Zed - Desperation Blues

"Oh no, it's another retro bar bad" I hear you saying, but give these guys a chance and you find a new favorite drinking soundtrack.In keeping with the trend of retro bands of all sorts, Bay Area rockers Zed are coming at you with their brand of bluesy rock music in the vein of venerable icons Led Zeppelin, ZZ Top, or AC/DC. Not to place them on that level, but Zed's sophomore effort Desperation Blues is a damn fine way to pass the time if you're in the mood for some old school rocking.

Interestingly, Zed defies expectations by turning out more than just butt rock dressed up in yesterday's rock recording technology. Tracks like Please (a ZZ Top meets Led Zepplin romp) and Killing Machine (sporting a monster main riff) belie a sincere respect and admiration for their influences without sounding like straight rip-off artists.  Pete Sattari and Greg Lopez handle guitar duties ably, with Pete providing lead vocals that effectively incorporate Robert Plant's warble, Kevin DuBrow's wail and Brian Johnson's meaty growl. But the highlight of the album is the title track which sounds like magic, from the killer main wah-kissed unison riff, to Pete's mournful lyrics (Hey, what would you say/if all you love's sinkin' away?/Say, say it ain't so/I plant my seeds, but they won't grow), to the heavy bridge at 2:30 where things get dirty. It's classic rock and roll; steeped in beer, wreathed in smoke, and drowning in the blues.

Tracks to Select Off the Jukebox at Your Next Bar Brawl: Killing Machine, and Desperation Blues

- Genghis wishes he'd been in just one bar brawl in his young life...