Stephen Kellogg
Album: Blunderstone Rookery
Label: Bread & Butter Music
Tracks: 11
Website: http://www.stephenkellogg.com

One of the first things that hit me about Blunderstone Rookery, Stephen Kellogg's first album less the Sixers is his willingness to proudly wear his influences. Take Forgive You, Forgive Me for example - definite Tom Petty in there but not in a Strokes style wholesale riff lifting way. If you told me that Men & Women was a Robert Earl Keen cover I'd believe you and I detect some Warren Zevon in I Don't Want to Die on the Road.

Far from being a distraction, it makes the album more accessible. It does not require repeat listening to 'get it'. The second, third, fourth and fifth plays just reinforce what a class act Kellogg is. Good Ol' Days, with it's rock n roll riffs, piano breaks and soaring backing vocals sugar coat a damming verdict on today's music business; The Brain is a Beautiful Thing uses a similar tactic but takes a wider swipe at modern society.

Nothing though, quite prepares you for sublime 10 minute brilliance of Thanksgiving. A big song (and not just in it's length) with a choral introduction and finale, strummed acoustic guitar, piano, orchestration all back up the story of a life time stamped by the fourth Thursday in November.

Blunderstone Rookery is a magnificent album and an essential listen.

John 'The Jacket' Hawes