Category: A Rock and a Roll

Five Cool Ones: Five New Records Released This Week (March 15, 2024)

The rock continues to roll this week with plenty of prime choices. Rock is the New Roll favorite Blues Pills is out with their Fleetwood Mac meets Black Keys single, “Birthday.”

London-based rockers The Karma Effect deliver on a cloud of Foreigner with a sprinkle of Blackberry Smoke,

and, the best thing to happen to Southern Rock since Lynyrd Skynyrd is front and center with Blacktop Mojo and “As The Light Fades.”

And, on top of all that here here are five all killer no filler records released the week.

Wesley Fuller – All Fuller No Filler

With is his second proper record, Wesley Fuller announces himself with a solid set of Psych-Power Pop Aussie style.

The opener, “Back To Square One” has a definite Beatles flair, and “Jacandara” could have been a long lost Elvis Costello B-side. “The House of Love” is a boogie down banger, and “Look No Further” could have been the theme song for a 70’s sitcom.

This one is an overall feel-good record that will get your feet moving and your soul soaring with subsequent listens.

The Black Crowes – Happiness Bastards

The first set of new songs since 2009’s Warpaint, their latest, Happiness Bastards has the Robinson brothers and the rest of the Crowes performing at their absolute best, so much so that several Crowe’s aficionados are calling this one their best output since The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion released in 1992.

From the Stones doppelganger opening salvo of “Bedside Manners” next to the urgent festival-ready anthem “Rats and Clowns” the message is clear, The Black Crowes, despite their absence, might be the best guitar band in the game today.

Kacey Musgraves – Deeper Well

A redemptive record coming out of a divorce chronicled on 2021’s Star Crossed, with Deeper Well, Musgraves may have just painted her Masterpiece.

From the hushed Americana undertones to the next level songwriting the entire effort represents the maturation of an artist that continues to be genre defying.

Whether it’s the poignant retelling of a recently deceased friend visiting her in the form of a cardinal, and calling out getting rid of the people who are wasting your time, this record is best consumed with a single malt and a lyric sheet.

Tucker Woods – Sunshine Blues

A rock and rollover, Tucker Woods applies their trade alongside the Likes of Oasis, The Who, The Kinks and Tom Petty. And with this their sophomore release, the should be about to slip into the mainstream.

With pop-centric melodies and Americana-tinged landscapes particularly on the Oasis evoking “Somersault.” “Are You Glass” takes on the shapeshifter of a Jesse Malin single, has a Whiskeytown flair.

A in all, this is one of the most enticing roots-rock record of the year so far.

Armchair Boogie – Hard Times And Deadlines

We likely have Billy Stings to thank for our recent foray into banjo-based Americana and the New Grass phenomenon. Here, with the latest from Armchair Boogie a solid set of clever songwriting, exquisite musicianship, and old-school sawdust dancehall tunes is presented with accesible flair.

The title track is not your grandpa’s Hee Haw where all you have is a cheap old car and a bottle of gin, and “Liquor Store” goes emotionally deep in describing one too many visits to the Liquor store.

Having been dragged to this release kicking and screaming we have moved all of our chips into the middle of the table in support of Armchair Boogie and Hard Times & Deadlines.

Five Cool Ones: Five New Records Released This Week (March 8, 2024)

The rock is beginning to roll in fine fashion as the freeze starts to thaw and summer is right around the corner. Rock is the New Roll Favorite Tuk Smith has released a freshly minted video from what his upcoming record that is certain to be a candidate for rock record of the year.

The mighty Gems have released a new video in support of their debut record, Phoenix.

And, The Quill delivers on a soundscape of Black Sabbath – Adjacent riffage.

But, that’s not all. Here are five more ear pleasing morsels to savor this week.

Sawer Brown – Desperado Troubadours

With their first proper record since 2011, Sawyer Brown, under the tutelage of Blake Shelton, is back and better than ever with Desperado Troubadours.

This time around with a bit more swagger and a lot more honky Tonk in their vibe, the band has morphed from an ‘80s love ballad band to a proper outlaw country force of nature in the blink of a decade.

From the opening driving – tune worthy “Under This Ole Hat” the stage is set, this is not your daddy’s Sawyer Brown. “Nashville Cat” is yet another ode to the music city and the closing title track is a perfect night cap to a solid effort from a band that had forgotten we missed.

