Hot on the heels of 2018's High Water I comes High Water II, the sophomore studio release from The Magpie Salute, the American roots rock/Southern Rock/psychedelic blues act featuring former (or current, depending on which rumor you hear) Black Crowes members Rich Robinson (guitars, vocals), Marc Ford (guitars), and Sven Pipien (bass), along with lead vocalist John Hogg, drummer Joe Magistro, and keyboard player Matt Slocum. As with the debut, High Water II was recorded at Dark Horse Studios in Nashville, TN, and now completes the second of what was originally conceived as one long musical piece.
It's not hard to instantly think of vintage Black Crowes when listening to High Water II, as Hogg has a similar vocal style to Chris Robinson and many of the tunes here have an uplifting vibe that you'd often find in the Crowes classic tracks. "Sooner or Later" kicks things off in splendid fashion, blending good old American rock and roll with a bluesy vibe, followed by the equally catchy "Gimme Something", a tune dripping with late '60s psychedelia, funk, and a healthy dose of pop hooks. "Leave It All Behind" treads in similar waters, swirling organ and biting lead guitar surrounding the potent vocal delivery of Hogg, while "In Here" displays the band perfectly at home with Americana roots rock ala Tom Petty, catchy hooks abound amid a wealth of horns and addicting rhythms. The acoustic guitars come out for the charming country rock of "You and I", as well as the Southern Rock tinged "Mother Storm". Slide guitars in the grand tradition of the Allman Brothers Band can be heard on the emotional "A Mirror", one of the strongest tunes here and a song that also has some strong Faces vibe at times as well. Alison Krauss guests on fiddle & backing vocals on "Lost Boy", another strong country rock piece with hooks galore. Another of High Water II's rockers is "Turn It Around", filled with chunky wah-wah soaked electric guitars and Hogg's lethal vocal, while "Does It Really Matter" blends gut-busting funk with searing Southern Rock, Ford & Robinson's guitars slicing and dicing over some torrid rhythms. The album closes with the fine slow blues of "Where Is This Place", again highlighted by some tasty lead guitar work from the six-string duo.
What the future holds for The Magpie Salute is anyones guess, but judging by the great music contained on both High Water releases, the creative juices of this fine band are firing on all cylinders.
Track Listing
1. Sooner Or Later
2. Gimme Something
3. Leave It All Behind
4. In Here
5. You And I
6. Mother Storm
7. A Mirror
8. Lost Boy
9. Turn It Around
10. Life Is A Landslide
11. Doesn’t Really Matter
12. Where Is This Place
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