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 (April 5, 2024)

Here in the hallowed halls of Rock is the New Roll our ears are literally on fire from listening to all of the new music coming out this week.

The world has been waiting for a collaboration with Orville Peck and Willie Nelson, and the time is right here, right now with “Cowboys Are Frequently, Secretly Fond Of Each Other.”

The Devo inspired coolly named Wine Lips are front and center with their single and video, “Stimulation.”

And, the goth-noir that envelopes Witch Fever captivates with this live performance of “I Reflect The Sun.”

Old 97’s – American Primitive

With that ramshackle sound that meanders somewhere between The Replacements and the Drive-By Truckers, 30 years and 14 studio albums in, Rhett Miller and the rest of the band haven’t lost their mojo. And, their latest, American Primitive blends the whimsical and the profound with equal aplomb.

The performances all have the in-studio authentic touch that could only come from a band that has been generally intact over three decades. The addition of R.E.M.’s Peter Buck and Scott McCaughey on select tracks only adds to a record that is already an embarrassment of riches.

Marcus King – Mood Swings

Should there be any doubt that Mood Swings, the latest from Americana Shape Shifter Marcus King is a break-up record, one needs only to pay attention to the song titles “Fuck Up My Life Again,”Soul, It Screams, and “Save Me” to understand that this record is a breakup record for the ages.

Mellow, reflective, and a marked departure from 2020’s El Dorado, this time around King’s soulful voice is featured front and center. The title track “Mood Swings” could have been a Motown classic, “Bipolar Love” has a Stapleton by way of Isbell feel to it, and the organ accented “Me Or Tennessee” with its church revival glow could gave been recorded at Muscle Shoals.

A more than solid effort that looks ahead to an exciting future for an artist that does things on his own terms.

Black Keys – Ohio Players

One of the consistently great bands doing business today, The Black Keys continue to play outside musical boundaries with their latest record, Ohio Players giving a nod of the chapeau to both their home state and the 70’s Funk scene in a record that integrates Rock, Soul, Funk, Blues, and dance floor groovy into a sound that us uniquely Bkack Keys.

Beck provides an able assist with a co-write on “This Is Nowhere,” the band’s deep blues roots are showing on the cover of William Bell’s “I Want To Be Your Lover” a classic slinky Soul groover, and Becks presence is consistently hovering about as he sings on seven of the songs on the record. The song “On The Game” would have been a hand-in-glove addition to any of the late era John Lennon albums.

Not their best, but a solid addition to the catalog of a band that continues surprise and delight without turning stale.

Vampire Weekend – Only God Was Above Us

The best thing about Only God Was Above Us, the latest album from Vampire Weekend is that it sounds like Vampire Weekend. Gloriously so.

From the erratic jangle pop of “Classical” to “Connect” a song that the band the band calls psychedelic Gersheyn, there is a Pirates of the Caribbean vibe at play here with a surprise around every corner and gold dubloons hidden about waiting to be discovered.

Looking back while stepping forward, “The Surfer” is a sweeping wonderment, “Mary Boone” takes things back to their New York days with a children’s choir providing an eerie backdrop on a song about a gallery owner imprisoned for tax fraud, and the closer, “Hope” where singer Ezra Koenig finally admits, “Our Enemy’s Invincible, I had to let it go” is as life-affirming as it gets.

Don’t let your ears down. Listen to this one multiple times, it just might the album of the year.

Pernice Brothers – Who Will You Believe

Over the span of 12 songs and 40 minutes one thing is certain after several carefully curated listens of Pernice Brothers’ Who Will You Believe is that Joe Pernice is a brilliant songwriter with a keen eye for the earworm.

With the Americana ambiance of “I Don’t Need That Anymore” a song that features Neko Case, Pernice channels early-era Nick Lowe, and the anthemic “Hey, Guitar” would be a welcome addition to any 2024 Road trip playlist.

Make sure you get your tissues out when listening to the closer “The Purple Rain,” a perfect reminiscing work of art that will have you reaching out for far-flung friends.

Five Cool Ones: Five New Albums Released This Week ( March 29, 2024)

The rock is certainly rolling this week as summer is a mere fortnight away. Beth Hart is giving us a preview of her upcoming record with “Little Heartbreak Girl.”

Painted Fiction has released “Nameless Horse” not to be confused with “A Horse With No Name.”

And, if that is not enough, Rock is the New Roll favorites The Sheepdogs are out with a new French-speaking single. In any language these are one of the best retro-rock bands in the game.

But don’t put the phone down just yet. Here are five new platters released this week that are very worthy of your ear time.

Sarah Shook and the Disarmers – Revelations

Despite the name change to River Shook (The band name stays the same) with her latest record, Revelations, Shook continues her badassery and maintains her title as the queen of the underbelly.

The title track is an ode to depression with the lyric “Hey baby I’m barely getting through each day” as a case in point, River seems particularly cranky as she declares “Mind your own damn business and keep your opinions to yourself” on “You Don’t Get To Tell Me,” and is downright pissed when it comes to “Motherfucker” and the declarative statement “You’re going to get what’s coming to you.”

Clearly, River Shook and the band has a lot to get off of their collective chests.

Mission accomplished.

Thee Sinseers – Sinseerly Yours

With a sound that combines ’60s Soul, think Leon Bridges meets Charles Bradley, and Chicano Soul in the Malo mold, the bands debut record is a soul-stunner.