Norah Jones – Visions

It seems to be ear-boggling that it has been over 20 years since Norah Jones released the stellar Come Away With Me. And now, with her L.P. Visions Jonesbhas somewhat distanced herself from her standard piano-driven love ballads having replaced them with a mix of folk, Americana, pop, and psychedelic soul vignettes.

Written and produced with collaborator Leon Michels, this 12-song cycle seems to be nostalgic while at the same time demonstrating the firm hold that Norah Jones has on her career. “Staring At The Wall” has a Jenny Lewis flair to it, “Queen of the Sea” is vintage Norah and highlights her delicate vocals, and “I Just Wanna Dance” sums up all of her emotions released with this effort quite nicely.

The Northern Belle – Bats In The Attic

The band Northern Belle is part of the growing Nordicana scene. Taking inspiration from letters she found after 60 years in her grandmothers attic, Stine Andreassen, singer and songwriter for the band, crafted the new record around transcontinental missives between her grandmother and grandfather separated during the war.

Their is a distinct cardigans and First Aid influence throughout the record and virtually every song has the misty ebb and flow of the sea with “Japanese” a highlight detailing a particular letter her seafaring grandfather wrote to her grandmother.

Nordic Americana doesn’t get much better than this.

Dion – Girlfriends

Dion is one of the few legacy acts that seems to be enriching instead of diminishing his legacy with each subsequent release. Maintaining the perfect vocal range fitting for a singer in his age bracket, his latest song set pairs him with female singers across multiple genres ranging from Country, Soul, Blues, and beyond.

Susan Tedeschi lends a fret on the opener, “Soul Voice,” Carlene Carter assists on the somber, made-for-these-times “American Hero,” and Joanne Taylor Shaw helps to scorch the earth with the closer “Just Like That.”

There is nothing not to like about this record, and that says a lot coming from an artist who has been applying his trade for this long and is still going this strong.

The Hanging Stars – On A Golden Shore

With a sound that Channels The Birds, Big Star, and The Flying Burrito Brothers, The Hanging Stars just might be your new favorite band.

Their latest single from their fifth album, On A Golden Shore, blends pedal-steel and Lou Reed guitar into a smooth Americana oasis, “Happiness Is A Bird” is Lately Canyon wonderment backed by The Beach Boys, And, the opener, “Let Me Dream Of You” takes the stage like a redux version of The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.

This one is an infectious joy from stem to stern.

Five Cool Ones: Five Cool Records Released This Week (March 1, 2024)

Rolling into the ides of March, the music is still boppin’ and the tunes are still hoppin’ as the rock continues to roll.

Indie-Poppers Automatic Shoes are out with a new single, the soaring “This Car,”

Troubadour Sierra Ferrell applies her trade somewhere South of Dolly and North of Emmylou on her new single, “Dollar Bill Bar.”

And, Joanne Shaw Taylor lays down Jeff Beck familiar, understated guitar work on the soulful blues of “A Good Goodbye.”

The Gems – Phoenix

Rising from the ashes of Thundermother, newly formed Swedish rockers The Gems combine the “Barracuda” version of Heart with a Van Halen vibe that is at once powerful and melodic.

“Domino” is a propulsive gem, “Running” would have been a banger on any of the early Van Halen records, and “Like a Phoenix” aptly describes the formation of the band when Guernica Mancini was kicked out of Thundermother and drummer Emlee Johansson along with bassist Mona Lindgren quit the band and joined The Gems.

Smoking Snakes – Danger Zone

One of the cooler band names to come around in quite some time, Smoking Snakes, is a flash to the past to a time when Ratt, Dokken, and Kiss roamed the sunset strip.

Full of hair metal swagger, the opener “Soul Survivors” will transport you to Wayne and Garth’s Wayne s world couch while “Rocking To The Morning Light” will have you doing just that while reaching for your old Krokus CD’s.

Sheer Mag – Playing Favorites

With this, their Third Man Records debut, Sheer Mag has delivered their most satisfying Rock and Roll record to date. With their deep seventies influences that run the gamut from Eddy Money, Cheap Trick, and on to Foreigner, the band stops short of being derivative while at the same time displaying their retro vibes with pea-cocking glory.

“All Lined Up” is vintage CBGB Blondie, “Don’t Come Lookin'” is The Pretenders meets early Doobie Brothers, and “Golden Hour” could easily have been a Jackson Five B-side.

Put this one on your list of the best Rock and Roll records to released so far this year.

