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Black Paisley: Late Bloomer
Black Paisley - Late Bloomer CD Album Review

Black Paisley Late Bloomer

Melodic Hard Rock/AOR
5.0/5.0

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Pride & Joy Music
Review: Craig Hartranft
Added: 27.10.2017

Better late than never, so goes the saying. After gigging with Swedish cover band Stephmetal, with numerous accolades, the band members decided it was time to record their own original music. Stefan Blomqvist (vocals, guitar), Jan Emanuelsson (bass), Robert Karaszi (drums), and Robert Wirensjo (keyboards) created Black Paisley, named after Ritchie Sambora's (Bon Jovi) signature Fender guitar. Later the band was joined by session guitarist Ulf Hedin, who made major songwriting contributions. Black Paisley arrives with their debut long player, Late Bloomer, and it's a darn fine start for the band.

Black Paisley Band Photo

Black Paisley

Black Paisley essentially plays classic rock. They reach into Seventies blues rock, Eighties melodic hard rock, and then drop in some country rock vibe before putting it into an AOR wrapper. With even a single spin, and more, one thing really stands out about Black Paisley and their songs: the vocal arrangements. Stefan Blomqvist has a great rock voice, singing clean and melodic his vocals are strong, passionate, and soulful. His voice is then wrapped in three part harmony with Hedin and Emanuelsson. The vocal arrangements are killer throughout, but most notable within It Ain't Over, Easy, and Autumn.

After this, Black Paisley are very good songwriters, which makes you wonder why they didn't do this sooner. Ergo, the title Late Bloomer, I suppose. Heavier rockers come with Ordinary, Kickin' and Run Run Run. Yet the first has a latent but obvious blues groove; the latter two wrapped up in friendly AOR accessibility. A taste of Southern rock rises within Easy and It Ain't Over; add some pedal steel, and Black Paisley could play The Opry. Another element you need to listen for is Wirensjo's keyboards, especially the piano within Coming Home and Way To Something. This subtle, but noticeable, texture adds to and sells the melody in both songs.

Honestly, there's simply not a band song in the bunch. However, apparently the CD comes with two bonus tracks, available via download when you purchase the CD. Unfortunately, these songs were not supplied by either the label or promotion agency: a disappointing oversight on somebody's part. I'm guessing those two lost songs were just as killer as the rest. Nevertheless, Black Paisley's debut album Late Bloomer is simply top notch classic melodic hard rock and easily recommended.



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The Bottom Line

Black Paisley's debut album Late Bloomer is simply top notch classic melodic hard rock and easily recommended.

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