Author: falconi5

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

Cover Song of the Day: Marcella and Her Lovers – I’d Rather Go Blind (feat. Spooner Oldham)

One of the many great bands from the Memphis music scene. I Listen to Memphis is a great Youtube site to jump on the Memphis music bandwagon. Take a listen and you too will be walking in Memphis.

The Top Songs of 2019 (35-31)

There have been a lot of really great songs released in 2019. This year, we will be revealing our top 100 songs five tunes at a time all the way to number one. Here are our picks for 35-31

35. Cheap Trick – Gimme Some Truth

Pressed on red vinyl this 7″ pressing is Cheap Trick in their never wavering glory.

34. Cowboy Diplomacy – The Get Down

Their first single since 2017, they have a new record that is due next year, Cowboy Diplomacy has been kicking around Austin for some time know delivering country grizzled Rock & Roll. If Waylon Jennings fronted Lynyrd Skynyrd this is what the band would have sounded like.

33. Dori Freeman – That’s How I Fell

With an Americana tinged voice that whippoorwills between Linda and Joni, her calming vibrato “That’s How I Feel” from her highly excellent new record, Every Single Star, features a collaboration with British Folk-Rocker Teddy Thompson.

32. Hector Ward & The Big Time – Whiskey Pants

These guys have been around enough and are so diverse they have opened for the likes of Gary Clark Jr,. The Zombies, Christopher Cross, and Ian McLagan. Put on your whiskey pants and head-on into the night.

31. Lillie Mae – You’ve Got Other Girls For That

Touring with Robert Plant and The Raconteurs, there is no sophomore slump for Lillie Mae, her latest release, Other Girls, is one of the best Americana records of the year. “You’ve got other girls for that. I just came to play.”

 

 

Five Cool Ones: Five New Albums released this week (November 29, 2019)

Since we are contractually and philosophically obligated to steer away from covering any Christmas releases, the pickings are a bit slim this week. But, fear not fellow music aficionados, there are a couple of cool ones along with some spicy reissues that are deserving to be heard.

Mapache – Mapache

A stripped down version of their laid back Laurel Canyon ethos, this one is carries so much ’70s DNA it could be dating Linda Ronstadt.

If You’re Going To The City: A Tribute To Mose Allison

Mose Allison is one interesting dude. A unicorn of sorts, he plays well in the worlds of Jazz, Blues, Folk, and Americana. Here, Iggy Pop, Bonnie Raitt, Chrissie Hynde, and even Richard Thompson makes an appearance on this one. “Stop This World” and “Parchman Farm” are both pretty special, but the entire set is ear-worthy.

Shawn Lee – Rides Again

Shawn Lee has been around a bit, since the late 80,s and with his vibe of Pop, New-Soul, and 60’s Motown Groove, his latest effort has a distinct retro feel that is cleansing to the palate.

Willie Nile – Beautiful Wreck of a World

Willie Nile, the king of New York, has been creating pretty great music since the 70’s. Sort of a mix of Mink DeVille and Lou Reed, this reissue from 2004 is is a great primer to learn more about an artist that very much should be on your radar.

Jack Green – Humanesque

Known mostly for his work with The Pretty Things, Jack Green has reissued his first solo release, Humanesque, from way back in 1980. Power Pop in the Greg Kihn mold, “I Call No Answer” features Ritchie Blackmore before before he went all Renaissance crazy.

What We’re Listening To Wednesday (November 27, 2019)

It’s been a bit slow on the music scene the last couple of weeks, but despite the lack of quality there definitely is a whole lot of quality.

Daniel Donato – Never Been a Lover

Yet another great singer from the Nashville vicinity, his recently released e.p., Starlight, has been on heavy rotation at Rock is the New Roll H.Q..

Nils Lofgren – Pretty Soon

His work with Bruce Springsteen, of course, is legendary, and his back in the day band Grin is pretty cool as well. But we love his solo work the best.

Tim Buckley – Hong King Bar

Tim Buckley’s 1972 release Greetings from L.A. is on the top 50 platters of all time to our ears. Tim Buckley, Jeff’s father, like his son met an untimely end. With a style that is a bit less hazy than his son’s and slightly more accessible, the album is pure ’70s Folk Rock at its finest.

The High Divers – Ride With You

Another one of the fine bands from Charleston, SC, the Tom Petty influence can’t be shaken, but that is never a bad thing. Their entire e.p. is a treat especially when the entire band jumps in like they do on “Our Love Is A Fire.”