Hillbilly Moon Explosion – Back In Time

Any Swiss rockabilly combo that combines Lounge, Punk, Neo-Country, Ska, and Lounge-Pop to their eclectic mix will always garner play time on the turntables at Rock is the New Roll H.Q.

Vintage Lee Hazlewood production will come to the minds-ear on “Summerlove,” “Knocked Down” is the Stray Cats stuck in Stephen King novel playing over the ending credits in a Tarrantino movie, and the ZZ Top inspired “Jet Fuel Rocket Rock deserves an immediate addition to your latest driving tunes playlist.

And, while their ska influenced cover of the Toussaint McCall classic “Nothing Takes The Place Of You,” any rendition with the lyric “I moved your picture, off my walls. And I replaced them, both large and small. And each new day, finds me so blue. Nothing, Takes the place of you” has got to be compelling, and this one is no exception.

Silveroller – At Dawn

Allow this 6 song E.P., At Dawn, to be your initiation into the rock and roll world of Silveroller. Contemporary references would be in the Rival Sons by way of Blackberry Smoke territory, but for these guys with the motto, “The Future is bright and it’s patchouli-scented” the touch stones Bad Company, The Black Crowes or the Rolling Stones would be better comparisons.

Rootsy and rollicking, if this mini record is any indication great things should be in store for this band with the kind of swagger that you just don’t find these days.

Five Cool Ones: Five Cool Records Released This Week (January 26, 2024)

The weather may be cold, but the music is hot this week as many artists are scrambling to give us a morsel of singles in advance of a proper release.

Blackberry Smoke shows that they can go mellow low and slow when they are not putting out barn stompers with “Azalea.”

Circles Around The Sun delivers on a psychic Laurel Canyon mushroom cloud with “After Sunrise.”

And, Joe Bonamassa and Peter Frampton burn the house down with their version of Humble Pie’s “Four Day Creep.”

But wait, don’t put up those winter jackets just yet. Here are five records to keep you warm this week.

Ty Segall – Three Bells

Ty Segall, renaissance man, Swiss army knife, and bell weather cow of the indie rock scene is out with Three Bells, another monstrous record by a monstrous artist.

Song after song our ears are treated to the sonic wizardry that is Ty Segall. Not known to be especially user-friendly to the ears, oftentimes bathing in a foggy haze of fuzz, this time out he delivers a one-hour set of intricate guitar chords, Jimi Hendrix-worthy riffage, and Seagall-ist production that is not only accessible, but also provides a texture to the proceedings that is both refreshing and sorely missed in today’s musical landscape.

If this record was a Jazz album it would be John Coltrane’s Giant Steps record with the melodic frenzy of “Giant Steps” morphing with the tempo-changing “Countdown.”

Impressive accomplishments, indeed.

Gurf Morlix – Melt Into You

The first thing that will hit you between the speakers is that Gurf Morlix, on his latest record, Melt Into You, sounds an awful lot like Ray Wylie Hubbard which makes perfect sense since he has been twirling the knobs for both Ray Wylie and Lucinda Wiians for the last several years.

Morlix tackles old age and lonely travels on “Melt Into You,” as well as the self-reflecting “Last Days of the Dinosaur,” wrapping things up with a sentiment all of us experience at one time or another on “A Meaningless Life.”

Stop at three shots of bourbon if you listening to this one in one sitting.

Sarah Jarosz – Polaroid Lovers

With the essence of 80’s ladies and Garth Brooks-era country, this Sarah Jarosz gem of an album covers all of the touchstones.

With her deft songwriting and classic Americana-centric vocal stylings the multi-instrumentalist, multi-Grammy winner apples her trade like a slightly less cool Jenny Lewis.

The opener, “Jealous Moon” could have been a K.T. Oslin hit from back in the day, closer “Mezcal and Lime” is a last-call woozy sort of affair, and “Runaway Train” will transport you back to a simpler era when the women ruled the country radio dial.

Katy Kirby – Blue Raspberry

With this, her sophomore record, Katy Kirby comes out strong chronicling new discoveries and first-time lesbian experiences on the exquisitely cool, Blue Raspberry.

The crystalline vocals pushed forwar in the mix means you will not need to consult a lyric sheet to ascertain the lyrics that highlight the little things women recognize in other women.

Listening to this record in total within the confines of a serious listen lends itself to a revelatory stroll in a forest of reflection as it surely does in the string-subtle “Party of the Century.”

