While the proper album releases are on hiatus this week and the staff here at Rock is the new Roll takes a much-deserved week off, no worries, we are not going to leave you hanging.
Here are five choice nuggets to be enjoyed over the fourth of July Weekend.
Bros – Garbanzo Man
A brother spin-off band from Rock is the New Roll of Famers Sheepdogs the fellas have released this one from their upcoming record, Vol 2.. With Hints of Ram era Paul McCartney and Hall and Oates, this one should get some heavy rotation on your summer playlist.
Robert Jon & The Wreck – Shine a Light on Me Brother
This one is like The Blues Brothers and Blackberry Smoke doing Proud Mary. A scorcher of an anthem, this is the title track from their upcoming record.
The Moon City Masters – Starstruck
Moving a fair length away from their cool covers and disco-tinged previous works The Moon City Masters offer up a cozy American-Moonlight single that could have been on a long-lost Poco record.
Kerosene Stars – Where Have You Been
Kerosene Stars are out in front of a new record later in the year with this hook-laden summer rocker.
Everet Almond – All Out of Time
This bouncy piano gem could fit quite nicely on any Paul Weller record.
Cult Stars From Mars – Blinded By The Light
A throwback-inspired band Cult Stars From Mars (Mike Portnoy, Jeff Soto, Darian Sahhanajay) trade-in their harder-edged Rock and Roll edged for a Power Pop sheen on this Bruce Springsteen cover.
The year is now officially half over, and the only thing we have to say here at Rock is the New Roll is that keep your ears strapped on it’s about to get loud. Tours are starting to get announced and cranked up as many musicians have spent the downtime reflecting and writing new music and are eager to share their music with the masses. And we, of course, can’t wait to see what the six months have to offer.
The mighty Night Ranger is back with a boffo new single and video in advance of a record coming out later in the year.
The virtual one-man bad himself Pokey LaFarge is announcing his new record scheduled for release on September 10th with the single “Get It ‘For It’s Gone.”
And, the blazing rock duo The Picturebooks team up with the guys from Monster Truck on a single that will bring to the ear the essence of Norman Greenbaum’s “Spirit in the Sky.”
But wait, there’s more. Here are five records that we are grooving to this week here in the halls of Rock is the New Roll.
Hiss Golden Messenger – Quietly Blowing It
In these days of online singles released in dribs and drabs in advance of a proper record release, the anticipation of a proper full-length sometimes builds up to an unbearable frenzy. And, for our ears, this is one of those highly anticipated gems. After initially being introduced to the record via the Laurel Canyon-inspired song “Sanctuary,” it was as clear as the ears on our head that we were in store for an exciting listen when the proper record was released.
Holing up in his North Carolina basement at the start of the pandemic, MC Taylor used the current state of affairs as a mood-setter in an attempt to get under the covers of some of the deeper issues behind all of the turmoil swirling around him. With a certain Bob Dylan quality, the record lays bare the fragility of the moment with the gospel-tinged “It Will If We Let It.” “Glory Strums (Of The Long Distance Runner),” a song that could be the distance cousin of a classic Fleetwood Mac tune, and “Mighty Dollar,” telling it like it is. The poor man loses, the rich man wins.
Don’t sleep on this record. This one has lived up to the hype and more and is destined to take up residence in the top ten once the end of the year rolls around.
Vincent Neil Emerson – Vincent Neil Emerson
A quick listen to some of his world-weary lyrics, most notably on “Debtor’s Blues,” there is a sense that if Vincent Neil Emerson was not able to come to grips with his past through the catharsis of his songs he probably would not be alive.
“I spent my whole life/Wonderin’ why I’m down,” Vincent Neil Emerson sings, not long into his new, self-titled sophomore album. “I don’t feel easy if the blues don’t come around/And my face don’t look right without a frown.”
With life seemingly lived in the verses of a country song after enduring his father’s suicide, alcoholism, a brother’s death in a house fire, and homelessness, there is hope rather than despair prevalent with this excellent sophomore release. “Texas Moon” could have been a John Prine Song, “Learnin’ to Drown” is a sparse piano-led stunner that details the singer’s forlorn days sleeping in his car and lays out his life in under 5:00 of reflective and emotional storytelling that would make Townes Van Zant blush.
Produced by his mentor Rodney Crowell, this deservingly break-out record should cement a place for Vincent Neil Emerson in the pantheon of great contemporary Texas singer-songwriters to be mentioned in the same breath as Steve Earle, Guy Clark, and Lyle Lovett.
Amythyst Kiah – Wary + Strange
For virginal ears not familiar with Amythst Kiah one listen to her latest song “Hangover Blues” will have your ears clamoring for more. Somewhat of a genre-bending artist with a voice that floats somewhere between Nina Simone and Tracey Chapman, as a member of the Rhiannon Giddens collective her latest is a highly empowering life-affirming record that doesn’t shy away from addressing the issues of the day most notably on the powerful “Black Myself” and the topic of suicide on “Wild Turkey” that deals with her mother’s suicide.
“Hangover Blues” is as devasting of a back-end of a drinking binge anthem you will find this side of “Sunday Morning Coming Down,” the song “Sleepy Queen” has a bit of a Bill Withers tilt to it, and “Ballad of the Lost” is a gut-wrenching ballad that deals with issues of abandonment head-on.
There is beauty in diversity, and this is a beautiful genre-defying record. Deep Blues meld with Rock, R&B, and Appalachian bluegrass to create an awe-inspiring textured masterpiece. If you listen to only one album this year, it should be this one.
