Robert Jon and the Wreck: One of a Kind EP Review
Simply put, Robert Jon and the Wreck are one of the most prolific bands on the planet right now. They are songwriting machines. We’ve been covering Robert Jon and the Wreck for a decade now at Blues Rock Review so it comes as no surprise to us, but when a band keeps the quality high along with it’s prolific output, it has to be commended.
One of a Kind is the band’s new EP on Journeyman Records, which is Joe Bonamassa’s newest label. The Wreck enlisted the help of some seriously heavy hitting producers on this album, Grammy winners Dave Cobb (Chris Stapleton, Rival Sons, Philip Sayce) and Don Was (The Rolling Stones, Bonnie Raitt, John Mayer).
“The title track “Pain No More”, produced by Cobb, gets the EP kicked off in a rocking way while “Who Can You Love” is a southern rock tune which showcases the “songwriting machine” prowess I referred to earlier. Fantastic vocal harmonies on this one.
“One of a Kind” is the title track and was produced by Don Was. It was the last of the four tracks to be released as a single and it’s a scorcher.
Something that makes Robert Jon and the Wreck stand out from many other bands in the blues rock space is their ability to write sing-along songs. “One of a Kind” is a great example of that. There are so few bands out there that have the knack for songwriting that Robert Jon and the Wreck has, but they also have the musicianship to back it up with Henry James Schneekluth on guitar, Warren Murrel on bass, Andrew Espmantan on drums, and of course Robert Jon Burrison on guitar and lead vocals. When you combine those elements, you have a truly great band.
“Come At Me” is a powerful way to end the album with another raucous singalong chorus.
One of a Kind shows Robert Jon and the Wreck firing on all cylinders. And guess what? They aren’t done. They’ve got more material on the way with additional singles expected throughout the year.
The Review: 9/10
The Big Hit
– One of a Kind
Totally agree! The sing-along quality is what first grabbed my attention with Robert Jon and The Wreck. So many blues rock bands can shred, but they miss that songwriting hook. The fact that they have both, killer songs *and* top-notch musicianship with Henry, Warren, Andrew, and Robert Jon himself, makes them a complete package. “One of a Kind” is a perfect example of that magic formula. They just *get* it.
level devil