Review – Them Dirty Roses – “Lost in the Valley of Hate & Love Vol. 1”
As if the the Gods of Southern rock came down from the Heavens to smite a new band out of the hard Alabama iron, these dirty and sweaty mothers from Gadsden, Alabama can grow hair on your chest just from listening to them. Them Dirty Roses can deflower virgins simply by them being in the audience at a show. They’re so virile, their piss grows hair on contact.
In the war to return danger, blood, guts, and balls to modern music, these are the first dudes you want with their boots on the beach, beating back the hordes of bad performers, waylaying bland music like a bunch of possessed berserkers. Forget saving country music, Then Dirty Roses are saving all of music. They’re warrior musicians out to capture Southern rock glory and immortality, or die trying.
Led by James Ford on lead vocals and guitar, brother Frank Ford on drums, lead guitarist Andrew Davis, and bass player Ben Crain, the group left their hometown by piling into an RV, and moving into the same house in Nashville, TN like The Monkees to try and make it. Their debut self-titled EP from 2017 drew some buzz for sure, especially the lead song “Cocaine & Whiskey.” But especially over the last year or two they’ve been booked on some massive festivals and drawn a strong following by putting on excellent live shows.
Now it’s time to take all of that momentum and six years of experience as full time musicians, and pour it into a studio project that can do justice to Them Dirty Roses and what they’re doing to help keep Southern Rock alive. This is what they accomplish with Lost in the Valley of Hate & Love Vol. I. Though they are officially calling this an EP, at eight songs with 4-minute run times, it feels like a full project, with a Vol. 2 anticipated in the future.
The album captures the aggressive and propulsive sound of Them Dirty Roses live, including the infectious and character-laden vocals of James Ford, and the monster lead licks by Andrew Davis. There are also some surprising and welcome acoustic moments to bookend the album, and even some 12-string guitar strums reminiscent of Jimmy Page folk-inspired pre-metal in certain moments.
Lost in the Valley definitely tells a story, and it’s one that’s not hard to imagine is true-to-life to Them Dirty Roses. Though the opening song is about a corrupt preacher that doesn’t necessarily fit the concept, the rest of the record is very much about being a rock band lured by the road, making it, and all the temptations they face along the way, leading them down paths where their Southern traditional upbringing and the women waiting for them at home get lost in the shuffle.
Though you probably wouldn’t call this a songwriter album or a straight up concept, a story arc and cohesive theme most certainly presents itself and enhances the listening experience, and the writing shows a lot of honesty and introspection along with the more salacious accounts of living on the road. Since the story is so autobiographical, it’s probably not something the average listener may be able to relate to, but it’s something the audience can certainly experience vicariously through the band and this immersive album.
Sometimes you see a “Vol. I” project and you just know it’s likely not to lead to a “Vol. 2” let alone a “Vol. 3.” But with this album, you almost need a sequel. Spoiler alert, but the album ends with a broken home and broken heart. In the war for their souls, Then Dirty Roses have chosen the road and rock ‘n roll over the loyalty and stability of the home and family life. But it may not be that way forever.
The story may not be fulfilled and leaves you with a cliffhanger, but Lost in the Valley of Hate & Love is definitely satiating of your Southern rock appetites. Them Dirty Roses are currently defining the hard rock edge of Southern music, and this album feels essential to the modern Southern rock catalog.
1 3/4 Guns Up (8.2/10)
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Purchase/Listen to Lost in the Valley of Hate & Love Vol. 1
March 20, 2023 @ 8:48 am
Throw these boys on shuffle. Not a single bad song. Southern rock at it’s finest.
March 20, 2023 @ 9:10 am
Very strong Black Crowes vibe going on here. Even the song styles are similar…and that’s not a bad thing. Are they into doing the twin lead guitar, that’s a hallmark of southern rock? Just curious. The solos on these studio recordings are plenty good but sounds like one lead player.
Keeping that good ol southern music alive and cooking. I like it! ????
March 20, 2023 @ 10:39 am
No twin leads. Lead singer plays rhythm guitar. Album is true to their 4-piece live sound.
March 20, 2023 @ 9:42 am
It did not know this was available. Thank you.
March 20, 2023 @ 10:36 am
Trig…..LOL… I know I say it often but those first 2 paragraphs are literary gold…..pure poetry and hits the nail on the head. I’ve been listening to most of this for a few weeks, these guys are bad ass. I’d like to thank em for keeping it a nice tight 8 tunes that leaves us looking forward to Vol 2 in due time. I’ll take 8 over 38 everyday. Got my ticket for Carol’s in June because I know this show will sell out.
