Tyler Bryant and the Shakedown – Shake The Roots

Bluesdoodles rating: 4 Doodle Paws – a wonderful album with a dozen tracks that explore Southern rock, blues, rock and country vibes. Shake The Roots is a collage of sounds that delight in capturing the energy of live music.

The first single warmed the ears of Bluesdoodles as Tom listened and gave his thoughts on the second track of the album ‘Ain’t None Watered Down. The single is co-written by Tyler and his wife Rebecca Lovell of Larkin Poe. 

‘Shake The Roots’ is the fifth full-length album from Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown (TBSD); and the first release from Rattle Shake Records. It encompasses the energy of their live show and is a testament to the unwavering spirit of the Shakedown. The edges are not sanded down, but the attention to detail isn’t lacking one bit. It sounds as if they approached the writing and recording of this record with the same intention, they approach their live performances. It is evident that the band means it and wants it to mean even more to their fans.
Tyler puts this pivot in their business model simply, “We want to release MORE music and we want our fans to know that their support is what is fueling it.”
 
Shake The Roots is a solid album of twelve country, Southern rock & blues collage as TBSD share their love of music with the audience. It is best played loud and dance with the vibe. The band have distilled the elements of live music magic and energy; every track is captured in the speaker for home consumption.
 
Opening with a foot-stomping country-driven rocking ditty Bare Bones. This is party music. Tyler Bryant’s vocals cut across the stinging guitar and bass line. The bones may be bare but the music is stylish and contemporary. My ears are definitely hooked!
 
Ghostrider is fuzzed-up rock a change in tonal construct with no loss of energy or intent? The talent and charisma of frontman Tyler on guitar and vocals are hot. This is a track best played loud, live it will be an awesome head banging for 3 minutes. I am sure the guitar breaks will be extended and the audience with sing back the chorus. This is a track that you want to be extended.
Phew! Let us take a breather; well almost as we join a road trip courtesy of Roots. The Country vibe spins the lyrics across the warmth of southern rock. This is a celebration of personal and musical roots. The lyrics have a personal get-up-close feel. This may be my favourite with a Tom Petty vibe and the melodic flow wraps you in the warmth of the music. (With every listen another track popped up as my favourite, demonstrating the variable style and moods captured across the twelve tracks)
The western curl of the guitar and Tyler’s vocals were raw and calmer as we explored Hard Learned. Emotionally charged and connects. The lyrics are edgy blues the music definitely TBSD.
Shackles find us halfway through and TBSD go heavy, huge riffs, dirty growling guitar this is a number that is big blues taken deep into the dark side of the tracks.
 
Off the Rails is back to the party sound of TBSD and lifts the energy, followed by Good Thing a guitar-picking vocal melodic extravaganza. Sell yourself repeats this triplet of excellent listening but they lack some of the impacts of the early numbers.
Tennessee is back to the roots at the heart and soul of Tyler and his bandmates.  Another Southern delight that improves with every listen.  Followed by the great drum intro, fuzzy southern guitar and a barrel of energy found on the eleventh track Sunday No Show. This is a contemporary re-imagining of the devil, sin and religion of traditional blues. Love it!
The final track is foot-tapping country blues as we burn the Midnight Oil. We are back in a party mood. The only thing left to do is put the album on replay.

Musicians:
Tyler Bryant – guitar/vocals
Caleb Crosby – drums
Graham Whitford – guitar
Rebecca Lovell – Background Vocals (Tracks 4, 5 & 10)
Eleonore Denig – Strings (Track 5)

Connect with Tyler Bryant and The Shakedown across SOCIAL MEDIA
Website
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
YouTube
Spotify

Related