Grateful Dead – Grateful Dead (Skull and Roses)
Mostly worthy of mention here simply because it is one of the best live records ever committed to vinyl, this 50th anniversary remastered edition captures The Grateful Dead at their accessible best.
Known for the lack of sparsity of Grateful Dead songs in favor of some choice covers, the production value on this one is pristine, the vocals are mixed perfectly, and the crowd energy is palpable but does not overwhelm the mix. Highlights include Mighty Merle’s “Mama Tried” and the extended “Sing Me Back Home,” “Johnny B. Good,” and a next-level version of “Me and Bobby McGee.”
Put the headphones on and absorb yourself in this one.
Pom Pom Squad – Death of a Cheerleader.
As fine a debut record as our ears have had the pleasure of hearing in quite some time, you can pretty much get where the band is coming from when Mia Berrin sings “You should ask your mother what she means, she says Stay away from girls like me.”
Outcast odes aside this is an up-tempo roller coaster ride of on-point songwriting, peppy festival-ready anthems, and highly accessible Indie Rock arrangements from the vantage point of an outsider that has seen what life is on the inside, and is perfectly happy living life on the fringes.
The song “Head Cheerleader” almost has an ’80s fornicating under the football bleachers John Hughes feel about it, and the Joan Jett inspired “Drunk Voicemail” is worth the price of admission alone.
Come to experience the angst, but stay for the Tommy James meets the white rabbit rendering of “Crimson and Clover”
The year is pretty much half over and while the team here at Rock is the New Roll is diligently pouring over all of the fine records released so far we still found time to secure for you some really fine new records that your ears should be excited about.
In the meantime, the highly underrated and below-the-radar Rich Ragany & The Digressions release their inner Tom Petty Meets Elvis Costello on “Heartbreakers Don’t Try.”
The Daybreakers are banging out the Blues Rock in the Sabbath and Uriah Heep mold, and that is never a bad thing.
And, Hanson, yes the “MMMMMM Bop” Hanson’s, is back with a nice slice of Cheap Trick evoking Power Pop. with a tune that features Rick Nielson on the track and also on the video. Our ears are tuned for more to come from this camp.
And, on top of all of that here are five new albums that are rocking our world this week.
Kings of Convenience – Peace Or Love
Even though they never really went away, individually they have been playing on a lot of other people’s projects, the Norwegian acoustic duo Kings of Convenience has not released a proper record in about 12 years. And, musically, as well as aesthetically nary a beat was skipped with the release of Peace Or Love.
Sophisticated harmonies, lush intricate guitar interplay, and wistful Indie Pop is the order of the day. The two songs that feature a guest turn from Feist are perfectly complementary to the nuances of the album as a whole with “Love is A Lonely” thing as sparse as you might think given the song title.
This is a good gentle mood setting of a record that would serve nicely as an afternoon-listen precursor to kicking out the jams later in the evening. If you are a fan of the new Brothers Brother record or the latest from Catus Blossoms, then The Kings of Convenience is your new mellow jam.
Husband – Cut The Light
There is not an awful lot to be found in terms of an on-line presence regarding this U.K.-based band that seems to specialize in stylistic anthems with a lead singer that floats somewhere between Bono and Iggy Pop. The songwriting is smart and evocative and the arrangements are sometimes brood-ridden and pulsating, often in the same song.
Cut The Light is their debut record, yet it sounds like the product of a band that has spent many years honing their craft. Introduce yourself with a first-listen of “What A World,” a song that has a bit of a mid-era Bowie quality to it, and work your way through “Cages,” an epic crescendo of a song that will take you on a journey in a taut, brilliantly constructed 3:04 that will leave you wanting to learn more about this enigmatic band.
Styx – Crash of the Crown
Crash of the Crown is the 17th proper Styx studio album and even after all these years under the bridge the band still sounds like Styx. And, that is a very good thing. With the core of the OG band, James Young, Tommy Shaw, and Chuck Pannoza present and accounted for going strong and sounding great, and the gang vocals led by Dennis DeYoung’s extremely able replacement Lawrence Gowen are Stirling vintage Styx.
“Our Wonderful Lives” could have been from the Grand Illusion sessions, “Reveries” has a bit of a rock savoir-faire inherent in the song that would have fit in nicely on Pieces of Eight, and “Monster” could have even come from the Equinox days.
Starting from the Queen sounding opener “The Flight of Our Lives” to the closing refrains of “Stream” This a great record by a once, now, and future great band.
The Tremelo Beer Gut – You Can’t Handle …. The Tremelo Beer Gut
Sort of the Danish version of Los Straitjackets, the capsule bio of the band that declares “If you were to listen to just one Danish instrumental, Spaghetti Western, surf band influenced by Dick Dale, Duane Eddy and Ennio Morricone, who has been intermittently making music since 1998, make it The Tremolo Beer Gut” pretty much tells you all you need to know about these Surf-Noir rockers.
This new release coming 13 years after their last proper long-player is another rousing slab of retro rockers that are tight, surf-inspired originals that stand on the shoulders of Dick and Duane but also maintain a personality all their of their own thanks to the bobbing and weaving of the textures with different nuances exposed song to song. The relaxed swing of the bluesy “Date at the Slow Club” would be among the slower songs in the set with the Spy-Noir of “Codename Tremstar” ramping up the Austin Powers vibe several notches.
With Jon Spencer along with his wife Cristina making an appearance on the Surf-Western influenced “Hey Hello,” The stage is set to light up the Tiki torches, crank up The Mai Tais, and party like it’s 1959.
