Buckcherry Album: “Black Butterfly [PA]”

Had to get the Fan Club edition version of this album since Buckcherry is one of my top 5 fav bands of the last 10 years or so. This one contains two bonus songs, one of which ("Nothing") I would rate higher than at least 2 songs on the regular release "All Of Me", and "Don't Go Away", maybe even "Dreams" too? The other bonus track is "Stayin' High" which sounds a bit like Enuff Z'Nuff (and the topic sounds like something they would record now doesn't it?) It is a decent song also and I rate it higher than All Of Me and Don't Go Away also....what can I say, I am a big fan on Z'Nuff also!?

The album has alot of promise to me, I after 3 or 4 listens put it ahead of "15" for sure. "A Child Called 'it'", "Rescue Me", and "Fallout" are my favs right now. "Rose" followed by another rocker "Imminent Bail Out" sound great back to back. "Imminent Bailout" is also up in the top tier group of favs...which may change on a daily basis now that I think about it. The song "All Of Me" doesn't belong here at all, and it to me their weakest track ever...I have yet to be able to listen to it all the way through (4 try's). "Rose" is a nice song, sorta a mid tempo ballad type thing or whatever that works, but the interruption of All Of Me is me reaching for the remote to skip it...time to get back to rocking!

They do plenty of that on here, very good blues based hard rock with a dab of sleaze to be found abundant on any Buckcherry release, to be played loudly and enjoyed in all it's raucous splender.

Love the guitar work on here, some nice fills, abbreviated but necessary solo's that add to the feel of each song also. The feel is good on this one, and they are to me expanding a bit and trying some somewhat new things, but at the same time not straying too far from the formula also in the process if that makes any sense? I would rate it above "15" for sure right now...I still like "Time Bomb" better...but maybe after a few more listens not by much.

The "Best Buy Version" as it may be referred to in many circles includes a one year membership to the fanclub *explained on an insert in the packaging of the CD*

With this you get:

- 24/7 access to the members only fan club site

- Chances to meet Buckcherry

- Members Only Message Board (Like OMG!!111!!) j/k

- Contest with drawings and prizes

- And Much More (apparently)

There's a coupon code on the insert that you type into a spot on the site to redeem/activate I guess.

And of course you get the 2 bonus songs which are worth it for a few extra bucks.

I guess depending how into this band you are, is what you decide on. Buckcherry doesn't disappoint in unreleased songs/material, if only they could better decide on a couple songs here and there to put on each CD (after Time Bomb), but I do give this one 5 stars for being 1. Generous with the 2 songs. 2. Fan Club stuff, inside info etc. gained (even if only for a year).

Favs:

1. A Child Called 'It'

2. Rescue Me

3. Fallout

4. Rose

5. Imminent Bail Out

6. Too Drunk

7. Tired Of You

8. Cream

9. Talk To Me

10. Nothing (bonus track - demo )

11. Dreams

12. Stayin' High (bonus track - demo)

13. Don't Go Away

14. All Of Me

I have loved these guys for some time now and they seldom disappoint, but I guess I am a bit 'old school' in that I don't need a ton of profanity and vulgarity in my music. Obviously if I am a fan of Buckcherry I am not all that offended but they could tone it down a bit and still be the great rock talent they are now. Just saw their latest video from their website and the music was awesome and the lyrics were filthy. I guess I just hate to have to make moral decisions on my music, we all draw a line out there someplace of what you will tolerate and these talented guys are always on the edge or across it, damn I just wish their music sucked (but it don't :) Great stuff to crank up while driving, should have a warning for speeding tickets while listening :)

So Far this one after a few listens has settled into my 3rd favorite Buckcherry studio album. I do know I like it quite a bit better than their last studio release "15".

This is a very solid blues based hard rock album, although not perfect by any means; it remains an important step in Buckcherry's evolution, some may argue it's just rock 'n roll, and all they sing about it sex and drugs....partying, but hardcore fans of the band know this is not the case. You listen to this CD along with say ...the Backyard Babies latest release (2008 S/T), and you've got 2 solid hard rocking albums that seem to further enhance the genre. I do like the Babies newest release a little better than this one, but they are very good sounding/feeling albums to come out this year.

It starts out with another lead track that is a rocker in "Rescue Me", this one is a solid song and set's the tone for the CD as so many other lead tracks have done on all 3 or their other releases.

Nice guitar work on the album overall, nice fills, some solo's which are used in an abbreviated fashion at times, but nonetheless used wisely with the flow of each song. A slightly heavier feel on this one over "15" at times, and to be honest that is exactly what I was hoping, although there are a few songs that drag the momentum down too far for me. Really though for some reason I just don't think they've hit the peak of their music yet, on this one they get close in many places though...and that is a good sign, they are expanding and growing a bit, but still of course rolling down that sleazy part of town where the weekend is all that matters and having a good time.

"A Child Called 'it'", "Imminent Bail Out", and "Fallout" are my 3 favorite tracks on here after a few listens, and I would consider them some of the best stuff they have recorded. To give an idea of how many good songs I hear here the song "Too Drunk" is about in the middle of my favs. "Rose" followed by "Imminent Bailout" sound great. "Cream" is another song I would define as expanding their horizons a bit, pretty unique song for the band, it starts out like another ballad, but once the drums kick in it's kinda like ...'where is this song going now?'....and it works pretty well. "Talk To Me" and "Dreams" are decent songs on here also that work well mixed in with the others.

Unfortunately there is a few low spots IMO on here, most notably what I now refer to as Brooklyn II in a song called "All Of Me" which has sunk to the bottom of my all time favs list along with the boring and familar going through the motions of a song called "Don't Go Away" which is I believe may be the second single and with a video and all, to me that song is very dull.

Favs in order

1. A Child Called "it"

2. Imminent Bail Out

3. Fallout

4. Rose

5. Rescue Me

6. Cream

7. Too Drunk

8. Tired Of You

9. Talk To Me

10. Dreams

11. Don't Go Away

12. All Of Me

I also recommend picking up the Fan Club edition with two bonus song on it. I would rate the song "Nothing" on that one higher than "All Of Me" and "Don't Go Away" on this one...maybe even over "Dreams" as well?

Buckcherry-Black Butterfly *****

To begin with, Black Butterfly is the bands best and strongest and most consistent album since their 1998 self titled debut album. Finding a nice balance between the overly produced and popish sounds of their previous album 15, and the hard rocking almost metal of their first two albums Buckcherry, and Time Bomb. Black Butterfly is the bands most concise album to date. While a eerie feeling tells me this won't sell very well, it still is a killer album.

'A Child Called It' and the album opener 'Rescue Me' are both inspired by the book A Child Called It. This shows growth for the L.A. rockers. Serious subject matters for Todd was previously getting high and laid. 'Too Drunk..' is classic Buckcherry and the guitar work from Keith Nelson and Steve D is incredible here and through out the album. 'Dreams' is what they have been trying to capture on songs like 'Babe' and 'Sorry' but just feel short of the mark until now.

The same sex, drugs, and rock n' roll we have come to know from Buckcherry is here but they seem to have matured where most L.A. bands hit ruts. Buckcherry is one of the strongest rock n' roll bands around today and Black Butterfly just might be their strongest album yet.

With the release of "Black Butterfly", Buckcherry could set themselves up to be the next successor to true rock n roll.

As a follow-up to "15", this release proves to be a solid, sleazy, balls-on rock n roll release. In the vein of Motley Crue, AC/DC, or Dirty Looks... with more punch and grit than any of those new releases.

There are even some tracks that are nearly radio-ready to promote the bands sound to those who would never find it otherwise.