Freshly minted in 2024, and the leader in the clubhouse for song of the year, The Lemon Twigs are out of the gates early with this Beach Boys meets Jellyfish infused single.
Category: A Rock and a Roll
Five Cool Ones: Five (More) Reasons That Rock Is Not Dead
The state of rock music in 2023 is definitely destination full speed ahead. If The Rolling Stones can put out an album that is actually ferocious, there is hope for the world.
Here are five particular cool platters that we have been vibing to at Rock is the New Roll.
Black Spiders – Hot Wheels
Every song from their 2023 record Can’t Die Won’t Die is a scorcher with the monster riffs and gang vocals on “Hot Wheels” standing out.
The Struts – Rockstar
Unrelenting glamsters, Luke Spiller and The Struts offer up an addicting form of Rock and Roll on this arena-worthy gem.
Kelsy Karter & The Heroines – Love Goes On
New Zealand rocker Kelsy Karter delivers a Def Leppard worthy sugar pop frenzy on this one.
The Cold Stares – Cross The Line
Mixing Blues, Southern, and Hard Rock, The Cold Stares amped up from a duo to a power trio on this stomper.
Gypsy Pistoleros – Come On Eileen
Ears down the best Rock cover song of the year, Gypsy Pistoleros wear the mantle of best Glam, Flamenco, Rock band proudly.
Best 100 Albums of 2023
100. Bennett Wilson Poole – I Saw A Star Behind Your Eyes, Don’t Let It Die Away
With deep roots in English Power Pop, this Oxford band serves up shimmering late era Beach Boys harmonies with a Crosby Stills and Nash Vibe.
099. Roger Joseph Manning Jr. – Radio Daze & Glamping
With his latest solo effort Roger Joseph Manning Jr. takes you on a journey of sonic imagination as one might expect from a founding member of Jellyfish and 1/4 of the Lickerish Quartet. Psychedelic Pop is the order of the day.
098. Suzi Quattro & K.T. Tunstall – Face To Face
Somewhat of a strange pairing, a Glam Rock icon pairing with an artist best known for the hit song “Black Horse and the Cherry Tree,” but it works. Playing to each others strengths, “Good Kinda Hot” harkens back to classic Suzi days, and “If I Come Home could have been a Tunstall single.
If Lemmy fronted Deep Purple Love Gang would would have been the demon seed. Hard boiled Psych Rock mixed with Blues Rock and a Lynyrd Skynyrd dusting, if The Doobie Brothers rocked a whole lot harder they might have become this band.
The 2023 resurgence of Yacht Rock has not been lost in the hallways of Rock is the New Roll H.Q. CVC, Church Village Collective, has one foot in Laurel Canyon and another on a boat with Gerry Rafferty and CSN on a boat off the Eastern seaboard.
With keen mentorship from Queen’s Brian May, and with opening stints with the likes of Joan Jett, Gregg Allman, and Keith Urban, it is ear-boggling that this guitar wunder-kind is not more well known. On this, her fifth proper record, Arielle combines blues, Pop, and Americana on this ear-popping set that has her skills on full display.
094. The Pink Spiders – Freakazoid
The perfect band for a shindig party at Austin Power’s house. ‘60’s Garage Rock bombast, ‘70s Flamin’ Groovies party vibes, along with a Rolling Stones swagger might elevate this one to party album of the year.
093. Caroline Rose – The Art of Forgetting
An introspective album that brings a tumultuous cycle of personal travails to bear on a production of Gregorian chants of Balkan rhythms.
092. Son Volt – Day of the Doug
You won’t find “She’s About A Mover” or “Mendocino” on this lovingly curated set of Doug Sahm deep dives. The hits are bypassed in favor of deeper cuts the likes of “Beautiful Texas Sunshine” and “Poison Love.”
091. David Ronaldo – Tunes For A Dime
No Bon Jovi didn’t make a country album despite the fact David Ronaldo could front a JBJ tribute band. What have here is a perfectly crafted Americana Country album that is well written, smoothly produced, and highly listenable on repeat mode.
090. SG Lewis – Audio Lust And Higher Love
A groove line worthy blend of disco, ‘80s synth pop and mid-era Genesis, along with a hearty homage to Steve Winwood’s “Higher Love,” once the vibe kicks in, the album title makes perfect sense.
With enough street credibility to have Tom Morello lend his chops on “Gossip,” Maneskin should be your new guilty pleasure. Lead singer Damiano David is Freddie Mercury on steroids fronting what might be the greatest Glam-Sleaze band on the Planet.
088. White Reaper – Asking For A Ride
If a band calls themselves The Worlds Best American Band as they did on their 2017 release, one is almost honor bound to check the band out. And, now with their latest effort, Asking For a Ride, the jury is still out on their audacious claim. What we do know, however, is that the new record is loud, rock and roll in all the best of ways with a ramshackle Replacements vibe that takes no prisoners.
087. Queens of the Stone Age – In Times New Roman
086. Midnight Callers – Rattled Humming Heart
Part Cheap Trick, part Raspberry’s with a bit of The Knack and early Greg Kihn thrown in for good measure, this NYC based semi-retro band can go from Bon Jovi to Tom Petty and Night Ranger at the blink of a jangly guitar riff and a gang chorus.
085. The Murlocs – Calm Ya Farm
The side piece band for King Grizzard and the Lizard Wizard, singer and harmonica maestro Ambrose Kenny – Smith cuts through with Southern Rock style, Exile on Main Street grooves and Ronnie Lane and Slim Chance vibes. Think the Black Crowes back when they used to have fun.
084. Deer Tick – Emotional Contracts
The pride of Rhode Island, Deer Tick, is back with another round of rock tinged Americana.With layers of Los Lobos and The Band peppered throughout, and touches of soul most notably on “Once In A Lifetime”’ enhancing an already diverse palate.
083. Pearl & The Oysters – Coast 2 Coast
Psych Pop maestros Pearl & the Oysters will take you on a trip to the Pacific Islands with dolphins and sea turtles frolicking in the ocean. A leisurely, sun soaked trip around the sun in a convertible.
A raw energetic Blues Rock gem, this Irish band takes the stage on a template of Humble Pie and Aerosmith with a touch of Rival Sons to bring things current. Taylor made for the festival circuit, “Oh Cherry” would have been a top rock single in 1973.
081. Govt. Mule – Peace…Like A River
Warren Haynes and his gang are back with a solid set of tight tunes that run the gamut from the Yes evoking opener, “Same As It Ever Was” to Southern Soul on “Dreaming Out Loud” with an assist from Ruthie Foster and Ivan Neville. Come for the main course, but don’t miss the dessert rock grit featuring Billy Gibbons on “Shake Your Way Out.”
080. Everything But The Girl – Fuse
An entirely unexpected return to brilliant form for Tracey Thorn and Benn Watt, aka Everything But The Girl. The record presents dance music readily digested by the masses. A textured listen will suited for lying in the sun.
079. Colter Wall – Little Songs
With the best country baritone this side of Charley Crockett, Colter Wall is back with another traditionalist set of Steve Earle and Townes Van Zandt-worthy storytelling. With the vivid imagery and concise arrangements, spending time with Little Songs is like walking along a Canadian prairie with the cactus and the coyote.
