ROBERT JON & THE WRECK : RIDE INTO THE LIGHT

ROBERT JON & THE WRECK : RIDE INTO THE LIGHT

Pain No More
Who Can Love You
Come At Me
One Of A Kind
Bring Me Back Home Again
West Coast Eyes
Don't Look Down
Ride Into The Light

Label : Journeyman Records

Release Date : August 4, 2023

Length : 31:49

Review (Blues Rock Review) : With the release of summer anthem, feel-good classic “West Coast Eyes,” the Southern California-based roots rockers Robert Jon & The Wreck have announced Ride Into The Light, their seventh studio album, out August 4th via Joe Bonamassa’s Journeyman Records. Packed with blistering blues-rock and sun-soaked Americana ballads, Ride Into The Light is as high-octane as it is soul-stirring, proving that rock and roll is thriving in 2023. Reinvigorating their traditional production process, The Wreck teamed up for this release with the legendary producers Don Was (John Mayer, Bonnie Raitt), Dave Cobb (Brandi Carlile, Chris Stapleton), Kevin Shirley (Iron Maiden, The Black Crowes), and guitar maestros Joe Bonamassa and Josh Smith (Marc Broussard, Eric Gales, Joanne Shaw Taylor). The resulting album finds the band reaching a new level of musicianship and songwriting prowess, delivering a fresh take on Rock & Roll while evoking classic artists like The Allman Brothers Band, Eagles, and Lynyrd Skynyrd. To celebrate the announcement, Robert Jon & The Wreck have released the album’s newest single “West Coast Eyes,” an instant classic that evokes the pure joy of summertime love. Produced by Bonamassa and Smith and featuring the renowned session keyboardist, Jeff Babko, the song was written in Nashville, TN while the band was on tour last year. “We met with the legendary Tom Hambridge (Buddy Guy), who’s written songs with a lot of great artists,” shares frontman Robert Jon Burrison. “A few weeks later we went into Sunset Sound in LA with Joe Bonamassa and Josh Smith as our producers…[and] it evolved into a bit of tribute to the LA session musician scene through the years, combining elements from a few different decades and wound up being a really fun sonic experiment. Joe and Josh were also great to be around, providing a lot of fun musical suggestions and of course some top-notch vintage guitar gear!” Ride Into The Light includes the four tracks from the band’s very recent dynamic EP release One Of A Kind, which received rave reviews from all over the world and helped catapult the band’s awareness into new heights. These tracks were produced by GRAMMY-Award winners Don Was and Dave Cobb, One Of A Kind showcases Robert Jon & The Wreck’s wide range and dynamic sound, from the instant rock and roll classic “Come At Me” and the captivating, Americana-infused “Who Can You Love,” to the outstanding riff-driven roots rock tracks “Pain No More” and “One Of A Kind.” Robert Jon & The Wreck have had a very productive year so far with several new studio tracks released as well as their first-ever concert film Live At The Ancienne Belgique which dropped in April. Recorded during their sold-out show at the Ancienne Belgique in Brussels, Belgium on June 29th, 2022, the live CD/DVD set captures the Wreck amid their longest-ever tour – 67 performances in 75 days across 9 countries. The night was nothing less than spectacular, featuring a setlist that spanned the last decade of their prolific career, from their 2013 debut to their 2022 release. Prolific songwriters with a wealth of new material who refuse to be constrained by traditional release strategies, the band’s new partnership with Joe Bonamassa’s Journeyman Records affords them the opportunity to work with the world’s top producers and release a steady stream of high-quality singles on an ongoing basis, cutting through the industry chaos and ensuring new music is accessible to fans as intended. Reigning from Southern California, Robert Jon & The Wreck take the Southern rock sound from the east coast and make it their own. Since their inception in 2011, these native Californians; Robert Jon Burrison (lead vocals, guitar), Andrew Espantman (drums, background vocals), Henry James Schneekluth (lead guitar, background vocals), and Warren Murrel (bass) have been electrifying audiences all over the world with their soaring guitar leads, rich vocal harmonies, and memorable tunes. Recently, keyboardist Jake Abernathie joined the band as an official member as they continue to tour and record in the studio. Simply put, it is difficult to ignore when these talented musicians take the stage.

