Category: A Rock and a Roll

Five Cool Ones: Five New Albums Released Today (August 2, 2019)

Tyler Childers – Country Squire

A more than solid follow up to his 2017 release, purgatory. The songwriting appears to have a bit more of an edge and even without Sturgill on the knobs the production value is pristine.

The Bird and the Bee – Interpreting The Masters, Vol. 2 (A Tribute To Van Halen)

There really is no legitimate reason for this album to exist. But, we are sure glad it does. No new ground is forged here, just some off the wall versions of “Jump,” “Hot For Teacher,” and “Panama.” Hell, they even cover “Unchained” and Eruption. Even still, only die-hard VH fans need apply.

Volbeat- Rewind, Replay, Rebound

With each successive record Hard Rockers Volbeat seem to be softening slightly, losing the heavy metal angst without giving up any of their Rock and Roll swagger. The vocal harmonies here are a pleasant change, but make no mistake, with songs the likes of “Pelvis on Fire” these cats are still very capable of rocking your ears off.

Mike and the Moonpies – Cheap Silver and Solid Country Gold

These guys are what Honky Tonk is all about, Texas style. At a tidy 8 songs and 31 minutes you don’t quite feel the energy they put out in their live shows, but nothing is lost in this strong set. “You Look Good In Neon” is a hi-light that would make George Strait proud and their version of the Guy Clark staple “London Homesick Blues” is close to perfect.

Creedence Clearwater Revival – Live at Woodstock

Released as part of the mammoth box set of 38 CD’s consisting of every song performed at the concert. For the first time ever we get to hear the remastered performances from Creedence Clearwater Revival, a band at the peak of their powers.

New Music Friday (July 26, 2019)

Crowded Table – The Highwomen

The second release in short order in advance of their September release.

Lodi – Janiva Magness and Sam Outlaw

Outstanding version of the CCR Classic.

Dirty Finger – Texas Hippie Coalition

With this ode to flipping the bird the mighty THC have become our new guilty pleasure band.

Summertime Vibes – Lewis Brice

It’s never too late in the summer to listen to your new summer jam.

Stay High – Brittany Howard

The Alabama Shakes leader goes solo.

Real Long Time – White Reaper

This one is getting a lot of air time at Rock Is The New Roll HQ.

Five Cool Ones: Five New Albums Released This Week (July 26, 2019)

A really good week for new releases despite the fact that Sugar Ray has a new record out.

Violent Femmes – Hotel Last Resort

Always consistent, on their tenth studio album not much has changed. Their Folk-Punk sound is still a bit angst ridden with Gordon Gango’s voice as strong as ever. There is no “Blister In The Sun” here, but on the strength of songs like “Not Ok” and “This Free Ride” that are so good no one will really notice. Long time fans need not worry. The Femmes are still a cult band in the best sense of the word.

Chris Gantry – Nashlantis

During the salad days of the 60’s and 70’s Outlaw Country scene Chris Gantry was the pesky younger brother to the big guys Kris, Johnny, Willie, Waylon and the rest of the better known names. A highly respected tune smith, Gantry most famously penned “Dreams of the Everyday Housewife” made famous by Glen Campbell. With this serving of fine song-craft and storytelling as a more than solid follow up to 2017’s Psych-Folk mini- masterpiece At the House of Cash, the 76 year old may just be the last outlaw standing after all is said and done.

Mikey Erg – Waxbuilt Castles

Mikey Erg self describes his latest solo release as his version of McCartney’s first record, homemade, loose, and not overthought.

Delbert McClinton – Tall, Dark, And Handsome

Delbert pretty much paints from the entire Blues palette on this one. From Jump Blues to Dirty Blues, Country Blues, and Delta Blues with a little bit of Smokey Jazz mixed in, this one has a little bit of everything. Tall Dark and Handsome Doesn’t break any new ground but should serve to remind us that much like John Hiatt, Delbert McClinton is a National treasure.

Lasers Lasers Birmingham – Warning

The clear winner for funkiest band name of the week Lasers Lasers Birmingham is the Country project for LA based singer songwriter Alex Owen. With music that can be described as modern day songwriting with Classic Country sensibilities. Much like Orville Peck this album is a bit genre defying and opens up the landscape of Country Music to a new audience.