078. Elle King – Come And Get Your Wife
Very much leaning into her country mode on her latest, Come Get Your Wife, Elle King may just be making the banjo cool again on the festival stomper “Drunk (And I Don’t Wanna Go Home.” and “Crawlin’ Mood.” “Blacked Out” would have been a dynamite hit for Stevie Nicks, and the Ballad “Worth a Shot” with Dierks Bentley is a shot worth skipping in an otherwise stellar set.
Blues Rock is back and better than over, case in point, Voices, the latest from Indiana’s own The Cold Stares. Bringing to the minds-ear other back-in-the-day trios The Jimi Hendrix Experience on “Come For Me,” Stevie Ray and Double Trouble on the opener “Nothing But The Blues,” and ZZ Top on “Got No Right.”
076. Lukas Nelson & The Promise of the Real – Sticks and Stones
Continuing to veer to the hippy side, Lukas Nelson and his band offer a solid set of blues boogies, barroom stompers, and campfire singalongs. Since writing drinking songs is almost the family business, Lukas has composed his own “Whisky River” courtesy of “Every Time I Drink” and The anthemic “Alcohallejula,” and there are not many Americana songs written this year better than “More Than Friends”, a song that features Lainey Wilson.
Proof once again that if you wait long enough, everything will come back into fashion. Sparkling with ‘80s sheen, Bon Jovi, Whitesnake, Journey, and Night Ranger are all reborn, and it’s like they never left.
074. Jim Jones All Stars – Ain’t No Peril
Recorded in Memphis this one is some seriously greasy Rock and Roll. “It’s Your Voodoo Working” will have you dancing in the graveyard and “Gimme The Grease” is next level sleaze-funk.
Were you to be on an ‘80s rock cruise with Journey, Jefferson Starship, and Toto, these guys would blow them all off the stage.
072. Sam Millar – More Cheese Please
There is nary a miss-step on this record that features more fist-punching choruses than a Def Leppard convention and enough retro rock earworms to fill a bait shop.
071. Duff McKagan – Lighthouse
There is an ever so present whiff of Guns N’ Roses on this third record from the Guns sideman, but don’t be fooled. This is a mature effort that in less Rock, Americana, Blues, along with plenty of Punk ethos. “Longfeather” is a Cormac McCarthy inspired rocker that plays well for adults.
070. The Bones of J.R. Jones – Slow Lightning
A raw and visceral record that digs deep with haunting synthesizers, vintage drum machines and ghostly guitars. Southern Gothic and cinematic-noir is the order of the day on this one.
069. John R. Miller – Heat Comes Down
A songwriter in the mold of Guy Clark, Townes Van Zant, and Ray Wylie Hubbard with a touch of John Prine thrown in for good measure. Raw, honest, and reflective this one can stand up side by side next to Billy Joe Shavers’ best.
With Felix Pastorius, son of Jaco, on bass, this record courtesy of Christpher Mansfield is his most cohesive to date. For this one, the band locked themselves into a room and knocked the album out over a few days ending up with sonic stretches and next level musicianship the order of the day.
067. The National – Laugh Track
A sequel to First Two Pages of Frankenstein, Laugh Track the album stands out most notably for the contributions made by Phoebe Bridgers, Roseanne Cash, and Bon Iver.
066. Michael Catton – Point of No Return
If Steven Tyler and David Coverdale had a love child the devil-spawn would would look and sound a lot like Michael Catton. Co-mastered by Glen Hughes, Point of No Return burns like deep purple, pops like Def Leppard and scorches the earth like Guns ‘N Roses. What’s not to like? Headbangers unite.
065. The Struts – Pretty Vicious
Four records in The Struts have hit their stride and released their best album to date. Strutting his way like a cross between Noddy Holder and Liberace, Luke Spiller doesn’t need to dance like Jagger to be considered one of the best front men on the planet. Case in point, “Too Good at Raising Hell” and “Rockstar.”
Guitarist Shauna Tohiill, aka REWS, grabs your ears with a sonic blast that breaks the sound barrier with an earful noise sounding like Alanis Morisette fronting the Foo Fighters. “Breathe Into Me” grabs the 90’s and throws them into the 00’s while “Psycho Maniac Killer” sounds like Sheryl Crow if she rocked a hell of a lot more. This one is a definite grower.
063. Turnpike Troubadours – A Cat In The Rain
Carrying the outlaw street-cred of Waylon Jennings along with the social consciousness of Woody Guthry, A Cat In The Rain, produced by Shooter Jennings is the latest effort from a band that is not capable of making a bad record. “Lucille” will bring you to your knees and is a song that James McMurtry wishes he’d written, and “East Side Love Song (Bottoms Up)” is one of the better road trip songs of the year.
Carrying the outlaw street-cred of Waylon Jennings along with the social consciousness of Woody Guthry, A Cat In The Rain, produced by Shooter Jennings is the latest effort from a band that is not capable of making a bad record. “Lucille” will bring you to your knees and is a song that James McMurtry wishes he’d written, and “East Side Love Song (Bottoms Up)” is one of the better road trip songs of the year.
061. Bloody Dice – Bloody Dice
Just might be the best rock and roll record of the year, this Danish band rocks like AC/DC and Guns ‘N Roses with a healthy devil slab of Black Sabbath thrown in for good measure. “Live For Tomorrow” is Sabbath meets Humble Pie, and the chunky riffs on “Thorn In Your Side” is Thin Lizzy jamming with ZZ Top at Day on the Green.
060. The Evening Sons – Tracks
Full of ‘90’s power pop hooks, this is what The Beach Boys would have sounded like if they had grown up listening to Green Day. Just spin “I Gotta Gurl” a few times and tell us we’re wrong. Catchy melodies and a crisp warm production take center stage on this one.
059. French Boutik – Ce Je Ne Sais Quoi
Having been around going on about two decades now, French quintet French Boutik barrel down the Champs Elyse playing their distinctly French take on post-powerpop punk. Suitable for a Scene in an Austin Powers movie, come for the ‘60’s mod finger snappers, but stay for the groovy take on “We’re All Crazy Now.”
058. Kevin Morby – More Photographs (A Continuum)
A sequel to 2002’s This Is A Photograph, Kevin Morby delivers another set of immaculately produced reflective soundscapes.
With her fifth solo album and her first on Blue Note records, Jenny Lewis embraces ‘90s R&B, Country, and classic Singer-Songwriter on this Dave Cobb-produced gem.
056. Ruen Brothers – Ten Paces
While it might be difficult to reach the heights of their debut Rick Rubin-produced record, now, three records in, the brothers just might have hit their stride. Bringing their neo-noir song styling to a set of tunes that would provide a perfect series backdrop for your next Netflix binge, the brothers Ruen have officially hit their stride.
055. Steep Canyon Rangers – Morning Shift
With their easily digestible banjo-centric sound, Steep Canyon Rangers brings progressive bluegrass to the mainstream with this eclectic mix of Appalachian folk music and Americana.
054. Gaz Coombes – Turn The Car Around
Releasing his fourth album, Supergrass frontman combines soulful ballads, melancholy melodies, and Baroque—pop anthems and is ready to take in the world with a Supergrass reunion in the works.
