The summer is close and things are heating up across the world, but there is a cool breeze blowing on the album front. So grab a Mai Tai and settle in.
Pearl Charles is quilting her Nancy Sinatra vibes prepping for a new record to be released later in the month.
Silver Synthetic released a new record, Rosalie. Think Big Star if they spent more time at Joshua Tree.
And, for fans of Queens of the Stone Age, the band HIMALAYAS will scratch your desert rock itch.
But, that’s not all. As per usual here are five new players to spin on your turntables.
Valerie June – Owls, Omens, and Oracles
With her genre bending music that flows through the veins of Americana, Soul, Pop and Blues her latest Owls, Omens, and Oracles is a life-affirming record with plenty of earworms throughout.
Produced by pop master M. Ward the record channels ‘70s pop on “Trust The Path,” Phil Spector wall of sound on “All I Really Wanna Do,” and Amy Winehouse vibes on “Endless Tree.”
This record is a ray of optimism in desolate times.
Those Damn Crows – God Shaped Hole
Straightforward rock and roll is the order of the day on God-Shaped Hole, the latest from Nashville-based Those Damn Crows.
From the opening salvo of “Dancing With The Enemy,” your ears are treated to some sort of Devil’s hybrid combining The Hu, U2 in their prime, and Metallica. Interesting stuff indeed.
Word of caution, don’t listen to “Let’s Go Psycho” when driving, and “Night Train” burns the soul much like a Pearl Jam ballad in the “Jeremy” mold.
Don’t sleep on this one as the leader in the clubhouse for the rock record of the year.
Cold Specks – Light For The Midnight
Just listen to the first two minutes of “How It Feels,” the initial salvo from Cold Specks on her latest record Light For Midnight, and we dare you not to have Carole King ear worms drilled into the minds ear.
The musical project of Laden Hussein, Cold Specks floats on a cloud of atmospheric synths, delicate piano, and deep R&B to create her own vision, a sort of doom soul.
“Venus In Pisces” has a certain ‘Till Tuesday lilt to it, “Lingering Ghosts” harkens back to darker times when she was misdiagnosed as having schizophrenia, and “Endlessly” is a study in stellar songwriting.
A record that would not seem out of place it was released in the early ’90s, this one represents an artist coming out of a dark tunnel and delivering what might be the best album of her career.
Turnpike Troubadours – Price Of Admission
You would be hard pressed to find a more legitimate roots country band over the last ten years than Stillwater’s own Turnpike Troubadours.
Ignoring the glitter of Nashville, the band instead has chosen to stick to their Oklahoma roots and imbed themselves in a state, a town that is as hardscrabble as it gets with an everyman ethos that is palpable.
Produced by Shooter Shennings, the new record meanders from pensive to rowdy in the blink of a hot steel guitar solo.
Critics might call out the semi-slick production, one of the hazards of hiring a big-time producer, while others will revel in the honky tonk ethos.
Come for the poignancy of “Forgiving You,” but stay for the heartbreak of “A Lie Agree Upon” with this one.
Little Barrie – Electric War
Mutch like you get with virtually every Easy Eye Sound release, The latest Little Barrie collaboration with drummer Malcolm Catto, is an exploration in eclectic sounds and textures.
With a distinct raw, analog feel, the record, with its groove-centric pulse takes on a jazz feel that seems to be vintage and refreshingly contemporary at the same time.
With elements of funk, psychedelia, rock, and jazz permeating the air, this one is an eclectic listen that will educate your ears.
Rock Is The New Roll 