Review of Burke Long's Silver Queen

  Burke Long Silver Queen This infectious record has the homemade feel of mom’s Sunday dinner. North Carolina boy Burke Long evokes writing models like Rodney Crowell and Gene Clark for the almost California country of “About Love,” which features pedal steel from a very able John Macy. But Long’s country rock strain is more Marshall Crenshaw or Richie Furay era Poco, gutsier, than flower power or Dead. The sassy “Downtown” shows the best parts of Elvis Costello may be in the mix. But Long is still proudly country even with nods toward Bo Diddley in “Big Ol’ Town” and to blues in “Down In The Country.” These tunes also confirm the first impression of him as a player of sureness and creativity, especially when squeezing out some nasty sweet Tele licks on the latter tune or laying a crackling series of rockabilly lines under an arrangement that would have pleased Elvis and the Jordanaires on the title cut. Some of Long’s songs don’t let go. “Old Music Man” would have been a sure fit for Waylon Jennings and, neither derivative nor imitative, the album’s signoff “Almost Free” could almost have come from Gene Clark himself. It caps an excellent album. – Rick Allen” - Rick Allen

— Vintage Guitar Magazine November 2014

Burke Long has a pleasing voice that moves over a smooth midrange and matches the easy rolling rhythms of most of his work. He's also a solid songwriter, crafting friendly melodies with catchy choruses. Nothing he has here shouldn't appeal to Nashville radio; it has a good deal of line dancing appeal to it and that smooth middle range of sound that Nashville often spins into gold. This material holds its own with Nashville's better radio fare.- Out' n About: Western North Carolina's Leading Arts. Entertainment. Events Magazine ”

— Out' n About

Burke Long: Long's a North Carolina resident who kicks up a cloud of impressive, rollicking honky-tonk worthy of Nashville's attention on his new self released CD, "Tomorrow's Mine Tonight." The Buddy Holly-loving Long shines brightly on the CD's numerous up-tempo numbers, coming off like Marty Stuart's younger cousin.- The Charlotte Observer ”

— The Charlotte Observer

Comes from North Carolina a new name that repeats with great vitality and passion sounds peculiar to the South, from country music to rock'n'roll not forgetting the love for some bluegrass music even if the latter does not reveal much. "Silver Queen" is the perfect opportunity to make the acquaintance of Burke Long, singer and author sincere and genuine signature that all thirteen songs that make this album a work pleasant and smooth. The title track "Silver Queen" refers to the roots of rock with echoes 'presleyani' and a chorus that reminds us of the legendary Jordanaires, "About Love" is a country song light and crisp with excellent pedal steel in the hands of John Macy , "Montgomery County" is more robust and rocking, ode to places loved and halfway between Springsteen more roots and Louisiana thanks to the accordion by David Harper as "Big Ol 'Town", one of the highlights of the disc comes close to Buddy Holly rhythm and strength. "Down In The Country" has a melody fine and a classic 'southern feel', "A Ways To Go" has in dna country music and is placed not far from the Lone Star State as an approach, "She's Got A Way" is back electricity and 'rockin' country ', enthralling and enjoyable with a powerful bass line in the hands of the same Burke Long, "Old Music Man" is instead a country waltz engaging. "I Got Your Number" has the feeling of the seventies authors misunderstood as Billy Swan and "One Damned Thing After Another" has almost choirs Californians 'to the Beach Boys', "Freedom" is again proud Southerner, so the 'swampy' "Downtown" and the beautiful melody of "Almost Free" which closes a disc whose recipe is simple and effective. The roots music, whether rock or country, kept to its original state, with that spirit a bit 'naive but always fun having the past. www.burkelong.com.Remo Ricaldone Wrong? Undo edits ” - Remo Ricaldone

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