Amy Helm – What the Flood Leaves Behind
Returning to her dad’s studio built in Levon’s Woodstock home, Amy Helm delivers a set of gospel-tinged beauties that bring the funk with “Breathing,” plays it forward with Dad’s mandolin on “Are We Running Out of Love,” and professes true love on “Terminal B.”
With every song ringing true and honest with clear vocals in the Mary Chapin Carpenter mold along with a set of songs that seem to embrace the past while at the same time setting the dials towards an optimistic future.
“Sweet Mama” may be one of the best songs that your ears enjoy all year.
As we scramble to put together the best albums of the year (so far) list there are still a ton of really good records to digest. For the Rockers out there Kiss has released a from the soundboard live album from 2001, and we are not sure why, and Black Sabbath have remastered their 1972 album sabotage.
Billy F. Gibbons has a new video out and, yes there are girls and cars front and center as you would expect from the ZZ Top frontman.
Sir Tom Jones paid a visit to the NPR Tiny Desk for a performance of cuts from his latest record. “Another Cup of Coffee” is worth the price of admission alone.
And, Rich Ragany & The Digressions bring their Elvis Costello meets Tom Petty stylings to the front of the line with their new song that celebrates the challenge of just taking on the day.
On top of all that there is a bevy of new tune-slices to savor this week. Here are five of them we particularly like.
Sleater-Kinney – Path of Wellness
Going a bit back to their roots with Path of Wellness, Sleater-Kinney’s latest release, and the first in quite some time without drummer Janet Weiss is a rocker of a record that takes textures of the best of ’90’s girl-power Rock and Roll.
There is more than a little Patti Smith dusting in “Down The Line,” “Complex Female Characters” is a powerful snarling anthem, and “Bring Mercy” could have been a protest anthem from the seventies.
For a band that never really breaks up but seems to disappear for years at a time, the beauty in their art is that they seem to come back around at the exact time when they are sorely needed.
Wolf Alice – Blue Weekend
One of the more anticipated records of the year, Wolf Alice after teasing us with several singles is finally out with their new record, Blue Weekend.
Much more dialed back here than the back of the arena howl of 2017’s Vision of Life, this set of songs were designed to be played in more intimate settings perhaps even on the set of …Later With Jools Holland. That’s not to say that there is not a lot to like here, there certainly is. “Delicious Things” is a swooping Florence and the Machine-worthy anthem, “Lipstick on the Glass” is exquisite Dream-Pop escapism, and “How Can I Make It Ok” is Ellie Rowsell and the band’s version of a power ballad.
Sandwiching the entire set between the opening slow burn of “The Beach” and the end of the evening whirling dervish beauty of the closer “The Beach II” tells us that trying to figure out what is around the corner for this band might be very much a fool’s errand.
Brad Marino – Looking For Trouble
With more than a little Greg Kihn in the DNA of Brad Marino and his latest record Looking For Trouble, if you are looking for a record that will make you smile and take you back to the carefree no-responsibility days of your youth this is your jam.
There is a tinge of slightly less frenetic Flamin’ Groovies on “Looking For Trouble,” a dusting of Devo by way of The Knack on “Something For Nothing,” and The Ramones as produced by Phil Spector come to mind with a listen of “What Do You Know.”
With more hooks than an episode of “dangerous catch,” there is not a bad song in this batch of Power Pop perfection. This is Rock and Roll at its accessible best. If You love Rockpile, The Romantics, The Greg Kihn Band, or even The Georgia Satellites, you will love this record.
Lukas Nelson & The Promise of the Real – A Few Stars Apart
Generously prolific during his year in lockdown Lukas Nelson, son of Willie, turns off the news and gets a bit more philosophical on his latest record, A Few Stars Apart.
Where Willie the elder starts and Lukas begins is an ever-present question on this album with “We’ll Be Alright” a perfect touchstone that could have easily been a hit single on Dad’s Red Headed Stranger and is a tune that will likely turn up on our top songs of the year list.
The song “Wildest Dreams” could have been a Tom Petty song, and the perfectly placed closer “Smile” has Lukas smiling and contemplating acceptance and forgiveness while he lays out in the sun. Sounds like a great thing to do.
Aquarian Blood – Bending The Golden Hour
An intoxicating new find here in the halls of Rock is the New Roll, Aquarian Blood is a Memphis husband-and-wife-duo that blends Country, Americana, and Psychedelic Folk into a blender that is uniquely mysterious as well as highly listenable.
“Waited” sounds like it could have been recorded in Joshua Tree State Park with the coyotes howling instead of their home studio in Memphis, “Alabama Daughter” has an eerie low-fi vibe that grabs your ears and drags them close to the speaker, while “Night Train” is a spooky noir sounding tune that would fit in quite nicely as the theme song for a new season of True Detective.
Not their first album, but clearly their most ambitious. 43 songs were ultimately recorded for these sessions before the “Sophie’s Choice” selection process whittled them down to 17, clearly indicating there may be another record hitting our shores in the relatively near future. And, that is a very good thing.
Don’t look now but the year is almost half over. And, so far, it has been a semi-spectacular five months on the musical scene. Many of our favorite and soon-to-be favorite artists are getting back in the studio and starting to crank up their tour dates. It won’t be long before we are back to normal and attending concerts will be a thing once again.
The Tea Party (no not that one) is 0ut with the scorcher “Summertime”, a song that deserves to be on your upcoming summer playlist.
