Black Bone Child: Take You Blind

Not many bands can get away with releasing two albums on the same day, however thankfully for Austin Texas' Black Bone Child; they would appear to be one that can. With the other album in question (Alligator- reviewed elsewhere), being filled with great high octane rootsy blues based rock and roll of the highest order, what reason could there be for a second offering at the same time? Well the threat of a power cut! As Take You Blind finds BBC almost 100% acoustic. Most impressive is the fact that unplugging the instruments doesn't dull the impact of the good time rock or indeed the enjoyment of Black Bone Child's infectious barn storming music.

Usually when you think of acoustic albums, what springs to mind is either restrained strum alongs that make for decent background music, or toned down versions of songs from an established band's back catalogue. Not here however, Black Bone Child manage to sound completely at home in these surroundings and if I hadn't already given Alligator a spin prior to putting Take You Blind in the CD tray, I would have thought this approach is the one BBC take all the time. There are some reworkings from Black Bone Child's debut album and Alligator, however the harmonica, tambourine and acoustic guitar of "Baby Baby" and "The Flames Are Warm" possess a wild charm and vocally the loose drawl sits perfectly in this style of music.

"Mine", "Tell Me I'm Wrong" and "Dying For Your Love" are a little more subdued, however instead of falling flat, the change of pace is welcome and makes the rabble rousers that surround them all the more effective. In fact "Dying For Your Love" is a wonderful example of how a lone vocal alongside an acoustic guitar can be as hard hitting as a full electric performance.

Cleverly both albums together mount up to the time that one long single CD would run for and given the choice I would far rather have two discs and two styles for my money. Take You Blind and Alligator are wonderful albums that showcase different aspects of Black Bone Child and in truth it's virtually impossible to recommend one disc or style over the other as both are excellent.

Next time can we get three albums....or maybe four?

Track Listing
1. Baby Baby
2. By My Hand
3. Tell Me I'm Wrong
4. The Flames Are Warm
5. Mine
6. Ask For Forgiveness
7. Time Pass Me By
8. Dying For Your Love

Added: April 11th 2010
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: Band's MySpace Page
Hits: 1738
Language: english

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