Earlier this year, we stumbled upon Rosetta West, and I truly love their genuine blues rock vibes! Today, I’m excited to explore their latest album, Gravity Sessions. Let’s dive deeper into it below.
The experience they deliver is truly remarkable. Do you know why? Absolutely! They hail from the iconic 90s. The band was established during that vibrant decade and successfully cultivated a loyal fan base even before the digital age!
The seven-track album presents singles that go beyond just blues rock. In fact, it features a variety of styles, including psychedelic, hard rock, and alternative influences. The opening track “Dora Lee” delivers powerful, catchy riffs, complemented by Joseph Demagore’s emotive and dynamic vocals. I particularly enjoyed the diversity showcased in “Suzie,” which transitions into a slow-burning style that I believe will resonate with any listener. “Broken Glass” relies on an infectious riff, perfectly executed in collaboration with Herf Guderian (bass) and Mike Weaver (drums). Trust me when I say these musicians maintain a tight core that many emerging bands seem to struggle with today.
Typically, in my album reviews, I avoid discussing each track individually to allow listeners and readers to form their own opinions. However, I can’t resist highlighting a few tracks in this instance, as they were exceptionally well presented.
Oh! “Deeper than Magic,” here we delve into a blend of psychedelia and bluesy beats. It’s evident that this track effectively conveys its theme and immerses you in a specific mindset. The band leans heavily on unique vocal and musical styles, which complement each other beautifully. This kind of synergy was quite prevalent during the golden era, around three or four decades ago. However, as you may have noticed, contemporary music often feels more disconnected! What I truly cherish in this piece is the guitar solo. I admire how it unfolds over a harmonic mode, and Joseph’s humming alongside the solo evokes memories of the legendary Led Zeppelin. I would say it’s one of the finest original guitar solos I’ve encountered this year.
Although “Save Me” and “Baby Doll” still keep the bluesy core in their structure, I noticed as well as loved their hard rock influences. Their energetic vibes will easily make you swing and sing along with the music. And again, here comes an impressive soloing in “Baby Doll” I loved how it’s like a solo between two worlds, yeah! The East and the West, the soloing along with Joseph’s vocals creates mastery! The final track here is “Venous Blue”, which delivers more pure bluesy rock vibes. Also, I felt it had more influence from their homeland in Chicago. This city is known for its rich rock sound, and it’s been one of the most influential music scenes around the world.
In conclusion, Rosetta West possesses the experience needed to give each track its unique flair. You won’t find their sound to be repetitive like many other blues-rock bands you’ve encountered lately. In my opinion, they rank among the top active blues rock bands in the world.
