Buckcherry Album: “Buckcherry: Special Edition”

Description :

Seven years after its initial release, the Special Edition of Buckcherry's debut album contains three bonus audio tracks and a DVD with five music videos and two live performances. <p>Buckcherry: Joshua Todd (vocals); Keith Nelson (guitar); Jonathan "J.B." Brigham (bass guitar); Devon Glenn (drums, percussion). <p>As you listen to Buckcherry's debut record, a significant sense of deja vu takes hold. The foundation combines early Guns N' Roses riffs with AC/DC's blues feel and the Black Crowes' attitude. But Buckcherry has its own spirit, using these influences to create a new and unique sound. Co-produced by Terry Date (Deftones, White Zombie) and Sex Pistols guitarist Steve Jones, the album contains raunchy rockers turned up to 11 and slower, melodic numbers. "Lit Up", the band's hook-laden ode to the coke hobby, is an anthem for Los Angeles nightlife. "For The Movies" has an Oasis feel and is primed for rock radio. Vocalist Joshua Todd swaggers through "Lawless And Lulu", while Keith Nelson's punk metal riffs drive "Related". BUCKCHERRY is a fresh and exciting Saturday night rock & roll album that kicks the door to the new millennium wide open.

The Good

Despite the fact this release is an obvious cash-in, it's still the album that put Buckcherry on the map and allowed them a little bit of recognition for a while. Who can forget the jarring opening riffs out the balls-to-the wall party anthem "Lit Up?" I still turn the radio up every time this one kicks off on the radio. "Crushed" is also just as in-your-face and raw as it's predecessor. "Check Your Head" starts off like one of those poignant ballads with acoustic guitars under smooth vocals. The pace picks up as vocalist Josh Todd gets into how your life could be worse.

Buckcherry infuses some bluesy tones and virtuoso style soloing into "Dirty Mind." When this album came out back in 1999, the rock power ballad was pretty much dead. "For the Movies" took me right back to that time with it's slow, emotional verses, and powerful choruses. Even though the lyrical content has been done ad nauseam, the musical arrangement still moves me. "Borderline" also has a blues swagger to it that compliments Todd's cock-sure delivery perfectly. Guitarist Keith Nelson puts his wah-wah pedal to good use on "Get Back."

The bonus DVD included gives you all of Buckcherry's videos that were released for the album; "Lit Up," "For the Movies," "Check Your Head," and "Dead Again." In addition to that, three live performances from the Viper Room, as well as an alternate version of "For the Movies." But that's not all. 2 unreleased audio tracks, "Late Nights in Voodoo" and "Flashback 69," and a live version of "Lit Up" from Woodstock '99 are also included.

The Bad

And for the third and final time...it's a cash in. The band probably won't see a dime.

The Verdict

Buckcherry's debut is a long way from the melodic and smoothed over sounds of their latest album 15, but still a piece of their hard rock history. Even though the group has come a long way from their humble beginnings, you can still hear the groundwork being laid for their future success with this collection of impactful music.