053. Sparks – The Little Girl Is Crying In Her Latte
is safe to say that Sparks is on a roll. With the critical success of 2017’s Hippopotamus and 2020’s highly excellent A Steady Drip, Drip, Drip, not to mention their 2021 documentary, it seems that a much larger audience is now hip to the melodic majesty of Ron and Russell Marl and their band Sparks.
With Sunset Strip back in the day vibes emitting from every pore of their Rock and Roll soul with with their debut record, Squeeze, courtesy of Earache Records, the Bites are inviting you to a party that you don’t want to miss
051. Starbenders – Take Back The Night
With a glam-stomping sound that sounds like it is coming from the love child of Johnny Thunders and Joan Jett, and with this, their fourth proper record, their presence on the festival circuit and their growing reputation as one of the best live acts in the game today, is on full display.
A raw energetic Blues Rock gem, this Irish band takes the stage on a template of Humble Pie and Aerosmith with a touch of Rival Sons to bring things current. Taylor made for the festival circuit, “Oh Cherry” would have been a top rock single in 1973.
049. The Murlocs – Calm Ya Farm
The side piece band for King Grizzard and the Lizard Wizard, singer and harmonica maestro Ambrose Kenny – Smith cuts through with Southern Rock style Exile on Main Street grooves and Ronnie Lane and Slim Chance vibes. Think the Black Crowes back when they used to have fun.
048. Diamond Dogs – About The Hardest Nut To Crack
About as close as you can come to The Faces without marrying a super model, Diamond Dogs are not shy about putting their Tom Petty by way of The Black Crowes influences on full display on their latest record, About the Hardest Nut To Crack.
047. Teenage Fan Club – Nothing Lasts Forever
Somewhere along the line Teenage Fanclub has shed their Brit Pop vibe from 1991’s Bandwagonesque in favor of the more laid back Laurel Canyon essence as displayed on their new record, Nothing Lasts Forever.
046. Ashley McBride – The Devil I Know
With plenty of tear in your beer ballads to help you through your latest misery including the George Jones shadow of “Whiskey and Country Music” and the hangover lament of “6th of October“ the songwriting presented her is legitimate old school Outlaw Country.
A Psych Rock lovers dream much in the mold of King Grizzard, Rajan, the latest from Night Beats, combines Turkish psych, Morricone Western Noir, and Funk into a blend worthy of a Tarantino soundtrack.
044. The Panhandlers – Tough Country
If you ever wanted to experience what it would be like cruising the Texas backroads going from Honky Tonk to Honky Tonk listening to red dirt music the way it was meant to be played, then The Panhandlers and Tough Country is your perfect hill country jam.
Endlessly energetic and ultra whimsical, 100 gecs is the perfect band to cure what ails you. “Frog On The Floor” might be the ear worm of the year.
042. Lucero – Should’ve Learned By Now
From the cowbell declaration of the opener, “One Last F.U.,” the ears perk up, and the train starts rolling soundtracking a morality tale anthem that would make Tom Waits cringe. Veering away from the Southern-goth imagery, on this, the band’s twelfth record, they return to the barrooms and the bar-rock roots already well-traveled by The Hold Steady, The National, or the Drive-By Tuckers.
041. Matt Andersen – The Big Bottle Of Joy
Rock and Soul is the order of the day on Matt Andersen’s new album, the aptly named The Big Bottle of Joy. From the opening Hammond B-3 riffage of “Let It Slide” the cathartic joyful noise is palpable.
040. En Attende Ana – Principia
With a vibe that flows somewhere between Charlotte Gainsbourg, Kate Bush, and the chanteuse go-go boots era, the Parisian combo En Attende Ana will hot tub time machine you back to a simpler time when your television had rabbit ears.
039. Black Star Riders – The Wrong Side of Paradise
Throwing down an anthemic blend of ferocious guitars and thundering drums, most notably on the Thin Lizzy pitch perfect vibes of “Better Than Saturday Night,” and the 60’s garage rock splendor of “Pay Dirt,” there is nary a miss-step here, unless, of course you choose to throw shade on the questionable choice to include “Crazy Horses,” an Osmond Brothers cover, in the set.
Cut Worms is the singer-songwriter project of Brooklyn-based Max Clarke. With this, his sophomore effort, Max paints on a palate of 60’s dream AM Pop, Spector-produced elegance, and luxurious anthems. And, it’s as glorious as it sounds.
037. Lana Del Rey – Did You Know That There’s A Tunnel Under Ocean Boulevard
To many ears, this one one-ups Norman Fucking Rockwell, a tall order indeed. Elegant and cinematic, this one is a tender effort ruminating on being a daughter, a cog in the wheel of the music business, and an evolving musician. Sparse where it needs to be, this one is a tour-de-force.
036. Grace Potter – Mother Road
Always a free spirit, Mother Road is the intersection that connects her roots rock band, The Nocturnals, and her present-day more pop-oriented solo projects. Here, she melds together Americana, Rock, and Soul along with her best songwriting to date taking us along for the ride on her own mother road trip to self-discovery.
035. When Rivers Meet – Aces Are High
Combining powerful and heartfelt vocals with thundering guitar riffs, UK-based Rock band When Rivers Meet are the White Stripes of the new millennium. With Grace Bond playing the Jack White role and husband Aaron adding his guitar skills and vocal harmonies, the couple provides a welcomed down-and-dirty sheen to an overly pop-saturated world.
034. DeWolff – Love, Death & In Between
Nothing, if not prolific, Dutch rockers DeWolff, with their fourth record in the last three years, deliver a retro-rific sound that features prominently the mighty Hammond organ. The band lays down a groove of 70’s Rock, Psychedelic Soul, Old-Schoool Funk, and Deep Purple-infused Classic Rock.
Steeped in the punk-adjacent world of Aussie Pub Rock, CIVIC brings to the minds-ear the best of The Saints or Radio Birdman. Every song on this CBGB-worthy, kick out the jams sonic blast of energy is true to form.
032. Whitehorse – I’m Not Crying, You’re Crying
On their latest record I’m Not Crying, You’re Crying, Whitehorse, the husband-and-wife duo named after the Capital of Yukon, Canada, channel the best of the ’60s Country male-female partnerships in the George and Tammy mold to sublime perfection.
Transported quickly to your favorite honkytonk from the opening lap-steel tear in your beer beauty “If The Loneliness Don’t Kill Me” to the mournful “I Might Get Over This (But I Won’t Stop Loving You)” this set puts the classic in classic country.
031. Belle and Sebastian – Late Developers
Indie pop heroes Belle and Sebastian are fresh out of the box with another pristine record of power pop goodness.
Stylistically, few bands blend musical tones and textures better than this band, and here, case in point, “Give A Little Time,” a bouncy up-tempo wonderment that even features a dusting of a Thin Lizzy influence. “Will I Tell You A Secret” would make Donovan blush, and “So In The Moment” is the first great driving tune of 2023.
30. Selwyn Birchwood – Exorcist
Leaving the more traditional Alligator record label, Selwyn Birchwood is firmly planting his blues banner alongside Robert Cray, Robben Ford, and Christine “Kingfish” Ingram as one of the best contemporary blues men in the game today.
