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 (October 1, 2021)

Hold on to your ears, fall is here, and we are about to enter into the best time of the year when artists pool their resources and release music for the holiday season. And, of course, everything is just a placeholder until the new Elvis Costello record comes out.

In the meantime, Elton John and Stevie Wonder have collaborated on a single in advance of Elton’s collabo-heavy record to be released later in the year. 

Sleaze rockers ’80s Bush have a new video, “Sleazy, Dirty, Rock ‘n Roll,” from their latest single.

And, Rock is the new Roll favorite Jason Isbell has released a terrific version of “Midnight Train To Georgia” from his upcoming sure-to-be spectacular album, Georgia Blue. Amanda Shires, Mrs. Jason Isbell commands the song as if she wrote it.

And, if all of that is not enough, here are five albums that we think are cool that were released this week.

Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga – Love For Sale

With what will likely be Tony Bennet’s final album, the King of San Francisco revisits the partnership with Lady Gaga that was forged back in 2014 with their stellar album, Cheek to Cheek.

There is no new ground trailed on this one, the songs selected here are all reliable standards, but that’s not the point. Tony Bennett is a national treasure, and if this is the last hurrah, he will be going off to the sunset on a very high note, with one of his best albums in several years under his belt.

The arrangements and production value put forth here are pretty much perfect. The string and instrumental interludes show up in just the right places at just the right time. And Bennet’s voice, if it is even possible, seems even in better form than he demonstrated on his last proper record, 2018’s Love Is Here To Stay with Diana Krall. 

With nothing mailed in on this record, this one is for fans of ’50’s cocktail jazz, standards, classic crooners, and lovers everywhere.

Illuminati hotties – Let Me Do One More

Sarah Tudzin, the singer, songwriter, producer, and overall girl-genius behind the Illuminati Hotties, delivers a solid set of pop-punk tunes that is eccentric, off-kilter at times, and altogether refreshing.

Self glossed as “tenderpunk,” the blend of punk, Indie Rock, Desert Psych, and Pop seems to provide a perfect siren for those late-twenties young adults that are leaving their childhood behind and blasting into full-fledged adulthood.

The bouncy opener “Pool Hopping” is a proper introduction to the band and their genre-hopping ways. “Cheap Shoes” sounds like it could have been a Replacements tune, and “KickFlip” is an aggressively atmospheric doozy.

Pay attention to this record. It has top five of the year written all over it.

Ducks Ltd. – Modern Fiction

All of the cool-band touchstones are present and account for when it comes to the Toronto-based duo, Ducks Ltd. Big Star-worthy jangle-pop chords, Replacements ramshackle splendor, and Indie Rock grandiosity that could have appeared on the Pixies Doolittle record are all represented on this record.

The opener “How Lonely Are You” hits on all cylinders while “Sullen Learning Hope” puts the jangle in jangle pop. “18 Cigarettes” is a slow-burning corker that would have been quite neighborly with The Replacements Let It Be album, and “Twere Ever Thus” has a bit of an Elvis Costello flair in its DNA.

This top-notch listen should put Ducks Ltd. squarely on your Indie Rock Radar as a new band to watch.

Doobie Brothers – Brothers of Liberte

The best thing about Liberte, the new record from The Doobie Brothers, is that they still sound like the Doobie Brothers. The better thing is that they sound like the pre-Michael Mcdonald Doobie Brothers. 

Three of the core members are present and accounted for on this one. Tom Johnston, Pat McFee, and Pat Simmons are all in fine form, singing and playing like it was 1979.

“Oh Mexico” is a lilting country rocker that would fit in quite nicely on a Blackberry Smoke record, “Easy” is pure, vintage Fandango era Doobies, and “Amen Old Friends” will be added to my circle of life playlist to be played at my funeral.

If you were a fan of the band before Takin’ It To The Streets was released, this record is a must-hear for you.

Brandi Carlile – In These Silent Days

In These Silent Days, the latest from Brandi Carlile is quite simply a tour-de-force. With elements of 70’s singer-songwriter along with a genre-defying sensibility courtesy of producers Dave Cobb and Shooter Jennings, it wouldn’t be a stretch if we were to find out that Carlile is actually the love child of Elton John and Joni Mitchell.

“This Time Tomorrow” is a beautiful ode to better days, while “Broken Horses” flips the script back to the days of mid-era Dolly Parton, and is a powerful song that might be the best of the set. 

With a voice that floats somewhere South of k.d. Lang and North of Susan Tedeschi with songwriting chops to match, it is a good thing that Carlile has taken time off from riding with the Highwomen and resurrecting Tanya Tucker’s career to deliver one of the best albums of the year.