The Damn Truth is telling just that with their new record Now or Nowhere featuring singer Lee-La Baum’s Beth Hart worthy vocals and the high-voltage single “This Is Who We Are Now.”
And, Swedish Glam rockers Velvet Insane get their full Glam on with “Backstreet Liberace.” Don’t look now, but it is 1973 all over again.
And, on top of those tasty morsels here are five new records that are worthy of your ear-time this week.
Blackberry Smoke – You Hear Georgia
For their latest effort, Charlie Starr and the boys jump right on the horse that brought ’em, that is a good-time Southern Rock that is part Allman Brothers, part Black Oak Arkansas, and entirely cool. From the opening salvo by way of “Live It Down” to the easy flow of “Ain’t the Same” the entire record goes down easy like a good bottle of bourbon.
With a couple of guest turns courtesy of Jamey Johnson on “Lonesome For A Livin'” and Warren Haynes bringing up the guitars a notch on “All Rise again,” the formula might not be changing but when Southern Rock is played with this much genuine purpose and passion, case in point the driving anthem “All Over The Road,” if it ain’t broke, don’t fix.
Texas – Hi
Semi-named after the classic noir film Paris, Texas, the Glasgow band Texas and lead singer Sharleen Spiteri has released their first album since 2017’s Jump On Board, and it’s a good one. The genre-bending title track featuring a collaboration with Wu-Tang Clan is quite good, “Sound of My Voice” could have been a Bangles single back in the day, and “Moonstar” could have been a hit for Lucinda Williams.
Largely unknown on one side of the pond, the radio-friendly semi-retro sounds from a Band that has been around for more than 30 years deserve a better listener fate. If you like The Pretenders, you will love this little band from Scotland.
Mojothunder – Hymns From The Electric Church
An early contender for Rock and Roll record of the year, the latest and hopefully breakthrough album by Kentucky-based four-piece Mojo Thunder covers all the touchpoints. Uplifting anthems, vocals that melt like butter, gang harmony, check-check-check this one has got it all.
The best comparison here would be Bad Company by way of the Black Crowes most notably on the Hook-laden “Fill me up” and the slow burn lighter inducing “Soul.” The best contemporary Southern Rock band this side of Blackberry Smoke, there is not a bad song to be savored here. “Blackbird” comes close to Lynyrd Skynyrd and “Untitled #69 is Jimi by way of The James Gang.
Move over Rival Sons and Greta Van Fleet, the bandwagon to save Rock and Roll is filling up fast and these guys are right on your heels.
Britton Patrick Morgan – I Wanna Start A Band
Britton Patrick Morgan, another one of the fine artists hailing from Kentucky, conceived this record around his childhood fantasy around around starting an all-star band. And, based on the title track of the record it would be one hell of a band. He’s got Levon Helm on drums with Emmylou backing, Derek Trucks playing slide for Marvin Gaye with Professor Longhair on piano. Joni Mitchell and Stevie Ray are also band members of this team terrific.
With a style that brings to mind the vocals of Tony Joe White and the songwriting of John Prine virtually every song on this record will please your ears. “When I Think About You” is vintage whimsical Prine, “Baxter. KY” is a travelogue love ode to his hometown complete with the old man at the Dairy Queen cutting cards and telling lies, and “Southern Gothic Love Story” is the next great murder ballad.
Sugar Candy Mountain – Impression
Drawing comparisons to Os Mutantes, the Flaming Lips, and even Brian Wilson in some quarters Sugar Candy Mountain produces vintage-sounding throw-back Rock blending ’60s West Coast psychedelia with Folk and contemporary Pop influences. With strong Jellyfish as well as Donovon inspirations “Sally Ballerina” grooves and sways like Sonny and Cher on a date night, “In a Flash” is a hazy tripped out lava lamp ride worthy of a Keith Moon lost weekend binge, and “No One Can See” has singer Ash Reiter doing her best Grace Slick spirit dance.
Good old-fashioned escapism is in short order these days and sorely needed. “The End” will have you going down the rabbit hole with Alice, and “The Love Between” has some Tropicallia mojo about it that will have you reaching for a Mai Tai.
Best enjoyed with an outside stimulant of your choosing in the safety of your own home. Start with the hazy hipster “Gussie” or “A Window Is Opened and work your way around this instant Psychedelic classic.
Don’t look now, but summer is right around the corner. The music is getting brighter, bands are getting back in the studio and are heading back out on the road, and the Rock is definitely rolling as the weather gets warmer.
The Scottish band Texas is getting ready to release a record later in the year on the strength of their ABBA-inspired “Mr. Haze.”
One for the ladies, Michael Buble is releasing songs from his Live From Tour Stop 148 DVD with the word on the streets that he is prepping for a tour in the very near future.
And, Sweden’s own Rock Band Eclipse, with a sound sort of like a very heavy Bon Jovi, have come up with the best Saturday night party anthem to hit our ears in quite some time with “Saturday Night (Hallelujah).”
And, yes, of course, there’s more. Here are five particularly cool records that we are spending some ear-time with.
Robert Finley – Sharecroppers Son
Sure, we really didn’t even need to listen to this given that it is a Dan Auerbach Easy Eye Sound production to put this one on the list, but then we would have missed out on a really great Blues record. Showcasing his voice and immense slide guitar talents to knob-twirling perfection, the album combines, Blues, Rock, Soul, and Gospel to detail 10 ten songs that tell the story of a life hard-lived. From life in the city streets to life in jail and the cottonfields, Finley and Auerbach take you deep down into that world weary well.
