One of the great things we love here at On Request Magazine is getting to hear artists from around the world bring their own unique spin or infuse a bit of their country into the classic genres of music. One band we recently had sent our way was Billy Roberts and the Rough Riders, and with the release of their latest album, Go By Myself, the band looks to showcase their old west vibe that blends smoothly with their dark Australian roots and classic rock sound.
Imagine a classic John Wayne film, or a hit episode of the recently ended FX drama, Justified. Now imagine an artist embodying the tone of those two things, and mixing in a bit of classic rock sound such as Bruce Springsteen and adding a splash of punk rock from the likes of Social Distortion. Can you picture it? If you can't, just pick up your copy of this album. Every track has it's own unique tone, from the radio friendly "Seen It All Before", to the more adrenaline fueled "Gone to the Dogs". This album has no restrictions, and the unique guitar work combined with the laid back vocals makes this a truly original piece of work.
Overall, Billy Roberts and the Rough Riders are worth listening to. While I wouldn't go so far as to say that this is an album that many young teens or fans of the pop charts are going to want to flock to, I'd say fans of classic rock, who happen to enjoy a bit of punk rock and even more cinematic, western feelings are going to want to pick up a copy of this album. Make sure you pick up your copy of the album, Go By Myself, today!
*This album was given to us here at On Request Magazine for a fair and honest review. All opinions about the band and the album are ours and ours alone.