Jet Lag Super Drag
Independent release, 2018
http://www.thelastchanceriders.com
REVIEW BY: Tom Haugen
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED: 12/07/2018
Atlanta's Last Chance Riders has all the influences you'd likely want in a rock band: Led Zeppelin, the Allman Brothers Band, AC/DC, and David Bowie, among others. Thankfully, they've got loads of talent, too. Front woman Jessie Albright often channels the intensity of Janis Joplin with her booming and melodic vocals, while the band brings plenty of guitar hooks along with an incendiary rhythm section.
This quick album leads with the driving guitars and big rock sounds of “Downright Disgusted,” where plenty of strong vocals and guitar acrobatics make for an energetic opener. That energy continues on the not as loud but certainly as vibrant “Under Your Skin,” where Albright's vocals complement the sturdy rhythm.
Even though there's plenty of large, arena-sized rock present here, Last Chance Riders excels at the softer moments, too. “Barricade” shows plenty of warm restraint while still being a driving rocker, while “Heart On A Chain” certainly possesses blues qualities and a classic rock spirit. “Lucky One” then really illuminates the melodic yet muscular vocals from Albright; it is easily the best tune here.
The last few tracks don't disappoint either, and they deviate ever so slightly from the rest. “Valley Below” offers us some of their best Americana sounds, while “Tidal Wave” has no shortage of grooves present. “Nicotine” exits the album with some funk fun, showcasing a new dimension to the outfit we'll likely see more of in the future.
Most of us are going to be unfamiliar with this powerhouse of a band, though it would be wise to rectify that with this fine album. Sounding nothing like a debut, this album showcases a five piece that has the chops to fill large stadiums with their multifaceted version of rock 'n' roll where guitar solos are never in shorty supply and the songs resonate with a timeless, warm intensity that few could resist.