesy drawl. Guitarists Bud Carrol and Josh Gragg certainly have an ear for a great riff as on the memorable album-opener "Walk On."
The only problem with American Minor's debut is really one of identity. While technically flawless, the album can't help but come off like a final project for a Berklee College of Music degree. They get an A+, mind you, but their sound lacks individuality. The music has that all-too-familiar quality to it and the lyrics rely too much on stock rock images (pistols in hand, broken levees, etc.).
The guys in the band may have impeccable taste, but too many of their influences that shine through are insufficiently transformed by their own creative energy. For example, "Break" could be an 80s-era John Cougar Mellencamp outtake, "Shine" borrows its riff a little too closely from Neil Young's "Cinnamon Girl," and echoes of Hendrix's "Little Wing" are pervasive throughout the record. "Buffalo Creek" is right out of the Deep Purple playbook, replete with smoke on the water, to say nothing of the fire in sky.
American Minor's jaunt down the well-worn path of rock & roll convention is not without some interesting results, however. "Cheaters & Non-Believers" puts the listener in the intriguing position of hearing what it might have sounded like if John Lennon had fronted the Rolling Stones—which is "pretty damn good," by the way.
The challenge for American Minor will be to take a step back from the precipice of rock & roll cliche and find their own voice. They've proven that the have the chops; now they need to prove that they deserve to be a band worth remembering in their own right.
Article comments
1 - real music fan
i first heard these guys on myspace and have been fascinated by the material.
buffalo creek is about a damn collapse in their home state of west virginia.
one of the worst industrial disasters in our nation's history.
that's not only not cliche...but important.
most people don't even get a f**k about the people who sufferred in logan county at the hands of the pittson coal company. (check the link attached to this)
don't jump the gun sounds like it's about the school shootings. never heard a band write about that. same goes with songs like one last supper...a very intelligent condemnation of george bush.
but like most critics (and may i take the opportunity to criticize your criticism)...you don't listen too closely to the albums you are sent.
why would you? you have a million CD's on your desk and an agenda to force your preferences down people's throats.
if you want to hear cliched lyrics...why don't you pop in jet or silvertide? because they certaintly are nowhere to be found on this album.
just because they aren't spelled out for you, and assume you are an idiot, like on a green day or bright eyes album, you don't get it.
well maybe that's what AM should on the next album...seriously underestimate the intelligence of the populace... because time and time again your average critic is a moron. if they play classic rock and are southern and can play their instruments...they must be stupid? right man?
because all the trust funders who can't play, wear cute outfits, live in NYC & London are the ones with the REAL story to tell...right?
2 - Pete Blackwell
Get over yourself RMF. I didn't just pop this in my CD player, decide it sucks and write a throw-away review. You must not be aware that few of the writers at Blogcritics are professional reviewers. Most, like me, do not have a desk full of CDs waiting to be reviewed (I have only 2, in fact, both of which I specifically requested just like I did the American Minor CD) and I know I have no agenda to force my music preferences down anyone's throat.
You may have noticed that I didn't state any of my personal preferences in the review. You've done me the favor of supplying some for me, however. You list Jet, Silvertide, Green Day and Bright Eyes"all bands I loathe, by the way.
You imply that I think American Minor is "stupid," which is absurd. Where do I say that? Where do I say that Southern rock is bad? (West Virginia being a traditionally Democratic state that sided with the Union in the Civil War calls into question just how Southern they are...) And where on God's green earth do I profess my love for trust-fund bands? Have you read anything else I've ever written? For instance, how about the article in which I pillory Archers of Loaf"the quintessential trust-fund band before the Strokes oozed onto our radar screen"for having the worst band name of all time?
As is clear from my review, I thought this album was good but not great, with plenty of promise for great things to come. It's just my opinion, though, so maybe you shouldn't get so bent out of shape about it.
3 - Richie
Alot of people really like the new CD.
If you really want to hear these guys,go see them live. This is there first full CD,and they are already thinking of ways to improve and do things better. Also the CD is one of those that grows on you each time you listen it.
4 - Kent
"West Virginia being a traditionally Democratic state that sided with the Union in the Civil War calls into question just how Southern they are..."
Just for the record, the South was historically the holdout of the Democratic Party. You should familiarize yourself with the terms "Southern Democrat" and "Dixiecrat."
Additionally, the population of the state of WV was divided during the war, and the state itself maintained an official policy of nutrality.
Oh, yeah, while I'm hear... American Minor roxorz!!!!11
5 - Kent
Er... That's "neutrality."
It's late. I'm going to bed.
6 - Don
I'd say this album has similarities to earlier material put out by the Black Crowes, but man, does AM's lead singer sound a lot like Kelly Jones of Stereophonics on some songs.
Just listen to J.E.E.P., close your eyes, and tell me you don't hear the similarities in these guys voices, and some of the songs (notably, Vegas Two Times and Rooftop).
But then, that's Stereophonics sounding like the Black Crowes, so there you go...
Great debut, looking forward to seeing these guys get down to Atlanta!
7 - Tom
This is most certainly a band you need to see live....The album rocks, but they sound so much better live. Here them once live and it will become one of your favorite albums.
8 - Marco
These guys are the freshest music I've heard in years. The awful crxp that is in the top 10 (fill in the blank here-it's all the same) today shows what a state of ruins American music is.
9 - mcl
I agree- the Album is the best rock album of 2005. I saw them live in September- too bad they only played for 20 min. They have to start touring some more. The radio station up here(Mass) plays the shit out of them, and theyre getting a really big fan base up here.
Who really cares about the lyrics anyways?? I mean, if its good new music, Im gonna listen, and American Minor and Silvertide have been a breath of fresh air for me. Especially seeing them live. They both are amazing bands to see live.
10 - Harry Buttenutz
Mr. critic, I fart in your general direction. The south shall rise again, my bologna has a first name and I am the magnificent. My time is short the eagle has landed. Call Captain Ron, the boat is sinking. The movie has bombed, I am stuck on the Nile or De Nile. Denial that this CD is actually not as impressive as the EP but what are you going to do? Eat poop and bark dust?
11 - jtk
the songs on this album have a lot of lyrical depth,
as opposed to most rock records. knocking that aspect of this album seems absurd.
12 - Mike da Trig
Kick ass band. Kick ass record. Attitude.
Just picked it up. I must be one of the few here in The Netherlands who knows this band at this moment, but I guess that'll change if these boys carry on like this.
But... We need American Minor over here, too!! Why don't they arrange a tour with Shooter Jennings and blow the dust off here in Europe? ;)