Scorching the earth more than Blues men half his age on “Make Me Feel Alright,” and laying his life bare on “My Story” there is never a doubt that you are listening to an artist that has scrapped along for whatever success he is having and is highly appreciative.
Hitting the high notes on the uplifting “Starting To See” and taking it low and slow on the pathos-driven “I Can Feel Your Pain” I will stand on The Black Keys coffee table and proclaim Sharecroppers Son the best Blues album of 2021.
Pink Chameleons – Peace & Love
Picture yourself in a dark, dank basement in the middle of SOHO in New York attending a Ramones after-party, and you pretty much have a bead on what is going on here. Short, semi-fuzzy Garage Rock Psychedelic nuggets that drill into your chest cavity and swirl around your years. Sort of MC-5 meets Blue Cheer.
A retro, in all the best of ways, listen, the Psych-romper “Hot Dog” is a revelation, the opener “Death By Bliss” is a great introduction to the core values of the band, and even the semi-out of character instrumental “Horsewalk” is a groovy way to catch your breath.
The Reverend Shawn Amos – The Cause of it All
Should you not be overly familiar with The Reverend Shawn Amos and his oeuvre, the son of Famous Amos is a terrific Blues singer in the Keb ‘Mo mold. His latest, The Cause of it All,” is a stripped-down affair with mostly Amos an acoustic guitar, and an occasional harmonica as accompaniment.
The version here of “Baby, Please Don’t Go is not to be missed, and “I’m Ready” is delivered with a voice coming from someone who has earned it. Somewhat of a departure from his prior records that have more of an Americana bent featuring members of Crazy Horse as well as The Jayhawks, this latest album takes you back to the roots with a passionate take on “Hoochie Coochie Man” as exhibit A.
Trapper Schoepp – May Day
Trapper Schoepp, a band not a person, delivers Gram Parsons-inspired Alt-County songs like it’s California in the ’70s or Austin in the late ’90s. Sort of The Replacements meets Uncle Tupelo with a big batch of Old ’97s thrown in for good measure, there is not a bad song on this record.
“I Am a Rider” is a highlight taking you back to the Ryan Adams Gold days, “Paris Syndrome” displays fine sibling harmonies in the Everly’s mold, and “Yellow Moon” could have been a Dawes song. This one will be on heavy rotation for you with subsequent listens and is already ear-marked for top ten album honors.
Marinero – Hella Love
With Hella Love, Jess Sylveste performing as Marinero has delivered a love letter to not only his sailor father, Marinero means sailor in Spanish, as well as his Mexican American mother, while at the same time bidding a fond adieu to his home city of San Francisco as he moves his home base to Los Angeles.
Blending and wrapping Serge Gainsbourg, Ennio Morricone, and Burt Bacharach textures around sometimes Pet Sound worthy vintage production techniques on songs like “Outerlands,” many San Francisco landmarks are name-checked here including the rainbow tunnel between S.F. and Marin County as you enter or leave the Golden Gate Bridge, and “Minuet for the Mission” that honors the Mission District the Mexican American section of the city where his mother was raised. And, of course, no tribute to the city by the bay without a mention of the ever-present fog that prompted Irish actor James Quin to proclaim “The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco” would be complete, and here the jazzy “Through the Fog” fits the bill quite nicely.
Do not adjust your ears, this week is the best release week of the year by a far stretch, Paul Weller, The Black Keys, The Steel Woods, Even the ever-prolific Phoebe Bridgers is out with some new stuff. Folks we haven’t heard from a while in Travis Tritt and Alan Jacking are popping up. This abundance of musical riches is pretty much criminal.
The Vaccines are starting to drip some new music out ahead of an upcoming record with their latest earworm of a single, “Headphones Baby”.
And sure, we here at Rock is the New Roll are huge fans of Blackberry Smoke, but our fandom is reaching new heights with this collaboration with Warren Haynes, “All Rise Again.”
The Struts, one of the bands that prove that Rock is not dead, have just released an epic version of Queen’s “We Will Rock You.”
Paul Weller – Fat Pop Vol. 1
The Modfather is back, and it’s like he never left. Despite releasing about a record per year, Weller never fails to bring the musical goods. A bright cheerful record even amid these gloomy times, the entire album seems fresh and original with no sense of languishing in the textures of his prior output.
Never sticking to a specific genre, the song “True” has an ’80’s Bowie vibe to it while “Glad Times” veers a bit into Nick Cave territory and the opener “Cosmic Fringes” seems to carry a bit of Devo in it’s DNA.
Don’t sleep on the Steve Winwood splendor of “Shades of Blue” as it is to our ears the best song on the album. Further reflection will be needed, of course, but after finishing up this record with the last two slowed down and exquisitely produced ballads, “In Better Times” and “Still Goes The Stream,” the votes are in. This one is likely to go down as one of the Modfather’s best.
Nancy Wilson – You and Me
With her first proper album since 2009, Nancy Wilson walks that road between tender Heart ballads and solid Pop-laden rockers quite nicely albeit carefully. Sort of a spur-of-the-moment decision to put out a record, her sparkling voice shines through much more than her guitar. Two of the covers she chooses here are interesting with her version of “The Rising” definitely hitting the mark while her mostly tepid take on the Boxer with Sammy Hagar in tow, lacking in passion and intensity, missing quite badly.
