Like an Arrow is the fifth studio album by American rock band Blackberry Smoke. The album was self-produced by the band and it was released on October 14, 2016.

Like an Arrow
Studio album by
ReleasedOctober 14, 2016 (2016-10-14)
GenreSouthern rock, country rock
Length48:47
Label3 Legged Records
ProducerBlackberry Smoke
Blackberry Smoke chronology
Holding All the Roses
(2015)
Like an Arrow
(2016)
Find a Light
(2018)
Singles from Like an Arrow
  1. "Waiting for the Thunder"
    Released: July 2016
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic76/100[1]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
American Songwriter[3]
Classic Rock (magazine)[4]

Background edit

According to Charlie Starr, they had not intended to make an album when the band began practicing a few new songs he had written when they had a month off in January 2016. As the songs came together quickly, they decided to go the Quarry Recording Studio outside their hometown of Atlanta to record their fifth album. However, they were not sure who they wanted as producer for the album, but had a clear idea what they wanted to do with the songs, so they chose to produce the album themselves. The drummer Brit Turner also designed the album artwork.[5] The last song on the album, "Free on the Wing", features a duet with Gregg Allman, whom they regarded as an inspiration for the band.[6]

The first track of the album, "Waiting for the Thunder", was released as the lead single from the album.[7]

Reception edit

The album received a Metacritic rating of 76 based on 6 reviews, indicating generally favorable reviews.[1]

The album debuted at No. 12 on Billboard 200,[8] No. 3 on Top Rock Albums, as well as No. 1 on both the Top Country Albums and Americana/Folk Albums chart, selling 18,000 copies in its first sales week.[9] It sold a further 4,200 copies in its second week.[10] The album has sold 48,000 copies as of August 2017.[11]

The album also debuted at No. 8 on the UK Albums chart, as well as No. 1 on UK Independent Albums, Americana Albums, and Rock & Metal Albums charts.[12][13][14]

Track listing edit

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Waiting for the Thunder"Charlie Starr4:07
2."Let It Burn"Starr2:56
3."The Good Life"Starr, Travis Meadows3:59
4."What Comes Naturally"Starr4:21
5."Running Through Time"Starr, Meadows4:44
6."Like an Arrow"Starr4:24
7."Ought to Know"Starr4:16
8."Sunrise in Texas"Blackberry Smoke, Michael Tolcher4:36
9."Ain't Gonna Wait"Starr3:38
10."Workin' for a Workin' Man"Starr2:59
11."Believe You Me"Starr2:59
12."Free on the Wing"Starr, Brandon Still5:48
Total length:48:47

Personnel edit

Blackberry Smoke
  • Charlie Starr — lead vocals, electric guitar; pedal steel guitar (track 3), acoustic guitar (tracks 5, 7, 9), Dobro (track 8), mandolin (track 9)
  • Paul Jackson — electric guitar (all but track 4), backing vocals; acoustic guitar (track 4)
  • Brandon Still — B3 organ (tracks 1, 5-8, 10, 11), piano (tracks 2-4, 7), electric piano (track 5, 6, 8, 9, 12), accordion (track 9), clavinet (track 11)
  • Richard Turner — bass (tracks 1-3, 5-12), upright bass guitar (track 4)
  • Brit Turner — drums, percussion
Additional personnel
  • Benji Shanks — slide guitar (track 4), electric guitar (track 11)
  • Gregg Allman — co-lead vocals (track 12)

Charts edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Metacritic Review". Metacritic.com.
  2. ^ Stephen Thomas Erlewine. "Like an Arrow review". AllMusic.
  3. ^ Hal Horowitz (October 11, 2016). "Blackberry Smoke: Like an Arrow". American Songwriter.
  4. ^ Neil Jeffries (September 26, 2016). "Blackberry Smoke - Like An Arrow album review". TeamRock.
  5. ^ Carrie Horton (October 14, 2016). "Interview: Blackberry Smoke's 'Like an Arrow' Is a 'Happy Accident'". The Boot.
  6. ^ Mike Ayers (October 6, 2016). "Listen to Blackberry Smoke's New Album 'Like an Arrow'". The Wall Street Journal.
  7. ^ Joseph Hudak (July 21, 2016). "Hear Blackberry Smoke's Foreboding New Song 'Waiting for the Thunder'". Rolling Stone.
  8. ^ "Billboard 200". Billboard. November 5, 2016.
  9. ^ Jim Asker (October 25, 2016). "Kenny Chesney & Pink's 'Fire' Lights Up Summit Of Country Airplay, Hot Country Songs". Billboard.
  10. ^ Bjorke, Matt (October 30, 2016). "Top 10 Country Albums Sales Chart: October 31, 2016". Roughstock.
  11. ^ Bjorke, Matt (August 29, 2017). "Top 10 Country Albums Chart: August 28, 2017". Roughstock.
  12. ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". The Official Charts Company. 27 October 2016.
  13. ^ "Official Americana Albums Chart Top 40". The Official Charts Company. 27 October 2016.
  14. ^ "Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart Top 40". The Official Charts Company. 27 October 2016.
  15. ^ "Ultratop.be – Blackberry Smoke – Like an Arrow" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
  16. ^ "Ultratop.be – Blackberry Smoke – Like an Arrow" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
  17. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Blackberry Smoke – Like an Arrow" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
  18. ^ "Lescharts.com – Blackberry Smoke – Like an Arrow". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
  19. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Blackberry Smoke – Like an Arrow" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
  20. ^ "GFK Chart-Track Albums: Week 42, 2016". Chart-Track. IRMA. Retrieved November 16, 2016.
  21. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Blackberry Smoke – Like an Arrow". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
  22. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Blackberry Smoke – Like an Arrow". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
  23. ^ "Blackberry Smoke | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
  24. ^ "Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 16, 2016.
  25. ^ "Blackberry Smoke Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
  26. ^ "Blackberry Smoke Chart History (Top Country Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
  27. ^ "Blackberry Smoke Chart History (Top Americana/Folk Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
  28. ^ "Blackberry Smoke Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
  29. ^ "Blackberry Smoke Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
  30. ^ "Blackberry Smoke Chart History (Top Tastemaker Albums)". Billboard.
  31. ^ "Blackberry Smoke Chart History (Vinyl Albums)". Billboard.
  32. ^ "Top Country Albums – Year-End 2016". Billboard. Retrieved July 18, 2020.