Author: falconi5

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

Live Video of the Day: Dead Writers – She’s All Animals

Based in London, this band was formed by Dynamic front man Paul Shine in 2017. With a sound that hovers somewhere between The Cult and INXS, the band is in slow release mode with this, their third release in the last several months. Look for a proper record in 2020.

Best Albums of 2019: The Reconstructed – Great North Wind

 

Whoever said that the only good music comes out of Austin, the left coast, or New York, has obviously never heard of The Reconstructed, the best thing to come out of Southern Maine since the lobster. Their latest record, Great North Wind, is a melodic stunner of an album with delicious hooks, sweet vocals, and enough of a Power Pop sensibility to make Alex Chilton jealous.

The opener, “Cross Talk” is what the stork would have delivered if the parents were the Bands Crazy Horse and The Bodeans, and the title track shares some DNA with Jason Isbell and the 400 unit. “Wrapped” sounds like it could have been a R.E.M. B-side, “50 Minute Records” features next-level songwriting, and “Talking With Your Ghost” rhythmically carries a bit of a John Mellencamp torch. In “Something Came Over Me” your mind’s ear will be able to detect a bit of pre-Phil Genesis on a song that vitally demonstrates the intricate songcraft and Prince level musicianship delivered on this album.

In short, while bits, pieces, and resemblances of other great bands might be salted here and there on this record, don’t be mistaken, this album and this band is a wholly unique unicorn that should be reaching more ears.

The Top Songs of 2019 (50-46)

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 50-46.

50. JJ Wilde – Home

With a whole lot of Nashville Swagger, JJ Wildes’s star is definitely on the rise. With “Home” her follow-up to her E.P. released earlier in the year, she establishes her independence and her inherent badassery. It’s all about finding freedom through good old-fashioned Rock and Roll.

49. Sunflower Bean – Come For Me

Not resting on any laurels after the really excellent Human Ceremony last year, Sunflower Bean released a four-song E.P., King of the Dudes, early this year. “Come For Me” is a female empowerment anthem with women calling the shots with their own sexuality. “Come for me, we don’t have all night.”

48. Karl Blau – Twilight

Karl Blau has not had a proper record out in a while, his last was Out Her Space in 2017, but if “Twilight” is a precursor to new music from this retro-tinged Americana artist, count us in. There is a bit of Harry Nilsson dusting on this one.

47. The Reconstructed – Home Fires

From Southern Maine, The Reconstructed are one of those bands that are very well known on the local scene, but not so much on the national stage. Their latest record Great North Wind does not have a bad song on it. “Home Fires” has a bit of a Stonesy groove to it and is a perfect initiation to a band that should really be reaching more ears.

46. Fat White Family – Feet

Getting their collective act together as a band is proving to be quite a good thing as far as their artistic development goes. Their new record, Serf’s Up!, is a stunner coming from these guys and their past distorted Punk Rock sound, and the single “Feet” shows a sense of purpose that has been lacking in the past.

 

 

Video of the Day: Kendell Marvel – Let It Go

Yet another one of the great eclectic artists from Dan Auerbach and his Easy Eye studio. Stepping out from behind the quill after writing for the likes of Lee Ann Womack, Blake Shelton, and winning a Grammy with Chris Stapelton for “Easy Way,” Kendell Marvel is out and on his own for the first time with Solid Gold Sounds. Here, on let it go, he shows his Outlaw Country versatility with a tender ballad.

 

The Top Songs of 2019 (55-51)

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 60-56.

55. Deacon Blue – City of Love

Taking their name from a Steely Dan song, the Scottish band Deacon Blue hasn’t let up one bit from when they were opening for The Waterboys way back in 1985. In March of 2020, the band will be releasing City of Love, their fourth album in seven years. This band is almost the poster child for under the radar bands you should know about.

54. Soccer Mommy – Yellow is the Color Of Her Eyes

“Yellow is the Color Of Her Eyes” is only the second track of new music from Soccer Mommy that has reached our ears since 2018’s breakout album, Lush and complex, the song inspired by life on the road and the relations that suffer from the distance and time away features harpist Mary Lattimore.

53. Durand Jones & The Indications – Morning in America

Alongside Austin’s Black Pumas, Durand Jones and his mates are front and center on the cresting Soul revivalist movement. Drummer Aaron Frazer adds to the vibe with vocals that perfectly complement Durand Jones. From the record, American Love Call, “Morning in America” harkens back to the protest Soul of the ’60s and ’70s. The lyrics touch on contaminated water, overprescribing of pain-killers, and systematic racism, all touchstones of a protest song for todays times.

52. P.P. Arnold – I Believe

Unbelievably, her 2019 record, The New Adventures of P.P. Arnold, is her first proper solo album in 51 years, and she has not lost anything at all on her vocal fastball. “I believe” is a beautiful, immaculately produced cinematic wonder to behold.

51. Fontaines DC – Boys In A Better Land

With an energy that falls somewhere north of The Clash and South of The Waterboys, “Boys In A Better Land” almost literally sparks with a nervous energy that makes you feel alive. These guys mix Post-Punk riffs with a literate sensibility capable of ripping your ears off. Even the ballads these guys throw out have a lot of street swagger.

