A little Lenny Kravitz, a little Lynyrd Skynyrd and oh what the heck, throw in a little Bon Jovi for good measure. Stir in a pinch of southern fried chicken and a shot of Jack Daniels and voila, you've got yourself a fresh serving of steaming hot Bo Bice.
As soon as I got my copy of Bo Bice's See the Light in the mail I popped it into the stereo before reading the attached bio. I like to get an immediate impression of a CD before my perception gets clouded with too much information.
I'm glad I did because try as I might to not judge, I would most certainly have held being a former contestant on American Idol against him. I know, I know, how did I not know that? What can I say; I'm the original reality TV anti-fan! I avoid all so-called reality shows like the plague.
Consequently I had no knowledge of Mr. Bice prior to reviewing his material. Here then, are my unfettered thoughts.
"Witness" the first and best track immediately reminded me of Lenny Kravitz. A strong soulful voice full funk and rock is backed up by kick ass crunchy guitar with the just the right amount of distortion. You know, it's ‘rockin’ not ‘make your ears bleed' annoying.
Track two "Take the County Outta Me” turned to southern rock a la Lynyrd Skynyrd for inspiration. This style was also the order of the day for "I'm Gone" but in a more distinct Jon Bon Jovi's "Blaze of Glory" kind of way.
“Only Words” had a very 70's Jim Croce take on the obligatory ballad. Not a bad tune in general but I have to ask, is there no good rock album out there that doesn't feel the need to throw in a slow song? Is there some cosmic contract that says every album must have an end-of-the-night-high-school-dance-butt-grabbing sappy slow song? Really guys, I think the odd album could do without it. The kids can go back to groping to "Stairway to Heaven" like we all had to!
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Kathee
This is a great CD! This is the real Bo Bice - not the pop-schlock that Clive Davis tried to push off on "The Real Thing". I hope that Bo's health is 100% and can go on tour soon. I love this CD and can't wait to see Bo in concert!
2 - Linda
IMO it sounds like another bar band tune, the kind of music you can get cheap beer, peanuts,and a headache the next day.
3 - Nitty
I skipped the fried chicken and had 3 shots of Jack Daniels just to get through the cd.
4 - Nathalie
Oh..zing! OK, those comments made me laugh hysterically. Awesome comebacks!;-)
Nat
5 - Cara
True confessions: I watched Idol the year Bo was on and thought he was great. I bought his last CD, which was pretty disappointed and I pretty much lost interest in him. Then I came across his video online for the song Witness, liked the song (if not the hippie shirt he's wearing in it) and then downloaded the album from iTunes. It's great! I agree that a lot of the songs are heavily "influenced" by other artists, but they work, and his voice is fantastic. Thanks for the review!
6 - Shirley
Good solid commentary,although I disagree on the enjoyment level. To me this music is a steaming hot something, but frankly I'd take my shovel to it.
7 - Cat
Great review. Southern Rock is not for everyone, but those of us that love it know this album ROCKS!
8 - foxy
There is not a bad song on this album. I love See the Light and This Train the best. Witness rocks.
9 - Lacey
I purchased the cd over the weekend. My doggie howls at Can't Take the Country Out of Me. Is that a good sign or a bad one?
10 - V
I am not a fan of country or southern rock. But, this CD is really catchy and has some really good songs. I especially liked "This Train" "Ain't Gonna Die" and well, probably around four or five others quite a bit. I agree with you on the "Only Words." It was misplaced on this CD. But, that's a whole lot better than other CD's I've bought where I've had to skip through about four or five songs just to get one that I like and had a "hook." All of the songs on this CD have fantastic "hooks" which are needed for you to want to sing along.
But, Bo does have a unique voice that I find different from the Lenny Kravitz or Bruce sound. He stands out with his tunes, and his growly voice that makes him distinctly Bo Bice. I could hear his voice on the radio and realize, "That is definitely Bo Bice's voice."
