Album: Californisoul by Supersonic Blues Machine (2017)
Genre: Rock | Style: Blues | Mood: Good Natured
Record Label: Provogue PRD 7418 2
Format: Album

Description: One of the most immediately noticeable qualities of Supersonic Blues Machine’s Californisoul is the sheer production value that went into the album.  It features heavy-hitting guests such as Billy Gibbons, Eric Gales, and Robben Ford.  To borrow from Elton John, Californisoul creates a “solid wall of sound” that is impeccably mixed throughout, making the album pleasing and palatable. I’m getting ahead of myself.  I can spend the whole review talking about all the people who worked on Californisoul, but to keep it brief, the album most prominently features Lance Lopez (guitars, vocals), Fabrizio Grossi (bass), and Kenny Aronoff (drums).

From the beginning of Californisoul to its final track, Lance Lopez’s vocals carry melody after melody, earning the listener’s attention through soulful timbre and vibrato necessary for a great blues singer. My attention was well earned.  Even with such praiseworthy lead vocals, Andrea and Francis Benitez Grossi constantly stole the show with their superb background vocals. The album kicks off with “I Am Done Missing You,” a song that starts with a simple melodic riff and builds into a full chorus that infects the listener, making it easy to hum along.  The opening riff of the album is memorable and rings in the listener’s head during the final track “This is Love,” which reprises the opening riff and provides a strong sense of completion on the album.  “The One” brings a catchy chorus and strong riffing.  “Hard Times” is perhaps the strongest song on Californisoul.  In one song, Steve Lukather (of Toto fame) plays with more feeling than some artists accomplish in entire albums.  

If I were to nitpick, some songs on Californisoul are not as memorable as the rest of the album. However, by and large, the album is one of the most enjoyable blues rock albums I have listened to this year, and it is well worth the cover price.

Artist Background: Supersonic Blues Machine is the magic merge of drumming legend Kenny Aronoff bassist/producer Fabrizio Grossi and award winning guitarist/lead singer Lance Lopez Emerged in the contemporary era. Associated with Rock movement. Known for Blues style.

Related Artists: Albert Castiglia, Mike Zito, Eric Gales, Anthony Gomes

Music Scene: Emerged in the contemporary era. Associated with Rock movement. Known for Blues style.

Tags: Rock, Blues, Good Natured, 2010s, Album, Provogue PRD 7418 2


One of the most immediately noticeable qualities of Supersonic Blues Machine’s Californisoul is the sheer production value that went into the album.  It features heavy-hitting guests such as Billy Gibbons, Eric Gales, and Robben Ford.  To borrow from Elton John, Californisoul creates a “solid wall of sound” that is impeccably mixed throughout, making the album pleasing and palatable. I’m getting ahead of myself.  I can spend the whole review talking about all the people who worked on Californisoul, but to keep it brief, the album most prominently features Lance Lopez (guitars, vocals), Fabrizio Grossi (bass), and Kenny Aronoff (drums).

From the beginning of Californisoul to its final track, Lance Lopez’s vocals carry melody after melody, earning the listener’s attention through soulful timbre and vibrato necessary for a great blues singer. My attention was well earned.  Even with such praiseworthy lead vocals, Andrea and Francis Benitez Grossi constantly stole the show with their superb background vocals. The album kicks off with “I Am Done Missing You,” a song that starts with a simple melodic riff and builds into a full chorus that infects the listener, making it easy to hum along.  The opening riff of the album is memorable and rings in the listener’s head during the final track “This is Love,” which reprises the opening riff and provides a strong sense of completion on the album.  “The One” brings a catchy chorus and strong riffing.  “Hard Times” is perhaps the strongest song on Californisoul.  In one song, Steve Lukather (of Toto fame) plays with more feeling than some artists accomplish in entire albums.  

If I were to nitpick, some songs on Californisoul are not as memorable as the rest of the album. However, by and large, the album is one of the most enjoyable blues rock albums I have listened to this year, and it is well worth the cover price.

Album: West of Flushing, South of Frisco by Supersonic Blues Machine (2016)
Genre: Rock | Style: Blues
Record Label: Provogue PRD 7418 2
Format: Album

Artist Background: Supersonic Blues Machine is the magic merge of drumming legend Kenny Aronoff bassist/producer Fabrizio Grossi and award winning guitarist/lead singer Lance Lopez Emerged in the contemporary era. Associated with Rock movement. Known for Blues style.

Related Artists: Albert Castiglia, Mike Zito, Eric Gales, Anthony Gomes

Music Scene: Emerged in the contemporary era. Associated with Rock movement. Known for Blues style.

Tags: Rock, Blues, 2010s, Album, Provogue PRD 7418 2

Additional Context: Available on Discogs marketplace


Album: Voodoo Nation by Supersonic Blues Machine (2022)
Genre: Rock | Mood: Good Natured
Format: Album

Description: Voodoo Nation is the fourth album from California's Supersonic Blues Machine and the second with British vocalist/guitarist Kris Barras. Gorgeously produced by bassist Fabrizio Grossi, it balances gritty, even incendiary playing with polished behind-the-boards technique. Like its predecessors, the 12-song set features SBM's now trademark bumper crop of guest spots from top-shelf guitar slingers, including Sonny Landreth, Charlie Starr (Blackberry Smoke), Eric Gales, Joe Louis Walker, Ana Popovic, Kirk Fletcher, King Solomon Hicks, and Josh Smith. SBM deliver the first three tracks and the title number on their own. It's an opportunity to assess their studio sound with Barras, who joined just before 2019's Road Chronicles: Live!

Artist Background: Supersonic Blues Machine is the magic merge of drumming legend Kenny Aronoff bassist/producer Fabrizio Grossi and award winning guitarist/lead singer Lance Lopez Emerged in the contemporary era. Associated with Rock movement. Known for Blues style.

Related Artists: Albert Castiglia, Mike Zito, Eric Gales, Anthony Gomes

Music Scene: Emerged in the contemporary era. Associated with Rock movement. Known for Blues style.

Tags: Rock, Good Natured, 2020s, Album

Additional Context: Rating score: 8. Based on 1 votes


Voodoo Nation is the fourth album from California's Supersonic Blues Machine and the second with British vocalist/guitarist Kris Barras. Gorgeously produced by bassist Fabrizio Grossi, it balances gritty, even incendiary playing with polished behind-the-boards technique. Like its predecessors, the 12-song set features SBM's now trademark bumper crop of guest spots from top-shelf guitar slingers, including Sonny Landreth, Charlie Starr (Blackberry Smoke), Eric Gales, Joe Louis Walker, Ana Popovic, Kirk Fletcher, King Solomon Hicks, and Josh Smith. SBM deliver the first three tracks and the title number on their own. It's an opportunity to assess their studio sound with Barras, who joined just before 2019's Road Chronicles: Live!

Supersonic Blues Machine

Biography

Quick Facts

Discography

Links