The Brought Low
Right on Time (CD) 2006 Small Stone
What makes a band great? Great songs! That's The Brought Low's philosophy, and they've delivered in a big way with 'Right on Time'. Rave reviews have been trickling out over the internet, and there have been "album of the year"-calls already, with 2006 barely half over. Early listeners recognize that the band has nailed the classic/southern rock sound to the wall, as if the Rolling Stones were a new band, just seasoned enough to produce their best work in 2006, rather than 1968-72. Along with the new release by Antler, The Brought Low has put fresh, 70s-inspired riff rock back on the map. Now a power trio, the group was a quartet when the album was recorded, showcasing a Smith/Kramer, Betts/Allman classic dual guitar sound, combined with Ben Howard Smith's vocals, which hang out somewhere between Mick and Keith. The album starts with 'A Better Life', with some tasty blues strumming segueing into some hard rockin', with lyrics inspired by Ben's daughter. One of the album's future classics is 'Hail Mary', which could be the great unreleased Keef b-side from 'Exile on Main Street', with a little Lowell George-era Little Feat, ca. 1971-74. The Stones may loom large over 'Right on Time', but it's not all glimmer twins and Watt: check out the James Gang swagger of 'Tell Me', 'Vernon Jackson', a paean to New York's subways, may remind you of the New York Dolls' 'Subway Train' minus the glitter, combined with the Stones' 'Sticky Fingers', Other classic influences to be found here include The Black Crowes, Zeppelin and Mountain. But this is far from a period piece. You could just as easily compare this classic riff metal to relative newcomers like 5 Horse Johnson, Puny Human, Bad Wizard, or the aforementioned Antler. It doesn't really matter, 'cause even at an average length of 5 minutes per, the songs are concise and filled with hooks, the riffs are basic and timeless, the beer is cold, and the dice are flaming. In other words, this disc is full of your basic great songwriting. So get it and get back to your roots: you've been "Xtreme" long enough.	1. A Better Life 2. Hail Mary 3. This Ain't No Game 4. Tell Me 5. Dear Ohio 6. Throne 7. Vernon Jackson 8. Shakedown 9. Blues for Cubby 10. There's a Light Approx. 50 minutes
Reviewed by: Kevin McHugh