Blackwood Creek: Blackwood Creek

The name Blackwood Creek may not mean very much to you, however I'm sure that Kip Winger's will. Not content with releasing an excellent new Winger album earlier this year, having his tremendous solo career or writing classical compositions, Kip has gone right back to where it all started for him and reformed his first band which also features his brother Nate on drums and Peter Fletcher on guitar.

Whilst the album does contain some songs that the band worked up in their first ten years together, which ended in 1980, these versions have all been recorded in the last couple of years for this release. In truth they sit reasonably comfortably with the sort of music you would expect to hear on either a Winger album, or in Kip's solo work. That said it would be unfair to suggest that there isn't enough contained here to set it aside from his other output, it's more that you couldn't fail to notice his involvement from the first notes on the disc. In fact there is a really good mix of the aggressive, guitar heavy sound on Winger's most recent album, and the more introspective, soul searching Kip bares when he works alone. Add in a bit of a bluesy edge in places and leave some of the rougher edges that would usually be smoothed off by Mr W and what you are left with is a little gem of an album.

The more in your face up tempo tracks on show, "Out In Outer Space" with Nate's rock solid snare beat and Fletcher's tight concise guitars, the almost AC/DC like "Rack of Greed" and "Love Inspector", rattle along with intent and purpose and the shared vocals on these songs is particularly effective. That is no surprise however as any album with Kip involved is almost guaranteed to have top notch vocal arrangements and Blackwood Creek is no exception.

Equally as effective are the slower tracks and the Winger specialty - mid tempo numbers. "Nothing But The Sun" showcases some beautiful acoustic guitar work and among the best interwoven vocals anywhere on the disc. Other stand outs are the sublimely beautiful "After Your Heart" and the instantly memorable "Albatross" and that's without mentioning "Jimmy And Georgia" and it's meaty riff or the blues laden almost Thunder like "Dead Stung", which also contains another wonderful Kip vocal.

By now you will getting the impression that this is yet another sparkling release from the mightily consistent Kip Winger and well, you'd be correct. Nate and Fletcher prove to be able foils for Kip and their contributions to this album are equal in every way to their more famous band mate.

I knew after hearing Winger's Karma a couple of months ago that Kip had helped release one of the best melodic rock albums of the year, however with Blackwood Creek he hasn't quite come up to that standard, but rest assured he's now been an integral part in two of the finest melodic rock albums of the year!

Another job well done.

Track Listing
1. Out In Outer Space
2. Nothing But The Sun
3. Your Revolution
4. Dead Stung
5. After Your Heart
6. Albatross
7. Jimmy And Georgia
8. Rack Of Greed
9. Love Inspector
10. Joy Ride
11. Wooden Shoe

Added: January 3rd 2010
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: Band's MySpace Page
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Language: english

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