With greasy vocals and sweaty horns songs like “Horns Below Her Halo” and “Exorcist,” the title track, deliver the swagger of a life well lived.
These Swedish rockers have gone all in with their 70’s and 80’s rock identity, and it’s glorious. Def Leppard, Kiss, Van Halen all come to mind on this album of your youth.
With a Power Pop punch that is as fresh as it would have been 30 years ago when the band was formed, Ash packs an Elvis Costello punch with a Dwight Twilley sensibility.
027. The Nude Party – Rides On
With their first self-produced affair, The Nude Party rides on with their Classic Rock adjacent retro sound that never fails to put an extra stride in the step and honey-drenched nectar in your ears.
From the opening early Kinks evoking (I First Saw You There) to the highly excellent “Tuesday’s News,” a song that could have been a John Lennon solo demo, there is an early British ‘60s Rock fest served here on a Donovan inspired pu-pu platter.
025. Lydia Loveless – Nothing’s Gonna Stand In My Way
Americana’s bad girl, the little sister to more established stalwarts Margo Price and Nikki Lane, Lydia Loveless has come out the other end of a failing relationship and sketchy record deals to produce as solid of an Americana record as you will hear all year.
This one makes the list based on the immensely cool version of Lido shuffle alone. Any covers album that can make Jay Ferguson’s Thunder Island listenable is a winner in our book. Come for “Rich Girl,” but stay for “Cover of the Rolling Stone.”
023. Gypsy Pistoleros – Duende a Go Go Loco
Most accurately described as the best Flamenco, Punk, Glam, Rock band on the planet, Gypsy Pistoleros have definitely hit their stride with their sophomore effort, Duende a Go Go Loco. The demon seed of Guns ‘N’ Roses and the New York dolls, the band scorches the earth with a Sunset Strip ferocity and a CBGB sound blast. Come for the Slade evoking Glam of “What It’s Like To Be a Girl” but stay for the best version of “Come On Eileen” your ears will ever bath in.
022. Brian Setzer – The Devil Always Collects
The template hasn’t changed in 40 years, and if you think I’m wrong go back and listen to the Stray Cat’s Built For Speed. And, thankfully Brian Setzer’s latest, The Devil Always Collects, is raging Rockabilly coolness. Jump in the car and crank up “The Girl on The Billboard” to lose yourself in what might be the driving song of the year, and “Rock Boys Rock” is “Rev It Up And Go” on steroids.
021. Mitski – The Land is Inhospitable and So Are We
Ever the shapeshifter, Mitski is back with her second album in two years. Shedding her pop roots that were starting to show on her last record, Laurel Hell in favor of this more acoustically sparse orchestral approach, Mitski is proving that she is her own artist living in her own world.
020. Robert Jon and the Wreck – One of A Kind
It’s no secret that with the recent demise of Gary Rossington that there is a hole in our collective Southern Rock hearts, but fear not, arriving just in time is a new E.P. from Robert Jon & the Wreck, One of a Kind.
Bringing to mind all of the greats from Molly Hatchett and Lynyrd Skynyrd to The Marshall Tucker Tucker Band dusted with a bit of Wet Willie Pop dust along the way. Everything about this band is fantastic.
019. Eyelids – A Colossal Waste of Light
The band, a supergroup of sorts with members of The Decemberists, Camper Van Beethoven, Guided By Voices, and The Eliott Smit Band doing the heavy lifting plays in the Power Pop sandbox along with Big Star, Badfinger, and Jelly Fish. A rare supergroup where the sum brightens the individual parts, there is nary a dud in this pack of firecrackers.
018. Band of Heathens – Simple Things
The Band of Heathens, essentially the musical collective fronted by Gordy Quist and Ed Juri, continues to make solid uplifting music now 15 years into the game. This time out, they deliver a set of tunes that celebrate the simpler things in life, hanging out with friends, soaking up some sun, and being with family.
Eight albums in now, and on the heels of their joyful collaboration of a covers album, Remote Transmissions, Vol. 1 from last year, The Band of Heathens prove once again that they are incapable of producing a bad record.
017. Doug Paisley – Say What You Like
From the opening salvo of the title track to Say What You Like, the latest from Doug Paisley, the laid-back J.J. Cale vibe will hit you between the ears and immediately level set the rest of the day for you with good vibes and peaceful easy feelings.
Opening with the mighty Hammond B-3 organ on “Pleasure In Function,” Jenny O. introduces us to her newest record which is stylistically a bit of a departure with more indie pop than we may be used to from her.
You won’t find yourself passing over any tracks on this record and while Jenny O. might not seem to be as edgy as she was back in her Automechanic Days, this more laid-back introspective version is pretty much perfect for our ears.
015. Wig Wam – Out of the Dark
Widely recognized in the trade as the father of Scandaviavan ’80s Sunset Strip Rock, Wig Wam is back with gusto on this high-voltage set of tunes that will make your hair grow with each subsequent listen.
Come for the Ronnie James Dio splendor of “Uppercut Shazam” and stay for the blast of the Van Halen meets AC/DC of “Bad Luck Chuck” on this fun rollercoaster ride of a record.
014. Baby Cool – Earthling on the Road to Self Love
As debut albums go, Baby Cool’s is as fine an example as we have heard year-to-date. Firmly implanted in the hazy Psych-Pop genre, there is a certain scene setting to this record that will make you go limp in some places, and will give you over to the music in others.
013. Doomsday Outlaw – Damaged Goods
Not quite shedding their Southern Rock past, there are still some heavy doses of Blackberry Smoke wafting in the air around these guys. What they have morphed into is a tightly constructed rock and roll band that can rip off Van Halen Worthy Riffs, and an AC/DC high voltage vocal barrage with equal aplomb.
012. The Shang Hi Los – Aces Eights & Heartbreaks
That rare band with dueling male-female singers, Dan Kopko and Jen Angora, The Shang Hi-Los, create a beautiful noise mixing Phils Spector girl group and Cheap Trick by way of Blondie Power Pop into a mai-tai blender of semi-retro coolness.
Hailing from Boston, filling out the band with maestros from the area music scene, there is nary a dud inherent in this set of firecracker tunes. The opener, “Takes One To Know You” is Cheap trick with a Badfinger sensibility, “Monsieur Valentine” would have gone over well at CB GB’s in the ’80s with Debbie Harry behind the microphone, and “Plymouth Rock” has a bit of a Pretenders scent wafting in the air. And then there’s “Billy” with its over-the-top mariachi horns a song that is perfect Tarantanio-noir fare.
011. The Arcs – Electrophonic Chronic
The Arcs, the side-piece band for the Black Keys singer-songwriter and Easy Eye Sound major-domo Dan Auerbach, are out with one of the more eclictically cool records of the year with Electrophonic Chronic.
With shades of R&B with “Heaven is a Place,” the yacht rock-adjacent Hall and Oates vibe of “Keep On Dreaming,” and the “Crimson and Clover” dusting on the intro to “Eyes” there is a warm familiarity to the proceedings here that makes this one sound vintage and fresh at the same time, a gift that is Auerbach’s superpower.
