2020 continues to be the year of unexpected comebacks with the return of southern rock veterans, Le Roux. The band got their start 45 years ago. Their first two albums were radio friendly southern rock and greeted with modest fanfare. Quite frankly, by the time Le Roux came onto the scene, bands like Blackfoot and Molly Hatchet were playing circles around them. They found their true calling on their third album, Up (1980), when they transitioned to AOR. This style change resulted in two rock solid albums, Up and Last Safe Place (1982), and a bonafide AOR masterpiece, So Fired Up (1983), which featured the vocal heroics of the late Fergie Frederiksen.
Fast forward some 35+ years later. Le Roux has continued to perform in their native state of Louisiana and sporadically release the occasional studio album. One of Those Days is their eighth album. Musically, it’s a throwback to those early southern rock days. The difference between then and now is that Le Roux’s proficiency in the songwriting department has grown significantly. Whoever is left from their classic lineup has applied the melodic approach of their AOR era to the southern rock sound.
The opening title track is a warm, pleasant southern rocker. Think the musicianship of The Allman Brothers meets the soulful vocals and nostalgic lyrics of The Doobie Brothers. You dig, brother? We hear this formula again on the cleverly titled “Lucy Anna” (Louisiana…get it?). On the other side of spectrum is “Don’t Rescue Me” and “Nothing Left to Lose”. Both songs are gutsy, bluesy, and boast an unapologetic Skynyrd swagger. Beware of those guitars. They do bite!
One of These Days features 8 originals, 1 being the jamming instrumental, “Sauce Piquante”, and 2 reimaginings of Le Roux classics: “Lifeline” and “New Orleans Ladies”. “Lifeline” is a reimagining in every sense of the word. Perhaps the signature song of their AOR era, we hear how it would’ve sounded had Le Roux never shifted musical gears. I was suspicious as the original is my favorite Le Roux song of all time. I think it’ll take a couple more listens for me to fully warm up to this redux, but it is interesting. Meanwhile, “New Orleans Ladies” is a by the numbers, note for note cover. You know what they say. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!
As sad as I am that I’m not making my annual summer road trip through America’s southland (due to the you know what virus), One of Those Days is the next best thing. The sound and production is so warm, I can feel the hot beams of the Louisiana sun shining upon my skin. Now all I need is a bowl of gumbo and a front porch rocking chair.
7 out of 10
Label: Independent
Genre: Southern Rock
For fans of: The Allman Brothers Band, Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Black Crowes