This is Cherry Choke’s third album entitled Raising The Waters. It was released in February 2015. This music is not the popular riff rock, stoner-doom album that is making everyone’s Top 10 list nowadays. This is more complex–or more mature, if you’ll accept that. Let’s start with what the band says itself. First of all, they are calling this an "acid rock opera." Acid rock it is! An opera? Well, it is certainly complex and deep. Secondly, they say "think of Blue Cheer fighting it out with the Black Keys as Jimi Hendrix looks on from the bar." What? You ask who Blue Cheer are? Dude, they are the roots of every song you hold dear to your heart. Cherry Choke blend perfectly those early acid rock roots with a more contemporary stoner rock vibe. The roots win out in this release.

There is alot of heavy acoustic guitar here. It is accomplished by being tuned down and hitting very flat notes. This is always accompanied by an electric guitar swirling heavy acid rock leads. The vocals are clean and crisp, yet powerful. Mathew Bethancourt sings, he doesn’t shout or scream, further adding to that retro vibe you’re hearing. The occasional organ passages add to that effect, also. There is enough variation here to appeal to most fans of the genre.

Put on your listening ears, grab a cold brew, and sit back and enjoy. From the opening moments of the first song, all this rambling will be understood. This is 1971 meets 2015! (Stoned Meadow Of Doom/youtube.com)