010. The Subways – Uncertain Joys
For those not in the know, The Subways are a British rock band from Welwyn Garden city that is influenced by Oasis, AC/DC, T Rex, The Ramones, the Beatles, and The Carpenters.
With touches of the Smiths on “Waiting On You,” boy band Brit-pop on the title track, and Black Sabbath by way of Billy Idol all over “Incantation” this record is about as eclectically cool as it can get.
“Black Wax” wears a Depeche Mode mood ring, and the semi-ballad “Amelie” is pure Oasis, love it or loathe it at your own discretions.
This band is definitely a fresh find worthy of your ear-time.
009. Lemon Twigs – Everything Harmony
From the opener, “When Winter Comes Around” begins and you are treated to Cat Stevens sing a Gordan Lightfoot song there is a feeling that there is an eclectic listen to be savored here. “In My Head” has an early Beach Boys feel, and “What You Were Doing” has a dusting of Big Star. If there is such a thing as a soft-rock masterpiece this would be it.
008. The Coral – Sea Of Mirrors
A spaghetti western on a platter, this psychedelically tinged record combines brilliant songwriting with a seaside ambiance.
007. Orchestral Manoeuvers In The Dark – Bauhaus Staircase
The masters of ambient electronic music are still, 45 years in, the masters of the genre. Put the head phones on, and enjoy this Kraut Rock- adjacent record for the ages.
006. Steven Wilson – The Harmony Codex
The current major-domo and new face of Progressive Rock, The Harmony Codex is a record of immense beauty. With touches of David Gilmore, Radiohead, and the best of ambient and electronic music, Sten Wison’s powers are on full display. Best enjoyed with a set of primo head phones, this is an accessible journey into a mysterious world.
The combined forces of Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers, and Lucy Dacus meld their collective voices together the likes we have not seen since Crosby Stills and Nash. With each amplifying the other’s songwriting, this record will stand the test of time.
004. Gaslight Anthem – History Books
A return to form for these New Jersey mavens on this set of bombastic anthems inspired by Bruce Springsteen’s call to arms.
A heavy album with stripped-down arrangements, with this, Zach Bryan has painted his masterpiece. Full of meaty, memorable hooks this trip through the Americana backwoods drinking rotgut whiskey in an ’88 Ford is about as real as it gets.
Not as confessional as you might think it would be, she saves that for her memoir, here she embarks on a set of story songs including “Light Me Up,” with an assist from Heartbreaker Mike Campbell, and “Radio” with Sharon Van Etten that takes the ears for a ride to the glory days of AOR radio on a song that could have been a Fleetwood Mac single back in the day.
Often times, subtle mood-shifts and turns are the sign of a confident artist that is in control of her own art, and that is certainly the case here. The flow from breezy to contemplative to downright fun will have you returning to this record for years to come.
001. Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit – Weathervanes
Continuing to establish himself as one of the best singer-songwriters in the Game, Jason Isbell comes across as a man on the edge as he weaves tales of anger, desperation, bad choices, and ultimate consequences. The spirit of Neil Young’s Crazy Horse band is a poltergeist haunting this entire record.
Five Cool Ones: Five New Albums Released This Week (September 23, 2023)
There is a distinct essence of Rock and roll wafting in the air this weekend. The Dollyrots are out with a new single in advance of a new record later in the year.
The mighty Dokken is showing a pulse with their new single, “Fugitive.”
And, Indie Rock veterans The Vacant Lots are priming the pump in advance of a new record.
But, there is no time like the present to introduce five new albums worthy of your ear time.
Starbenders – Take Back The Night
With a glam-stomping sound that sounds like it is coming from the love child of Johnny Thunders and Joan Jett, and with this, their fourth proper record, their presence on the festival circuit and their growing reputation as one of the best live acts in the game today, is on full display here.
Opener “The Game” strays from a Geddy Lee worthy intro into a rock and roll anthem that Greta Van Fleet only wishes they could conjure up. And, “Body Talk” would have fit in quite nicely on any of the early-era Runaway’s records.
Roger Joseph Manning Jr. – Radio Daze/Glamping
The keyboard player and former Jelly Fish band member takes a break from his side-piece band The Lickerish Quartet to lay down 16 nuggets of pure power pop perfection.
“Rockin’ It Our Way” is Marc Bolan T-Rex deliciousness, and “We’re Starting A Band” just might be the Power Pop song of the year.
If you are looking for a record that simply will make you feel better, let this be your jam.
Lydia Loveless – Nothing’s Gonna Stand In My Way Again.
Americana’s bad girl, the little sister to more established stalwarts Margo Price and Nikki Lane, Lydia Loveless has come out the other end of a failing relationship and sketchy record deals to produce as solid of an Americana record as you will hear all year.
With a cracker Jack band including Jay Gonzales of The Drive By Truckers, the live in studio feel along with the stellar heart on the sleeve songwriting continues to reveal the many layers of an artist that has paid her dues.
With this triumphant return to her original label, Bloodshot records, Lydia Loveless is here to stay.
Diamond Dogs – About the Hardest Nut To Crack
About as close as you can come to The Faces without marrying a super model, Diamond Dogs are not shy about putting their Tom Petty by way of The Black Crowes influences on full display on their latest record, About the Hardest Nut To Crack.
“Get A Rock And Roll Record” would have been a great Chuck Berry single, and “Guru’s and Gangsters” has a Dave Edmonds and Rockpile appeal.
This one is all about having fun ‘70s rock style. And, who are we to argue.
Teenage Fanclub – Nothing Lasts Forever
Somewhere along the line Teenage Fanclub has shed their Brit Pop vibe on 1991’s Bandwagonesque in favor of the more lid back Laurel Canyon essence as displayed on their new record, Nothing Lasts Forever.
From the opener “Foreign Land” that could have been a Buffalo Springfield hit all the way to “I Left A Light On” that is Jellyfish meets Nilsson, the record takes subtle, atmospheric turns that with nary a miss step among the ten nuggets presented here.
In a world where bands that have been around for more than 30 years that are releasing less than stellar records, Teenage Fanclub is a refreshing exception to the mold.
Five Cool Ones: Five New Records Released This Week (September 15, 2023)
The weather is cooling but the music is getting even hotter.
The Rolling Stones are alive and kicking better than they have in the last 10 years with the release, “Angry,” from their soon to be released record.
Relative newcomer Creed Fisher Ouija boards Merle Haggard and Alan Jackson with “This Ain’t The Hamptons.“
And, Paul Cauthen goes old school drinking song laying down “25 Tequilas.“
But, don’t call for that Uber just yet, here are five new albums to wet your music whistle.
The Bites – Squeeze
With Sunset Strip back in the day vibes emitting from every pore of their Rock and Roll soul with with their debut record, Squeeze, courtesy of Earache Records, the Bites are inviting you to a party that you don’t want to miss.
From the opening salvo of “Knockin’ On The Door” to the sleeze glam of “Pretty Boys,” a trip to the Whiskey and a late night hang with Lemmy at The Rainbow followed up by breakfast at Canter’s Deli just might be in your future.
Willie Nelson – Bluegrass
Does the world need another Willie Nelson album in general or a Bluegrass record in particular? Probably not, but we will take them while we can still get them.
