There is one thing I never thought I would say I needed and that was a new 38 Special album in 2025. I didn’t think I would need because I thought the band was done doing albums as it has been 21 years since their last studio album back in 2004 with ‘Drivetrain’. This is a milestone and thus the name of the album is ‘Milestone’. The band has been active since 1974, but sadly there is really only one original member and that is singer Don Barnes. However, there are two members from the 90’s with keyboardist, Bobby Capps (1991), and drummer Gary Moffatt (1996). There are also two members that joined since the turn of the century and that is bass player, Barry Dunaway (2014), and lead guitarist, Jerry Riggs (2019).
The album came out on September 19, 2025and honestly, I forgot to order it when I heard about the new album. Thanks to Tim Durling, he reminded me and I went and grabbed it. Don Barnes produced the album along with Jim Peterik from another classic 80’s band, Survivor. And I can hear that sound in some of the songs, probably cause Jim also helped write a few songs. We have a very special guest singer on one track and simply solid playing and singing throughout the album.
I was a big fan of the band in the late 70’s and early 80’s as their Southern Rock sound was right up my alley as I am from the south. These guys were some of the best. By the 80’s they turned a little more pop and had some big radio hits. They ended up fading away from my mind by the end of the 80’s and honestly, didn’t listen to them much since. But I do on occasion and when I find an album on vinyl, I grab it. The memories of their music etched in my brain so they are definitely a nostalgia band for me. Now, when I popped in the new album, I will say if I didn’t know already it was 38 Special, I probably would’ve never figured out who it was. We have to remember, we are 35 years past when I was listening to them and these guys are older and way more mature. And that is what this album sounds like. The album sounds like a classic AOR sounding album with some really modern productions. And none of that is a bad thing. In fact, let’s discuss the songs.
38 Special – Milestone – (38 Special Records)
Mike Tramp – The Songs of White Lion Vol. III – (Frontiers Records)
Jelusick – Apolitical Ecstasy – (Escape Music)
Buckingham Nicks – Buckingham Nicks (2025 Remaster) – (Buckingham Records / SN Entertainment)
I Prevail – Violent Nature – (Fearless Records)
Nine Inch Nails – Tron: Ares (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) – (The Null Corporation and Walt Disney / Interscope Records)
Cardi B – Am I The Drama? – (Atlantic Records)
Biffy Clyro – Futique – (1968 Ltd / Warner Music)
The Favors – The Dream – (Darkroom Records)
Briscoe – Heat of July – (ATO Records)
2 Loud 2 Old Music 