March 20, 2023 @ 10:37 am
a little too generic to be great southern rock, but they look like a southern rock band but the music is bland
March 20, 2023 @ 3:43 pm
Picked up TDR on Pandora last winter and absolutely love every tune. We’ve seen them twice since November and will see them again May. Grew up listening to heavy metal bit totally dig their sounds and lyrics. Not to mention, they are kind enough to take the time to speak to us take pics! ????
March 20, 2023 @ 5:23 pm
That Sunday Drunk video turned me off.
March 20, 2023 @ 7:11 pm
Yes sir. That video could Billy Squire their career.
March 21, 2023 @ 5:32 am
Brad , I saw Billy squire at the Orange Bowl July 4, 1981 (I was in the NAVY) I never saw that Rock me tonight video ????♀️
I had to look it up…????
I love reading comments on SCM just because everyone seems to be full of first hand knowledge about some of the artists and behind the scenes goings on????????
November 30, 2023 @ 1:20 pm
I saw Bill Squire open for Foreigner that same year. In Rochester, NY
March 20, 2023 @ 7:34 pm
I got to see TDR in Natchez, MS along with the Josephines, back in 2020. I greatly enjoyed TDR’s set. Shortly after their set the Ford brothers signed a festival poster for me, while I purchased one of their T-Shirts. Fun times.
March 21, 2023 @ 6:01 am
Generic – third tier southern rock
Tier 1
Allman Brothers
Marshall Tucker with Toy
Lynyrd Skynyrd with Ronnie
Tier 2
Widespread Panic
Wrinkle Neck Mules
Black Crowes
Tedeschi Trucks
Govt Mule
Blackberry Smoke
Molly Hatchet
The Outlaws
Rossington Collins
The Grapes
March 21, 2023 @ 6:23 am
I can agree with many of these, but The Allman Brothers? The Black Crowes and Gov’t Mule? C’mon man. Even Molly Hatchet if you just consider the early albums with Danny Joe Brown are hard to label 3rd tier.
March 21, 2023 @ 6:36 am
I meant the album reviewed was third tier.
Then I listed my Tier 1 ABB MTB and LS
Then my tier 2
Sorry I wasn’t clear
March 21, 2023 @ 6:52 am
Got it. I was thinking I like most of these bands, but some may argue their place in southern rock hierarchy. But some being 3rd tier would be mind boggling.
Sorry I misunderstood. We seem to be roughly on the same page.
March 26, 2023 @ 8:12 am
Not discussing Whiskey Myers in this list tells me you’re missing out on a good band. Trigger will tell you the same (and has many times). Check out early morning shakes and go from there.
Also, amongst the various classic bands you mentioned, I’ve never understood why Blackfoot, and 38 special are not more respected. Fine, if you want to say that 38 special was too commercial that’s your choice, although if you dig deeper into their catalogue beyond the hits, they’ve got some pretty great southern rock songs. Blackfoot could be hit or miss, but songs like train, train, and Highway song are classics of the genre.
March 21, 2023 @ 6:17 am
I like these guys and their Southern Hard Rock style. This is good high volume music for those times you want to rock out. Don’t know about some of the comparisons to greats like the Black Crowes or other legends, but still good stuff in their own right. Reminds me more of bands like Black Stone Cherry, Buckcherry, or maybe early Blackberry Smoke. Lot of berries and cherries there lol. Maybe they should have been Them Dirty Strawberries or something.
Overall good fun music.
March 21, 2023 @ 7:57 am
It’s interesting why so many people want to compare these guys to others, both in a positive and in a negative way. That doesn’t really seem to happen with country artists, unless they sound very similar to another one. It’s like immediately, a 4-piece band made up of two brothers is being compared to Lynyrd Skynyrd and The Allman Brothers, who are all time legends of American music.
Another disconnect with this band is between people who’ve seen them live, and people who haven’t. They were named one of SCM Best Live Acts in 2022. People who’ve seen them live tend to “get it.” If you compare every new Southern rock band that comes around to Skynyrd, you’re never going to be happy.
March 21, 2023 @ 8:01 am
Dead on Scott, I was thinking the same thing. Sounds a lot like early Black Stone Cherry. I really like these guys since I first heard them nearly 2 years ago. Hard to even label them southern rock more like Rock from some southerners, it just good old Rock and Roll.
