CD REVIEW: BURNIN’ – Burnin’ EP

Shane | 15 February 2016 | Reply

CD REVIEW: BURNIN’ – Burnin’ EP
Bell Bottom Records
2015
Reviewed by Shane Pinnegar
8/10

With his long auburn curls, forest-thick soul patch and complicated life history (Dad died when he was very young; Mum struggled; multi-instrumentalist; played in cover bands; eventually turned his hand to singing; friend & bandmate struck down by a stroke) Billy Keane might have been a candidate for grunge poster-boy had he not been seduced by the wild and wicked ways of the hard rock world.

After a couple of independent singles, this self-titled six-tracker is a real statement of intent, with Burnin’ having more in common with Joan Jett & her Blackhearts than Alice In Chains.

Keane handles the songwriting on four of these rocking tracks – the resolutely upbeat Living My Life an Chip’n Away At My Heart, the heartfelt Burn A Candle, dedicated to his late mother, and the good time party tune Why Baby Why – with Mark Torosian – the guitarist who is still recovering from a stroke, but still considered part of the band even whilst he is physically unable to play – writing the grooving Knocking At Your Door and Velvet Glove.

Burnin’ is a great little EP featuring a bar band aesthetic elevated to club level with excellent songwriting and performances by Keane and a team of musos (Blake English, Joe Caccavo, Jimmy Keegan are the key players here, with extras on a track here and there) who have won their obvious skills through experience with Santana, The Temptations, Brandy, Puff Daddy & more.

www.burninmusic.com