Category: A Rock and a Roll

Five Cool Ones: Five New Records Released This Week (September 3, 2021)

In the ebb and flow of the weekly new records reaching our ears, this week, albeit a little slow, has garnered a few happy hour gems to enjoy. And, after all, everything is just a placeholder until the new Robert Plant Alison Krause record comes out.

With a new E.P. in the works, Bastette is out with a new single in the Halestorm Pretty Reckless mold.

Amythyst Kiah continues to impress, delivering her unique blend of Soul Americana on this performance of “Firewater” from her recently released Wary + Strange record.

And, speaking of horrible band names, Temple Balls are out with their new single and video “Bad, Bad, Bad.”

And if that is not enough, here are five new albums that are getting heavy airplay in the halls of Rock is the new Roll.

Lady Blackbird – Black Acid Soul

A stunning fresh voice, Black Acid Soul, the debut album from Lady Blackbird (Marley Munroe), is a sparsely elegant masterpiece. Accompanied mainly by Deron Johnson, the go-to piano player for Miles Davis, the singer delivers a haunting set of Nina Simone-inspired tunes that could have been released in the ’60s instead of in the present and produced in the legendary Studio B in Sunset Sound.

Reflecting influences as diverse as Billie Holiday, Chaka Khan, and Gladys Knight, the version of Nina’s “Blackbird” delivered here is a nuanced gem, and “Five Feet Tall” is a torch song with a touch of Amy Winehouse DNA in it. The instrumental title track, as a closer, is a perfect way to wrap up an album that will be considered one for the ages.

Motorists – Surrounded 

Meshing together the irreverent pop-centric qualities of Camper Van Beethoven along with the controlled ramshackle energy of The Replacements, Toronto band Motorists will bring to mind many of your favorite ’80s college-rock bands.

“Vangloirous” has a bit of early REM dusting about it, “Latent Space” throws some krautrock in the mix, and “Walled Garden” has a “Radio Free Europe” vibe going for it. “Turn It Around” even as a Jarvis Cocker and Orange Juice aura that is refreshing to hear. 

This one is about as solid a debut record as we have heard in quite some time.

Pearl & The Oysters – Flowerland

You don’t have to go much past the opener “Soft Science” to figure out the Joire de vie on Flowerland, the latest psychedelic wonder from Pearl & The Oysters.

’60’s French Pop, space-age ’90s pop, and Austin Powers fab-mojo all come together to create a nostalgically forward sounding record that seems lost in time. While Syd Barrett, mid-era Beach Boys, and Jellyfish might be accurate touchpoints for this band, these guys are their very own unicorns. Rather than pick out a single song, this record is better digested as an entire entity. Put the needle down on the opener and let the rest of the album wash over you, enhancing your spirit and adding some soul inspiration to your life.

David Ferguson – Nashville No More

An Americana stalwart, David Ferguson has collaborated with everyone on the scene, including Sturgill Simpson, Charley Pride, Johnny Cash, John Prine, and Cowboy Jack Clement. Now, stepping out on his own with Nashville No More, he delivers on a solid set of tunes that highlight his skills as a singer songwriter in his own right.

Recruiting several of his Nashville pals on this new record, Margo Price joins him on “Chardonnay,” and bluegrass maestro Sierra Hull helps out on “Hard Times Come Again No More.” The cover of “Four Strong Winds” presented here is as good as a version gets, and the Jerry Jeff Walker vocal touch on “Boats to Build” is a homespun-sounding gem.

Gerry Rafferty – Resit in Blue

Collecting a series of demos, some going back as far as 1970, Gerry Rafferty’s daughter Martha has curated a set of songs that focus more on Rafferty vocals than delivering Stealers Wheel B-sides. Deep-cut Rafferty fans will love this record. The foreshadowing opener, “Still in Denial,” is a confessional of sorts as Rafferty died of liver disease in 2011. And, the version of “Dirty Old Town,” as presented here, is as good as it gets.

The song “Lost Highway” would have fit in nicely on any of the ’70s Rafferty solo albums, and, spoiler alert, there is a semi-demo version of “Stuck in the Middle With You,” of course.