You will be a better person for listening to this record.

The Umbrellas – Fairweather Friend

The Umbrellas, an Indie Pop band that brings to the minds-ear the classic sounds of bands like The Go-Betweens, The Bats, or even The Cranberries.

With jangle guitars and layered harmonized vocals, each song has a nostalgic feel to it that scantily varies throughout the song set. The lyrics, poetic in their simplicity, along with the alternating vocals are delivered with the honesty that should serve the band well as they continue on the path to critical acclaim and more.

Five Cool Ones: Five New Albums Released This Week (January 19, 2024)

The heat is on and there is a ton of new long- players to digest this round.

The mighty Saxon is scorching the earth with a new single and video.

Judas Priest never fails to amaze and will likely go on forever, case in point, their latest single and video, Panic Attack.

And, if AOR is your jam, Grand and their new single “Kryptonite” will wet your early Journey and Europe whistle.

But grab the popcorn, the main event is coming up with five new platters the likes of which we have not heard in a very long time.

Sleater – Kinney – Little Rope

Returning from a ten-year hiatus, Sleater Kinney is releasing their 11th album. One of the more taut efforts from Carrie Brownstein and Corin Tucker, the guitar lines seem to be crisper, and the vocals are more textured than we are used to coming from the OG’s of the riot grrrl movement in the Pacific northwest.

The angst is still there front and center on “Six Mistakes” and the no-flinching songwriting has not been lost most notably with the lyric “get up girl, and dress yourself in clothes you love for a world you hate” as exhibit A.

The Love Gone Wrong song “Say It Like You Mean It” might be the poppiest of the pop songs the band has ever written, and “Don’t Feel Right” jumps right out of the speakers.

Look for this one staking a claim in the end of the year lists. The welcome return of a band we had forgotten we missed.

Chemtrails – The Joy of Sects

One of the rare female-centric Post Punk bands in the game today, Manchester-based Chemtrails has almost created their own sub genre, Garage Pop.

The opener “Detitrus Andronicus” sucks you in with the first bouncy guitar riffs, with the distinct vocals of Mia Lust and Laura Orlova introducing themselves to your ears.

Most, at first listen, will have a love-hate relationship with the Cindy Lauper fronting the B-52’s vocal stylings that some might find irrating at best, unlistenable at worst.

A record that needs to be savored in the correct setting, don’t jump off the island until you check out the “Rock Lobster” vibing of “Superhuman Highway.”

Lizzie No – Halfsies

Emerging Folk-Americana artist Lizzie No, with her latest record, Halfsies, is poised to be one of the hottest break-out artists of 2024.

A New York to Nashville transplant, Lizzie combines the best of the musical melting pot waving the inclusion flag in everything she does.

All of the hot spots are touched here with elements of Country, Bluegrass, Folk, Pop, and Rock all represented with aplomb.

80’s ladies’ country is all over “The Heartbreak Store,” “Lagunita” is a straight-up rocker, and “Deadbeat” is pure Laurel Canyon Joni Mitchell.

This record is a stunner well worth your aural respect.

Green Day – Saviors

Green Day is one of those bands that will immediately transport you to a place in time from your not so distant past where life was simpler and music was real.

With this, their 14th album Billie Joe and the fellas build that bridge connecting 1994’s Dookie, American Idiot, their most popular record, and now Saviors.

Weighing in at a compact 15 songs in 45 minutes, this one has Green Day doing what they do best, melding a scattershot of socially relevant songs around a soundscape of Post Punk fury that is unique to the band.

The opener, “The American Dream Is Killing Me” will remind you why you fell in love with the band in the first place, and “Corvette Summer” could be a long lost Jellyfish B-Side.

A welcome return from a band of our youth.

Emperor Penguin – Emperor Thieves

“What’s The Worst That Could Happen,” the leadoff single from Psych Pop band Emperor Penguin pre-dispositions the template on this one with the early Beatles rock and roll groove and psychedelic undertones.

“ I Wouldn’t Put It Like That” is Elvis Costello at his poppiest, “You And Me” will envelope you in the secondhand smoke of a Sgt. Pepper sit-in listening party and the band goes all hipster French on “Sonnez Les Martines.”

Pristine Power Pop for pure people.

Five Cool Ones: Five New Platters Released This Week (January 12, 2024)

The dam is getting to break as the artists come out of their winter hibernation and begin to release new music.

