“‘I Can’t Tell’ is about dating in the modern age. Commitment is a hard thing to come by and only getting scarcer. It’s hard to trust anyone, especially yourself.” -Matt James, lead singer of Blacktop Mojo
Blacktop Mojo releases “I Can’t Tell” – a blues and grunge-inspired, southern twang track that soars high above modern rock with its genius instrumentation and catchy melody. “I Can’t Tell” follows Blacktop Mojo’s recent release “As The Light Fades”, from earlier this month, and will be followed by a full-length studio album, “Pollen”, on April 5th.
Blacktop Mojo’s grunge influences shine through in this track, with powerful guitar riffs and their infamous Southern twang style. Producer Philip Mosley referred to it as “Texas Nirvana” for its twangy instrumentation and sludgy undertones. Lyrics demonstrate the talent of writers Matt James and Matt Curtis, while producer Philip Mosley layers in sounds reminiscent of their vast array of grunge and rock influences, along with new sounds unique to the group.
Created by Matt James drawing from his various musical inspirations, “I Can’t Tell” started when he began tinkering with different melodies in the carport of the band’s home. From there, the song quickly became a group favorite from the new album in studio recordings. The song juggles simple acoustics with a climactic chorus, focusing on themes of indecision in love, and the modern dating scene with lyrics like, “I can’t tell if your kiss is heaven, or your love is hell.”
With inspirations ranging from Alice In Chains, Soundgarden, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Bill Withers, Stone Temple Pilots, to Bob Seger and Etta James, Blacktop Mojo’s music has elements of heavy rock, grunge, soul, blues, and a little splash of southern twang.
Stream the single https://vyd.co/Icanttell and catch Blacktop Mojo on tour from April to August, performing shows across the U.S. such as Richmond, Colorado Springs, and Pensacola.
About Blacktop Mojo
Described as a mix of Soundgarden and Lynyrd Skynyrd, Blacktop Mojo incorporates heavy, sludgy, rock mixed with sultry blues. Formed in late 2012 in the small town of Palestine, Texas by vocalist Matt James and drummer Nathan Gillis, Blacktop Mojo has coined the term “Texas Grunge” to describe their one-of-a-kind sound.
A unique blend of sludgy grooves, classic rock guitar riffs, and southern metal shredding sets Blacktop Mojo somewhere between dirty, heavy rock and roll mixed with sensual and carnal blues. Drawing on a multitude of genres and influences such as Alice In Chains, ZZ Top, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Tool, Bill Withers, Stone Temple Pilots, Bob Seger, to Etta James, Blacktop Mojo combines styles of the past with a modern edge for a totally unique sound that can only be experienced through listening.
After their debut album, “I Am” in 2014, the band stayed around Texas to record another album in 2017, “Burn The Ships”, which caused the guys to quit their day jobs and move into a small house together in Palestine, TX. Since then, the band has kept a relentless recording and touring schedule, filled with boundless creativity that has allowed them to create songs to reach the top 40 on both the Mediabase and Billboard Rock Chart.
Catch Blacktop Mojo on tour to catch one of their unforgettable live shows across the U.S. in 2024.
For more information on Blacktop Mojo, please visit
