Buckcherry
The cycle of songwriting-recording-touring is enough to wear anybody out. Some bands watch their creativity drop through the floor. Others get their emotions rubbed raw and it isn't long before band members can't stand to be in the same room with each other. When a couple weeks off, here and there, fail to do the trick it makes sense to go on hiatus. For Buckcherry, there was a lengthy gap between their "Time Bomb" CD and "Fifteen." But it was more than simple fatigue hampering the group.
In '95, two L.A. denizen's, vocalist Joshua Todd and guitarist Keith Nelson were introduced through their tattoo artist. The two wrote songs and recruited bassist J.B. Brightman and drummer Devon Glenn. After making an impact on the local club scene Buckcherry added second guitarist Yogi. Soon the group was signed by Dreamworks. Buckcherry's self-titled debut contained "Check Your Head," "For The Movies," and "Lit Up." The '99 release was produced by Terry Date and former Sex Pistol, Steve Jones. So far, so good.
'00 saw the release of "Time Bomb" which earned Buckcherry some opening dates for their heroes, AC/DC. Though things were still on a positive track, it wouldn't last.
Dreamworks ceased to exist, swallowed in a corporate reshuffling. Then Todd bailed in '02. It looked as though Buckcherry was down for the count before they even had a chance to realize their full potential.
It always pays to do charity work. Todd and Nelson played a benefit with ex-Guns N' Roses members, Slash, Duff McKagan and Matt Sorum As a result, Slash, McKagan and Sorum formed Velvet Revolver while Todd and Nelson decided to give Buckcherry another shot. They enlisted drummer Xaiver Muriel and guitarist Steven Dacanay for their '06 effort, "15," which logically, was recorded in fifteen days. The set featured "Out Of Line," "Onset" and the AC/DC influenced anti-war track "Broken Glass."
Motley Crue's '08 Cruefest tour featured Buckcherry along with Papa Roach, Sixx: A.M. and Trapt. Next on tap for Buckcherry was a co-headlining trek with Avenged Sevenfold but M. Shadows' strained vocal chords (which had already caused A7X to cancel shows) forced the group to miss the first leg of the tour. Still, Buckcherry went out with Shinedown and Saving Abel in support.
Days later, Buckcherry's fourth album, "Black Butterfly," was released. The follow-up to their platinum-certified '06 set, "15," was named after a song that didn't make it on to the album. "In the big picture of the record that piece just didn't seem to fit," explained Nelson. "We loved it and certainly it will see the light of day at some point."
You'll have to look long and hard to find a better debut than Buckcherry's. It Rocks. Todd and Nelson are an awesome team who interact and drive each other just the way a vocalist and guitarist should. The AC/DC influences are there but not overbearing. Buckcherry is on its own trajectory. Aside from the tracks listed above, "Crushed" is another standout. Though poorly received, sophomore album, "Time Bomb" is nearly as good.
If Buckcherry was out to dispel any "Time Bomb" doubts, the succeed quickly and powerfully with the opening tracks on "15." "So Far" is L.A. Punk, pure and simple. "Next 2 You" has infectious vocal breaks and a hypnotic backbeat. Then there's "Out Of Line" which could have fallen straight out of the AC/DC songbook. The album slows down a bit for the sincerely apologetic "Sorry" which is naturally followed by the totally unrepentant "Crazy Bitch." Surprisingly, the dobro and Bluegrass touches on "Brooklyn" work. Wouldn't think a song about a NY burg would lend itself to a melodic strum and twang but it does. Returning to their core strength, Buckcherry close the set with a real kicker, "Broken Glass."
"Too Drunk" from "Black Butterfly" is not a song you want blasting out of the car speakers when pulled over by the cops at 2 AM. But then, you're probably going down anyway - might as well do it big. "Too Drunk" (the title says it all) is one of those songs that is guaranteed to rile anyone with even a peripheral belief in decorum and common sense. That alone makes it the perfect party anthem.
"Black Beauty" could be called "15: The Sequel." Todd's lyrics cover the usual turf (sex, more sex and getting/being wasted), though he tries for a profound moment here and there. And just to make sure nobody has an excuse to pass on this album there's the power ballad "Dreams."