Album Mini-review: Brownout Presents Brown Sabbath – Vol. II
File next to: Black Sabbath, Santana
High-concept musical acts have been around for decades. Dread Zeppelin was one of the earliest groups to recast well-known music in a decidedly different idiom (reggae-style Led Zeppelin); Hayseed Dixie has been serving up bluegrass-fried versions of hard rock for many years now. Both acts – and most others of their ilk – do so with tongue firmly planted in cheek. Not so with Brown Sabbath: their Tex-Mex and horns-flavored readings of classics from the Black Sabbath songbook might elicit an initial laugh, but stick around and be impressed on just how expertly they reinvent the tunes. This second collection displays no drop-off in quality from their debut; they kick things off with a brilliant version of “Supernaut,” and the quality never flags. The horn arrangements and percussion accents work surprisingly well, proving just how sturdy these tunes really are.
About the Author
Bill Kopp
With a background in marketing and advertising, Bill Kopp got his professional start writing for Trouser Press. After a stint as Editor-in-chief for a national music magazine, Bill launched Musoscribe in 2009, and has published new content every business day since then (and every single day since 2018). The 4000-plus interviews, essays, and reviews on Musoscribe reflect Bill's keen interest in American musical forms, most notably rock, jazz, and soul. His work features a special emphasis on reissues and vinyl. Bill's work also appears in many other outlets both online and in print. He regularly hosts lecture/discussions on artists and albums of historical importance (including monthly events Music to Your Ears and Music Movie Mondays), and is a frequent guest on music-focused radio programs and podcasts. In Spring 2023 he is co-teaching a history of Rock 'n' Roll at UNC Asheville's College for Seniors. He also researches and authors liner notes for album reissues -- more than 30 to date -- and co-produced a reissue of jazz legend Julian "Cannonball" Adderley's final album. His first book, Reinventing Pink Floyd: From Syd Barrett to The Dark Side of the Moon was published by Rowman & Littlefield in 2018, and in paperback in 2019. His second book, Disturbing the Peace: 415 Records and the Rise of New Wave, was published in 2021 by HoZac Books. His third book, What's the Big Idea: 40 Great Concept Albums will be published in 2024. Read even more about him here.