Review (Metal Planet Music) : Workaholics Robert Jon & The Wreck sure know how to spoil us. Quality and quantity are two adjectives that don’t necessarily belong together in the music world. The American band from Orange County, California are most certainly a quintet that know how to treat us to copious amounts of quality music fitting recording sessions in between their endless touring schedule Any other band would have been happy to rest on their laurels content with the release of one of the greatest live albums in recent memory. Their Live at the Ancienne Belgique 13 track epic was only released in April this year and is indeed a contender for album of the year from this correspondent’s perspective Ride Into The Light follows hot on its tail bringing new material to a hungry fanbase Four of these tracks may already seem like old friends to many listeners having been released as the digital only ONE OF A KIND EP back in March. However this latest release is the first time these four tracks have been available in a physical format. PAIN NO MORE – Produced by 8 times Grammy award winner Dave Cobb and co-written by Charlie Starr of Blackberry Smoke fame (a band Robert Jon are often compared to) this explosive song deals with the pain we feel when a partner doesn’t treat you right even though you feel you are worth more. A fast paced galloping riff and thunderous drums introduce the song and immediately grabs your attention. You can’t help but rock out to this track as a listener. “You dropped my heart, like it didn’t mean nothing” Robert sings with angst. “Made it look easy, I’m better off now”. It’s a song of triumph over adversity. Impressive keyboard work leads into the first of Henry’s exhilarating slide solos. This guy is one of the finest and coolest players out there and you can’t help but be mesmerised by his talents on the fretboard at live shows. As the song draws to a close Robert really lets loose with a triumphant cry of ‘I ain’t a stranger to pain no more’. Its a shout-out we will all be joining in with at forthcoming shows WHO CAN YOU LOVE – The first of two Don Was productions this is a much more laid back song in a typical southern rock style which draws the first of the inevitable Allman Brothers comparisons. A good time summery kind of feel about this ballad with a beautifully soft style to the lyric and organ/piano accompanying Henry’s delightful guitar. Very soothing and uplifting. It deals with finding out who your forever partner is “who can you love that makes you know that it will last” Robert sings. I can see this becoming a classic in future years (as will many Robert Jon songs) COME AT ME – The band ramp it up again on this one which features an almost classic rock style lead break from Henry. It’s a great party song. ‘Everybody’s on a tightrope, walking on shells, looking in the mirror, thinking about themselves’ sings Robert before the shout-out chorus ‘come at me’. A candidate (as so many of the bands songs are) for raucous audience participation. ONE OF A KIND – The second Dave Cobb production this track is another all-out rocker dealing with the joyous feeling of becoming a parent. It’s the kind of song that draws you in immediately and won’t let you escape. You’ll be singing the chorus long after the final notes fade away. ‘I think I’m finally coming alive, I think I found me one of a kind’. Infectious stuff. Henry interrupts the sing-a-long with one of his trademark slide solos but it’s still party time again right through until the final note. A change of feel and pace follows with BRING ME BACK HOME AGAIN (a Kevin Shirley production). Soft harmonies from Robert as he sings about being away from home on the road and missing loved ones (something this band must know a lot about) ‘All that I need, is to feel your love again’ he sings in a desperate plea. Swirling keyboards play a key part in this solid rock ballad. WEST COAST EYES – The first of two tracks produced by the heavyweight duo of Joe Bonamassa and Josh Smith. Absolutely beautiful vocals here from Robert accompanied by Joe Bonamassa’s female backing vocalists. A laid back vibe with a mixture of electric and acoustic guitar, yet another searing solo from Henry midway through the song. Keyboards are a large part of this song and are provided in this case by renowned session player Jeff Babko. Robert sings about a lady with ‘The bluest California skies in those west coast eyes’ and ‘a story and a tattoo from every place she’s been’. A great chill out song DON’T LOOK DOWN – Time to ramp it up again. ‘You’re gonna make it to the weekend, doesn’t matter if your scared’. Robert’s vocal has a sense of urgency about it. ‘Whatever you do, don’t look down’ Robert instructs us. Don’t know about don’t LOOK down it’s more a case of don’t SIT down whilst listening to this song. ‘C’mon everyone let’s dance’ implores Robert. You need to be up on your feet leaping about, grabbing your air guitar to accompany Henry’s solo. Another guaranteed sing-a-long crowd pleaser for the live shows the song races along to it’s conclusion with the whole band joining in with a gang vocal. RIDE INTO THE LIGHT – The finale is the second track produced by Kevin Shirley and slows us right down. Allman Brothers and Blackberry Smoke comparisons are here again with a wonderful mid paced southern ballad urging us all to ‘Leave your worries at the door’. Not really a problem when we have quality music from Robert Jon and the Wreck in our lives Only 8 songs but every one of them an absolute gem. If you yearn for more then why not get the aforementioned 2023 album of the year in waiting whilst your at it. After all QUALITY and QUANTITY most certainly belong together when it comes to Robert Jon and the Wreck