Interestingly enough, “4 Edward” an instrumental tribute to Eddie Van Halen, would have worked much better as an introduction to a full song rather than as the set closer on this one. The sole real rocker here, “Party at the Angel Ballroom” with Foo drummer Taylor Hawkins lending an assist along with Duff McKagan should be played once, then permission is granted to pretty much ignore it.
If there is a highlight here, The Cranberries “Dreams” would fit the bill, but overall Nancy Wilson still hasn’t released that ‘good rockin’ tonight’ guitar-based scorcher we know she has in her.
Matt Berry – The Blue Elephant
By some stretch, the grooviest album of the year, Matt Berry takes a break from his gig as a vampire in What They Do in the Shadows to release another set of interestingly throw-back inspired songs that could have easily been the soundtrack of Austin Power’s bachelor party.
With the perfect blend of vocal tones and go-go style instrumentations, Berry rides the hipster wave to perfection going over the top when necessary and dialing things back at just the right moments. The psychedelic guitar employed here is right out of Haight Ashbury, case in point the hippy-dippy “Now Disappear.”
With a Burt Bacharach production palate, the arrangements are near perfect placing the organ solos, hipster horns, and spooky vocals in just the right places at just the right time.
The instrumental “Safer Passage” is Rundgren’s “Why Can’t We Be Friends” inspired, and “Like Stone” could have been a Small Faces classic. Matt Berry has never made a bad record, but this one is ears and shoulders above anything else he has released to date.
The Black Keys – Delta Kream
Let’s take care of the elephant in the room right from the jump. We here in the offices of Rock is the New Roll are huge fan-people of Dan Auerbach, The Black Keys, and any product, CeeLo’s record a notable exception, that Dan’s studio Easy Eye Sound releases. Now that that is out of the way Delta Kream, the latest from The Keys, is a down and dirty, greasy love-fest to the Mississippi delta blues. Named after an iconic William Eggleston photo that adorns the cover of the album, drummer Carney along with Auerbach apply their Garage-Stomp Rock onto songs by Mississippi blues legends Junior Kimbrough, R.L. Kimbrough, and Mississippi Fred McDowell among others.
Recorded in one single ten-hour session, the Key’s laid-back delta swagger is perfect for this set of roadhouse-worthy tunes. From the lead-off song “Crawling Kingsnake” to the slinky Kimbrough song “Walk With Me” and on to the Tony Joe worthy take on Burnside’s “Poor Boy A Long Way From Home” this is about as close as you can get without actually being there live at Kimmy “Duck” Holmes’ Mississippi Juke joint.
Babe Rainbow – Changing Colours
Just engulf yourself in the bassline on the song “Ready For Tomorrow,” from the latest Babe Rainbow album Changing Colours, and, like us, you will be all in, chips to the center of the table. Fun, bouncy, and vibrant is the order of the day from this group of Aussies with “Rainbow Rock” and “California” already reserving themselves steady rotation on your summer playlist that you have yet to create.
“Curl Free” would have been a perfect fit on The Beach Boys Holland L.P. and there is a hint of Burrito Brothers Americana wafting in the air on “New Zealand Spinach.” Start with the opener “Zeitgeist” and your ear-time will be rewarded with one of the best listens of the year.
It just wouldn’t be fair to compare this week’s musical montages to the gloriousness of last week. But, there is still plenty of good music to savor sending your mind on an endless journey. Rock is the new Roll favorite Walker Lukens is performing songs from his Willie Nelson tribute album in honor of Willie’s birthday.
Psychedelic popsters Babe Rainbow are front and center with “Ready For Tomorrow,” a freshly-minted single in advance of more nuggets to come later in the year.
and, Delta Kream, The new record from the Black Keys will be zooming towards our ears on May 14th. The video is terrific. Recorded at Jimmy “Duck” Holmes’ juke joint in Mississippi the song features Kenny Brown, R.L. Burnside’s guitarist, and Eric Deaton, Junior Kimbrough’s bass player.
And, if all of that hipness is not enough, here are five new records we particularly enjoy that were released this week.
Weezer – Van Weezer
Just when we ponder leaving the land of Weezer for a bit of a respite from the band that seems to be rivaling The Flaming Lips and Ty Seagall in their prolificness these days they come out with a record that sets our ears on fire with a perfect blend of ’80’s Arena Rock and Power Pop.
Using Van Halen as a spirit animal rather than simply mimicking their sound, the record, weighing in at a taut 31 minutes, is full of festival-worthy anthems, most notably the rousing “All The Good Ones,” and the sparkling Power Pop Fountains of Wayne inspired “Beginning of the End.”
More Bon Jovi with a side order of Cheap Trick than Van Halen to our ears, this one will likely be the Rock record that is in heavy rotation on your playlists this summer.
Jack Ingram, Miranda Lambert, John Randall – The Marfa Tapes
Retreating to a ranch just outside of Marfa, Texas friends Jack Ingram, Miranda Lambert, and John Randall set out to recapture the D-I-Y spirit of old school Marfa along with its sister less gentrified cousin city of Terlingua made famous by Jerry Jeff Walker. The songs, a couple written for this project while others were culled from a group of tunes that did not quite fit on various albums, were all recorded literally around a campfire with the crackling of the embers left in the mix.
The demo feel of the recordings gives the album a warm and intimate feeling that is enhanced by the obvious respect the trio has for each other as artists and most importantly as songwriters. Trading Leads, Miranda shines on “Ghost,” and the closing John Randall lead “Amazing Grace,” no not that one, is a perfect sign-off to a near-perfect minimalist record.
