I know the phrase “don’t judge a book by its cover,” but does the same rule apply to judging an album by its song titles? If not, it should. Because with tracks like “White Lady” and “Dog,” I wasn’t quite sure what to expect on MoJoRose’s self-titled debut.
From Nashville, by way of Kentucky and New York, MoJoRose blends its members’ diverse backgrounds with elements of blues, rock and alternative styles to create an 11-track album that at times proves itself to be more underwhelming than outstanding.
The album starts high-tempo with “New Age Fantasy,” and the opening line may easily trick you into thinking it’s another one of those pop/country/rock albums that are, for whatever reason, so popular these days. West belts out a gravelly, growling, Hey Girrrl, come talk to me, but the rough edges eventually smooth out into a rock song rather than the twangy bro-country track I expected it to be. It’s one of those albums that, if you’ve listened to one track, you’ve basically listened to them all.
MoJoRose is comprised of J. Parker West on guitar and lead vocals, Seth Bryant on lead and rhythm guitar, Chas Villanova on bass and rhythm guitar and Joe Mauro on drums. Alternative-rock band Stone Temple Pilots is an obvious influence, both musically and vocally, and I’d even go as far as mentioning Pearl Jam. After touring on and off across the Southeast, the band is “looking to make a splash” in Nashville’s growing music scene, and it is heading in the right direction.
Overall, the album is a solid foundation for the band to grow upon. Despite the strong track-t0-track similarity, the production is decent and the album carries promise for future releases.
MoJoRose will perform at The East Room in Nashville on March 30. For more information on the band, visit reverbnation.com/mojorosemusic.