Basically, Willie’s greatest hits with a banjo, “Bloody Mary Morning” seems to sparkle, and there is never a bad version of “Yesterday’s Wine.” Give this one a whirl, then cleanse the palate with Willie and Family Live.
Ashley McBride – The Devil I Know
Seeming to play the little sister role on the women in Americana scene, Ashley McBride should put her stamp on the certificate as a legitimate star with her latest, The Devil I Know.
With plenty of tear in your beer ballads to help you through your latest misery including the George Jones shadow of “Whiskey and Country Music” and the hangover lament of “6th of October“ the songwriting presented her is legitimate old school Outlaw Country.
You will be drawn in by the bouncy title track, but you will stay for the “Coldest Beer In Town.”
This one might be the Honky Tonk record of the year.
Brian Setzer – The Devil Always Collects.
The template hasn’t changed in 40 years, and if you think I’m wrong go back and listen to the Stray Cat’s Built For Speed. Otvstill holds up.
And, thankfully Brian Setzers latest, The Devil Always Collects, is raging Rockabilly coolness. Jump in the car and crank up “The Girl on The Billboard” to lose yourself in what might be the driving song of the year, and “Rock Boys Rock” is “Rev It Up And Go” on steroids.
Mitski – The Land is Inhospitable and So Are We
Ever the shapeshifter, Mitski is back with her second album in two years. Shedding her pop roots that were starting to show on her last record, Laurel Hell in favor of this more acoustically sparse orchestral approach, Mitski is proving that she is her own artist living in her own world.
From the mini-epic opener “Bug Like an Angel” all the way to “I’m Your Man” there is a spiritualness inherent in this record that will cleanse the heart and heal the soul.
Five Cool Ones: Five New Albums Released This Week (July 14, 2023)
Back from hiatus, we are back and better than ever, doing the work so you don’t have to.
The band Sweet, yes, the group that brought you “Ballroom Blitz,” “Fox On The Run,” and “Love is Like Oxygen,” is back with a new single, “Changes.” More E.L.O. or Boston than Glam, but it is still very cool.
Sunset Strip Wonderboys, The Bites, are scorching the earth with their mulleted masterpiece, “Heather Leather.”
And, if that is not enough, Eric Clapton teams up with the late Jeff on a very Jeff Beck version of “Moon River.”
And now, without further ado, here are five new records to tickle the senses and bathe the ears.
Kool and the Gang – People Just “Wanna” Have Fun
Editors note, this is not an album that will get much airplay outside your pool or the hippest house party on the block. It is what it is, a set of highly danceable tunes that will have you getting down like you were one of the dancers on soul train.
The opening song, “Let’s Party,” will have you tapping your toes, the title track is pure ’70s disco pleasure, and “VIP” would have made Prince proud.
So touch up the afro, get those bell bottoms out of the closet, and dance like it’s 1979 all over again.
Lukas Nelson & Nelson and Promise of the Real – Sticks and Stones
Continuing to veer to the hippy side, Lukas Nelson and his band offer a solid set of blues boogies, barroom stompers, and campfire singalongs.
Since writing drinking songs is almost the family business, Lukas has composed his own “Whisky River” courtesy of “Every Time I Drink” and The anthemic Alcohallejula,” and there are not many songs written this year better than “More Than Friends, a song that features Lainey Wilson.
Unlike previous efforts, there is no real message on this one. This time delivering a set of loose good-time, bar-centric tunes is the order of the day, and to that, we say bravo.
Night Beats – Rajan
A Psych Rock lovers dream much in the mold of King Grizzard, Rajan, the latest from Night Beats, combines Turkish psych, Morricone Western Noir, and Funk into a blend worthy of a Tarantino soundtrack.
The mood is firmly set on “Hot Ghee,” where you don’t know if you are in an ashram outside of Tibet, a teepee in Sedona, or at a party at Donovan’s house with Austin Powers, Cheech and Chong, and Willie Nelson. The smokey swirl of “Blue” will remind you of that last time you were on mushrooms, and the more conventional “Moving Pictures” would have been spot-on playing over the credits in a Fellini movie.
A mood-setting record, this one is worth spending time with, if nothing else, to see what might be lurking around the next corner.
Colter Wall – Little Songs
With the best country baritone on this side of Charley Crockett, Colter Wall is back with another traditionist set of Steve Earle and Townes Van Zandt-worthy storytelling.
With vivid imagery and concise arrangements, spending time with Little Songs is like walking along a Canadian prairie walking along with the cactus and the coyote.
“Standing Here” is a James Hand-worthy track with a simple message, you can accomplish a lot just by hanging out and standing there. “Honky Tonk Nighthawk” is as fine a honky tonk song as you will hear all year. Just give me a buckskin beer and a lap steel guitar.
Almost a decade in the making, the next in the line of great country stars may have just arrived.
Duane Betts – Wild & Precious Life
Another card-carrying member of the Allman Brothers and scion of Dickey Betts, Duane Betts partners up with Marcus King, Nicki Bluhm, and Derek Trucks on a Southern rock-centric album of Allman-worthy jams, double shot blues rockers that would make SRV blush, and Duane Allman proud.
“Waiting On A Song” is pure rambling man splendor, “Cold Dark World” sets the roof on fire with Marcus King front and center, and “Circles in the Stars” that Duane has a songwriting talent that can stand fret for fret with any Allman Brothers band member past or present.
Five Cool Ones: Five New Albums Released This Week (March 10, 2023)
Summer will be here before we know it, but things are heating up on the music front already. The Ruen brothers are beginning to come out of hibernation with the release of “Seasons Change,” the latest single from their upcoming long-player, Ten Paces.
The mighty Winger will take you back to your rock and roll youth with their latest release, “Proud Desperado.”
And if Tiki music and Tiki drinks are part of your vibe, The Tikiyaki Orchestra and “South Pacific Sojourn” will stir your Mai Tai.
But, enough of the preamble, here are five records that your ears should digest this week.
The Nude Party – Rides On
With their first self-produced affair, The Nude Party rides on with their Classic Rock adjacent retro sound that never fails to put an extra stride in the step and honey-drenched nectar in your ears.
Searching for an early ’70s Blues-Rock feel in the Sticky Fingers mode, one doesn’t have to stray much further past the opener “Word Gets Around” for audible evidence that the mission was definitely accomplished on this song that combines Rolling Stones swagger with T-Rev grooves.
The vocal prowess of singer Patton Magee which seems to channel the devil spawn of Mick Jagger and Bob Dylan carries the day whether he is kicking out the jams on the cowbell swirling, organ magnificence of “Hey Monet,” a song that would have fit in perfectly in the canon of The Flamin’ Groovies back in the day, or laying back on the Phil Spector inspired “Cherry Red Boots.”
Once the first couple of lines of the Velvet’s inspired almost title track “Ride On” hits your ears, the sales pitch is in, and the deal is closed on a record that will remain in heavy rotation well into the summer and beyond.
The Cold Stares – Voices
Blues Rock is back and better than over, case in point, is Voices, the latest from Indiana’s own The Cold Stares. Bringing to the minds-ear other back-in-the-day trios, The Jimi Hendrix Experience on “Come For Me,” Stevie Ray and Double Trouble on the opener “Nothing But The Blues,” and ZZ Top on “Got No Right.”