This isn't the greatest CD ever made, but it is a really, REALLY, good CD that can contend with anything the country stations are churning out today. And Bo Bice deserves a chance. I'm glad you didn't read the bio beforehand, because the biggest mountains Bo Bice has had to climb was first appearing on AI, and then secondly having to contend with the first CD that he was forced into recording the pop/rock mill of trying to make a big hit today with no consideration of the artist recording it. And finally, he was really sick for a good while.
He's overcome it all and this is a really good southern rock CD - which you simply don't find all that much any more.
Thanks for giving him a chance and listening to his CD. Great review!
11 - Goldie
After listening to See the Light several times, I feel that Bo Rice has been dumped by a string of females in his youth. Makes me cry to think that someone would want to hurt him so bad.
12 - Curis
I picked up the CD over the week-end. It's not bad, but nothing to rave about either.
13 - Rose
This is the CD that Clive Davis should have let him release right after being on AI. I think this is what people expected, it would have done very well. I love it!!!!.
14 - Sam
How about them Red Sox? opps got the wrong website, who the h*** is Bo Rice?
15 - Beth
I am most definitely NOT a fan of American Idol. I watched during and only during Season 4. Bo Bice caught my attention and I followed his ride to the end. I think a win would have been disastrous to his career. He would have never fit into a pop music mold although I will always wonder if he didn't get the popular vote. It's a shame we will never know what could have been had this CD been released first. It captures the essence of Mr. Bice's Southern Rock sound. Maybe he hasn't found a unique sound that would be his and his alone. I hope that's on the horizon. The only salvation for American Idol is we would never have heard of Bo Bice. Let that freebird keep on soarin'! ...and Bo, keep on writing!! I am so glad you didn't know about AI before listening to the CD. Great review!!!
16 - Roger
I bought it. Save your money.
17 - stormy
I think some people that do not like this CD just don't get it.
I love it. I do think this is the CD Bo should have released after AI. These songs come from his soul and if you do not "get it" you many not enjoy them as much.
Folks who just get on here and say something nasty just lead me to believe they have not listened. If they have then why not specify what they don't like instead of just throwing some inane comment out there.
Thank you for the fair review.
18 - Nathalie
Wow. Look at all these comments. And to think I didn't even know who this cat was when I reviewed him. Probably for the best though. I just wrote what I thought of the music.
I really left myself open with that first paragraph didn't I? Serves me right for trying to be clever I guess:-) Thanks for all the great feedback guys and gals, and for all the zingers too, gave me some great laughs.
19 - JC
My review of this cd is somewhat Rock and a lot of Twang. This is the runner up on American Idol? Go back to your day job bro.
20 - Daisy
Nathalie, You said that you didn't see Bo on AI? He was one of the hottest contestants ever that walked across the stage. Who knows of what could have been. Over the last couple of years he has went down hill and looks like some back woods mountain man who hasn't shaved or had a decent hair cut in awhile. The real winner actually was crowned that year with a very sucfessful career.
21 - duane
Stormy observes, "I think some people that do not like this CD just don't get it."
Hmmm. Is that because Bo's music is so subtle and complex, with interwoven harmonic themes, and daring asymmetric rhythmic meters, and mathematically intricate counterpoint, and because it captures several aspects of the human condition simultaneously, from brooding introspection to soaring ecstasy, and lyrically taps into the very deepest levels of our emotions?
Or ...
maybe it's not so good.
22 - jake
I like my rock music straight up, hold the twang. What do people do when they listen to this music throw the rock horns with one hand and hold up a turnip in the other hand.
23 - Beth
Roger: Thanks for the buy. Give it to someone who will appreciate it.
JC: This is Southern Rock. Perhaps that is why you are perlexed with the "twang".
Duane: If we all liked the same music, there would only be one style. If this isn't yours, that's okay. It's possible I wouldn't think your preferences were very good.
Jake: That is downright rude. What do you hold while listening to your music?
24 - Fran
The sound may be derivitive but his voice is diatictively his and he gives each song a passionate sincerity which I enjoy after so many technically perfect but souless presentations. Also enjoy hearing so much joy of performing coming through. Maybe women get this cd more than men because we are more emotional.
25 - duane
Did you notice that only women like this guy? (not all women, see #6)
Now what could possibly be the explanation for that? Hmmm?