Category: A Rock and a Roll

Five Cool Ones: Five New Rock Singles You Need To Hear Now

The Georgia Thunderbolts – Stand Up

With this backwoods barn burner, it looks like the upcoming Georgia Thunderbolts record is going to continue its ascent to the top of the Southern rock mountain.

Grace Bowers & The Hodge Podge – Tell Me Why U Do that

Now under the tutelage of John Osbourne (Brothers Osbourne), Grace Bowers has transplanted herself to Nashville and assembled a hot pocket new band in advance of her new record. The latest single is Bootsy worthy wit the essence of Sly Stone wafting in the air.

Remedy – Moon Has the Night

big hooks, brilliant choruses, everything you would want in an unapologetic AOR band. Think of a night ranger riding a Def Leppard on this one.

Redd Kross – I’ll Take Your Word For It

Influencing everyone from Nirvana to the Lemon Twigs, Power Pop titans Redd Kross are back and better than ever with this gem.

The Loyal Cheaters – Dynamite

With a belter of a singer, The Loyal Cheaters Lena McFrison slinks the stage like I the devil-spawn of Doro and Suzi Quatro. The Glam stomp record of the year is written all over this one.

Five Cool Ones (May 17, 2024)

Straight fire homies. This week is a cracking one for new records enhancing the wonderment as the summer is nigh.

The Hellacopters are cruising down the highway Jim Steinman and Meatloat style with their latest, “Stay With You.”

Coming to you from the bayous of Toronto, Bywater Call lays down the best swamp grooves this side of the Tedeschi Trucks band.

And if the more AOL side of Bon Jovi is your jam, the latest from Collateral is right up your street.

Collateral – Should Have Known Better

With their rock and roll toes planted firmly in the 80’s melodic rock mold, both in sound and song structure, you can bring out your inner Night Ranger with a few head banging listens of Collateral, the latest from the band collateral.

“Original Criminal” is a song that could have been written by the younger brother of Joe Eliott and Def Leppard, “Just One Of Those Days” drives down the road with a Bryan Adams bounce, and “No Place For Love” could have been a Whitesnake ballad.

This one would be on heavy MTV rotation when returning from a night of drinking and smoking and the next two hours is spent watching rock videos.

Pearlfishers – Making Tapes For Girls

Coming back after a hiatus of five years, Glasgows own Pearlfishers just might be the best band that you have never heard of.

Led by major-domo David Scott along with generally a loose collective of musicians, the template of The Pearlfishers percolates on a Power Pop bed with a Brian Wilson pillow.

“Hold Out For A Mystic” takes the stage with Tom Petty backing late-era Beatles, and “When The Sun Comes Back to the West Coast” carries the essence of R.E.M.

Put a pin in this one for the top ten consideration for album of the year.

Lenny Kravitz – Blue Elecric Light

It has been more than a fortnight that we have heard from Lenny Kravitz, in the album format, that is, but this one has certainly has been worth waiting for.

With classic “Are You Gonna Go My Way” stylings throughout, “TK-421” takes on a Prince vibe, “Human” has an 80’s SKA feel, and “Let It Ride” brings in the funk.

Lenny Kravitz has still got it and remains fresh with this Swiss Army knife gem of a release.

Slash – Orgy of the Damned

Slash has just released the best guitar god/hot lead singer rock collaboration that your ears will be blessed with hearing all year.

Eschewing the devil horns for blues riffs and rock-centric anthems, all of the pairings are first rate on this one.

The Black Crow’s Chris Robinson goes low and slow on “The Pusher,” Slash scorches the earth alongside Brian Johnson on “Killing Floor,” and the listener is taken to the Crossroads in a devil’s triangle with Slash and Gary Clark Jr.

Chris Stapleton on “Oh Well” and Beth Hart going deep into her soul with “Stormy Monday” provide some tasty icing on this well-baked cake.

