From his highly excellent 2019 E.P., Indiana. Now touring, opening for Cold War Kids.
Category: A Rock and a Roll
On Our Radar: The Daybreaks – Bad Vibrations
Formed when four seasoned music veterans decided to form a band, The Daybreaks are another one of the great bands coming out of Nashville. With a bit of a 70’s Pop vibe there is a hint of 70’s era Fleetwood Mac and Tears For Fears On their sophomore record, Bad Vibrations.
New Music Friday: What We’re Listening To (September 6, 2019)
Greta Van Fleet – Always There
We have a bit of a love/hate relationship band with this band of brothers. While the music they make is stunningly good despite the obvious comparisons to Led Zeppelin, the narrative that they are the sole saviors of Rock and Roll is simply not true. This latest track from the Movie A Million Little Pieces shows a band maturing before our very ears.
Trigger Hippy – Strung Out On The Pain
Yes folks, the rumors are true. Trigger Hippy has a new record coming out, the drop date is October 11, and we cannot wait. “Strung Out On The Pain” is the third single to be released by this Nashville band that will have you reaching back to dig out your old Poco and Pure Prairie League records.
The Down ‘n’ Outz – Another Man’s War
Joe Elliott, front man for Def Leppard, is a huge fan of Ian Hunter and Mott the Hoople. When performing with his side-piece band The Down ‘n’ Outz, they will cover most of the Mott catalog along with selected really cool covers. Here, they are getting ready to release an album of original songs. “Another Man’s War is the second single to be released from their soon to be released record.
Mean Old World – North Mississippi Allstars (feat. Jason Isbell, Duane Betts)
The North Mississippi All Stars get a lot of play in the offices at Rock is the New Roll, and Jason Isbell and Duane Bett’s ramp up the coolness even more on this one. For extra credit check out the new album by the Allman Betts Band, Down to the River
Airbourne – Boneshaker
Much in the same way that the Van Fleet boys evoke Led Zeppelin, the band Airbourne is pure AC/DC. And, since Angus and company won’t be coming out with a record anytime soon, these rock & rollers are a pretty good substitute.
Devendra Barnhart – Taking a Page
The latest single from his forthcoming album, Ma, to be released on September 13th. The song, heavily inspired by Carole King, share a line and melody form “So Far Away.”
Five Cool Ones: Five New Albums Released This Week (September 6, 2019)
Black Star Riders – Another State of Grace
With a more than solid follow up to 2017’s album Heavy Fire, this band born from the ashes of Thin Lizzy continues to place themselves on the mount Rushmore of bands that are saving Rock and Roll. The song “Don’t Let Me Down” is a distant cousin to Lizzy’s “Dancing In The Moonlight and is worth the price of admission alone.” The title track is Thin Lizzy meets Dropkick Murphy’s.
Crystal Gayle – You Don’t Know Me
Her first new record in 16 years, Crystal Gayle goes back to her country roots covering classic country tunes the likes of “Walking After Midnight,” “Crying Time,” and “Hello Walls.” “Put it Off Tomorrow” with Tanya Tucker and Peggy Sue Wright lending their voices is a highlite. Extra credit is given for not including her mega-hit “Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue” on this set.
Iggy Pop – Free
These days it seems that Iggy Pop is trying to channel his inner David Bowie, and truth be told, this is a bit of a miss-step for the godfather of Punk. This record is an odd patchwork of free-form jazz, poetry, ambient sounds, and beat poet musings and it does not quite hit the mark. It seems he has lost his lust for life a bit. But, If you are an Iggy fan you have another era in his storied career to savor.
The Highwomen – The Highwomen
A somewhat hipper spin on the Highwaymen since Brandi Carlile Maren Morris, Amanda Shires, and Natalie Hemby are all pretty much in the prime of their careers, unlike their semi-namesakes that were already on the other side of the hill. Here, the songwriting is crisp, the chemistry is electric, and even though this record was put together pretty quickly there is no sense that this is a one and done project.
