Now we’re cranking things up. A busy week on the newbie front with Huey Lewis coming out with what might be his last one, Justin Bieber is back and lame as ever, and Dave Alvin gives us a most interesting record with his new side-piece Supergroup The Third Mind causing a psychedelic stir.
Ballroom Thieves – Unlovely
Come for the lushly beautiful opening track, “Unlovely,” an early song of the year candidate that features Darlingside on back up harmony vocals, but stay for the equally excellent “Don’t Wanna Dance” and “Roll the Bones” later in the set.
Huey Lewis and the News – Weather
News flash, Weather, the first new record from The News in over 10 years sounds pretty much like the Huey Lewis we all grew up with. Sadly, this may be the swan song as Huey is rapidly losing his hearing due to Meniere’s Disease.
Polished within an inch of its Stax soul loving life, this record is more then a pleasant nostalgic listen. With the upbeat blues beat of “Hurry up Baby” and the bouncy 60’s boardwalk vibe of “Pretty Girls Everywhere” there is no doubt that these guys are going out on a very high note.
Puss N Boots – Sister
That other Country/Roots supergroup that is not Highwomen, here, we have Norah Jones, Sasha Dobson, and ex Grace Popper bass player Catherine Popper with their second full length record since forming in 2008. Here, there is a bit of a Western-Noir groove on pretty much every song with the expected next level harmonies complementing the typically understated vocals that Norah Jones brings to every party. If you liked the recent Case/Lang/Viers collaboration you will love this one.
Beach Bunny – Honeymoon
This Post-Pop debut record courtesy of Lili Trifilo and her four-piece Beach Bunny is a fun and bouncy romp through a garden inhabited with ABBA and Go Go’s soundtracks abounding.
Tami Nielson – Chickaboom
A full-tilt badass, Tami Nielson is some crazy rockabilly hybrid of Wanda Jackson, Shirley Bassey, and Amy Winehouse. From her foot tall bee-hive hairdo to the sass and brass bravado of her lyrics along with a voice that would make Beth Hart blush, it seems that there is a new sheriff in town.
Rock Is The New Roll 