THE MAGPIE SALUTE: High Water Ii (ROCK): review / opinion to read on Music Waves

"High Water I", released last year, hadn't really convinced us. In his desire to continue the Black Crowes adventure without his brother Chris, Rich Robinson had to face the comparison between the legendary Georgian combo and his new band The Magpie Salute. A comparison which, it must be said, was not in favour of the latter so much this first album, despite some solid compositions, lacked soul and charisma. So it was with a rather dubious curiosity that we were watching for the release of his announced sequel "High Water II", the band having preferred to release two distinct albums rather than a double one.

Recorded at the same time as "High Water I", "High Water II" necessarily has the same sound and musical approach as its predecessor. However, it is distinguished by a more rocky energy and a more assertive eclecticism that make it more interesting. First of all, with the exception of a handful of tracks ('Sooner Or Later','Turn It Around'), the album most of the time manages to free itself from the invasive influence of the Black Crowes. Then, "High Water II" contains some nuggets that were cruelly missing from the first opus. This is particularly the case with the excellent "Gimme Something" and its Stonian groove on which the complementarity of Marc Ford and Rich Robinson's guitars is exemplary and above all with the amazing "Life Is A Landslide" which surprises with its heady post-punk melody.

Despite everything, The Magpie Salute's music remains firmly rooted in a psychedelic rock with a soul spirit ('Leave It All Behind') and in a southern rock that borrows as much from the Allman Brothers ('Lost Boy') as from Tom Petty, for the better ('In Here') as for the more dispensable ('You And I'). But despite its beneficial eclecticism and the obvious complicity of the musicians, "High Water II" still lacks what was missing in "High Water I": the necessary extra soul that would prove that The Magpie Salute is not only a meeting of talented musicians but also the essential representative of a style that tends to disappear due to the lack of a worthy successor. And it has to be said that unfortunately, the band is still not quite able to convince and that the folk rock ('A Mirror','Mother Storm') and country ('You And I') ballads inspire more boredom than membership.

Despite its flaws and thanks to more rock compositions, "High Water II' still has the merit of avoiding the repetition of the first album and testifies to a freshness and cohesion that was cruelly lacking, justifying the release of two separate albums. This is not yet enough to make The Magpie Salute the worthy successor of the Black Crowes but it is enough to strengthen the band's business card and hope that it will have more personality in the future. - Official website

THE MAGPIE SALUTE

HIGH WATER II

MASCOT LABEL GROUP

ROCK