Paul Cauthen – Room 41
His 2016 album My Gospel was a terrific record, and this one is even better. Written mostly in room 41 in artist haven that is The Belmont hotel in Dallas, Cauthen’s voice has been said to sound like all four of the Highwaymen combined.
Best Albums of 2019: The Limboos – Baia
The Limboos – Baia (Rating 5 out of 5)
The Limboos are pretty much the very definition of a genre defying band. A bit soul, retro in all the coolest of ways fusing together Soul, Rumba, Jazz, Blues, Funk, and a bunch of others we are probably skipping. On songs like “Till The End Of Town” you would bet your last dollar this was a Stax single from the 60’s.
When the sax kicks in on “Where Did She Go,” the first single from the album, there is a sense that you should be in some sort of Jetsons hipster go-go bar. The vocals are front and center and the production value is first rate with no single instrument overpowering another. And yes, they have a female drummer, as if they needed anything else to add to their coolness.
“Big Shot” the second single to be released as well as the opening track, sticks the groove and never let’s up. Swinging organ, silky sax, hip vocals all are the order of the day. This one is a timeless classic
Operating out of Madrid, most of the media about the band is in Spanish, which is somewhat perplexing since all of the songs are in English. There is not a bad tune to be had on this record. It is a great party record with ebbs and flows that make it a textured masterpiece.
Five Cool Ones – Five Cool Albums Released This Week (August 30, 2019)
Sheryl Crow – Threads
It would be easier to list who is not playing on this record than who is. We are talking Willie, of course, Chris Stapleton, Bonnie Raitt, Mavis Staples, Stevie Nicks, Eric Clapton, Neil Young, Jason Isbell, Joe Walsh, Emmylou, James Taylor, and literally many more. Sure most of these folks might not have been in the same room when they recorded their vocals, such is the world in this digital age, but it’s all pretty good.
Jesse Malin – Sunset Kids
This guy loves Neil Young, Tom Waits, and Steve Earle, and that’s good enough for us. On this one, he collaborates with Lucinda twice along with Billie Joe Armstrong.
G-Flip – About Us
Georgia Flipo, otherwise known as G Flip, is a Melbourne artist that is standing on the precipice of fame. This is addictive, shimmering Pop-fastic fun.
Honeyboy Slim & The Bad Habits – Who Put The Jinx?
Who knew that the best blue eyed soul of the year this side of St. Paul and The Broken Bones would come from Sweden.
Joan Shelley – Like The River Loves The Sea
This record is a slow burn. After one listen you will go, ok, Joni Mitchell for the new millennium. After a second listen you will think there is something a bit deep going on here. And, after a third listen, you will be putting this record on your own personal best of the year lists. This record is sensual, provocative and alarming all at the same time.
Five Cool Ones: Five New Albums Released This Week (August 23, 2019)
Jason Hawk Harris – Love & the Dark
Another stellar artist from Blood Shot records. He sounds a bit like Jason Isbell, carries with him a Lyle Lovett swagger, and composes a song with the best of them. I will stand on Steve Earle’s coffee table and call out Love & the Dark as one of the best Americana records of 2019.
Tanya Tucker – While I’m Living
Somewhat unbelievably, this is Tanya Tucker’s first set of original songs in 17 years. With production help from Brandi Carlisle and Shooter Jennings on tunes like “Bring My Flowers Now,” a song where Tanya sounds a bit like Lucinda, and “The Wheels of Laredo” that give us all hope that we might be seeing a Johnny Cash/Rick Rubin type career resurrection right before our very ears.
Vince Gill – Okie
When Vince Gill settles into his vocal pocket on a song like he does here over an entire album, the results can be glorious. Stepping out from his Eagles gig, the Oklahoma roots are showing on just about all of these 12 stellar tunes. Highlights abound, but “A World Without Haggard” and “Nothin’ Like A Guy Clark Song” stand above the rest. This Okie has still got it!
Sheer Mag – A Distant Call
From the opening salvo of “Steel Sharpens Steel,” the first song out of the chute here, you are hit between the ears with a Rock and Roll steamroller of a singer that roars like the devil spawn of Suzi Quatro and Joan Jett fronting Thin Lizzy. And yes, this much awaited album is as much of a brilliant guilty pleasure as you would think it would be.