The semi-funky “Lights Out” is a festival and arena-ready anthem, and while “Waiting For The Rain Again” might ride the rails entering into Kenny Wayne Sheppard or Jonny Lang guitar slinger territory, the muscular drive of the band, locked in the groove, carries the day.
If there is a miss-step here, it might be “Sorry I Was Late.” The Whitesnake meets Night Ranger ballad certainly highlights the vocal prowess of singer Chriss Tapp, for much of the song it sounds like the band is trying to work out the intro to “Stairway To Heaven.”
Overall, this record rocks hard where it needs to and allows time for reflection right at the very time that it is needed.
The Panhandlers – Tough Country
If you ever wanted to experience what it would be like cruising the Texas backroads going from Honky Tonk to Honky Tonk listening to red dirt music the way it was meant to be played, then The Panhandlers and Tough Country is your perfect hill country jam.
Originally coming together as a tribute to the legendary trio The Flatlanders, a band consisting of Joe Ely, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, and Butch Hancock, The Panhandlers are younger gun Texans, Josh Abbott, John Baumann, William Clark Green, along with Cleto Cordero of Flatland Calvary.
Standing on their own, the Panhandlers celebrate everything Texas on this record. Whether they are celebrating the real Texas on “West Texas Is The Best Texas,” lamenting the hipster take-over of Dallas and Austin, or languishing in the Marfa lights like they are doing on “Moonlight In Marfa,” it sounds like picking up some screw-top wine and a case of beer at the 7-11 and stepping out to the “Midland” Jamboree would be a perfect end to a perfect day spent with this record and the Panhandlers.
Matt Andersen – The Big Bottle of Joy
Rock and Soul is the order of the day on Matt Andersen’s new album, the aptly named The Big Bottle of Joy. From the opening Hammond B-3 riffage of “Let It Slide” the cathartic joyful noise is palpable.
“What’s On My Mind” is a ripped-from-the-headlines plea to get along with one another, and “Rollin’ Down the Road” is taken right from the J.J. Cale songbook. “Only an Island” takes things a bit low and slow in the Joe Cocker Mold, and the closer “Shoes” puts a poignant pin on an album of reflection and joy.
Doolin’ – Circus Boy
Festival favorites on both sides of the pond, the band Doolin’ is a French Celtic supergroup of sorts combining traditional Celtic influences with Creole, French Pop, and Folk inspirations to create a smorgasbord of sounds that transcend boundaries.
“Man Smart (Woman Smarter)” is the band’s New Orleans-style take on the King Radio, made famous by Harry Belafonte, calypso classic, “When I’m Done” has a bit of a Waterboys pathos to it, and the title track “Circus Boy” has a bit of a Kevin Rowland by way of Dawes vibe to the deal.
The “Darkest Day” breaks down like a Lumineers epic ode, and “A Place Where We Belong” could have been on a Bono solo record, if he ever were to record one that is.
Given the disparate influences on this record, it would have been easy to stray away from the core and lack cohesion. Such is not the case on this artistic tour-de-force mostly due to the collaborations from Ashley Davis (The Chieftans), Celtic band Screaming Orphans, and Niahm Gallagher (Lord of the Dance). This is a band that is clearly stretching boundaries and having fun. And, in the end, isn’t that what playing music is supposed to be about?
Five Cool Ones: Five New Albums Released This Week (February 24, 2024)
The roll continues to rock this week with some intrinsically cool nuggets perfect for palate cleansing.
The mighty Luke Spiller and The Struts are out with an outstanding E.P., Unplugged at East West.
Americana OG’s The Long Ryders are out with a new video and single in advance of their upcoming record.
And, Brian Dunne, a newcomer we are starting to get behind, has released the single, “It’s A Miracle,” in advance of his soon-to-be-released long player, Loser On The Ropes.
But, enough with the foreplay. Here are five carefully curated selections to please the senses and tickle the earbuds.
Shamus – The Shepherd and the Wolf
Springing from the retro-rockers Sheepdogs collective, a stable that includes The Sheepdogs, the band BROS, and now Shamus, The Shepherd and the Wolf, is the latest project of band member and multi-instrumentalist Shamus Currie. With heavy 1970s influences throughout, the record is a concept album centered around a world of fantasy and adventure.
A rock opera of sorts, there are enough progressive rock touches to satisfy the faithful, leaving the edges to be rounded out with healthy doses of rock and roll. Think of a Jethro Tull without the flute.
From the opening “Days of High Adventure,” the stage is set for an aural journey that will shape-shift your mood back to the days when the music was intelligent and escapism the order of the day. With musical muses the likes of Thin Lizzy, Early Steve Miller, Moody Blues, and King Krimson, the prog riffs are there for sure but are contained to the mini opus level.
Meant to be digested as an entire entity in one sitting, this is a journey worth taking.
Jenny O. – Spectra
Opening with the mighty Hammond B-3 organ on “Pleasure In Function,” Jenny O. introduces us to her newest record which is stylistically a bit of a departure with more indie pop than we may be used to from her.
“You Are Loved Eternally” floats on a George Harrison solo-years cloud, “Prism” is a floater that comes across a bit like Suzanne Vega, while “Advise at A Dinner Party,” a song that reminds us that we get better as we age, has a Bangles dance party vibe about it.
You won’t find yourself passing over any tracks on this record and while Jenny O. might not seem to be as edgy as she was back in her Automechanic Days, this more laid-back introspective version is pretty much perfect for our ears.
Lucero – Should’ve Learned By Now
Having curated a sound that has evolved from Southern rock to Americana, Stax soul and beyond, Lucero continues to release quality music that lifts the spirit and soothes the soul.
From the cowbell declaration of the opener, “One Last F.U.,” the ears perk up, and the train starts rolling, soundtracking a morality tale anthem that would make Tom Waits cringe. Veering away from the Southern-goth imagery, on this, the band’s twelfth record, they return to the barrooms and the bar-rock roots already well-traveled by The Hold Steady, The National, or the Drive-By Tuckers.
Essentially an album about drinking, “Macon If We Make It” is about waiting out a storm in a backwoods watering hole, “At The Show” espouses the youthful exuberance of waiting for your friends trying to figure out how to get into the bar where your favorite band is playing, and “Drunken Moon” speaks for itself.
Overall, Should’ve Learned By Now should stand up in the upper tier of the band’s canon, and for a band that has put out quality work for more than 20 years with essentially the same band members, that is saying a lot.
The Shootouts – Stampede
Coming quickly on the heels of their last record, Bullseye, the timeline for the follow-up shortened once Asleep at the Wheel’s Ray Benson expressed an interest in working with the band. With Stampede, the band’s third long player, the musical template remains the same, Western swing with heavy doses of classic country and Americana thrown in for good measure.
With guest turns from Mary Stuart on “Better Things We Do,” Buddy Miller on “Anywhere But Here,” and the underrated Jim Lauderdale on “Tomorrow’s Knockin’,” the album at times takes on the collaborative feel of a Willie Nelson picnic.
