Title - 'The Overlords Of The Cosmic Revelation'
Artist - Leroy Powell & The Messengers
The Overlords Of The Cosmic Revelation is the wonderful new album from Shooter Jennings guitarist, and cast member of A&E's Crazy Hearts: Nashville, Leroy Powell. From the desert to the heartland, east coast to west coast, Powell has spent his life barnstorming the country spreading his unique brand of music. The man born in Redlands, CA, and who has turned into one highly acclaimed songwriter, now goes full blown space truckin' rock on our asses here on his latest solo album, Overlords. Managing to include some delicious old school 60's flashback vibes, this alternative-sounding country album is quite unlike anything you've heard from this era in a long, long time.
Indeed, along with these great, fresh-sounding songs, the elaborate art packaging also includes a hand-drawn comic that tells the story of the album. Basically, as the tracks unfold, it is one about a band of space rebels on the run from the Cosmic Overlords who make a valuable ally at a lunar refueling stop - the mysterious Kynkon aka King Kong!
The first track, 'Weightlessness', is a NASA-inspired verbal communication informing the status of the rocket, that the firing commands are in place, that the automatic pilot is set, exactly what the t-minus information is, and that the ignition sequence is in place, before the real Powell comes to the fore on the rockin' foot tapper 'Time Flies.'
The hard blues boogie of one of the best tracks on the album, for my money, the aforementioned 'King Kong' is next, and that is backed by the futuristic storytelling of the title track itself, 'The Overlords of the Cosmic Revelation.' The hard-livin' blues of 'Rising' is next and that is followed by the flamenco-inspired lighter fare of 'Brave New World.' The old school hard rock country appeal of 'Lost in the Future' is next, and man, it takes you back to those good ol' days of raw blues rock, trust me.
The cosmic jam rock of 'Liz' is next, and as much as that one might have risen you up, ready for a powerhaus ride to the musical finish line, once again Powell pulls the rug from underneath you and the lush, melodic quietness of 'Brainscan' is brought out next instead. More gentle guitar along with slightly distorted vocals then bring forth the beautiful 'Star,' before the music begins to get cranked up on 'Death Machine,' and then, finally, the highly melodic, tuneful, free flowing sonic vibes of 'Checking Out.'
www.leroypowell.com
www.cleorecs.com