Blackfoot – Tomcattin’
Rock Candy Records

http://www.rockcandyrecords.com/

Rating: B+

Tomcattin’ has the band’s most fierce cover and their loudest songs.  Their breakthrough classic Strikes came before this one and contained their most beloved songs, “Train Train” and “Highway Song.”  This time around, they moved just a nudge closer to heavy metal than southern rock.  Now, don’t get me wrong, this sucker drips with southern sounds as thick as molasses, it’s just that the amps are a tad louder and the solos bite a little harder, much like the beast on the cover.

Despite this album having no hit singles, the bands hardcore fans still consider this to be one of the best albums Blackfoot ever released.  The reason why is the hard-driving, take-no-prisoners attitude.

The album goes on the offensive with the opening track “Warped,” and really keeps up the barrage of guitar heroics throughout.  “Street Fighter” is a top notch hard rocker, while “Reckless Abandoner” is the best number on the release.  This one goes from hard to soft, fast to slow and keeps both the band and listener on their toes.  “Spendin’ Cabbage” was thought to be the hit single, but that tune was kinda sorta just a little bit overdone, so it missed the mark.  The album ends with lead singer and guitarist Rickey Medlocke’s uncle Shorty making an appearance on the most fun tune on the album, “Fox Trot.”

While one won’t get the familiarity of the radio friendly tunes that were on Strikes, it must be said that Tomcattin’ is the hardest rocking album in the catalog.  Seeing that it has been given the remix treatment by our friends at Rock Candy Records, and that they have a killer new booklet with a great interview with Medlocke and some bad-ass pictures, we think this Blackfoot album will keep you coming back for more.  This is a pure slab of bad boy, heavy southern rock, ass-kicking music.

By Jeb Wright