David Blue – Grand Hotel

Roaming round on the fringes of the Laurel Canyon scene in the days of Linda, The Eagles and the rest of the denizens, David Blue, for unknown reasons, never really caught the wave the others rode to stardom. Always rooting for the underdog, his catalog is worth a listen.

Mother Hips – White Falcon Fuzz

Mixing pretty much all of the genres that we love, Americana, Pop, Psych, California Boogie, with a touch of Jam-Band on the side, this S.F. based band is our go-to music comfort food.

Live Video of the Day: Blackberry Smoke – Flesh and Bone (Homecoming: Live In Atlanta)

From their epic newly released album recorded live at The Tabernacle in Atlanta in 2018. All of their hits are on this set plus a couple of choice covers in “Space Captain” and (Not Fade Away.)

The Top Songs of 2019 (40-36)

There have been a lot of really great songs released in 2019. This year, we will be revealing our top 100 songs five tunes at a time all the way to number one. Here are our picks for 40-36

40. Dirty Honey – Rolling 7s

If like most of us, you are sick and tired having just about every music critic this side of Cameron Crowe trying to jam Greta Van Fleet down your throat as the next great Rock and Roll band, we present to you, Dirty Honey. This L.A. band plays what they call “new-fashioned Rock and Roll.” With a sound that is some sort of devil hybrid between Led Zeppelin and Aerosmith, their 2019 six-song mini-album will rock your plimsoul.

39. The Stereophonics – Bust This Town

A bit maligned in their own U.K. The Stereophonics have been doing their thing for over 20 years now. The second single to be released from their 2019 Kind L.P., celebrates escapism in all its forms.

38. Garret T. Capps – All Right, All Night

Garret T. Capps is one of those stylistic and artistically hip Americana influenced artists along the lines of Tennessee Jet, Sturgill Simpson and Robert Ellis. “All Right, All Night” is only one of several terrific songs on his 2019 release of the same name.

37. Sir Woman – Highroad

Sir Woman is the newest project for Kelsey Wilson, co-founder of Wild Child. On “Sir Woman” she uses her singing and arranging skills on this string and horns laden stunner. With a snappy beat and a ’60s vibe, this one has a “feel good” feeling that demands to be on your year-end playlist.

36. Lucille Furs – Paint Euphrosyne Blue

Lucille Furs and their 2019 record, Another Land, have, and it’s not even close, released the Psychedelic album of the year. Full of Beatles, Monkees, and even 13th Floor elevators Austin Powers groovability, “Paint Euphrosyne Blue,” just one of stellar songs, could have been on a Monkees record back in the day.

 

 

 

 

 

The Top Songs of 2019 (45-41)

There have been a lot of really great songs released in 2019. This year, we will be revealing our top 100 songs five tunes at a time all the way to number one. Here are our picks for 45-41.

45. Joanne Shaw Taylor – Reckless Heart

“Reckless Heart” the title track from her latest release is a clear step up in weight class for a Blues Rock Singer that combines the vocal prowess of Bonnie Raitt and the guitar chops of Susan Tedeschi.

44. Peter Bjorn and John – Reason To Be Reasonable

From the boys that brought you “Young Folks,” one of the top earworms of the last 20 years, they once again burrow their way into your ears with the anti-breakup song of the year. It is refreshing to hear a message that promotes trying to work things out instead of fleeing the scene when the first bit of adversity comes your way.

43. Brent Cowles – High To Low

L.A. Songwriter Brent Cowles decided full-force to write a song that wasn’t sad or negative. For this one, he decided he wanted to pen a tune that would make people dance and smile. With “High and Low” he has succeeded on all fronts in advance of a new record due early in 2020.

42. Trash Cat – Straw Girl

Trash Cat is one of those quirky bands that you will find very hard not to like once you give them a chance. The group features Mary Claxton playing the electric ukelele, Brian, her beardy jazz instructor husband, and, for good measure, you have a mohawked sax player. Hailing from Greely, Co,, this band of gypsies does not take themselves over-seriously but make no mistake, this is one talented trio as demonstrated on “Straw Girl” the lead-off single from their 2019 record, Welcome To Trash City.

41. Rufus Wainwright – Trouble In Paradise

If you are not on the Rufus Wainright bandwagon, jump on in. The water’s fine. As the son of musicians Louden Wainright III (The dead skunk in the road guy) and Kate McGarrigle, his own music is as eclectic as you can get including 7 albums and a note for note record rendition of Judy at Carnegie Hall. Here, Rufus demonstrates his Pop-Centric chops on “Trouble in Paradise” from his new record set to be released very soon.