Author: falconi5

A place for musically minded folk to get together and share ideas, reviews, and basically spread the word.

Five Cool Ones: Five New Records Released This Week (March 6, 2020)

 

The year is cranking right along quite nicely. Caroline Rose has moved from her Americana roots to come up with a highly excellent Pop record. Mandy Moore is taking a break from her turn on This Us Us to put out a record, and even the venerable Swamp Dogg is front and center this week. Here are five choice morsels that we like this week.

Rose Tatoo – Outlaws

We are cheating a bit here as this album is essentially a re-recording of an earlier Rose Tattoo album, but what the hell, this is Faces, Stones inspired Rose Tattoo in all its Rock and Roll glory.

Cornershop – England Is A Garden

Sure, these guy are generally thought of as a one hit wonder band with the hit single “Brimful of Asha”, but the reality is that they are a solid Rock and Roll band. With their first release in five years their British Pop sound is as bouncy and joyful as ever.

Jonathan Wilson – Dixie Blur

The hills of Laurel Canyon are well represented on Dixie Blur, the latest record from Pop artist Jonathan Wilson. From the wistful throwback vibe of “’69 Corvette” to the rollicking Bob Wills inspired “In Heaven Making Love” there is a new gem to be discovered around every turn.

Swamp Dogg – Sorry You Couldn’t Make It

The original D-O double G having held the moniker decades before Snoop Dogg, cult icon Swamp Dogg blends Country, Blues, and Soul for the most accessible record of his career. The two John Prine collaborations are really special and hearing “Don’t Take Her (She’s All I Got) sung by the guy that wrote it is truly next level.

Brandy Clark – Your Life Is A Record

Having written hits for the likes of Miranda Lambert, Reba McEntire, and Kacey Musgraves, Brandy Clark does her best work when she steps out on her own. The warm ’80s Ladies texture of this record goes down as smooth as Tennessee whiskey.

Live Video of the Day: Hamilton Leithauser – Here They Come (Live From The Carlyle Hotel)

Hamilton Leithauser, the lead singer of The Walkmen, releases his first solo record later in the year. Here, he performs the debut single in the intimate Carlyle hotel venue.

https://youtu.be/NgYmFG4AiDA

Five Cool Ones: Five New Records Released This Week (February 28, 2020)

After a couple of hit or miss weeks, the eclectic mix of music reaching our ears this week has a little bit for everyone. The Outlaws, yes the “Green Grass and High Tides Outlaws” have a new record out that is decidedly good despite the absence of many original band members actually playing on the record, Sergio Mendez without the 66 has one out that will be a great poolside jam one the weather gets warmer, and even the famed 70’s pr0g-lite Wishbone Ash are still alive and well.

Feel free to ignore the James Taylor languid set of standards, but definitely jump on “Marathon” and “Get Off The Stage” two fantastic tunes released into the wild from Chuck Prophet that will be included on his new record set for a mid-summer release.

Here are five really good ones for your ears to peruse.

Robert Cray – That’s What I Heard

Not overly prolific in recent years, this is only his 5th set of original material since 2005, he none-the-less is still as blues-crisp and brilliant as ever. As the artist that is often hailed as the savior of Blues from commercial extinction with his album Strong Persuader in 1986, with this one he may have just done it again.

The Orielles – Disco Volador

Having released in 2018 the best album of the ’90s twenty years too late with their debut album Silver Dollar Moment, now, with their latest record, the band has quite simply outdone themselves. Bright and bouncy in all the right places there are influences of ’60s as well as ’80s girl group, Bossa Nova Jazz, Funk, and Disco all rolled into a melting pot of what is sure to be one of our best albums of the year.

Cascade Lakes – Cascade Lakes

If Scott Walker fronted The Beach Boys the band just might sound like Cascade Lakes. Indie Rock with a definite Pop sensibility this record combines wide soundscapes with intricate storytelling. The ’80s Dream Syndicate vibe is an appealing touch to a record that offers rewards with multiple listens.

The Undercover Dream Lovers – It’s All In Your Head

The Undercover Dream Lovers is the psychedelic indie rock band whose name speaks for its smooth dreamy sound. The Los Angeles, Ca based project blends vibrant synth melodies grooving bass lines accompanied by the falsetto of Matt Koenig. This one is a full absorption sort of listen.

Sunny Ozell – Overnight Lows

It stands to reason that a musician that has such diverse musical influences as Bonnie Raitt, David Byrne, and Aretha Franklin would come up with an album that brings to mind Bobbi Gentry and Dr. John in the same musical breath. A native of Reno, Ozell currently works out of Brooklyn and Los Angeles.

This record has a funky soul groove that could have easily been a number one hit in the ’60s with a Dusty Springfield meets Nancy Sinatra coolness on just about every song. With her day job as Mrs. Sir Patrick Stewart, this is an artist to keep your ears on.

 

Video of the Day: Jaime Wyatt – Neon Cross

New West is another one of those record labels you should have your ears on. The company features the likes of Lily Hiatt, The Secret Sisters, Caroline Rose, and several other high quality acts. Here, stablemate Jaime Wyatt weighs in with her single ahead of the album to be released on May 29th.

 

Live Video of the Day: Joseph Arthur – Come Back World (Live on KEXP)

Originally discovered by Peter Gabriel and signed to his Real World record label, Joseph Arthur on his new record, Come Back World, delivers a set of ballads that exhibit his guitar skills and songwriting prowess in fine fashion.