The Cold Stares: The Southern Review

The Cold Stares have been steadily delivering albums for the past decade. Voices just dropped March of 2023 and they are keeping the momentum going by releasing The Southern on September 6. While The Southern may be the band’s seventh album, it is their second as a trio composed of Chris Tapp, Brian Mullins, and Bryce Klueh. Each song on the album was written by Chris Tapp and the album was self-produced, making The Southern an audacious addition to The Cold Stares’ anthology.

 The album jump starts into blues rock with a bass draw as the drum navigates the accelerando in “Horse to Water,” one of the first singles from the album. Tapp says it “is a tip of the hat to southern leaning blues rock bands like Bad Company and Skynyrd” and gives them credit for what The Cold Stares has evolved into over the years. Following a song about leaving, “Coming Home” switches into a more traditional southern twang with help from the dobro. Moving right into a harder rock, “Looking for a Fight” is placed just before the album’s ballad, “Blow Wind Blow.” Tapp brings out a more romantic side with “Confession” right before singing about heartbreak in “Level Floor Blues.” While “Seven Ways to Sundown” may be about the best parts of love, “No Love in the City Anymore” is about just that. “Giving It Up” is followed by “Woman,” both of which are about being lost without a woman, just in different aspects. “Mortality Blues” closes the album.

This 11 song album is a mixture of feel-good and down-on-your-luck blues. Intentionally written to captivate the Southern sound, this aptly named album showcases Tapp’s creative exploration.

The Review: 8/10

Can’t Miss Tracks

– Confession
– Woman
– Mortality Blues
– Coming Home

The Big Hit

– Coming Home