ALBUM REVIEW: Legacy: A Tribute To Leslie West – Leslie West
On December 23rd 2020 the world lost blues and hard rock legend LESLIE WEST of the iconic MOUNTAIN. During his life, he created a vast and incredible body of work that many have taken inspiration from in their own work. He also collaborated with many other bands and artists, aiding them in their own musical creations, and was considered a loved and respected talent within the music industry. Originally, this album was created for the guitarist to perform a number of his songs with some guest features. Instead, a collection of renditions of his work were put together by different artists, friends of West, and more.
It’s hard to be critical of work that is made in memory of another artist. However, concerning this record, not only is the love and respect for West palpable from beginning to end, but also the songs are done in the artists’ own way whilst still appreciating the originals that West had created. There’s an additional grit and power behind songs like Blood Of The Sun, For Yasgur’s Farm, and Long Red, where the guitar sounds alive and on fire with every riff played. Furthermore, the rhythms from the bass and drums are still played as tightly as they were when first written. Production seems to have added some power behind them both because they have that full, rich, and driving energy, creating an altogether epic and fierce sound that honours West in the best way possible.
In addition, each guest showcases the best of their talent, and their passion and care with each note played or sung in each song. From DEE SNIDER to JOE LYNN TURNER to ZAKK WYLDE to SLASH, the many musicians deliver fantastic performances that show how much West meant to them, both personally and musically. For example, in Nantucket Sleighride (To Owen Coffin), Turner‘s vocals sound so powerful, but are also delivered with heart, heartbreak, and pain. From each line sung, it’s clear how much the guitarist meant to Turner, which adds gravitas to the performance.
On each song, no matter the tempo or style, between blues or hard rock, there is so much dedication to the work, and an honour and respect within each feature in the song is overflowing. This in turn takes the songs to another level and it is gorgeous for the listener to hear; from the beginning with Blood Of The Sun featuring Wylde, to the end with the infamous Mississippi Queen featuring SLASH and MARC LABELLE, it all sounds incredible.
Overall, an astounding amount of work has gone into this record in memory of an amazing musical talent. The interpretations of each track are iconic to the artists that feature on them, but also keep it in the realm of blues and hard rock in honour of the original intention. LESLIE WEST would be proud of the work and dedication from everyone involved in the album’s creation, and any fan of his should be a fan of this album too. A great collection to remember a great musician.
Rating: 9/10
Legacy – A Tribute To Leslie West is set for release on March 25th via Provogue Records/Mascot Label Group.
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