Blackberry Smoke – You Hear Georgia (2021) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz]

Blackberry Smoke – You Hear Georgia (2021)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 40:27 minutes | 881 MB | Genre: Country
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © 3 Legged Records

Hailed as “the reigning heavyweight champions of Southern rock” (No Depression), Atlanta-based quintet Blackberry Smoke celebrates their 20th anniversary with a magnificent tribute to their home: You Hear Georgia. Produced by Dave Cobb (John Prine, Jason Isbell, Sturgill Simpson), the upcoming album is inspired by and a celebration of the South and all it has to offer. In true Blackberry Smoke fashion, the band masterfully weaves through genre, with everything from Southern Rock anthems about overcoming preconceived notions to life lessons wrapped in heartfelt Americana. And they bring a few friends along for the ride, with guest features from Jamey Johnson and Warren Hayes (The Allman Brothers Band, Gov’t Mule). You Hear Georgia is Blackberry Smoke’s seventh album, following 2018’s critically acclaimed Find A Light – which debuted at #1 on Billboard Country Album Sales and Americana/Folk Album Sales Chart – and its companion acoustic EP The Southern Ground Sessions.

The title of the seventh and latest album for Blackberry Smoke You Hear Georgia works on a couple of levels. It’s easy to hear the influence of some of that state’s great bands in these songs: the Allman Brothers, Georgia Satellites, Drive-By Truckers. And there’s a healthy echo of the Black Crowes’ early soul and blues rock stylings in the title track. But that song actually touches on how Southerners are seemingly one of the last groups of people it’s still OK to mock and judge for the way they sound. “You hear Georgia when I open my mouth … I let you in and then you throw me out/ You can’t see nothing past a shadow of a doubt,” sings Charlie Starr. The frontman has explained: “The song is about the South being misunderstood … It started with the idea of how people might have a preconceived opinion of you because of a thick Southern accent, then expanded into the reality of how some people just seem to have such a hard time getting along, thanks to political or religious views, or simply what part of the country you come from.” Meanwhile, the song “Ain’t the Same,” which has a sort of Ronnie Milsap ease to it, is about a young veteran dealing with PTSD. “All Rise Again” was co-written with the Allmans’ guitarist Warren Haynes, who delivers a trademark blues-jam solo. (You can also hear the Allmans on “Live It Down” and “Morningside.”) Honky-tonk ballad “Lonesome for a Livin'” gets an extra jolt of personality from pedal steel and the steel-wool vocals of country artist Jamey Johnson. “All Over the Road” has a hard-charging sizzle, and ballad “Old Enough to Know” pleases with folky charm. Don’t miss “Hey Delilah,” which is not a reworking of the sappy Plain White T’s hit, but a funky, New Orleans-style jam that recalls Little Feat, one of the greatest Southern rock bands not actually from the South. – Shelly Ridenour

Tracklist:

1. Blackberry Smoke – Live It Down (04:06)
2. Blackberry Smoke – You Hear Georgia (04:05)
3. Blackberry Smoke – Hey Delilah (03:53)
4. Blackberry Smoke – Ain’t the Same (04:20)
5. Blackberry Smoke – Lonesome for a Livin’ (feat. Jamey Johnson) (04:28)
6. Blackberry Smoke – All Rise Again (feat. Warren Haynes) (04:13)
7. Blackberry Smoke – Old Enough to Know (03:28)
8. Blackberry Smoke – Morningside (04:24)
9. Blackberry Smoke – All over the Road (03:48)
10. Blackberry Smoke – Old Scarecrow (03:36)

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