Album Review: 2 by Black Country Communion

Black Country Communion's self-titled debut met with so much critical and, in some markets, even commercial success that the multi-talented super-quartet wasted little time -- an almost worrisomely short amount of time, in fact -- before getting to work on this sophomore follow-up. But, thankfully, striking while the iron was hot did not equate with going through the motions on 2011's unassumingly named 2; nor, for that matter, did it entail the sort of battle between mega-egos that is so common to these superstar arrangements. Rather, while the smart money had BCC pegged as vocalist/bassist Glenn Hughes' ship to captain, BCC2 actually sounds like the baby of drummer Jason Bonham, of all people, because so many of its songs show no qualms about getting the "Led" out, if you catch the meaning.

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Black Country Communion fills a void in contemporary heavy music. The band plays the kind of soul-based boogie brought to life by the likes of Deep Purple and, sure, Led Zeppelin. It’s fitting, of course, that the group includes Jason Bonham (genetically linked to LZ) and former Deep Purpler Glenn Hughes. Ex-Dream Theater keyboardist Derek Sherinian makes us feel the presence of the (Jon) Lord and guitarist Joe Bonamassa proves that if you think he’s criminally overrated you might perhaps need to think again.

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Classic rock supergroup defies the odds to deliver a great debut LP. Greg Moffitt 2010 The term ‘supergroup’ is something of a golden albatross. On one hand, it tells us here is a band of established, successful musicians whose combined talents will undoubtedly deliver the sonic equivalent of The Second Coming. On the other hand, it tends to arouse astronomical expectations which are almost never met.

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