Sometimes the title of the album says it all. With Ain’t Rocked in a While, Brent Cobb & The Fixin’s decided to press pause on Cobb’s more singer/songwriter offerings, strap on the electric guitars, and turn the amps up.
Produced by Cobb and Oran Thornton, the players recorded live to tape at The Black Palace in Springfield, MO. Cobb brings his touring band, Len Clark on drums, Matt McDaniel on guitar, and Josh Williams on bass, to a headlining role with the louder offerings. The best of the crackling numbers is the title effort as the fuzzy riffs, head-banging groove, and foot-stomping drums pump up the country twanged ode to AC/DC.
The players then deliver their hearty, loud, but nondescript retro rockers. “Bad Feelin’” is a blues-influenced effort that deals with alley cats, Cadillacs, and rolling dice (delivering a top-notch solo) while “Do It All the Time” and “Even If It’s Broke” exude more of the same sounds.
The second half of the album is more diverse and interesting, as Cobb incorporates his Americana roots. The acoustic-based, eerie echoing “In Our Hands” uses weepy strings and distorted vocals. In contrast, more acoustic strums, warbling vocals, and Americana vibes color both “Take Yer Meds,” which builds with the full band winningly, and “Til Dawn,” which evokes effective lyrical settings.
“Power Man” is an odd tune that employs crunchy riffs and distorted vocals, with Cobb almost rapping the lyrics. However, it is in the opener and closer where perhaps the most interesting experiments lie. Cobb opens with “Beyond Measure (Piano),” a solo piano number that sounds almost demo-like and starts the album on odd footing, but the closing “Beyond Measure (Fixin’s)” brings the whole band back to the track. Perhaps combining those two efforts in Neil Young-like fashion could find a successful middle ground between Cobb’s rock and Americana urges.
Can’t blame a man for turning up the volume, though, as Brent Cobb & The Fixin’s Ain’t Rocked in a While presses the pedal down.
