It’s interesting when you take delivery of an album called Mojo Thunder. They’re from Kentucky, so in your head, you’re expecting some raucous rock n roll. Something a bit like Georgia Satellites maybe?
In the middle of this is a song called “Holy Ghost” on which Sean Sullivan sneers, “Hey hey rock n roll, ain’t nobody coming to save your soul.” But that’s a bit of an outlier.
Rather, the rest of “The Infinite Hope” exists with bigger, more expensive ambitions.
One listen to the opener, “The Sun Still Rises,” tells you that. Think Kings Of Leon jamming with Stereophonics, and you’re not that far off. “Coming Back To You” essentially does the same thing, but its drum pattern is oddly discordant.
And that’s where “Step By Step” and the likes really score. There’s always some new angle in the sound to stop this from being generic.
“Let It Fall” underlines what a fine, soulful voice Sean Sullivan has, and if “Memphis” is likewise, then it also shows the songwriting skill too. Slow, deliberate balladry, it drips with emotion.
What Mojo Thunder have is an innate ability to make “big” sounding music. “Caroline” isn’t forced, but it sounds huge.
“Gettin’ On A Binge” is one of the more immediate moments, while “Grace” kind of epitomises the album as a whole. Gentle, understated, yet brilliantly done.
And the last one, “Greetings From Western Art,” might be more strident, but it’s also the longest. The most telling too: “Some people call it rock n roll, but I just think it’s faster rhythm and blues.”
Zac Shoopman, their drummer, reckons that Mojo Thunder doesn’t want to be pigeonholed – and there’s no chance of that, to be honest.
Maybe it’s the choice of producer – Duane Lundy has worked with everyone from Ringo Starr to Sturgill Simpson – but whatever it is that Mojo Thunder brings (and mostly it’s polished, arena-ready sounds), they’ve got their mojo, and “The Infinite Hope” contains infinite possibilities.
Rating: 8/10
