Black Pistol Fire: Big Beat '59

Black Pistol Fire
Big Beat '59
Rifle Bird Records [2012]









Fire Note Says: Black Pistol Fire serve up familiar but well-executed Southern blues rock on Big Beat '59.

Album Review:
Black Pistol Fire is a two-person outfit (Kevin McKeown and Eric Owen) who come from Austin, TX by way of Toronto. Big Beat '59 is their second full-length album, the first coming out last year. The Southern influence is evident in the blues-rock feel from the band. (Observation: Blues-rock must be the go-to genre for male duos these days.)

While there is a been-there-done-that feel to the album, I must admit the execution was admirable. Knowing very little about Black Pistol Fire before giving this album a listen, I found the sound familiar and accessible. The second track "Stripes of Keys" references two of the influences I most heard throughout the record. I was most reminded of early The Black Keys before Danger Mouse took over production. In fact, I jonesed for some "Just Got To Be" as I was listening to Big Beat '59. "Busted and Blue" recalls The White Stripes fairly strongly. If you happen to enjoy these two bands, then Black Pistol Fire will be right up your alley.

Standout tracks include "Beelzebub" which opens the album with a loose vibe and "Crows Feet." Both of these tracks have a call-and-response element in them, which I am quite often a sucker for. "Hot Mess" also stood out. The common theme among these tracks is that they are more mid-tempo paced which is in contrast with the rest of Big Beat '59, which is more up-tempo and energetic. My main complaint with blues-rock is the sameness of the songs in the context of an LP; I found enough diversity on Big Beat '59 to not be fatigued by the end of the album's 33 minute run time. In my book that's quite the accomplishment.

I was pleasantly surprised by Black Pistol Fire and Big Beat '59. While not offering anything particularly new to the genre I enjoyed the songs and wondered why I had not heard of these guys before. I'll definitely be listening to more of this album in the future, which is always a good sign!

Key Tracks: "Beelzebub", "Hot Mess", "Crows Feet"

Bands With Similar Fire:
The Black Keys
The White Stripes
Kings Of Leon

Black Pistol Fire Website
Black Pistol Fire Facebook

-Reviewed by Matthew Heiner