March 21, 2023 @ 9:09 am
I’ve always had a soft spot for these southern influenced hard rock bands going back to my youth of loving hard rock/metal music. A lot of great Southern Hard Rock bands came out of the remnants of the Stoner Rock movement like Dixie Witch, Halfway To Gone, Honky, National Dust, White Cowboy Oklahoma, and more I’m forgetting. They influenced bigger bands like Down, Black Label Society, and Corrosion of Conformity. Their influences are probably as much as classics like Skynyrd or The Allman Brothers on some of these younger bands.
March 21, 2023 @ 1:54 pm
How about some Powder Mill? When I need a boost of energy 30 minutes of Powder Mill
While get you hyped up
March 21, 2023 @ 2:13 pm
Another good one.
March 24, 2023 @ 6:28 am
Powder Mill’s Land of the Free is such a great album. I will always be grateful to writer Adam Sheets for putting them on my radar. One of my top ten favorite albums of the 2010’s. Great songwriting and kick ass playing. Also, the great Jimbo Mathus makes a cameo appearance on Mississippi Showboat.
I’m a big fan of The Steel Woods and Blackberry Smoke, but Land of the Free is my favorite southern rock album of the last dozen years or so. And every once in a while, I have to watch the video for Knock Down DragOut Love. Just a great song and a fun video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b22smquMF2s
March 21, 2023 @ 9:55 am
This isn’t southern rock. Let’s stop with that. Just listen to three songs by any classic southern rock band like the Allman brothers or black Crowes or Lynyrd Skynyrd even. This doesn’t sound like that. This is this new version of country rock that we have now like blackberry smoke or whiskey myers. Similar, sure. Heavy low tone distorted guitars. It’s not southern rock.
March 21, 2023 @ 10:02 am
I mentioned this in another comment. I don’t understand this need to compare these guys with Rock and Roll Hall of Fame members, and say that if they don’t rise to that standard, it’s either not good, or not Southern rock. Those bands were Southern rock 50-60 years ago. Blackberry Smoke, Whiskey Myers, and Them Dirty Roses is the Southern rock of today. Or call it country rock if you wish. Not every modern country artist is compared with Waylon or Willie, and if they don’t sound like them and meet those standards, is cast off as subpar.
If you don’t like Them Dirty Roses, I totally get it. That’s taste. But to say it’s no good because it’s not The Allman Brothers I just don’t think is fair to this band, especially since they’re a four piece, not a 7-10-piece with 2-3 lead players, percussion, keys, backup singers, etc. It’s a different thing.
March 21, 2023 @ 10:06 am
We don’t say Lizzo is a disco act. But seriously, one of the closest shows you’ll get to seeing a southern rock band nowadays is to catch Mike and The Moonpies live. Especially after midnight.
March 21, 2023 @ 10:12 am
Yeah, you won’t find a bigger fan of Mike and the Moonpies on this planet or any other than myself. Does it have some Southern rock accents to it? Sure. But that’s not anywhere near The Alllman Brothers or Lynyrd Skynyrd. They’re 70s Gary Stewart country all the way, their cover of “Can’t You See” notwithstanding.
March 21, 2023 @ 10:33 am
It would be better to call them country rock. When you say Southern Rock, those of us who came of age in that era set the Trinity (ABB, MTB and LS) as the bar.
Some have gotten close (Blackberry Smoke and the Black Crowes for instance) but no one has reached that level.
When I read southern rock band I already have a sound in my mind. It’s like expecting a food to taste a certain way.
There’s a difference between a southern rock band and a rock band from the south. Have I turned into the old man yelling at clouds? Probably
March 21, 2023 @ 12:31 pm
Alright JCC and Scott S. First off, I love the Southern Rock purity test, yall are trying to impose! Now, it seems to me yall have forgotten The CDB! Fire on The Mountain, Nightrider, Way Down Yonder, Saddle Tramp albums certainly fit the bill for first Tier Southern Rock. Don’t forget, in his early years, Charlie had dual drummers and twin lead guitar similar to the Allmans. And he rocked like a mutha! Slide guitar and all. And how’s about Grinderswitch and Wet Willie? Excellent bands in their own right. And you can’t leave out Colonel Bruce Hamptons Aquarium Rescue Unit. And I will just throw it out there, Georgia Satellites. Those cats were Dixie Fried all the way, Gibson guitars and all. Battleship Chains, Railroad Steel were killer cuts to the catalog. And there was Hydra….could go on….ZZ Top anyone?
Probably the newest band that gets it right in my book is The Steel Woods.