Paul Weller – 66

Whichever version of Paul Weller you prefer, whether it be The Style Council, Jam, or Modfather Paul, 66, in honor of his 66th birthday, is site to check-off all of the boxes for you.

“Flying Fish” is an elegantly constructed song with a slight yacht rock feel to it, and “Rise Up Singing” could have been a righteous Motown ballad back in the day. “Soul Wandering” would have fit in brilliantly as a B-side on any Jam single, and “Jungle Queen” checks off all of the Modfather incarnations in one song.

A brilliant record from an artist that deserves more recognition than he gets. It

Cover Song of the Day: Orville Peck (feat. Elton John) – Saturday Night’s Alright (For Fighting)

Culled from Orville Peck’s Latest E.P., Stampede Vol. 1. This (sort of) cover version of “Saturday Night’s Alright (For Fighting)” is one of the best on record. Granted, there haven’t been many. The rest of the record is no slouch either with collaborations from Midland, Allison Russell, and Nathaniel Ratiff.

Five Cool Ones: Five New Records Released This Week (May 17, 2024)

As we are driven kicking and screaming into the heat of the summer the record release parties seem to be thinning out a bit. But, we, as always, are doing the work so you don’t have to.

Joe Bonamassa’s side-piece band Black Country Communion is bubbling up with their new single, “Enlighten” in advance of a proper record.

Carol Hodge paints with a brush of a gothic Fleetwood Mac by way of Queens of the Stone Age Cover band.

And, Isobel Campbell meanders gently into your head-space with her latest, ‘4316.”

But wait, don’t get those beach chairs out just yet. here are five new records to throw in the fire pit to bask in the glow of a friendly flame.

Caldwell – Caldwell

With just a couple of salvos into track number one “No Flowers Today“ and on to “Love Confession” you will be kidnapped and will find yourself aboard a pirate radio ship somewhere between Austin Power’s bachelor party and a mushroom-infested evening with Donovan.

This one is a post-British invasion extravaganza that will have you reaching for those Dave Clark Five, Herman’s Hermits, and Gerry and the Pacemakers records that you have stashed in the attic.

Prisoners – Morning Star

The Prisoners are a mod-revival band from the early 80’s, and by the listen of things, with their latest Morning Star, they haven’t missed a beat in the intervening years.

With the Booker T Jones vibe of “Save Me” and the Badfinger influences shining through on “Morning Star,” the mod father time machine is tuned up, all systems go with the cool setting cranked up to high.

Kings Of Leon – Can We Please Have Fun

The Kings Of Leon, twenty years in now, are one of those rare bands that have been able to maintain the core joie de vie of their soul center while, at the same time keeping the arrow trending towards hip, relevant, and cool.

From the opener, “Ballerina Radio” from their latest effort, Can We Please Have Fun a song that envelopes you in the night swimming atmosphere that we have come to know and love from this band.

With the ripped from the headlines lyric, “There’s a war outside, we should all get high, as Caleb Followill recommends on “Nowhere To Run, and the apocalyptic energy of “Nothing To To,” yesterdays darlings have become today’s prophets.

Little Feat – Sam’s Please

While Little Feat has always been entrenched in the deep blues, a cover of Howlin’ Wolf’s “Forty-Four Blues” was included on their debut record, this is their first platter that is solely dedicated to the genre.

The opener, “Milkman” roams the back alleys like a sleazy Robert Cray love on the dark side of town tune, and “You’ll Be Mine” duck-walks across the stage drenched in a Chuck Berry riff. And, if you want some good old OG Little Feat just rest your ears on “Can’t Be Satisfied.”

With long-time conga player 74-year-old Sam Clayton handling the vocals, once you enter Sam’s Place you might just be walking into the home of blues album of the year.

The Mavericks – Moon & Stars

One of the best singers of his generation, Raul Malo brings his band and his velvet croon back to a time and place that will remind you of those glory “Dance The Night Away” days.

