Album of the Week: Great Western Valkyrie

Great Western Valkyrie – Rival Sons (2014)

Day 1 of 2015. I decided to start off this year in style. Everyone else is out trying to make good on their New Year’s resolutions and I’ve been just sitting in bed. All day. Seriously, it’s 4pm right now. I have accomplished nothing. A day off work, and nothing to show for it. On the other hand I have been listening to the newest (released in June 2014) Rival Sons album for about 5 hours now. This was easily one of my top 10 favorite albums of 2014. It’s just gives off such chill vibes. I blame it for my lack of productivity.

Rival Sons are the kind of band I would recommend to anyone because their sound is just so universally pleasing. I think its something that any fans of rock could get into because it harkens back to the classics. It’s reminiscent of the bands that lay at the foundation of our love for the genre. It has all the riffs and the flow of all those bands we heard when we were first getting into music. You heard your dad playing The Who and The Doors and you knew you were going to be in love with this stuff for the rest of your life. It takes you back to those days, but it doesn’t copy it. Their sound is a bit of a throwback to the 1970’s, but it still sounds very modern.

These guys are originally from Long Beach, California (represent!). They formed in 2009. Hopefully they get a bit more popular within the next few years, but I think this album has launched them exponentially forward. It has some massive tunes on it.

There are great riffs and fantastic vocals. The lead singer Jay Buchanan has a great voice. Very soulful. I get lost in it. (Hence why I have barely left my room in the last 10 hours).

So if you’re one of those people who like old stuff and have a hard time getting into the new (you know who you are!) them maybe Rival Sons is for you. If “Open My Eyes” doesn’t sound like the intro to a Led Zeppelin song, then I don’t know what does.

Favorite Songs: “Electric Man,” “Good Things,” “Open My Eyes”