Author: falconi5

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

Video of the Day: SWMRS – April in Houston

This Post-Pop band from the East Bay in Northern California might be ready for much bigger things in 2019. Featuring singer Cole Becker, Max Becker, bassist Sebastian Mueller, and drummer Joey Armstrong, the son of Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong, the band plays an infectious brand of Post- Punk that is ready made for arenas and festivals.

Best Albums of 2019: Tiny Ruins – Olympic Girls

Tiny Ruins is a band out of Aukland, New Zealand that Hollie Fullbrook put together to release her solo material. Described as the sonic equivalent of dancing around the moon, Tiny Ruins is a beautifully understated gem.

With a voice that is warm and textured at the same time, one can close their eyes and open their ears to hear a bit of Joni Mitchell in Fullbrook’s gentle vocal delivery, particularly so on the song “Bounty.”

The title track, “Olympic Girls,” has a more pastoral feel to it and would not have been too far out of place on a back in the day Pentangle album.

The song “Holograms” (Fleetwood Mac on acid) evokes a tinge of Carole King in it’s DNA, seems to be the centerpiece of the record.

Every song on this record seems richer and more expansive than the last. This is an album that demands a sit down and let this one wash over you sort of listening experience with multiple sessions yielding layers upon layers of musical morsels to delicately digest.

Song of the Day: Lucy Dacus – La Vie En Rose

It was a pretty good year in 2018 for Lucy Dacus having scored a critically acclaimed album with Julien Baker and Phoebe Bridgers and their band Boygenius, but 2019 may be shaping up to be even more interesting. The song “La Vie En Rose” is the first in her series of songs that will celebrate holidays. This one, Valentine’s Day.

The song that Dacus herself has called the perfect song and the tune that was made famous by Edith Piaf is having a bit of a renaissance of late having also been featured by Lady Ga Ga in A Star Is Born.

— Jeremy Wren —

Best Albums of 2019: John Diva and the Rockets of Love – Mama Said Rock is Dead

Just look at these guys and you can tell what their full throttle M.O. is. Unabashed devotees of Sunset Strip Glam and Sleaze Rock they are all about booze, broads, and Rock and Roll.

The sound is is an intoxicating mix of the bands you loved when you had hair. “Rock ‘N’ Roll is Dead” is a Hybrid of Bon Jovi and the Def Leppard era when the drummer had two arms, and “Lolita” could be the love child of Poison and Motley Crue.

Smooth riffs, anthemic choruses, sweet guitar solos, these guys bring back a bygone era before mortgages, kids, wives and divorces sucked up all of your disposable income. Steel Panther, beware. The new kings of The Sunset Strip are coming after your throne.

Five Cool Ones: Five Cool Records Released This Week (February 9, 2019)

Another solid not quite spectacular week in music releases. Mercury Rev delivers a tribute to Bobbie Gentry, Jason Ringenberg of Jason and the Scorchers fame is represented, and Mavis Staples has added a live album to the mix.

Jessica Pratt – Quiet Signs

Releasing what might be her first proper release, Jessica Pratt adds some production value from a proper studio on this one. Still subtle and understated this one might be your new late night jam.

Gurf Morlix – Impossible Blue

With a lyric the likes of “Your breath smells like expensive wine, your kisses taste like turpentine, this one has our ear-tention from jump street. There is some Ray Wylie Hubbard meets Tony Joe White barbecue sauce slathered all over this one.

Boogie Beasts – Mad

With a sound that has been described as The Black Keys jamming with John Lee Hooker at a rave in the wee hours of the morning, there is nothing not to like with this one.

Cass McCombs – Tip of the Spear

A 70’s inspired somewhat Folk-Rock record, this is a kick back in your favorite chair with a cigar and a bourbon sort of a listen. “The Great Pixley Train Robbery” might be the best story song you will hear all year.

Mercury Rev – Bobbie Gentry’s The Delta Sweete revisited.

With a spot already reserved in The Falcon’s Nest/Rock is the New Roll top ten list this is one of those rare entities where the tribute album is better than the original. This thing is ridiculously cool. With a different female singer for each song, Mercury Rev puts their own swirling psychedelic spin on the original Country-Folk classics. “Big Boss Man” featuring Hope Sandoval is an eclectic stunner, on “Reunion” you just might find out what was thrown off of the Tallahatchie bridge, and Susanne Sudfor’s spin on “Tobacco Road” will tingle your spine. With only one song that was not on the original recording, Lucinda Williams does what Lucinda does on “Ode to Billy Joe” to polish off a sublime set of masterful songs.