Five Cool Ones: Five New Records Released This Week (September 24, 2021)

Of course, everything is just a placeholder until the new Robert Plant Alison Krause record is released. In the meantime, The Darkness is ready to roll with their new single, yet another riff on Rick Springfield, Jessie’s Girl. “Jussy’s Girl.” 

Rock is the new Roll favorites Impfstoff & Children have released an intoxicating new single, “Cest La Vie” (Ich nehm dich in ‘Arm.”) We have no idea what this means, but we can’t stop listening to the song or watching the video.

And Colin Hay, the lead singer for Men at Work, delivers an at-home acoustic version of “Wichita Lineman.”

On top of all of that, don’t put your ears away just yet. Give a listen to five new albums that have been delivered for your listening pleasure this week.

The Lathums – How Beautiful Life Can Be

With a sound that will bring to the ear the essence of the Smiths, the Kooks, or the Arctic Monkeys, the Lathums deliver a brand of Jangly indie-pop that is both current and two decades past nostalgic at the same time.

While not forging any new guitar ground here, the infectious “Fight On” has a bit of a Duran Duran undertone to it, while the title track, “How Beautiful Life Can Be,” carries on much like a Stone Roses single. “I’ll Never Forget The Time I Spent With You” is a lost-love tome of the highest order, and there is a whiff of The Dexy’s on “The Great Escape.”

This record won’t solve all of the world’s problems, but if you are looking for a melodic mood setter for a pleasant listen, this might be your jam.

Jesse Malin – Sad and Beautiful World

Taking over from Lou Reed as the king of New York, Jesse Malin has so much to say that he felt he needed a double album to fit it all in. Fifteen songs of all killer, no filler, the first two sides have a gentle American tilt while the last part of the record rocks things up a bit CBGB style. And, both sides of the musical coin are terrific.

“Dance With The System” is a political rocker that would have fit in nicely on a Neil Young and Crazy Horse record, “Before You Go” is an ode to looking after one another, and “Dance on My Grave” is about as good of a losing end of a love story song as you will find all year.

Given that the record was written and recorded in a somewhat fragmented fashion due to various Covid-19 protocols inherent in the recording process, it is surprising that there is a continuous feel flow to the album. “Todd Youth” for our ears is the best cut on the record, but a time investment of just under one hour on this one will make you a better person.

The Shivas Feels So Good//Feels So Bad

As a scorching live band, The Shivas turned their creative juices to the studio since they have not been able to tour since 2019. 

With founding members Jared Molyneaux as singer and Guitarist, along with Kristin Leonard on drums as co-conspirator songwriters, the resulting vibe is contemporary psychedelic, vintage-cool, and go-go worthy hip, sometimes all in the same song.

“Rock Me Baby” has a girl group backed by the Troggs vibe, “Don’t Go” highlights Leonards immense vocal prowess, and “Tell Me That You Love Me” could have been the song played for the first dance at Austin Powers’ wedding. The gang vocals on “If I Could Choose” are worth the price of admission alone.

This textured listen will put your ears on notice that they are about to embark on a most enjoyable time travel journey from days gone by to the present and beyond. 

Mickey Guyton – Remember Her Name

As one of the few women of color to make a name for herself in country music, Mickey Guyton is an overnight sensation ten years in the making. And, it should only take one quick listen of “Remember Her Name,” the opening track from her debut album, to realize that she is a powerhouse, genre be-damned.

The messaging inherent in recognizing differences and embracing who you are is delivered brilliantly in “Love My Hair,” “Black Like Me” is autobiographically stunning, and “Smoke” could have been a woman on fire Tanya Tucker anthem from the ’60s. There is even a drinking song thrown in for good measure with “Rose'” ‘my kind of drink, pretty in pink.’

This album is a vital record from an artist that will be around for a very long time.

Third Eye Blind – Our Bande Apart

Third Eye Blind, yes, the Third Eye Blind of “Semi-Charmed Life” fame has a new record out. And, it is pretty darn good. With this incarnation, their first new record since 2019’s “Screamer,” only singer Stephan Jenkins and drummer Brad Hargreaves remain from the original line-up.

While their latest record doesn’t carry the ear-worm gravitas of their 1997 monster of a debut album, there is no shame in their updated game. Case in point, the wordsmithing wonderment of “Silverlake Neophyte” and the breezy lilt of the opening salvo, Goodbye To The Days of Ladies and Gentlemen.”

Long time fans of the band will not be surprised that this record is a keeper, they have put out eight solid records since 1997, but the joy of reuniting with an old friend to revisit past times and reckless days is where this one goes from nostalgia to sublime reflection in the blink of an ear.