Five Cool Ones: Five New Records Released This Week (August 21, 2021)

As we barrel toward the end of the year and begin putting together our lists of the best albums of the year, the new releases seem to be regressing to the mean a bit in anticipation of the pre-holiday surge coming up in October.

Rock is the New Roll favorite Valerie June is out with a first-rate video for “Why The Bright Stars Glow” from her recent L.P., The Moon And Stars: Prescriptions for Dreamers.

The ever-prolific Daniel Romano is back delivering his distinct brand of ode to joy with his single “Motions.”

And, the venerable Rolling Stones have released a new song taken from the Tatoo You sessions that present the band at their snarly best.

And if that is not enough, here are five new albums that are tickling our earbuds this week.

Shannon & The Clams – Year of the Spider

Twelve records in, the punk, garage, surf-noir ’60s vibe for Shannon and her clams seems as freshly restored as a ’65 Mustang convertible. And, just as fun. With Dan Auerbach and his band of knob twirlers at Easy Eye Sound once again at the helm on this one, the arrangements seem more robust, and the songwriting is the band’s best to date. The entire package seems to be another step forward in establishing the band as more than a vintage novelty act.

“Mary Don’t Go” shimmers with a surf by way of a girl group vibe, “Leaves Fall Again” has the DNA of a Morricone Western theme, and when Cody Blanchard takes the microphone on “Flowers Will Return,” the results are no less impressive. Multiple listens of this one will yield other-worldly results.

All in, this is a terrific listen with plenty of texture and surprises around every corner to keep things interesting and exotic.

James McMurtry – The Horses and the Hounds

In what might be his best to date, Larry McMurtry, with his latest record, The Horses and the Hounds, shows that the ability to craft a memorable story with believable characters doesn’t fall far from the artistic tree. Every tune on this one is a short story in a song. Whether he is singing about reclaiming a 30-year long-lost love as he does on the opener “Canola Fields” or when he is pondering a friend’s death on “Vaquero,” the passion and intricate feelings of each protagonist is palpable.

There is not a bad song within this set. If you like your short stories with an Americana bent and more than a touch of Rock and Roll, this is your jam.

Lorde – Solar Power

With a calmer and gentler Lorde, less is more for the New Zealand star on her new album, Solar Power. From the title track, a song that would go down perfectly lying in a hammock, the vibe is more like Jack Johnson than Lady Gaga. The exquisitely monikered “Stoned at the Nail Salon” is first-class songwriting, and “Oceanic Feeling” is an escapist lover’s dream.

With a few more albums like this under her belt, Lorde will be exposing herself to an entirely new audience following in Taylor Swift’s footsteps.

Martha Wainwright – Love Will Be Reborn

Here in the offices of Rock is the New Roll, we will stand on Donny and Marie’s coffee table and declare that Rufus and Martha Wainwright are the most talented sibling duo in the singer-songwriter game today. With this, her fifth proper full-length record, Martha lays herself bare with a song cycle coming from a year dealing with loneliness, despair, and a global pandemic. 

There is hope around every turn, however, most notably on “Middle of the Lake,” and “Report Card,” and “Body and Soul.” The production is lush and atmospheric, sufficiently moody where it needs to be and elegiac throughout.

Chrissie Hynde – Standing in the Doorway: Chrissie Hynde Sings Bob Dylan

Technically released on digital platforms in May, Chrissie Hynde’s tribute to Bod Dylan hit the shelves in physical form this week. Charting the deeper waters of the Dylan Canon, the Pretenders frontwoman wraps herself completely around “Love Minus Zero/No Limit,” floats like a butterfly in the petals of the story song “Blind Willie McTell,” and begins the parade with a Pretenders worthy version of “In the Summertime” from the somewhat obscure Dylan album, Shot of Love.

With a prolific display of Dylan tribute records of late, this one stands apart given how deep into the well this one goes and the fact that when you close your eyes and listen to her voice on “You’re A Big Girl Now” in particular, you’d swear you were listening to Bob’s sister.

Five Cool Ones: Five Rockin’ Mind Movers

Time to lose yourself and escape from reality courtesy of these five new Rock and Roll gems.