The ballad “Hold On”’ could have been a Sam Cooke classic, “Talking Back” is an instrumental groover reminiscent of James Brown’s “Night Train,” and “As I Can Give” takes things low and slow on a song that could have been on any Temptations record.

One only needs to listen to the Motown Meets Latin Soul blending on “Can’t Do That To Her” to come away smitten with this record which is a shape-shifting wonder.

Scott H. Biram – The One & Only Scott H. Biram

With a DNA lineage that goes all the way back to Dale Watson, Waylon and Willie and the rest of the 70’s outlaws, with his latest almost self-titled record, Scott H. Biram has stepped up his songwriting almost to the John Prine and Shel Silverstein level.

The smoke of Willie Nelson is all over “Inside A Bar,” and “Easy Rider,” the sole cover song in the set, is pulled off with its own panache.

This one will definitely take you back to the barrooms again.

Alejandro Escovedo – Echo Dancing

For a man that follows his own musical muse to include rock, punk, Americana, and singer songwriter fare, with his new record, Echo Dancing, Alejandro Escovedo takes a stab at giving his own songbook a punk infused touch up.

Combining the more well-known tracks, “Sacramento & Polk” and “Swallows of San Juan” with the real deep cuts, “Inside This Dance” and “Wave,” the result has a cohesive feel to it with a familiarity that we have grown to love since the early days before Escovedo decamped from Austin and set up shop in Dallas.

Dent May – What’s For Breakfast

With a pleasant A.M. Radio esthetic that has a Captain and Tennille by way of Cheap Trick feel if produced by Jeff Lynne, stopping just short of yacht rock, Dent May is establishing himself as a power pop star in the making with his latest release, What’s For Breakfast.

A perfect listen for a lazy afternoon with “Coasting On Fumes” holding water for Fleetwood Mac, and “Cactus Flower” playing forward early pre Pet Sounds Beach Boys.

Take this one to the beach with you.

Five Cool Ones: Five New Records Released This Week (March 22, 2024)

The sun is shinin’ and the beats are frying’ this week as the new releases roll along in fine fashion.

The Treatment lays down their own brand of AC/DC boogie with Let’s Wake Up This Town.

The Irish duo Dea Matrona are in perfect brooding form with their Fleetwood Mac evoking “Black Rain.”

And, Jesse Dayton is returning to his rock roots with this latest single in advance of his new record.

And if all of this awesomeness doesn’t float your boat, here are five tasty nuggets to tickle the lobes and sweeten the senses.

Ted Russell Kamp – California Sun

With his third post-pandemic release Ted Russell Kamp seems to be solidifying his position as the hardest working artist in Americana.

His latest, California Son, serves as a love letter to his native state as well as a biography of sorts. The title track lays out the story of his trek from New York to California by way of Seattle in search of his dream. Just him and his guitar in his Chevy van.

From “The Upside to the Downslide” to “Ballad of the Troubadour” the melancholy werewolf kind of life that a working musician endures is chronicled with intimate detail.

If Jim Croce grew up on the West coast he might have been Ted Russell Kamp.

Cody Jinks – Change The Game

A shining star on the independent artist scene, Cody Jinks is likely the best outlaw country artist that you have never heard of. Jinks deserves to be right up there with Chris Stapleton, Jamey Johnson, and Charley Crocket on the pantheon of present-day Country artists.

“Wasted” could have been a mid-career Merle Haggard “The Bottle Done Me Wrong” classic, and on his ode to the everyday American “Working Man,” there is more than a little George Strait timber to his voice.

If this is your first exposure to Cody Jinks, where have you been? If you are already one of the many flockers, settle in for a whiskey-soaked listen and a life-affirming experience.

Sam Morrow – On The Ride Here

Sam Morrow straddles the “Americana or Rock” ethos with the skill of a Wallenda. His whiskey-soaked smooth vocals will bring to mind Chris Stapleton, and once he starts playing you will swear that you are listening to Leon Russell sitting in Lynyrd Skynyrd.

“Medicine Man” might be the leader in the clubhouse for driving song of the year, “Thunderbird Motel” could have been a ZZ Top classic, and “High-Class Woman” is an ode to the random pick-up.

Positioned as a trilogy behind Concrete & Mud and Gettin’ By On Gettin’ Down, this one is a perfect blend of the Rock and Country worlds that should stand the test of time.

Fast Eddie – To The Stars

Rock and Roll the way it is meant to be played, loud, real, and with passion. Produced by Tuk Smith this ones combines The Strokes with a little plenty os Sunset Strip sleaze thrown in for good measure.

This tidy 8 song set includes outright rockers, case in point, the opener “Stepping Stones,” crisp anthems with “In Too Deep,” and Green day evoking bangers as evidenced by “No More Neon Nights.

Every song presented here is a sacrifice to the Rock and Roll Gods.

Waxahatchee – Tigers Blood

Katie Crutchfield, also known as Waxahatchee, is on a serious roll. Having released 6 albums over the last 10 years or so, her latest, Tigers Blood just might be her best.

With a Country-Adjacent 10,000 maniacs vibe, the overall arch of the record is a reflection of the importance of spending time around people that make you better. The porch-side banjo on “Right Back To It” with MJ Lenderman is a salve to the soul, “Burns Out At Midnight” celebrates the joy of staying home and staying sober, and “Bored” will remind you of the best of Sheryl Crow.

A solid best of 2024 topender, this one is Grammy worthy.