Aaron Buchanan And The Cult Classics - The Man With Stars On His Knees
(Special Edition re-release)
(Special Edition re-release)
Aaron Buchanan And The Cult Classics released one of the most impacting contemporary rock albums of 2017.
Now they’re doing it again in 2019.
On the strength of their eye catching live shows and ear catching 2017 debut release The Man With Stars On His Knees, the ex Heaven’s Basement front man and his Cult Classics band of brothers and sister (Aaron Buchanan’s sibling Laurie Buchanan has been a core member since day one) have now signed to Listenable Records, who have
re-released the album in Special Edition format with five bonus tracks.
That The Man With Stars On His Knees is so strong musically is no surprise given the ingredients – a grunge influenced energy coupled with Aaron Buchanan’s appreciation for Freddie Mercury and Queen along with his drive and vision to produce something a little left field while still satisfying the rock fraternity.
That it’s equally strong sonically however is a credit to Buchanan’s friend and producer James Curtis-Thomas who recorded the album at the small Plus 11 Studios in Boreham, Essex (with many of the lead vocals tracked earlier in not much more than a shed in Brisbane, Australia).
The results, from the studio band of Aaron Buchanan (vocals, drums, guitar, bass), James Curtis-Thomas (production, drums), Laurie Buchanan (guitars, vocals) and Ryan Woods (guitar, bass) is a sound as big as the songs – indeed it’s the big beat and atmospheric sound of opener 'Show Me What You’re Made Of' that makes the song’s presence felt, while the title-lyric doubles as a challenge to Aaron Buchanan And The Cult Classics to deliver on the following nine tracks and thirty-five minutes (in the album’s original form).
And show what they are made of they most certainly do, through the vibrant, bristling, punchy and ridiculously hooky 'All The Things You’ve Said and Done,' an early three-minute marker that, post-Heaven’s Basement, Aaron Buchanan may well be on to something a little bit special (the song was the first to be released by the band).
Bu the sonic uppercuts don’t stop there – the equally short and sharp 'Dancin’ Down Below' is a power down slice of contemporary grunge-punk that then gives way to the rhythmic drum pattern that sits behind the grunge-metal, guitars up front (and from all sides) number 'The Devil That Needs You.'
Lengthier numbers 'Journey Out of Here' and 'The Man With Stars On His Knees' bring other colours to the Cult Classics palette.
The former is a spacey and atmospheric outing that builds to Aaron Buchanan’s big chorus lines and high-voiced cries on the outro (grunge-prog meets U2); the title track is simply one of the best songs Innuendo era Queen never did (the vocal influences and Brian May-esque guitar runs in the second half of the song can’t be accidental or coincidental).
The second half of the album doesn’t quite capture the intent or power of what has come before but the bluesier brace of 'A God is No Friend' and 'Mind of a Mute' (the first spacious and Rainbreakers like, the second a meaty grunge-blues), the pseudo psychedelic grunge of 'Left Me For Dead' and the air punching, semi-anthemic 'Morals?' don’t exactly slip away unnoticed.
The bonus tracks are the feisty 'Fire in the Fields of Mayhem' (originally coupled to the 'All The Things You’ve Said And Done' single), the more off-beat but edgy 'Undertow,' a live recording of 'Morals?' and acoustic versions of 'All The Things You’ve Said And Done' and 'The Devil That Needs You.'
The complete Special Edition re-release package leaves very little room for criticism, other than it’s a pity there was no way to include Aaron Buchannan’s beautifully performed tribute and homage to Freddie Mercury on his 2016 cover of 'Love Of My Life' (based on the Wembley 1986 version and accompanied by Tom McCarthy on acoustic guitar).
Critically acclaimed first time around, two years on The Man With Stars On His Knees should make even more sonic waves for Aaron Buchanan And The Cult Classics (who now feature the Buchanan siblings, the aforementioned Tom McCarthy, bassist Mart Trail and drummer Paul White) – not least because it’s (wait for it…) one of the most Listenable Records in contemporary rock.
