Blue Blood - Top Shelf Woman Album Review
Blue Blood’s debut album Top Shelf Woman exudes good times from start to finish. Best described as a rock solid funkadelic escapade into jazzaliscious dynamics, with some stonking blues soul to get your heart pumping, it’s really something you should pick up today. I particularly like the tasty brass segments, sweet riffs and exceptional drumming that are designed to get you on the dance floor. The parts I don’t like so much are the somewhat formulaic rock and lyrics that haven’t moved fully into their potential yet. Having said that, Blue Blood certainly does the sex, drugs and rock n roll theme well and the angle of approach is original enough to make the release touch the ground in a most appreciated way.This CD is all about partying. It’s not just crisp rock and roll with the tightest chops you could ever want; there’s an energetic funk factor and at times a slight glam or grunge aspect, which gives the album some healthy contrast. The mixture sure tastes good and it’s hard to believe this is their debut album. The professionalism, cohesiveness and talented song writing are far beyond what a lot of bands achieve with their third or fourth releases.
The high-energy vibe of opening track Red Light Woman draws on funk rock fusion to really get the party started. Then the particularly delightful self-tilted track Top Shelf Woman is a montage of styles somewhat comparable to Supergroove. The fourth track Magic Mary is a diverse dirty blues-rock song with some really hot drum accents and an excellent organ solo. Some other standouts are; Rock n Roll Romance with its ZZ Top influence, Liquored with its Red Hot Chilli Peppers dynamic, Lady Voodoo with an obvious nod to the guitar master Jimi Hendrix and It Was Never Love Pt 1 with some great key changes and excellent guitar work. With a Pink Floyd like resonance, the Outro track is an absolute stunner of infinite depth and space. Judging by this gem, I can’t wait for Blue Bloods future releases.
Top Shelf Woman is a fantastic feather in the cap of engineer Chris Winchecomb and the commercial potential shouldn’t be underestimated. Despite a slight hiccup with the track listing, the first-rate packaging, effective themes and polished performances make this well produced CD absolutely worth the entrance fee. If you’re ready to party, Top Shelf Woman is definitely for you.
View Track Listing
About Blue Blood
Blue Blood’s shrouded origins lie in the heart of urban Auckland, New Zealand. Originally Blue Blood was the brain-child of Joel C Blood and Simon Hole. In late 2009 Blood and Hole decided that it was time to turn back to their hard rock and bluesy roots and formed what is now Blue Blood. Over the proceeding months Blue Blood grew into a full band with Nathan Cooper joining on Keyboards, Mike West on Second Guitar and Matt Elston on Bass.
Blue Blood serve up a serious dose of blues infused psychedelic rock. The influences maybe firmly rooted in the 70’s but the production and delivery are very much in the now. – The Rock Fm
Visit the muzic.net.nz Profile for Blue Blood
Releases
Other Reviews By River Tucker
Album Review: The Death Spell
12 Dec 2023 // by River Tucker
There’s a real whisky drinking, bare knuckle fighting edge to the self-titled debut album by The Death Spell, kicking off with Nail You Higher Than Before. Obviously, song lyrics are in your face on this track, especially for any Christians in the audience, but you couldn’t ask for a better intro to the musical style of this Auckland-based band.
Read More...
Beastwars - Gig Review: Reign of the Beast @ Whanganui Musicians Club, Whanganui - 13/10/2023
15 Oct 2023 // by River Tucker
If you're into metal music, the Musicians Club in Whanganui was the place to be last Friday night for a feast of auditory delights to satisfy even the hungriest of souls. Brought to you by Lost Art and Panhead beer, Beastwars and Shepherds Reign headlined an epic concert that was set to bring the house down on the first leg of their not-to-be-missed Reign of the Beast tour.
Read More...
End of an Empire - Album Review: Best Laid Plans
25 Sep 2023 // by River Tucker
It’s been a couple of years since End of an Empire released their favourably reviewed debut album, Within, Without in 2020. Since then, the Wellington-based four-piece have obviously put their time to good use by writing Best Laid Plans, which is arguably one of the finest Hardcore releases to come out of New Zealand this year.
Read More...
The Rising Tide - Gig Review: Inferno - Youth Rock & Metal @ The Stomach, Palmerston North - 5/08/2023
07 Aug 2023 // by River Tucker
It’s not often that you get treated to a mid-winter concert where nearly every metal genre is being performed. But that’s exactly what happened at The Stomach in Palmerston North last Saturday night where four bands gave it their all in a rip-roaring all-ages show that will undoubtedly leave the hundred or so people who attended with lasting impressions.
Read More...
Mammuthus - Album Review: Imperator
18 Jun 2023 // by River Tucker
If you like your stoner metal super-sized and embellished with a nice touch of doom, then Mammuthus’ latest release, Imperator, is definitely the album for you. Seven tracks of deliciously down-tuned, guitar-driven heaviness smash into your eardrums like a well-oiled and relentless steam train.
Read More...
1 Drop Nation - Single Review: I'm Home
08 May 2023 // by River Tucker
When it comes to reggae music 1 Drop Nation's latest single, I'm Home, hits all the right notes. Soulful melodies, tight rhythms, and on-point vocals impart a feel-good vibe that will get you chilling or up and dancing, whatever mood you're in.
Read More...
Gig Review: Devilskin @ The Royal, Palmerston North - 28/04/2023
30 Apr 2023 // by River Tucker
It was well worth getting in early to catch Devilskin’s exclusive VIP performance at The Royal in Palmerston North last Friday night. Following on from a successful show at Homegrown, Devilskin has embarked on their much-anticipated nationwide Let Me Breathe tour, brought to you by The Rock, after a short hiatus that, if anything, has made their current shows all the more sweet.
Read More...
21 Mar 2023 // by River Tucker
The weather gods must really love live music because they fully turned it on for the Jim Beam Homegrown music festival in Wellington last Saturday. Not only were the tunes absolutely fantastic, the crystal clear blue sky followed by a twinkling starry night set a magical scene for thousands of beautiful party people to enjoy some of New Zealand’s biggest bands performing across five stages on the capital’s spectacular waterfront.
Read More...
Most Viewed Artists
Latest Galleries
NZ Top 10 Singles
- TOO SWEET
Hozier - BEAUTIFUL THINGS
Benson Boone - LOSE CONTROL
Teddy Swims - LIKE THAT
Future And Metro Boomin feat. Kendrick Lamar - END OF BEGINNING
Djo - I LIKE THE WAY YOU KISS ME
Artemas - WE CAN'T BE FRIENDS (WAIT FOR YOUR LOVE)
Ariana Grande - STICK SEASON
Noah Kahan - TEXAS HOLD 'EM
Beyonce - LEAVEMEALONE
Fred Again.. And Baby Keem
More Content on muzic.net.nz
Google Site Search
100% New Zealand Music
All content on this website is copyright to muzic.net.nz and other respective rights holders. Redistribution of any material presented here without permission is prohibited.
Report A Problem