“Live Close By (Visit Often”) is classic 90’s Mavericks dance fever, the title track, “Moon & Stars” has Sierra Ferrell providing an assist channeling her inner Linda Ronstadt, and Roy Orbison makes a spiritual appearance on “A Guitar And A Bottle of Wine.” “Turn Yourself Around”’ even rides a Holland-era Beach Boys wave.

This one is a wonderfully typical Maverick’s record blending Latin music, Country, Tex-Mex, Classic Pop, Big Band, and 60’s noir into one of the best top-shelf margaritas that you will ever savor.

Five Cool Ones – Five New Records Released This Week ( May 3, 2024)

A boffo couple of weeks under our musical belt. Billy Idol has released as single from the Rebel Yell Sessions.

David Gilmour is out with a perfectly Floydian release with “The Pipers Call.”

And, if that’s not all, the mighty Deep Purple is front and center blasting your ears with a new single, Portable Door.

But don’t adjust your ears, here are five more records to savor with multiple listens.

Son of Man – Gaslight

Coming from a band that has one fret in the fiery past of Classic Rock and the other in the haze of Progressive Rock, the band Son of Man rocks enough to satisfy fans of Black Sabbath while sending Whitesnakr fans into snake euphoria.

From the opener “Down” that could have been a David Coverdale vocal to the Ronnie James Dio vibe of “Stuck,” a song that could have been on any of the Rainbow records, rock and roll is definitely here to stay.

Complete with the requisite ballad, “Thanks For The Ride,” this record is one for the ages.

Charley Crockett – $10 Cowboy

The brightest Americana act to surface in the last 10 years this side of Sturgill Simpson, Charlie Crockett applies his trade just West of pre-beard Waylon and Willie, with the passion and authenticity of a bullfighter.

With $10 Cowboy, Crockett takes you into a stable of truck stop casinos, trailer home tragedies, and Austin alleys.

Combining the honky-tonk classic “Hard Luck & Circumstances,” the blues-country ramble of the title track, and the Marty Robbins adjacent closer “Midnight Cowboy,” new school, allow me to introduce you to old school on this potential Americana record of the year.

Lemon Twigs – A Dream Is All We Know

After several curated listens to 2023’s Everything Harmony it was difficult to wrap our ears around where they would take us next given the precision-pop brilliance of the FM radio arena sound delivered on the record. But, as it turns out, our fret was misguided as The Lemon Twigs have delivered a step-up progression in pure-pop brilliance.

From the opening salvo of “My Golden Years,” a song that is “Go All The Way” Raspberries morphing into Holland era Beach Boys, to the Todd Rundgren vibes of “They Dont Know How To Fall In Place” On to the Badfinger without the bad mojo mantra of “If You And I Are Not Wise,” there is nothing not to like about this record.

If your jam is Jellyfish, Hall and Oates, Badfinger, Beach Boys, Beatles, The Hollies or the Raspberries, this one demands some ear space.

Album of the year?

GospelbeacH – Wiggle Your Fingers

The L.A. band GospelbeacH is one of the few bands in business today that dream-weaves Psychedelic Pop, Rock, and Americana into a gumbo of immensely Cathy melodies that will have you walking the 60’s hipster streets of London one minute and the beaches of California the next.

“Losin’ Patience” goes down smooth like a Tom Petty tune, “I’ll Close My Eyes,” drips Neil Young, and “The Dropouts (Parts One and Too) could have written on The Replacements Let It Be roof.

Multiple listens of this one will yield multiple cool vibes.

King Congo and the Monkey Birds – That Delicious Vice

Scaling down to a trio, King Kong and the Pink Monkey Birds break down their night desert Blues Rock sound with echoing drums, fuzzy guitar, and the ambiance of a Morricone soundtrack.

Think Leonard Cohen if he fronted a proper rock band on “Wicked World,” a night at the Titty Twister with “Silver For My Sister,” and a last call, one more before another Tarantino noir instrumental to close things out after a night of music and mescal with Nick Cave and Iggy Pop.

Josh Homme and Queens of the Stoneage would definitely want a piece of this one.

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.