The year is rolling along and there are a lot of good tunes to savor this week.
Everyone needs a little Night Ranger in their lives, and Midnight City will take you there in spades.
Darius Rucker. Mike Mills, and Steve Gorman have formed a supergroup under the moniker Howl, Owl, Howl. Stay tuned for this space for future releases.
And, Rebels Opera will take you back to strutting the Sunset Strip in style.
But, that’s not all, don’t let the train leave the station without you checking out of these gems.
Jeremy Pinell – Decades
Leaning into his 70’s rock influences, Jeremy Pinell, with Shooter Jennings twirling the knobs, may just have created is own masterpiece with his best album to date.
“Dallas” is a Creedence-worthy swamp stomper, “Too Much Sugar” is a lilting-blues tune that has John Lee Hooker vibes, and “Pink Champagne” could have been a King George Strait hit.
A much more nuanced effort than his prior honky-tonk- heavy releases, this one is worth a serious listen with a serious drink in hand.
The Belair Lip Bombs – Again
While they certainly do stand on the shoulders of their 2000s indie rock influences, with their latest, The Belair Lip Bombs blaze their own trail with this highly energized, melodic chestnut of a result of a record.
With enough hooks for an episode of Dangerous every song on this record is single-worthy. “Don’t Let Them Tell You (It’s Fair)” is a power pop fuzz-bomb, and “Hey” is the festival-worthy album that could take the band to the next level.
Despite the Cranberries’ hipster vibe, there is not much not to like with this group that is fast becoming our new favorite band.
The Charlatans – We Are Love
Returning after an eight-year gap, The band clearly embraces the future whi at the same time forging a path on the road ahead.
The opener “Kingdom Of Ours” releases like the opener of a Tarantino movie, and the title track is classic Charlatans fare.
With “For The Girls” standing as a bellwether for the album, if you are just now discovering this band you are in for a great treat, if you are revisiting the band, welcome home.
Marty Stuart – Space Junk
Marty Stuart and the Superlatives have released their fist full-length instrumental record with vibes from The Ventures, Herb Alpert, and Dick Dale all taking center stage.
With a prominent Tiki vibe wafting in the air and Ennio Morricone homages courtesy of “El Zorro” along with Tarantino’s Savoie fare on “La Tingo Tango” there is no doubt this is, and will be, the instrumental record of the year.
Futurebirds – Deluxe Company
Not travelling much past their comfort zone of Americana, Poco country rock, and with a dusting of psychedelic rock thrown in for good measure, this time out, Futurebirds embraces their mantra with the gusto of mid-era Grateful Dead.
“Solitaires” could have been a Jerry Garcia solo jaunt, “Soft Drugs” is prime Old ‘97’s, and “Easytown” carries a bit of a Whiskeytown torch.
This one won’t change the world, but it will change your mood for the better.
Rock Is The New Roll 