Tony Joe White – Smoke From The Chimney
Dan Auerbach and his cronies at Easy Eye Sound have done it again with the release of Smoke From The Chimney, a set of long lost demos from Tony Joe White polished and shined with assistance from Jody White, Tony Joe’s Son. Taking a set of tapes that included only voice and guitar Auerbach added a full band and pedal steel along with some of the best session guys in Nashville to bring the songs to life.
The elegant sounding “Del Rio, You’re Making Me Cry” would have been a perfect George Strait Vehicle, “Bubba Jones” is as good of a story song you will hear this side of Jerry Reed, and “Boot Money” is Classic Tony Joe White, the king of Swamp Rock.
Alex Chilton – Live On Beale Street
Recorded as a benefit for Memphis legend Fred Ford in 1999 Alex Chilton enlisted the Hi Rhythm Section, the band that backed up Al Green on all of his ’70s hits, to join him on stage. The resulting magic just may be the best live Chilton recording ever recorded.
The opener “Boogie Shoes” made famous by K.C. and the Sunshine band is a perfect opener that introduces the listener to one of the more underrated artists of all time. When the trumpet kicks in you will severely lament the fact that you were not there to hear this magic live and in person. Since this was a somewhat hastily put together appearance there were no Big Star or Box Tops songs in the set list with Chilton sticking to a set of R&B and Rock Cover songs that the band wrapped themselves in as if they had been playing these songs all of their lives, which might actually by the case. Far from mailing it in, the vocals are energetic and strong especially on “634-5789,” and when the band takes things up a half-step magic, ensues.
Little Richard’s “Lucille” and Chuck Berry’s “Maybelline” are the requisite Scorchers with Alex sitting in the groove like he was born to it, and the closer “Trying To Live My Life Without You” is a perfect ending to a magical live album.
Kayak – Out of this world
Flying just under the Yes, ELP, King Crimson radar the band Kayak while famous in the Netherlands despite having a couple of hits including “Want You To Be Mine” and “Phantom of the Night” never really grabbed the American Ears. Thankfully, after repeated listens of their latest record, Out of This World, a grievous wrong has finally been righted.
Sounding almost exactly like they did back in their ’70s heyday, the band sounds as sparkling as ever. Evoking the mantra of “Even in the Quietest Moment” era Supertramp in places, David Bowie on the song “Waiting,” and classic Emerson Lake and Palmer on “Red Rag To A Bull” this one is epic just when it needs to be and wistfully playful in the 10cc mold when a softening of the bombastic edges is needed just when things seem to be going over the top.
This one is very much a “what did I just hear” listen that will require multiple spins to properly greet the return of an old friend.
Of course, as we all know, everything is just a placeholder until the new Teenage Fanclub record comes out in very short order. In the meantime, there is an ear-load of tasty one-off nuggets to savor.
The Black Keys have one in the hopper ready to see the light of day in a couple of months announcing itself with the single and video “Crawling Kingsnake” filmed at Jimmy “Duck” Holmes’ Blue Front Cafe, the oldest juke joint in America.
Briston Maroney, with his cross of T Rex and Pavement vibes, has released a single called “Bottle Rocket” and continues to show that he is a worthy candidate on our “ones to watch for” list.
And, Sasami an artist that has an actual French Horn degree, is out with her video of “Not The Time.”
And, if all of the above is not all, here are five really good records released this week.
The Brother Brothers – Calla Lilly
New York-based identical twins Adam and David Moss are one of the closest things your ears will be able to find to Simon and Garfunkel and their particular brand of apple skin-tight harmonies. Their sophomore record, Calla, Lily, mixes smooth Indie-Folk on the opener “On The Road Again,” no, not that one, showing their versatility with the Appalachian-style folk-inspired “The Road Runner Song” and deal from the deck straight-ahead Everly Brothers on “Seein’ Double.”
With a bit of Donovan DNA sprinkled here, and Don Mclean’s spirit there the mood and texture differences from song to song on the record make this one an engaging listen that should have legs on your listening rotation that will please your ears for months to come.
West of Texas – Heartaches, Hangovers & Honky Tonks
Pull on your boots, tighten up your stetson, leave your spurs at home, and head to the Honky Tonk courtesy of the best Western swing record of the year. The Willie by way of Asleep at the Wheel opener “My Whiskey Life” is a perfect introduction to a band that makes no bones about it. They like both kinds of music, Country and Western.
The entire spectrum of country song fare is represented here, Lovin’ with “Fixin’ to Love You,” Leavin’ on “The Cost of Lovin’ You,” and Livin’ representing on “Dead End Jobs Blues.” And, of course, there is plenty of Cheatin’, Drinkin’, and Hurtin’ going on just ask the closer “Cheatin’, Drinkin’ Hurtin’ Song.”
London Grammar – Californian Soil
If you miss The Eurythmic and Florence and the Machine, Californian Soil courtesy of London Trio London Grammar just might be your latest jam. Sparse, Electo-Pop of the highest order, it is the otherworldly vocals of Hanna Reid that carries the day with this band.
“Lose Your Head” in an epic of a song that will lose you in the groove, “How Does It Feel” is Adele meets Annie and is one of the more straightforward pop songs on the record, and the title track, “Californian Soil” is simply a haunting masterpiece.
Simply put, this is a stunning record.
Jesse Aycock – Steps
A card-carrying member of Todd Snider’s side-piece band The Hard Working Americans, Jesse Aycock combines blissful Laurel Canyon Rock with Tulsa-inspired J.J. Cale Roots rock into a blend that will have you reaching for your old Whiskeytown records.