Ryan Hamilton – Personal Holiday

Another slice of summery pop from Ryan Hamilton in advance of a more fully formed collection to be released later in the year. Written about escaping the day-to-day nightmares of battling through a mental illness, realizing a ride down a highway to paradise would be what the doctor ordered.

Sweet Crisis – Ain’t Got Soul

If you haven’t already done so, take a moment to add these ’70s Cambridge rockers to your hot list of bands to watch. Their latest, “Ain’t Got Soul,” features Pink Floyd guitars, driving grooves, and catchy melodies. In short, everything you love about music all in one song.

 

Crazy Lixx – Anthem For America

Sleeze-Glam maestros Crazy Lixx are back again celebrating America as only they can. This one will take you right back to Guns ‘N’ Roses era Sunset Strip in the blink of an ear. Don’t over think this one, simply enjoy.

The Temperance Movement – You Fool No One

With Deep long-time Deep Purple drummer Ian Paice sitting in, there is a hint of early Cram on this song that bodes well for a proper full-length record later in the year.

Hayley and the Crushers – She Drives

Part Punk-Pop and part surf band Hayley and the Crushers would have been a perfect band in any of the ’60s beach movies.

Five Cool Ones: Five New Records Released This Week (July 30,2021)

Bring out the dancing horses, reach up for the top-shelf bottles, party like it’s 2021. Hear that gong, that’s the sound proclaiming that this is the best week of album releases so far, and the new Jason Isbell record hasn’t even come out yet.

The Black Keys are back with a video from their blues-centric latest Delta Kream.

Rock is the New Roll favorites, Georgia Thunderbolts are coyly teasing our ears with a new single, “Take It Slow.”

And, if you are in the mood for some careening down-the highway head-a banging monster energy, give a spin to this one from Lord Bishop Rocks, a song that features Vernon Reid with a killer guitar solo.

And, don’t bail out on that wave just yet. There’s more. Here are five epic records that are spinning in the offices of Rock is the new Roll this week.

Yola – Stand For Myself

Never shy about extolling the virtues about what they are doing at Easy Eye Sound down there in Nashville, it seems we feature one of their records every week, this time they may have come out with their best of the year with Yola’s new one, Stand For Myself. Building on the foundation of her debut record, Walk Through The Fire, released in 2019, this time out she displays her chops as a first-class songwriter along with all of her other skills,

Blending Americana, Pop, and soul as effortlessly as a bird in flight this time she blends classic ’70s R&B, horns, and vintage organ to create a sound that is vintage-cool while at the same time polished and smooth. The break-out single “Diamond Studded Shoes” evokes Tina at her snarling best, the title track is a burning every-person anthem. The Donna Summer disco splendor of “Dancing Away The Tears” shows off the sonic splendor of a perfect artist-producer pairing the likes of which we haven’t seen since George Martin was in the sandbox with his mates.

Quite possibly the best sophomore release from any artist in recent memory, this one is a keeper that just might be the best Soul record released in the last 10 years.

Bleachers – Take The Sadness Out of Saturday Night

With the band self-professing that this album captures that tipping point when joy finally shoves desperation out of the way, after listening to the ebullient anthem “Don’t Go Dark,” who are we to disagree. Coming in at a tight 33 minutes with the vibe going from low-fi to medium fi at the blink of an ear, the record brings to mind “Pink Floyd” in places, mid-career Bruce Springsteen in others, and The Talking Heads on the catchy “Stop Making This Hurt.”

And, what self-respecting New Jersey band could release a record without a fly-bye from The Boss himself? Here, “Chinatown” would have fit in quite nicely on the Working On A Dream sessions. And, oh yeah before we forget, “Secret Life” features a seductive guest turn from Lana Del Rey.

Durand Jones & The Indications – Private Space

Yet another soul-stirrer of a record from Durand Jones and his band featuring a two-headed monster on vocal duties with Jones and Aaron Frazier handling the hi-low harmonies. Whether you are a new school or old school R&B fan, this one will be right up your street.

