Southern rock has finally made its way to the pages of RockEyez.com! Back in my high school days listening to LYNYRD SKYNYRD, THE OUTLAWS, MOLLY HATCHET and others was the time to light the bone and sit back and hear some amazing southern rock riffs. I mean how classic was “Green Grass and High Tides” by THE OUTLAWS, with that killer solo, and “Sweet Home Alabama” by SKYNYRD? Those days are gone but NEVER forgotten but the torch could be reinstated by BLACKBERRY SMOKE.

With their full-length sophomore release “Little Piece of Dixie” and having toured with the likes of ZZ TOP and even hooking up with Slash on occasion, they can’t be bad. I’m not going to sit here and tell you these boys are the next LYNYRD SKYNYRD but I can tell you the new disc has more tastier tunes then a nipple ring on a D cup.

Starting things off is a smooth tune called “Good One Comin' On” that shows these boys aren’t looking for no f’in’ ho down, but I can feel those spurs being sharpened and some amazing guitar work smoldering your ears.

Now here ya go, this is just one of the reasons why these guys have star quality, check out “Like I Am” and you can feel the essences of SKYNYRD thru the veins of BLACKBERRY SMOKE with this bluesy rock tune, this one’s a killer.

Even if you’re a head banger you will love “Bottom of This”, which has some killer solos and with powerful vocals makes these boys jump to the top of the southern rock charts. With deep roots for the heartland and the classic feel for rock and country BLACKBERRY SMOKE has enough balls to show a sensitive side and when it’s time to kick up your heels; they have what it takes.

With all the great music on “Little Piece of Dixie” I was especially drawn to a track named “Prayer For the Little Man” which is simple put, an amazing song. The sweet harmonies of CSN &Y with Jimmy Page like acoustics and Charlie Starr’s vocals will have shivers running down your spine.

I’m not a country boy and never claimed to be, I’m a New Yorker at heart but some of the tracks on “Little Piece of Dixie” really brought me back to the great days when southern rock was king. Some of the tracks were a little too country for me but I could over look those because the rest of the CD burns. I don’t light the bones anymore but I can still get high on great southern rock that has feeling and BLACKBERRY SMOKE will be a force to be reckoned with. Check these boys out if it sounds like your thing.