“Wreck Like You” has a bit of George Harrison sound to it, the opener “Shed The Light” could have been a Chris Robinson Brotherhood single, and the laid-back groove of “Roll South” does J.J. Cale proud.
“High Hopes” Rocks it up into Tom Petty territory, and the closing “Woodland Park” will most definitely leave you in a feel-good mood. Todd Snider is great, but Jesse Aycock with this new record is right on his heels.
Imelda May – 11 Past The Hour
Full disclosure, while we like this latest incarnation of Scotland’s own Imelda May that she brings out on her latest 11 Past The Hour, we prefer the Eddie Cochran Wanda Jackson version of Imelda versus the Sheryl Crow AOR sound that we get here. Even the presence of Ronnie Wood and Noel Gallagher is good but doesn’t throttle up the coolness meter like her version of “Tainted Love” or the song “Johnny Boom Boom” Does.
That is not to say this is not a good record, in fact, quite the opposite, it is really good. “Made To Love” is a highly polished Pretenders style track, the title song is a fine bit of late-night noir, and “What We Did in the Dark” is a propulsive highly addictive duet with sometimes Arctic Monkey Miles Kane that will be perfect for the festival circuit should festivals ever be a thing again.
Game on my music-minded friends, we are entering into a stretch of glory weeks for new music the likes we have not seen, or heard, since 2019.
Rock is the New Roll band du jour Starcrawler are priming themselves for some big things later in the year, case in point with this live performance of “Rich Taste” direct from The Roxy in Los Angeles.
The girls in Deap Vally just released a new single and video, “Give Me a Sign” which is certainly a sign that they are on the move this year.
And, wait for it, the Wallflowers are back after a nine-year absence with a new single “Roots and Wings.” This factoid alone makes this a stellar week of Rock and Roll.
And, if all of that is not enough here five new albums we are grooving to this week.
Nick Waterhouse – Promenade Blue
With Nick Waterhouse, the fact that he sounds like himself record after record is never a bad thing. It is hard to pull off vintage cool without coming across as forced, but Nick Waterhouse with his new record Promanade Blue Pulls the trick off in style putting him right up there with Daniel Romano and Chris Isaak as one of the best in the game.
The hipster tune “The Spanish Look” would have been perfect in the hands of Bobby Darin, “Vincentine” is a swaggering semi-rocker complete with Sun Records guitars that struts out his girl that is brunette but not too brunette, and “B.Santana Ana 1986” is a song that could have been played at Austin Powers’ wedding reception.
At 34 tight minutes, the record avoids the sameness syndrome quite nicely, and the analog recording methods that Romano adheres to on every record he puts out will make this listen one of the best 1/2 hours of your day.
Benny Sings – Music
The Netherlands with the emergence of DeWollf, the best Rock and Roll band on the planet, and now with Benny Sings, The is quickly becoming a musical hotbed.
With a sound that makes him a card-carrying member of the Yacht Rock club that seems to be gaining in prominence this week with Pearl Charles as acting president, Benny could just be the long-lost BeeGee brother right there alongside Barry, Maurice, Robyn, and Andy. Just listen to “Nobody’s Fault” and tell us we’re wrong.
There is much to savor on this one if you are a fan of The BeeGees, Hall and Oates, or even Todd Rundgren. “Run Right Back” has a Stevie Wonder Talking Book feel to it while “Miracles” could have been a Hall and Oates hit single.
This is a vintage-sounding record with a contemporary sheen that will last long past the next few weeks and should show up on many of the lists later in the year for top 20 consideration.
Silver Synthetic – Silver Synthetic
Feel free to pencil this one in as a top contender for the best debut album of the year. Covering many of our treasured touchstones including Beachwood Sparks, Tom Petty, Wilco, and Green on Red, this New Orleans combo that features members of BOTTOMFEEDERS as well as Jeff the Brotherhood combines analog Rock and Roll, Country Rock, and shimmering harmonies into a blend that plays well with just about any musical taste.
“Unchain Your Heart” could have been a Neil Young and Crazy horse anthem, “Out of the Darkness” is Tom Petty by way of a Kraftwerk single, really it is, and the closer “On The Way Home” has a bit of John Lennon in the DNA.
Don’t sleep on this one unless you want your ears to leave you for a more musically hip head.
Razorbats – Mainline Rock ‘n’ Roll
We are not quite ready to invite this new rock and roll band into the “rock is not dead” club however, we definitely will have our ears peeled to see how these guys progress over the years. “Rock ‘n’ Roll Kids” has a definite Massive Wagons feel to it, “Big Time” starts with a cowbell, and that’s pretty cool, and “Little Miss Crazy” is straight fire and could have been played on the Sunset Strip in the ’80s.
This one will not particularly reinvent rock music, but for fans of Def Leppard and the band Poison, this one is a pleasant enough jam.
Pink Stones – Introducing..The Pink Stones
Another sparkling debut album this time of the Cosmic Cowboy variety. Bringing inspiration from Gram Parsons, Mazzy Star along with the Brothers Burrito, this one ebbs and flows from late-night laments with “Blueberry Dreams” to last-call honky-tonk stompers on “Barroom Blues.”
“Love Me Hardly” is a Lucero-worthy heart-worn she loves another guy anti-love song, and “Let’s Sit Down” is an ode to the literal high of new love. Fan’s of Neil Young, Poco, and Gram-era Byrds should get on this one post-haste.
Rock Is The New Roll 