“Witchoo” parties down like “Rappers Delight,” “Love Will Work It Out would make Barry White Blush, and “More Than Ever” is a silky-smooth wonder. If Donny Hathaway and Prince were the twin sons of Stevie Wonder and the family formed a trio, their million-selling record would sound like Private Space. If you have been looking for love in all the wrong places, your ship has just come in.

 

Various Artists – Choctaw Ridge (New Fables of the American South 1968-1973)

This various artists’ compilation mines the country sound that emerged following Bobbie Gentry’s Southern-noir classic “Ode To Billie Joe” her number one hit from 1967.

Riding the type of deep-woods storytelling that could be found between the pages of a Faulkner novel, singers like Jimmy Webb, Lee Hazlewood, and Michael Nesmith took their Nashville outsider status to the deep South to pen tunes that amounted to darker edged boy meets girl songs set on the “other side” of the other side of the tracks.

The song titles pretty much tell it all here whether it is on “The Back Side of Dallas, “Mr. Jackson’s Got Nothing To Do,” or “Chris Gantry’s”If Only She Had Stayed,” every selection has a foreboding of doom and despair right around the corner. 

Selecting a favorite from this lot would be a fools ending, however, if you were to hold a gun to our head during a game of Russian Roulette, feast your ears on “Why Can’t I Come Home” or “Saunders Ferry Lane.”

Nobody’s Girl – Nobody’s Girl

An Austin Americana supergroup of sorts, Nobody’s girl, named after a Bonnie Raitt song, is Betty Soo, Rebecca Loebe, and Grace Pettis. Playing it forward with a vibe that floats somewhere between Fleetwood Mac and Mary Chapin Carpenter the album is a polished gem that never misses a beat over 11 compelling tracks.

“Beauty Way,” a song that could have been on the Tusk record displays guitar player Charlie Sexton prominently, “What’ll I Do”  has a distinct ’80s Ladies dusting to it, good stuff indeed. Dismiss the thought that this may be too slickly produced or too radio-friendly and lose yourself in this wonderfully atmospheric Americana record.

Five Cool Ones: Five New Albums Released This Week (July 23, 2021)

With the euphoric sense that the lockdown releases are behind us, artists are beginning to focus on more positive themes, less political nonsense, and seem to be getting back to the basics of rock and roll. And quite frankly, we are all the better for it.

The Black Keys are digging even deeper down that well of blues with this iconic song from their Delta Kream record.

Dan Israel puts everything in perspective with this easy flowing, perfect for driving down to the sea tune, “The Hang of It.”

And Eric Bazilian, the frontman for the Hooters, takes us back to the glorious ’80s with his latest single, “Back In The ’80s.”

If all of that is not enough, here are five more nuggets that are entering our ear-waves this week.

The Peppermint Kicks – The Peppermint Kicks

A Power Pop supergroup with members of The Stompers, The Amplifier Heads, and the Shang Hi Los all representing, Peppermint Kicks lays down a hipster blend of Pop-Punk, Rock, and infectious Power Pop. “When Rock & Roll Met Your Dad” is essentially a love letter to the healing powers of rock & roll, while “Hey Fanzine!” pays homage to those great music magazines from days of yore, Creem, Rolling Stone (when they were a music magazine), Circus, and more. The spirit of Cheap Trick and The Ramones are all over this record, most notably on “Shag ’72” and the ode to pointless rock and roll “I Don’t Hear a Single.”

Coolness resides around every corner on this record that even laments the demise of the hallowed long-lost rock venues with “Johnny D’s (Play It Again)” and the lack of bands that don’t play loud anymore on the semi-loud “Stooge.”

For those of a certain age, this love letter to a time and space before corporate rock will put you in that long-lost ear space that you forgot you missed.

Rodney Crowell – Triagethis time around he

The national Texas treasure that is Rodney Crowell is back with his 18th album. A bit more introspective now, this time around he leaves the negativity to others in favor of songs of sin, mortality, and redemption. The title track compares love to forgiveness, “Something Has To Change” calls out those that darken the world, and “This Body Isn’t All There Is To Me” pretty much says it all.

Though the mood is a bit more somber from what we are used to from Rodney, after all, we are in a pandemic, let’s hold out hope that better times are right around the corner. And, what better tour guide than Rodney Crowell.

