Search - American Ambulance :: Stray

ROLLING STONES FANS: BUY THIS ALBUM!!!

Ron Bracco | New York, NY USA | 12/11/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"American Ambulance play real rock n' roll, with a deep appreciation of burning blues, twangin' country, and classic rock. You could compare this album favorably to the best of the Rolling Stones -- Exile On Main Street, Let It Bleed, Sticky Fingers and Beggars Banquet. Like those great albums, Stray shifts seamlessly between hard rock and sweet acoustic songs; soulful ballads with deep lyrics and driving numbers with catchy choruses; bluesy raveups and mid-tempo country-rock instant classics. This is a real band!I've seen these guys live in NYC a few times, and let me tell you that they are the real deal. As good as this recording is, their that much better live -- sort of a cross between a great 70s rock band and a kickin' beer-and-sawdust honky tonk group. On Stray, the sound is fleshed out with steel guitar, wailin' slide, mandolin, great vocal harmonies and even some hard country fiddle and accordion. Meanwhile, the songs reflect real-life grown-up themes of love and loss, redemption and sorrow, and ultimately a sense of life's beauty. The songwriter Pete Cenedella is damn talented, and the lead guitarist Scott Aldrich is a world-class guitar hero. Tim Reedy is a kind of John Paul Jones figure, playing bass, piano, and organ, while drummer Joe Dessereau can turn on a dime between hard driving rock and tasteful background playing.If you dig the rock n' roll of the 60s and 70s, and lament the junk all over the radio today, don't think twice, it's all right! Pick up Stray and be convinced that rock n' roll is not dead!"