Ross Muir
FabricationsHQ
Now they’re doing it again in 2019.
On the strength of their eye catching live shows and ear catching 2017 debut release The Man With Stars On His Knees, the ex Heaven’s Basement front man and his Cult Classics band of brothers and sister (Aaron Buchanan’s sibling Laurie Buchanan has been a core member since day one) have now signed to Listenable Records, who have
re-released the album in Special Edition format with five bonus tracks.
That The Man With Stars On His Knees is so strong musically is no surprise given the ingredients – a grunge influenced energy coupled with Aaron Buchanan’s appreciation for Freddie Mercury and Queen along with his drive and vision to produce something a little left field while still satisfying the rock fraternity.
That it’s equally strong sonically however is a credit to Buchanan’s friend and producer James Curtis-Thomas who recorded the album at the small Plus 11 Studios in Boreham, Essex (with many of the lead vocals tracked earlier in not much more than a shed in Brisbane, Australia).
The results, from the studio band of Aaron Buchanan (vocals, drums, guitar, bass), James Curtis-Thomas (production, drums), Laurie Buchanan (guitars, vocals) and Ryan Woods (guitar, bass) is a sound as big as the songs – indeed it’s the big beat and atmospheric sound of opener 'Show Me What You’re Made Of' that makes the song’s presence felt, while the title-lyric doubles as a challenge to Aaron Buchanan And The Cult Classics to deliver on the following nine tracks and thirty-five minutes (in the album’s original form).
And show what they are made of they most certainly do, through the vibrant, bristling, punchy and ridiculously hooky 'All The Things You’ve Said and Done,' an early three-minute marker that, post-Heaven’s Basement, Aaron Buchanan may well be on to something a little bit special (the song was the first to be released by the band).
Bu the sonic uppercuts don’t stop there – the equally short and sharp 'Dancin’ Down Below' is a power down slice of contemporary grunge-punk that then gives way to the rhythmic drum pattern that sits behind the grunge-metal, guitars up front (and from all sides) number 'The Devil That Needs You.'
Lengthier numbers 'Journey Out of Here' and 'The Man With Stars On His Knees' bring other colours to the Cult Classics palette.
The former is a spacey and atmospheric outing that builds to Aaron Buchanan’s big chorus lines and high-voiced cries on the outro (grunge-prog meets U2); the title track is simply one of the best songs Innuendo era Queen never did (the vocal influences and Brian May-esque guitar runs in the second half of the song can’t be accidental or coincidental).
The second half of the album doesn’t quite capture the intent or power of what has come before but the bluesier brace of 'A God is No Friend' and 'Mind of a Mute' (the first spacious and Rainbreakers like, the second a meaty grunge-blues), the pseudo psychedelic grunge of 'Left Me For Dead' and the air punching, semi-anthemic 'Morals?' don’t exactly slip away unnoticed.
The bonus tracks are the feisty 'Fire in the Fields of Mayhem' (originally coupled to the 'All The Things You’ve Said And Done' single), the more off-beat but edgy 'Undertow,' a live recording of 'Morals?' and acoustic versions of 'All The Things You’ve Said And Done' and 'The Devil That Needs You.'
The complete Special Edition re-release package leaves very little room for criticism, other than it’s a pity there was no way to include Aaron Buchannan’s beautifully performed tribute and homage to Freddie Mercury on his 2016 cover of 'Love Of My Life' (based on the Wembley 1986 version and accompanied by Tom McCarthy on acoustic guitar).
Critically acclaimed first time around, two years on The Man With Stars On His Knees should make even more sonic waves for Aaron Buchanan And The Cult Classics (who now feature the Buchanan siblings, the aforementioned Tom McCarthy, bassist Mart Trail and drummer Paul White) – not least because it’s (wait for it…) one of the most Listenable Records in contemporary rock.
Ross Muir
FabricationsHQ