Hughes Taylor – Roasted Part One – Dark Roast
The Bent Note
5 tracks
Hughes Taylor is a blues rocker with Dark Roast being his fifth release. Hailing from Macon, Georgia, Hughes writes his own music and has had music as his primary occupation since age 16. He played his way through college and now tours the southeastern US when he’s not bringing his music abroad.
The band is a quartet of young musicians. On guitar and vocals is Hughes Taylor. Ben Alford is on bass and Neil Gannon is on drums. Zach Wilson handles the keys. Backing vocals feature Emily Lynn along with Alford.
“From The Dark Side” is an all-out rock anthem with heavy guitar, not really a blues cut but a really nice rock song. “Midnight Angel” follows, another big rocker. The guitars blare and the vocals howl. The guitar, bass and keys intertwine into a driving medley of sound. Then it’s “Ballad of Big Bill McGuire,” another hard rocking tome with some blues hints. It’s a western story of a shootout with guns and guitar blazing. “(In The Morning) When It’s Over” continues the barrage of rock with guitar layered over organ and backline. “When Loves Comes Home” mixes psychedelic and hard rock over a driving groove.
This album kind of reminds my of a 1970’s rock album more than a blues album. If you like wickedly hot guitars and rocking tunes, then this might be for you. It’s not really blues, but it is really good rock.