Glen Campbell – Live From The Troubadour

Given the state of his health at the time of this recording in 2008 when he opens this show from the famed Troubadour concert venue in L.A. saying it is good to be back at the Hungry I, it takes a beat to realize that he is joking. Here, on one of his last tours, Glen Campbell covers all of his musical muses. His more recent tunes, including “Grow Old With Me” and “All I Want Is You” are intermingled with Jimmy Web Classics “Galveston,” “By The Time I Get To Phoenix” along with the Cambell must-play Classics “Rhinestone Cowboy” and “Gentle On My Mind.”

There are flashes of brilliance on display throughout the set, most notably during “Phoenix” when Cambell calls out “I wanna play one” as he drifts off into a Les Paul worthy guitar interlude. But, for the most part, the set is a poignant reminder of an artist that we have forgotten that we loved giving us one last Hurrah.

Jackson Browne – Downhill From Everywhere

Like an old relative that comes back to visit between military assignments regaling with tales of travel in far-off lands, Jackson Browne is back on our shores with another set of masterclass storytelling. And, he doesn’t seem to have changed one bit.

“My Cleveland Heart” could be the centerpiece in a movie score in the vein of “Somebody’s Baby,” The title track has a timeless feel to it and could have been on the Lawyers in Love record, and “A Human Touch” would have been perfect The Pretender fodder.

Part nostalgic head-trip and part treatise on the state of the world, this one has something for everyone.

Velvet Insane – Rock ‘n’ Roll Glitter Suit

There is truth in advertising seeping through every poor of the sophomore record from these purveyors of Glam Rock. Starting with the insanely catchy “Backstreet Liberace” the stage is set for bringing up the ghosts of Slade, The Sweet, T Rex along with the rest of the Glam gang from the ’70s.

Right up there with Luke Spiller and The Struts this gang of Swedes drives it like they own it on the Slade worthy “Driving Down the Mountain” even display their tender side on the ballad “Midnight Sunshine Serenade”

Unless Luke and the boys come up with something out of this world later in the year, the best Rock album of 2022 has officially surfaced.

Five Cool Ones: Five New Rock Songs On Our Turntable Now

It might just be our ears playing tricks on us, but suddenly, 2021 is shaping up to be a banner year for rock as well as roll.

On that front, here are five rock and rollers we are listening to this week in the offices of Rock is the New Roll.

Samantha Fish – Twisted Ambition

The latest incarnation of Samantha Fish has her shedding her pure Blues gills in favor of a more Blues-Rock Bonnie Raitt style. If her song “Twisted Ambition,” a single released in anticipation of a proper full-length record later in the year, is any indication, it should be a scorcher.

Gorilla Riot – Drowned

This band from Manchester walks the dangerous Grunge Rock streets with aplomb as they channel their inner Pearl Jam as well as the softer corners of Soundgarden’s oeuvre.

The Picturebooks – Catch Me If You Can

This boot stomper of a track features Blackstone Cherry frontman Chris Robertson on a loose-limbed scorcher that goes down like a cocktail served by The MC-5 with Lenny Kravitz ready to buy the next round.

Georgia Thunderbolts – Be Good To Yourself

The young bucks in the Georgia Thunderbolts maintain all of the soul inherent in the Frankie Miller original while adding just enough rock and roll swagger to make this one a contemporary yet timeless classic. The new record, Can I Get a Witness, comes out on October 15.

Joanne Shaw Taylor – If That Ain’t a Reason

With his recent move to Nashville, around the corner from the Ryman, serving to inspire his creative muse, here, he handles the knob-twirling duties as a producer on this sterling true-to-form Joanne Shaw Taylor cover version of the Little Milton tune. Look for some more killer blues-influenced cuts set for release later in the year.

Five Cool Ones: Five New Songs To Enjoy This Week (July 2, 2021)

While the proper album releases are on hiatus this week and the staff here at Rock is the new Roll takes a much-deserved week off, no worries, we are not going to leave you hanging. 

Here are five choice nuggets to be enjoyed over the fourth of July Weekend.

