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.
Going on ten years now, Dutch symphonic Rockets Delain are still going strong with the release of “Masters of Destiny” in advance of their upcoming album.
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.
Whether she is performing solo or with her band Rilo Kiley, Jenny Lewis always deserves your ear-tention. Here is a new live recording of her 2008 single “Acid Tongue.”
U.K. Rockers Crooked Shapes don’t release their debut E.P. until May, but we have our ears peeled. From the sounds of things it sounds like it will shape up to be a solid rock and roller of a record.
The first video from here recently released record Into The Blue. The song tells a poignant story of the impacts of the California fires that were fueled by the Santa Ana winds. A powerful song from a grower of a record.
We have a sneaking suspicion that with the release of his debut album Tales of America on February 15th that J.S. Ondara just might be the next Leon Bridges.The Kenyan native settled in Minneapolis in 2013 without knowing much English and with limited guitar skills set about honing his songwriting skills. The somewhat haunting vocals come across sweet and melancholy. The sparse arrangement presented here are pretty much perfect for the song. The bandwagon is starting to get full. Jump in while there is still time.
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.
Rock Is The New Roll 