antiMusic.com: Blacktop Mourning

Blacktop Mourning - No Regret Review
by Zane Ewton

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Blacktop Mourning is enjoying the kind of buzz and success that most bands would kill to have. They might also be shooting themselves in the foot when it comes to longevity.

The hype began years ago when the 11 year old Max Steger earned praise from Atlantic Records Co-founder Ahmet Ertegun. The budding songwriter/guitarist was called, "One of the best guitar players I've ever seen." That's a big statement coming from the man who signed Led Zeppelin.

Fast forward to 2005. Late that year, Blacktop Mourning jumped on MySpace and quickly earned attention from MTV. 2006 would place the band's music on more MTV reality shows than any other band that year.

Early 2007 found Adam Duritz, of Counting Crows, calling to sign the band to his brand new label. Duritz, along with David Immergluck produced the band's label debut No Regret.

Steger may have played the blues in the Chicago bars as a teen, but he must have forgotten those licks under the dingy lights. Blacktop Mourning is much more in line with the strains of emo and power pop.

The band knows how to follow the trends that are current in rock music. They do it very well as several songs are worthy of a second listen. There isn't anything on No Regrets that you haven't heard before though. In fact you have probably heard three bands just like them in the last 15 minutes.

The driving pop/rock tracks and winsome ballads are all in place. Blacktop Mourning is ready for mass consumption, and they will definitely be consumed.

CD Info and Links

Blacktop Mourning - No Regret
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