March 21, 2023 @ 1:02 pm
You’re right! You have to add CDB, Wet Willie and the Georgia Satellites. Also the Atlanta Rhythm Section. If you add Colonel Bruce, do you add Blueground Undergrass? Jason and the Nashville Scorchers?
March 21, 2023 @ 2:32 pm
Pure Prairie League fits in there somewhere too, but more country rockish. 38 Special, Hank Jr, Blackfoot. Who else are we missing?
I do like Them Red Roses, regardless of what category they are in. Great vocals, guitars, writing (looks like they spread the writing credits to the whole band) and good sound for a 4 piece band.
March 21, 2023 @ 2:23 pm
I didn’t say they weren’t southern rock. I just said it was strange the comparison to classic southern rock bands. These guys clearly don’t sound like them bands, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t southern rock. Just that they are probably more influenced by later southern rock bands that I mentioned above.
I was in no way trying to disrespect Them Dirty Roses, and in fact stated that I like their music.
March 21, 2023 @ 3:58 pm
Your good Scott. I enjoy your comments. The song above called You Can’t has a Black Crowes reference in the first verse. They directly mention Thorn in my Pride. That, and his vocal style reminds me of Robinson from The Crowes. But, yeah they aren’t Skynyrd or Allman sounding. To me, you gotta have a legit southern accent to sing southern rock. These guys have that. The guitar leads have a wicked nasty snarl that you wanna hear. Good stuff indeed.
March 21, 2023 @ 3:34 pm
I was optimistic on this one for a while. Caught the earlier EP, and knew it had some buzz.
They are great musicians. Songs sound good and the production is fine. The problem is that they desperately need someone else to write their songs. The lyrical content is just mindnumbingly boring – even the album name is cringe worthy. It’s just completely bankrupt of any creativity and depth, and squanders such great accompaniment.
Again, it’s not that it’s bad. The product is well polished. It’s just that this record has been made hundreds of times by dozens of bands, and many of them just did it a lot better.
Here’s to being cautiously optimistic for the next Rival Sons release – to a likely similar disappointment.
March 21, 2023 @ 7:21 pm
Alright you guys it was concert night here at the mansion and I found this on YouTube and yes it might take a bit but for sure they’re here to help not here to hurt and I had a great time watching it and you will too…….. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tOtV3Wz0k8
It may not be exactly Southern Rock or even dare I say it Country… BUT it’s quality and I agree with everyone above me that said. They’re not Skynyrd, the Outlaws, ABB, Blackberry Smoke, Steel Woods….etc but give em a chance who knows what they will become. Let artists grow, it takes time. Let these kids learn…………………………
March 22, 2023 @ 2:40 am
I am so enjoying the TDR, makes me want to get to a bar! and brilliant to learn about all those bands I didnt know. all hail SCM for a great website, and all these reader comments, spreading the words of bands we need to check out! im throwing in my old fave The Jompson Bros album and James Leg who such a nice guy! Cheers y’all from jo in England
March 22, 2023 @ 10:30 pm
I feel like this is a new brand of music: BSR (Bro Southern Rock). Catchy and will get air time, but not really all that good.
March 24, 2023 @ 5:24 am
Love TDR!! I’m a stylist in their hometown. I’ve been going and seeing these boys since the very beginning. GREAT GROUP OF GUYS. Supper humble and relatable. Definitely worth seeing them live if you get a chance.
March 24, 2023 @ 6:41 am
For all the yammering about this being “southern rock”, is this rock worth listening to? Check; not the greatest but listenable. I still want something more in my southern fried rock. For the SR spectrum yammer – this is tightened-up, early Drive By Truckers with a dollap more classic rock sound. So yes, this is SR. Unfortunately, this is also about 1/3 the lyrically quality of DBTs. But early DBTs set a high bar for songwriting so to Trig’s point, maybe comparing these guys to the the top of the class is a disservice.
March 27, 2023 @ 6:42 pm
Saw these boys for the first time almost 2 years ago opening for The Steel Woods. They had a headliner band vibe that night that I could see them easily “making it” big. They were really fan friendly after the show. They were talking and hanging out, signing autographs and taking pictures with fans.
Now it seems that the many thousands of miles of highway spent touring the entire country has done them good.
After the release of their latest album, “Lost in the Valley of Hate and Love vol. 1” and just seeing them last weekend (for the 6th time) performing 20+ songs, they have the stage presence of a major touring headliner band.
I won’t waste my time time bothering to compare them to the sound of other bands because they have truly established their own sound, stage presence and relatable theme of their own original music. Their new songs are A++ and leave me waiting for more on Vol. 2 along with more videos.