Midland – Let It Roll
The agony of having to wait for the full album after the release of several ear enticing singles is finally over. Think Glen Campbell Rhinestone Cowboy era Country Style with this band of stellar musicians out of Dripping Springs Texas. We have tried very hard not to like this band and are failing miserably.
Best Albums of 2019: The New Roses – Nothing But Wild
This one might be the Rock and Roll record of the year. And, if this were thirty years ago most of the songs on this scorcher of a record would be in the top 10 with a bullet. “The Bullet” would have made a perfect Night Ranger ballad, “Can’t Stop Rock and Roll” sounds a bit like Bon Jovi on steroids.
The choruses are huge, the hooks are everywhere and with songs that extoll the virtues of a six pack and a radio down by the river you won’t even need throwback Thursday to bring back the good old days.
Part Def Leppard part Brian Adams, if you are of a certain age this album would have been the soundtrack of your 20’s. As it is, let this be the soundtrack of a waning summer.
Five Cool Ones: Five Cool Albums Released This Week (August 16, 2019)
Things are definitely heating up as we jet towards the end of the year. Rodney Crowell releases his Texas Album, Americana stalwart Drew Holcomb delivers a solid set and there a bunch more gems.
Rodney Crowell – Texas
Ronnie Dunn, Willie Nelson, Billy Gibbens, Lyle Lovett and more celebrate all things Texas from the border to the oil patches, the strip bars honky-tonks. From the Piney Woods to the Rio Grande this record is almost as big as the state.
Ikebe Shakedown – Kings Left Behind
This 7 piece instrumental band from Brooklyn fills the air with a steamy brew of Funk, Soul, and Spaghetti Western Retro Psychedelic flair. This one is the soundtrack for when you are getting ready to go out on a Saturday night.
Madison Cunningham – Who Are They Now
It seems appropriate that Madison Cunningham would eventually land on the Verve record label. Her nuanced and sophisticated guitar playing and vocal delivery will remind you of Joni Mitchell in her prime. The songwriting is pure Karla Bonoff.
Lillie Mae – Other Girls
Released on Jack Whites Third Man Records with Producer Dave Cobb at the helm Lillie Mae’s bluegrass leanings are as subtle as they could get without disappearing all together.
Bobby Rush – Sitting On Top Of The Blues
Veteran Bobby Rush might be the last real Blues man standing this side of Buddy Guy. Have guitar and harmonica, will travel. And brilliantly we might add.
New Music Friday (August 2, 2019)
Yola – Shady Grove
The latest video from Yola’s debut record, Walk Through Fire.” A top 20 record for sure.
Starcrawler – Bet My Brains
Starcrawler, one of our favorite over the edge Rock Chick bands are back witba new single and video.
Trigger Hippy – Don’t Wanna Bring You Down
In 2014 Trigger Hippy, a supergroup consisting of Nashville session musicians released a self-titled album that was one of the best of the year. Here they pop up out of nowhere with a scorching new single.
Midland – Cheatin’ Songs
Normally, we would cry fowl on a band that travels the 80’s Country landscape, but for Midland all bets are off. We are all in. Here is their latest Garth Meets George gem.
The Allman Betts Band – Shinin’
Formed by the sons of Gregg Allman and Dickie Betts the Southern Rock torch has Ben duly passed. Close your eyes and you will think it is 1975 all over again.
Demob Happy – Autoportrait
This Psych Rock trio turns up the burners on this one to deliver the headbanger of the week.
Moon City Masters – The Price You Pay
A strong 70’s filter on this one picture Blind Faith jamming on stage with The Allman Brothers and you will pretty much get the idea.
Goodbye June – Universal Mega Love
These guys already have the chops to Greta Van Fleet and Rival Sons. A Rock band on the rise look for their new record Community Inn to come out in October.
Elles Bailey – Deeper
A vibrant Blues/Soul singer Elles Bailey could be the younger sister of Beth Hart.
Rock Is The New Roll 