 

 

 

 

 

Five Cool Ones: Five New Records Released Today (November, 22 2019)

Harry Nilsson – Losst And Found

25 five years separated from his death at the age of 52 from a heart attack, from the archives comes a new Harry Nilsson record, Losst And Found. This new record with selections culled from master tapes found in the family vault features nine original Harry tunes along with a Jimmy Webb and Yoko Ono cover. There is a later-era  Harry vibe to the proceedings taking you back to the Pussycats days when Harry was hanging out with John Lennon and Keith Moon. With all-star friends Webb and Jim Keltner joining in the fun along with the Beach Boys inspiration courtesy of Van Dyke Parks, this is about as good a posthumous release as you will find this side of David Bowie. This is essential listening for a Harry Nilsson fan and a proper introduction to an influential artist for the rest of you.

Upset – Upset

Post-Punk, Garage Rock, Riot Grrrl, thrill-ness in every sense of the respective Genres. There is a Ramones vibe on a couple songs, The GoGo’s on others, and a Harmony driven Bangles on crack je ne sais quois wafting over the whole thing.  Think of it as if you were driving a Volkswagen bug with the windows up and Cheech and Chong in the back seat, and you pretty much have the idea.

Jomo and the Possum Posse – Take A Number, Satan

The self-proclaimed greatest band in the world, Austin based Jomo and the Possum Posse, according to their web site, entertain with a unique blend of cynicism, dead-eyed soul, and anti-machismo honky-tonk. Roots Rock and Roll with an Americana bent, there is a touch of Lyle Lovette truthfulness on this record.

Various Artists – Women Sing Waits (Come On Up To The House)

If, like most, you find Tom Waits’ razor blades scratching the back of his tonsils vocal musings a bit hard to take in large or even medium doses, Come On Up To The House, is a great entryway drug. Offering fresh interpretations of mostly deep-cut Waits songs, Patty Griffin, Rosanne Cash, Phoebe Bridgers, Corinne Baily Ray, Courtney Marie Andrews, and others offer beautifully accessible renditions of a songbook that is pretty much close to peerless. The Courtney Marie Andrews rendition of “Downtown Train” and the Allison Moorer and Shelby Lynne sibling sweetness on “‘Ol 55” are only two of the many highlights.

Dead Horse One – The West Is The Best

If you are a fan of French shoegaze, then this record is clearly your jam of the year. Hailing from Valence, this French combo mixes Dream Pop and Psychedelic influences into a hazy atmospheric joy ride that would make My Bloody Valentine envious. Try this one with a good set of headphones.

 

The Top Songs of 2019 (60-56)

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 60-56.

60. The Limboos – Where Did She Go

The limboos are the very definition of an eclectic band. Doing business out of Barcelona, Spain they combine Funk, 60’s Surf, and Soul into a gumbo of Coolness. The greasy sax on “Where Did She Go” is worth the price of admission alone.

59. The Avett Brothers – High Steppin’

This high Steppin’ anthem courtesy of Scott Avett and the Avett Brothers from their album, Closer Than Together, will literally put a little pep in your step.

58. Frank Turner – Sister Rosetta

Frank Turner pays tribute to Sister Rosetta Tharpe, The Godmother of Rock and Roll, the Sister of Soul. This one is a history lesson in a song.

57. Sheryl Crow – Tell Me When It’s Over (feat. Chris Stapelton)

An outstanding duet with Chris Stapelton lamenting that point in a melting relationship where neither party knows it’s over when it actually has been over long ago. This one is from her record, Threads, an album that features in addition to Stapelton, guest turns from Joe Walsh, Jason Isbell, Bonnie Raitt, and several others

56. The Who – All The Music Must Fade

The gut pinch of a rhythm section, this time with Zak Starkey beating the skins, is still in fine form and Roger Daltry is back, but not quite better than ever. On this first single from their upcoming release, The Who. With a “You Better You Bet” feel to it, the song and subsequent record feels like it will be a great last waltz for an iconic band.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Top Songs of 2019 (70-66)

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 70-66.

Go back in time to picks 100-96

Go back in time to picks 95-91

Go back in time to picks 86-90

Go back in time to picks 81-85

Go back in time to picks 80-76

Go back in time to picks 75-71

70. Petrov – Divine Wine

Petrov is another one of the great bands to come out of North Carolina, this time Charlotte. With the addition of Mary Grace McKusick as the primary songwriter and lead vocalist, an added Post-Punk attitude was developed giving the band a bit of a harder edge. With a passing resemblance to the Police song “Message in a Bottle”, this is the sort of song that might be what Janis Joplin would have been recording.

69. Tiny Ruins – School of Design

It is hard to imagine that a chance wandering into the library of a school of design to kill some time would yield such elegance, but imagine no more. This sparse pastoral beauty finds beauty in simple things like the well-designed clocks all ticking in time.

68. Bryan Adams – Whiskey in A Jar

Listen closely, as you likely will never see this sentence written in this space ever again. This new Bryan Adams song is really cool, and unironically so. Playing things acoustically safe Adams’ gargle with razor blades voice seems to be perfectly suited to this Thin Lizzy rocker. Sure, he goes all Rod Stewart unplugged on the arrangement, but hey, it is sort of good to see the guy relevant again in this new Millenium.

67. The National – Light Years

As you work your way through the highly excellent new National L.P., I Am Easy To Find, and the 16 songs presented to you, there, at the very end, the last track on the record is “Light Years.” It seems like a simple song, starting off with a piano melody morphing into the hushed vocals of Matt Berninger. Simple it may be, but it is a beauty.

66. Anderson . Paak – Make It Better (feat. Smokey Robinson)

This one is clearly the bedroom, between the sheets, jam of the year. Who among us wouldn’t want to rekindle a bit of romance by getting jiggy with it in a motel room just like you used to do? With Smokey Robinson in fine form, this one could have come right from a 1972 hot tub time machine.