Blackberry Smoke’s crunchy Southern rock may be made for fuzzed-out electric guitars, but their songs sure do translate well to being played acoustically. Now the Georgia crew is releasing a new EP, The Southern Ground Sessions, with just that in mind, including a stripped-down take of “Run Away From It All.”
Blackberry Smoke's southernness is so deeply ingrained that when they knock out an expert homage to Skynyrd, as they do on "I'll Keep Ramblin'," it seems effortless. This is just who they are – they've internalized all their influences – not just the late, lamented Ronnie Van Zant, the Allman Brothers, and Tom Petty, but a bunch of classic rock 45s from the '60s, plus a hint of Crosby, Stills & Nash – and they can kick up a storm and lay down a mellow groove with equal ease.
Is there a more consistent and harder working band in music today than Blackberry Smoke? With three top 40 albums under their belt, including 2 consecutive number one albums on the US country and UK rock charts with "Holding All The Roses" and "Like An Arrow", Atlanta's finest are back with a fine collection of 13 impeccably constructed tracks.