Bottom Shelf - There Will Be Chicken Wings (2024) Hi-Res

Raleigh, North Carolina-based five-piece Bottom Shelf follow up last year’s fascinating Pud Master Johnson LP with their next full-length, wishfully titled There Will Be Chicken Wings, with striking cover art. You’ll hear twelve new songs – we should actually count to eleven, because the album closes with a so-called secret track, but since it’s mentioned it’s not really a surprise – that should probably be filed under Southern rock. The way the heartfelt lyrics are delivered by gritty vocals over a grooving rhythm section evokes mixed emotions, many emotions – insert smiling-face-with-tear emoji – that go well with a drink (I guess this applies to both band members and listeners). These 40 minutes radiate a live energy that is more than enough to recharge you for whatever lies ahead.