Bros – Garbanzo Man

A brother spin-off band from Rock is the New Roll of Famers Sheepdogs the fellas have released this one from their upcoming record, Vol 2.. With Hints of Ram era Paul McCartney and Hall and Oates, this one should get some heavy rotation on your summer playlist.

Robert Jon & The Wreck – Shine a Light on Me Brother

This one is like The Blues Brothers and Blackberry Smoke doing Proud Mary. A scorcher of an anthem, this is the title track from their upcoming record.

The Moon City Masters – Starstruck

Moving a fair length away from their cool covers and disco-tinged previous works The Moon City Masters offer up a cozy American-Moonlight single that could have been on a long-lost Poco record.

Kerosene Stars – Where Have You Been

Kerosene Stars are out in front of a new record later in the year with this hook-laden summer rocker.

Everet Almond – All Out of Time

This bouncy piano gem could fit quite nicely on any Paul Weller record.

Cult Stars From Mars – Blinded By The Light

A throwback-inspired band Cult Stars From Mars (Mike Portnoy, Jeff Soto, Darian Sahhanajay) trade-in their harder-edged Rock and Roll edged for a Power Pop sheen on this Bruce Springsteen cover.

Best Albums of 2021 (So Far): (099) Lovebreakers – Primary Colours

(099) Lovebreakers – Primary Colours

Sunshine Punk and Roll is the order of the day on this one. Hailing from Birmingham England with hooks a-plenty, there is an underlying edge to the otherwise jaunty guitar work presented here that lends to the theory that this debut record will be the start of something big for the band. Looking for a touchpoint, look no further than The Arctic Monkeys or the accessible side of The Replacements.

Five Cool Ones: Five New Records Released This Week (June 25, 2021)

The year is now officially half over, and the only thing we have to say here at Rock is the New Roll is that keep your ears strapped on it’s about to get loud. Tours are starting to get announced and cranked up as many musicians have spent the downtime reflecting and writing new music and are eager to share their music with the masses. And we, of course, can’t wait to see what the six months have to offer. 

The mighty Night Ranger is back with a boffo new single and video in advance of a record coming out later in the year.

The virtual one-man bad himself Pokey LaFarge is announcing his new record scheduled for release on September 10th with the single “Get It ‘For It’s Gone.” 

And, the blazing rock duo The Picturebooks team up with the guys from Monster Truck on a single that will bring to the ear the essence of Norman Greenbaum’s “Spirit in the Sky.”

But wait, there’s more. Here are five records that we are grooving to this week here in the halls of Rock is the New Roll.

Hiss Golden Messenger – Quietly Blowing It

In these days of online singles released in dribs and drabs in advance of a proper record release, the anticipation of a proper full-length sometimes builds up to an unbearable frenzy. And, for our ears, this is one of those highly anticipated gems. After initially being introduced to the record via the Laurel Canyon-inspired song “Sanctuary,” it was as clear as the ears on our head that we were in store for an exciting listen when the proper record was released.

Holing up in his North Carolina basement at the start of the pandemic, MC Taylor used the current state of affairs as a mood-setter in an attempt to get under the covers of some of the deeper issues behind all of the turmoil swirling around him. With a certain Bob Dylan quality, the record lays bare the fragility of the moment with the gospel-tinged “It Will If We Let It.” “Glory Strums (Of The Long Distance Runner),” a song that could be the distance cousin of a classic Fleetwood Mac tune, and “Mighty Dollar,” telling it like it is. The poor man loses, the rich man wins.

Don’t sleep on this record. This one has lived up to the hype and more and is destined to take up residence in the top ten once the end of the year rolls around.

Vincent Neil Emerson – Vincent Neil Emerson

A quick listen to some of his world-weary lyrics, most notably on “Debtor’s Blues,” there is a sense that if Vincent Neil Emerson was not able to come to grips with his past through the catharsis of his songs he probably would not be alive.

“I spent my whole life/Wonderin’ why I’m down,” Vincent Neil Emerson sings, not long into his new, self-titled sophomore album. “I don’t feel easy if the blues don’t come around/And my face don’t look right without a frown.”