If Bob Wills is the king of Western Swing, then Ray Benson is the crown prince, case in point, “One Step Forward” as presented here. And, if all of that fails to scratch your honky tonk itch, “I’ll Never Need Anyone More,” with Raul Malo pitching in, should have you heading for the dance floor post haste.
En Attendant Ana – Principia
With a vibe that flows somewhere between Charlotte Gainsbourg, Kate Bush, and the chanteuse go-go boots era, the Parisian combo En Attende Ana will hot tub time machine you back to a simpler time when your television had rabbit ears.
Hipster, stopping just short of being shoegaze, the opener, “Principia,” mood-sets the rest of the record with the jangle-adjacent guitar, echo chamber production, and floating Delores O’Riordan-style vocal textures.
“Ada, Mary, Diane,” while a bit more contemporary sounding than much of the record, is nonetheless a compelling jam, “Black Morning” is a bouncy pop tune that would have fit in quite nicely in Melanies’ canon back in the day, and “Wonder” is a vulnerable piece of art with the evocative lyric, “I’m a good human being, my mama said, I hope she’s right,” is a song right from the Aimee Mann playbook.
A groovy listen from start to finish, with the subtle horns, vintage organs, and selective use of the mellotron all coalescing to take you back to a simpler time while keeping your feet planted in the present.
Five Cool Songs: Five New Songs Released This Week (February 24, 2023)
Local Drags – Heard About It
The second single to be released from their upcoming record, Mess of Everything. This band from Springfield, Illinois travels the Power Pop edges of the Wilco, Cheap Trock universe with splinters of Tom Petty to soften out the edges. Look for the new record on March 17.
Nude Party – Sold Out Of Love
We are not sure of what is going on at camp Nude Party, but in the last couple of weeks they have put out a lot of content, and for the record, we here at Rock is the New Roll are quite pleased. This one, “Sold Out of Love” has a bit of a “Wild Horses” scent about it.
Ashley McBryde – Light On In The Kitchen
One of the shining lights on the Country/Americana scene, with her new single Ashley McBryde sings about the simple pleasures of life, pancakes that taste better after midnight, and a dose of local honey.
Angel – It’s Alright
If you were to ask RITNR senior contributor Bernie Sparrow there has been no decent rock music since 1977. This means this freshly minted single that features original Angel members Frank Dimino, Punky Meadows, and Danny Farrow will be on heavy rotation in the halls of Rock is the New Roll H.Q. And, god help us when the new record comes out on April 21st, via Cleopatra Records.
The National – New Order T-Shirt
The second pre-release single from their upcoming ninth proper release, Two Pages of Frankenstein.
Five Cool Ones: Five New Albums Released This Week (February 10, 2023)
The new release mojo is hitting its stride this week with artists jockeying for position, releasing new singles before proper releases to see the light of ear later in the year.
Connor Selby is the real Soul-Blues deal. If Ray Charles had played the guitar instead of the piano, this is pretty much what he would have sounded like.
Dangereens are bringing their Stones meets NY Dolls meets Hanoi Rocks T Rex Boogie rock to the masses with “Lucky In Love.”
And, La Luz Frontwoman Shana Cleveland is out with a new atmospheric single, “Ghost.”
But, as per usual this is all just foreplay for the main event. Here are five newly hatched records to savor from this week’s musical selections.
Wig Wam – Out of the Dark
Widely recognized in the trade as the father of Scandaviavan ’80s Sunset Strip Rock, Wig Wam is back with gusto on this high-voltage set of tunes that will make your hair grow with each subsequent listen.
Lighters lit from the opening track, “Out of the Dark” which has a hint of Van Halen in the air if you listen closely enough, and “High n Dry” would have fit in nicely on any Billy Squire album from back in the day.
With enough interesting curves veering into ’80s Sleaze Rock, ’70s AC/DC, and even ’90s grunge in places, there is enough variety to give this one sustainability over several listens. And, we’re still trying to figure out what to make of the call to arms anthem, “Forever,” a song that literally features the style of Mongolian throat singers The Hu, along with a Celtic dirge vibe.
Come for the Ronnie James Dio splendor of “Uppercut Shazam” and stay for the blast of the Van Halen meets AC/DC of “Bad Luck Chuck” on this fun rollercoaster ride of a record.
Baby Cool – Earthling on the Road to Self Love
As debut albums go, Baby Cool’s is as fine an example as we have heard year-to-date. Firmly implanted in the hazy Psych-Pop genre, there is a certain scene setting to this record that will make you go limp in some places, and will give you over to the music in others.
The shoegaze of “The Sea” starts things off by transporting the listener to a marshmallow cloud full of peaceful vibes, and “Poison” has a bit of a surf guitar and mellotron vibe that will carry you away. And, once the slow-down, deep country evoking “Daydream” washes over your eardrums you will be looking for that last edible to end the evening in blissful contentment.
Doomsday Outlaw – Damaged Goods
Not quite shedding their Southern Rock past, there are still some heavy doses of Blackberry Smoke wafting in the air around these guys, what they have morphed into is a tightly constructed rock and roll band that can rip off Van Halen Worthy Riffs, and an AC/DC high voltage vocal barrage with equal aplomb.
The opener, “In Too Deep” burns the house down and opens up all of the cylinders to set the stage for the rock party that is about to break out. “On My Way,” cowbell indeed, is a cool hybrid of Blackberry Smoke and the Black Crows, and a potential instant classic. “Turn Me Loose” is a loose-limbed rocker, and “My Woman Comes On Strong” stacks up to anything that the Winery Dogs or Black Star Rider are throwing drown on the rock and roll front these days.
Not necessarily recreating the wheel here, when the debate continues that rock and roll is dead, Doomsday Outlaw and Damaged Goods is exhibit A to the contrary.
Laure Briard – Ne pas trop rester bleu
A strong contender for chanteuse record of the year, Laure Briard is a worthy descendant of Francois Hardy or Vashti Bunyan. Here she slips effortlessly between French and English on a sublime set of early ’60s hipster-noir tunes.
Based in Toulouse, France, while her vibe may be French, her spirit is firmly planted in the California desert, after a visit to Joshua Tree, with heavy influences from Carol King, Lee Hazelwood, and the psychedelic scene.
Translated to “don’t stay too blue,” the album title says it all about this record. There is a whimsical beauty to “My Love Is Right,” “Magical Beauty” could have fit in quite nicely in the Burt Bacharach ’60s canon, and “Me Pardonner” puts the chant in chanteuse.
Give this one multiple spins and listen for her songs in the Netflix series Emily in Paris.
CIVIC – Taken By Force
Steeped in the punk-adjacent world of Aussie pub rock, Melbourne’s CIVIC brings to the minds-ear the best of The Saints or Radio Birdman. Every song on this CBGB-worthy, kick out the jams blast of sonic energy is true to form.
“Born On The Heat” could have easily been a mid-era Clash anthem and the Pop-Punk gloss of “Wars or Hands of Time” carries the spirit of Iggy Pop in the days of The Stooges.
There is no real new ground broken here, just solid songwriting, a punk sneer, and a rebellious attitude that carries the day amongst searing guitar solos and propulsive energy. From start to finish this one rocks.
Rock Is The New Roll 