Looking forward to seeing how they are going to pull off a socially hot dog eating contest on the fourth of July, but in the meantime, we are driving down a couple of cool musical rabbit holes her in the offices of Rock is the new roll.
Low Cut Connie – Stay as Long as You Live
Here at Rock is the New Roll we are big fans of Low Cut Connie. Normally this merry band of Philadelphia pranksters cranks out utter mayhem with their over the top bombastic blend of cabaret-style Rock and Roll. Here frontman ivory tickler Adam Weiner takes things down low and slow, and we really like it.
Low Cut Connie – Dirty Water
The Detroit Cobras – Bo Diddley
Bursting out from the Detroit Garage-Rock scene in the late ’90s, The Detroit Cobras were one scorching Rock and Roll band. Featuring frontwoman exotic dancer Rachel Nagy on vocals the band made their mark on the underground garage scene digging dig into the bowels of primitive Rock and Roll for their influences.
The Empty Hearts – Run and Hide With You
If you are not hip to The Empty Hearts, an Austin Powers style retro band that features former members of Blondie, Eliot Easton of Cars fame, the former lead singer of The Romantics along with a Chesterfield King thrown in for good measure, here is your chance.
Cherie Curry – Queens of Noise
Cherie Curry, in a tough ‘Sophies ‘Choice’ sort of choice, is our favorite runaway. Her latest record even at her advanced age is a pleasure to the ears, with “Queens of Noise”, a tribute to drum goddess Sandy Dennis is a joy to the ears.
As we celebrate Paul Weller week if there has anything good that has come out of living through a pandemic it is that we have been able to enjoy some of our favorite artists direct from their living rooms. Jesse Dayton has been posting a quarantune show several times per week, Rock is the new Roll Hall of Fame member Grace Potter streams live from her living room, and Lukas Nelson and the Promise of the Real provide us a song every week that is almost as polished as we would be getting had they recorded the song from a proper studio.
Artists have even been able to release proper albums during the lockdown. J.S. Ondara recorded the highly excellent Tales of Isolation with the stellar “Lockdown on Date Night” a standout, and Texas icon Joe Ely has come out from behind his mask to give us Love in the Midst of Mayhem.
Along for the ride, here are five great records to reach our ears this week.
Paul Weller – On Sunset
Whether it is with The Jam, The Style Council, or with his ever-growing cache of solo albums, Paul Weller is always a must-hear. Much like Nick Lowe, Sir Paul is establishing himself as a torchbearer for the old guard rock and roll fraternity. Returning to his old friends at Polydor Records, the label for both of his former bands, on this, his first record since 2018’s True Meanings, Weller has on full display his love for Folk and 60’s Pop in equal measure. “Baptiste” could be a Steve Winwood single from back in the day, and “Old Father Tyme” is a Steve Mariott special. As is becoming Paul Weller’s M.O., there is a bit of an electronic flair mixed in with the troubadour folk leanings that keeps things contemporary while never losing that Country Squire edge. On Sunset is a surprise around every turn great listen that should, scratch that will be, on our list of record of the year candidates.
Willie Nelson – First Rose of Spring
Depending on how you count them, Willie Nelson has released over 100 albums, and, amazingly enough, he has not put out a bad record in at least a dozen years. His latest, mostly cover tunes, with a few originals sprinkled in for good measure, just because he can, has him singing wistfully about his certain stage in life. Produced by long time collaborator and friend Buddy Cannon doing the knob twirling, the formula is not messed with. Solid, carefully curated song selections with Willies trademark delivery providing the nuance that makes a song you have heard many times sound even more special and at times brilliant.
Jimmy Dean’s “Just Bummin’ Around” is a gentle and meandering walk in the park, Paycheck’s classic “I’m The Only Hell My Mama Ever Raised” picks up the tempo and doesn’t stray too far from the original showing that Willie still has his vocal fastball working, and even “Yesterday When I Was Young” is saved from Charles Aznavour Shmaltz with the Teatro treatment that Willie Gives it Here. “I’ll Be Breaking Out Tonight” is a stone-cold country classic expertly delivered by a master at his craft.
Viva Willie!!
Mystery Jets – A Billion Heartaches
This eclectic blend of a band combines Kaleidoscopic Folk, Post Punk, and Indie Rock into an infectious ’60s influenced brand of Rock and Roll. From the earworm worthy song “Hospital Radio” to the delicately soaring “History Has Its Eyes On You” there is something for everyone on this fine record.
bdrmm – Bedroom
This U.K. – based quintet serves up a healthy dose of Dream Pop shoegaze worthy anthems. The combination of surf rock, hazy guitar, and Post-Punk sensibilities displays a template of songs that wander the universe between Brit-Rock, Alternative Rock, and Krautrock at the blink of an ear.
Dream Wife – So You Gonna…
If The Go-Go’s were just a bit more daring and out there, they might have been Dream Wife. Heavy Garage-Punk, Party-Pop anthems along with dance-worthy rave-ups are the order of the day. With their sophomore effort, So You Gonna …., the sound is a bit more polished than their debut, but no less fun. Recorded with an all-female recording crew, there is a bounce to these songs that can take on a “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” flair one moment and a Blondie worthy flare-up the next. This one is a layered listen with rewards waiting around every corner.
Formerly with the band KAATO, founding members Kurt Lowney and Mika Nuutinen have gone duo, relocated from their native Australia, and formed a new band, The Scent. If this is what we can come to expect from these Nash-Aussian rockers, color our ears perked up and ready to rock and roll.
One of the best quarantine acts going, Lucas Nelson and the Promise of the Real perform a live rendition of “Couldn’t Break Your Heart” from their release earlier this year, Sacred Garden.
Muzz is an Indie Rock supergroup of sorts featuring Paul Banks (singer in Interpol), Matt Barrick (drummer for The Walkmen), Josh Kaufman (Bonny Light Horsemen). The resulting partnership is a bit shoegazy in an intoxicating sort of way.
There is a whole lot of Dolly and Emmylou in Hugton Beach-based country chanteuse. Stay tuned for her debut record to be released later this summer with the coolly named Jesus, Red Wine & Patsy Cline.
All you really need to know about Arlo McKinley is that he was the last and final artist that John Prine signed to his Oh Boy Records label. This song is special and don’t sleep on his debut album to be released in August.
This Dublin five-piece is set for big things in 2020. Here, their love for Blondie is worn on their musical sleeve as they sing about ‘amour fou’, mad love.
These guys are from the plains of Texas, and that sounds about right based on their sound. Down and dirty Texas dirt Rock and Soul drenched all over this single and entire album recently self-titled release. Come for the cool band name, stay for the great music.
Rock Is The New Roll 