Category: A Rock and a Roll

The heat is on as the summer gives us one last heat wave, and the new releases are falling right in line.

Monster rockers and recent RISTNR favorites D-A-D crank up their riff machine with their latest single, “Keep That Mother Down.”

The head of the snake David Coverdale has been releasing the venom with singles from his upcoming remastered Solo-era albums.

And, the Saskatoon rockers Sheepdogs dig the retro 70’s madness with “Take Me For A Ride.”

But wait, back by popular demand may we present five banger records for your ear-bath.

Tuk Smith and the Restless Hearts – Rogue To Redemption

Through his innovative single-release strategy we have been treated to several of these gems over the last few months, and finally, Tuk Tuk Smith has released the Kraken and delivered what should be, ears-down, the best rock and roll record of the year.

The opener, “Take The Long Way” has all the panache of a Cheap Trick Heaven Tonight era classic, and Glorybound would have been a perfect ‘70s rocker in the Greg Kihn by way of Rick Springfield mold.

With more hooks than an episode of Dangerous Catch, Tuk Smith has burst into the spotlight with enough swagger to be considered as the replacement for Stephen Tyler in Aerosmith.

Steve Wynn – Make It Right

From his early days with the Dream Syndicate, Steve Wynn has established himself as a scion of the scene as well as a songwriter of the highest order.

On his new record, Make It Right, Wynn with his first solo record in 10 years, is joined by members of R.E.M., Bangles, Psychic Temple, and The Baseball Project, on a song set that was written in conjunction with his recently released memoir, I Wouldn’t Say It If It Wasn’t True.”

The record, starting with the opener “Santa Monica” takes the listener on a journey of a live well lived and a man coming of age growing up in the L.A. Punk scene.

The Boxmasters – Love And Hate In Desperate Places

If your only exposure to Billy Bob Thornton has been in the form of Slingblade, Bad Santa, or the series Goliath, you are in for a treat. Well before he hit the big screen Thorton was a serious musicician and has been playing with his band The Boxmasters for decades.

Built on a bed of blues-based Honky Tonk Americana, there is a whisper of British Invasion and mid-era Byrds by way of Tom Petty taking flight in their music. Billy Bob’s vocals are not particularly strong, but he stays in his lane with descriptive songwriting and the cracker-jack band leading the way.

Los Bitchos Talkie Talkie

Mostly instrumental, Talkie Talkie, the latest swinging record from Los Bitchos, the London-based that has a sparking electricity about them will be you next party record.

Part Tiki, part surf music, and all fun. Swirl to the vibe of “Tango and Twirl,” fly to the Orient on Air “Talkie, Talkie, Charlie Charlie,” and head to the border while listening to “La Bomba.”

This is escapism in all its glory.

Shemekia Copeland – Blame It In Eve

Starting her career at the age of 18 backing up Koko Taylor, Shemekia Copeland is the heir to the “My Guy Done Me Wrong” love ballad. And now, she is out with another socio-political belter with her latest, “Blame It On Eve.”

On the opener, “Blame It On Eve,” Copland laments women losing the right to choose, and on “Broken High Heels” she takes on the state of the country with a venom that only she can produce.

But don’t panic, Shemekia gets down and silky with “Wine O’Clock, her ode to unplugging from life’s worries, and down on dirty covering Johnny Copeland’s “Down On Bended Knee”

This one might be the blues album of the year.