With life seemingly lived in the verses of a country song after enduring his father’s suicide, alcoholism, a brother’s death in a house fire, and homelessness, there is hope rather than despair prevalent with this excellent sophomore release. “Texas Moon” could have been a John Prine Song, “Learnin’ to Drown” is a sparse piano-led stunner that details the singer’s forlorn days sleeping in his car and lays out his life in under 5:00 of reflective and emotional storytelling that would make Townes Van Zant blush.

Produced by his mentor Rodney Crowell, this deservingly break-out record should cement a place for Vincent Neil Emerson in the pantheon of great contemporary Texas singer-songwriters to be mentioned in the same breath as Steve Earle, Guy Clark, and Lyle Lovett.

Amythyst Kiah – Wary + Strange

For virginal ears not familiar with Amythst Kiah one listen to her latest song “Hangover Blues” will have your ears clamoring for more. Somewhat of a genre-bending artist with a voice that floats somewhere between Nina Simone and Tracey Chapman, as a member of the Rhiannon Giddens collective her latest is a highly empowering life-affirming record that doesn’t shy away from addressing the issues of the day most notably on the powerful “Black Myself” and the topic of suicide on “Wild Turkey” that deals with her mother’s suicide.

“Hangover Blues” is as devasting of a back-end of a drinking binge anthem you will find this side of “Sunday Morning Coming Down,” the song “Sleepy Queen” has a bit of a Bill Withers tilt to it, and “Ballad of the Lost” is a gut-wrenching ballad that deals with issues of abandonment head-on.

There is beauty in diversity, and this is a beautiful genre-defying record. Deep Blues meld with Rock, R&B, and Appalachian bluegrass to create an awe-inspiring textured masterpiece. If you listen to only one album this year, it should be this one.

Grateful Dead – Grateful Dead (Skull and Roses)

Mostly worthy of mention here simply because it is one of the best live records ever committed to vinyl, this 50th anniversary remastered edition captures The Grateful Dead at their accessible best.

Known for the lack of sparsity of Grateful Dead songs in favor of some choice covers, the production value on this one is pristine, the vocals are mixed perfectly, and the crowd energy is palpable but does not overwhelm the mix. Highlights include Mighty Merle’s “Mama Tried” and the extended “Sing Me Back Home,” “Johnny B. Good,” and a next-level version of “Me and Bobby McGee.”

Put the headphones on and absorb yourself in this one.

Pom Pom Squad – Death of a Cheerleader.

As fine a debut record as our ears have had the pleasure of hearing in quite some time, you can pretty much get where the band is coming from when Mia Berrin sings “You should ask your mother what she means, she says Stay away from girls like me.”

Outcast odes aside this is an up-tempo roller coaster ride of on-point songwriting, peppy festival-ready anthems, and highly accessible Indie Rock arrangements from the vantage point of an outsider that has seen what life is on the inside, and is perfectly happy living life on the fringes.

The song “Head Cheerleader” almost has an ’80s fornicating under the football bleachers John Hughes feel about it, and the Joan Jett inspired “Drunk Voicemail” is worth the price of admission alone. 

Come to experience the angst, but stay for the Tommy James meets the white rabbit rendering of “Crimson and Clover”

The 100 Best Albums of 2021 (So Far)

(099) Little Hat – Wine, Whiskey, & Wimmen

This ’50s channeling trio from Holland pays tribute in their songs and style to relatively obscure bluesmen the likes of Lazy Lester, Titus Turner, and Isaiah Ross. You will need to listen closely to really tell that this tightly constructed set of songs was not recorded by Sam Phillips in the Sun Records studio. The opener “Clema” could have been a Fats Domino special, “Cat Squirrel” a Chuck Berry ditty, and the title song “Wine, Wimmen, Whiskey” is, of course, pure John Lee Hooker. “Boogie in the Park” is a stomper that could be played anywhere in Mississippi.

Preferring not to be labelled as retro-rockers, this multi-generational (one member is 20 something, another is his 30’s and the third is in his 70’s) band doesn’t try to revive the spirit of their heroes exactly, rather they built on the momentum and create a sound and spirit uniquely their own.