I decided from the moment I looked at their CD cover that I was not going to like Blackbird. I just didn't feel like listening to a wanna-be rockstar, punk-metal-pop-infused band. So I sat down grumpily and started listening.

It's really difficult for me to admit I am wrong. I almost never do, even if I am. In this case, though, I will bite the bullet (or mullet) and admit that I was indeed wrong not to want to listen to Blackbird's debut CD, fittingly entitled The Last of the Rockstars. In fairness to me, as the name of the album indicates, this quartet of friends (two of whom are brothers) really does try hard to be, well, rockstars. Miraculously, they do a decent job of it.

I loved the song "The One": the opening melody totally hooked me in, and I was dying for the lyrics to begin. Beyond my Monster Ballads CD, I never really thought there could be a cool rock love song, but this one proved me wrong. For the first time in my life (especially with regard to love and the words of love songs), I didn't pay as much attention to the lines, instead getting caught up in the music itself.

And that's where Blackbird really kicks ass; they are amazing instrumentalists. While I, of course, related "The Hell (You Put Me Through)" ("you keep me standing there and you slowly walk away/once again you left me standing here all alone") to my latest botched relationship, the bottom line is, they could make me conjure the same feelings without any words at all. I never once imagined that I could close my eyes and compare my feelings about rock to my feelings about something like Mozart, but I could. And that's pretty damn cool.

Their press release proclaims that they are the "true salvation of rock-n-roll," but I tend to agree more with a previous paragraph in the same document that discusses Blackbird's uncanny ability to "soothe and excite." So though I think salvation might be a long way off, I do believe in Blackbirds sincerity when they ask, "Can I have your attention cause I got something to say". Take my advice and listen hard beyond the simplistic lyrics and really hear the music behind it all. That's when true rock will reveal itself in all its dichotomous glory.

www.blackbirdsnest.com