On that front, Indie Pop maestros Gospelbeach are out with a refreshing Laurel Canyon vibing tune, “Hang Thyme.”

Great White’s Jack Russell and LA Gins Tracii Guns combine their collective rock and roll creds to a collaboration.

And, new to us the EMO influenced Remo Drive are out with a new single.

But all hail rock and roll, here are five new records to hit the ear-waves this week.

Bill Ryder Jones – lechyd Da

For this this, Coral frontman’s sixth proper record, Bill Ryder Jones has pulled out all the stops even employing a kids choir on several tracks on his latest, lechyd Da, Welsh for cheers.

With an Elliott Smith appeal and Beatles carnival pop feel, the production value is first rate with ELO inspired strings delicately placed in all the right places.

“I hold Something In My Hand” is a song that Ryder Jones goes to frequently do get him through hard times, and the symphony-laden “This Can’t Go On” will have you facing your own demons with The Moody Blues leading the parade.

The Vaccines – Pick-Up Full of Pink Carnations

Put a pin in this one and allow it to resurface several times over the next few months as there is a tendency to neglect January records in the avalanche of new releases.

As per usual, with this Indie rock band The Vaccines deliver boisterous wide screen anthems on a foundation of sticky hooks and Brit Pop influences.

High octane with a hint of garage rock, “Lunar Eclipse” is a sun-kissed bouncer, and “The Dreamer” is patented Vaccines pop song craft.

Look for this one to show up on many year end best-of lists.

Magnum – Here Comes The Rain

Magnum is an English hard rock and AOR band that applies their trade in the being of Night Ranger and early Journey.

Doing business since 1972, with Hear Comes The Rain, the band’s 23rd album, the band delivers melodic power ballads combined with straight ahead rockers thrown in for good measure. The title track is pure orchestral AOR splendor, and “The Seventh Darkness” rides the rails along the darker side of Bon Jovi.

Sadly, Tony Clarkin, guitarist and songwriter for the band, passed away two days before the release of the record.

Mike Flanigin – West Texas Blues

Texas Honky Tonk Blues in the Stevie Day Vaughan mold, Mike Flanigin is mostly known for his proficiency on the Hammond B3 organ and collaborations with Jimmie Vaughan, Billy Gibbons and Steve Miller.

“I Got My Eyes On You” will drift you right back to your favorite Texas roadhouse, the opener “West Texas Blues” seances the spirit of SRV’s “Pride and Joy,” and “I Live Where The Action Is” presents a love letter to the Austin music scene.

Brothers Brown – Nowhere Left To Go

From the VW van with the peace sign on the cover of the album there is a retro vibe to the proceedings that will take you back to the Fillmore West on a bill with The Band, The Grateful Dead, and Van Morrison.

Opener, “Wrong Side of Town” could have been a “Tupelo Honey” B-side, “Junior’s Back” settles in like a lost Songs From The Big Pink demo, and “My Baby” will put you right on the sawdust honky tonk floor with Delbert McClinton.

There is nothing not to like with this one.

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.

097. Love Gang – Mean Streak

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.

096. CVC – Get Real

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.

095. Arielle ‘73

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.

089. Maneskin – Rush

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

Five years have past since QOTSA have seen the light of ear, but if these melodious grooves and monster riffs are any indication Josh Home and the boys are back and better than ever.

The late era Bowie and Iggy mojo only adds to the proceedings. This one is a strong candidate for Rock album of the year.

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.

082. The Answer – Sundowners

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.

077. The Cold Stares – Voices

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.

075. Vega – Battlelines

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.

073. Streetlight – Ignition

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.

068. Fences – Bright Soil

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.”

064. REWS – Meridians

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.

062. Mapache – Swinging Stars

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.

057. Jenny Lewis – Joy ‘all

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.

052. 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

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.

050. The Answer – Sundowners

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.

045. 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.

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.

043. 100 gecs -10,000 gecs

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.

038. Cut Worms – Cut Worms

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.

033. CIVIC – Taken By Force

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.

029. Starmen – Starmenized

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.

028. Ash – Race The Night

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.

026. Vanity Mirror – Puff

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.

024. Jetboy – Crate Diggin’

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.

016. 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 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.

005. Boygenius – The Record

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.

003. Zach Bryan – Zach Bryan

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.

002. Margo Price – Strays

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.