Best Albums of 2019: Shana Cleveland – Night of the Worm Moon

Known mostly for her work with the Surf-Noir Band La Luz, Shana Cleveland doesn’t stray too far from the vintage guitar, psychedelic haze ambience on Night of the Worm Moon, her second proper full length record as a solo artist.

The cool, laconic, mostly psychedelic under current that wafts through the entire proceedings like an early era Leonard Cohen poetry reading will instantly take you back to a time when television came in both colors. Black, and white.

“The Fireball” is a shoegaze-y mellow-tron of a tune and “Solar Creep” is a night time chill-out experience. Don’t expect the jams to be kicked out anywhere on this record, just a fine, understated, spectral beauty of a listening journey.

New Music Friday (July 19, 2019)

Midland – Put The Hurt In Me

Gearing up for the release of a new record, these boys do 80’s Country with the best of them. I’m really trying not to like this band, but they are definitely growing on me.

Rodney Crowell and Lyle Lovett – What You Gonna Do Now

We already putting a placeholder for Rodney Crowell and his new album Texas in the top ten of albums of the year, but in the meantime here is another song to be enjoyed.

Jesse Malin – Meet Me At The End Of The World

Jesse Malin, a favorite of Rock Is The New Roll, absolutely never disappoints. Here, he is a bit more upbeat and his Lou Reed vocal delivery seems to go places we have not heard in a while.

Corb Lund and Hayes Carll – On The Cover of the Rolling Stone

A single released in advance of his new record, here he teams up with Hayes Carll to deliver a pretty darn good ‘make it their own’ version of a terrific song. Maybe they’ll get their picture on the cover.

Leon Bridges – That Was Yesterday

The latest from the San Cooke Meets Marvin Gaye Soul Singer.

DeWolff – Share the Ride

One of our favorite Rock and Roll bands du jour, DeWolff brings a template of 70’s rock with a modern flair. Listen closely for a touch of Creedence as well.

Five Cool Ones: Five Cool Albums Released This Week (July 19,2019)

Another pretty good release week. This time we get a sort of Beach Boys album with Mike Love’s 12 sides of Summer, a record by Darren Hyman celebrating the moon landing and astronauts in general called 12 Astronauts, and if your into this sort of thing, Creed frontman Scott Stapp has a record out to the sound of one hand clapping. Here are five morsels that have grabbed our ear-tention this week.

I See Hawks in LA and The Good Intentions – Hawks With Good Intentions

Riding the Laurel Canyon wave that is very hot right right now, I See Hawks in LA, a band that has recently as two years ago was called the greatest Country Band in the world, is mining 70’s Country Rock gold with this collaboration with The Good Intentions.

Tuxedo – Tuxedo III

The third installment of Mayer Hawthorne’s side-piece band. Here, he channels his inner KC and the Sunshine band with another set of more than solid 70’s inspired Funk and Disco gems. This one might be the most fun record of the year so far.

Collective Soul – Blood

On this, their 11th record Collective Soul mines some deep familiar territory and that is not a bad thing. Sure, it will have you swirling your memory banks back to their debut record Hints, Allegations & Things Unsaid leaving you remembering what a great record it really was. Playing it forward, opener “Now’s the Time” is a great re-introduction and “Right as Rain” stands up with their best work.

Glen Campbell – The Legacy (1961-2017)

Finally, the collection that is deserving of the icon that is Glen Campbell has finally arrived. Taking you down a rabbit hole past “By The Time I Get To Phoenix,” “Wichita Lineman,” “Galveston,” and many more hits. But, it is on the deep tracks where the Mojo of Glen really shines. “Bonaparte’s Retreat is a jaunty pleasure, his honey-voiced take on “Everybody’s Talkin'” is sublime, and the last song he ever recorded, “Adios” is a perfect ending to a perfect set of songs.

Ada Lea – What We Say In Private

Distinctly Low-Fi, there is an ambient relaxing vibe to most of the songs in this set. Sure, there are a couple of snappy ear worms like the opener “Mercury,” but for the most part the hushed vocals translates to a hushed vibe. This album is both bold and delicate if that is even possible, and in this case with this exquisite singer-songwriter it is not only possible, it is locked and loaded. Listen to this one with head phones for the full effect.

Best Albums of 2019: The Quireboys – Amazing Disgrace

The formula of The Small Faces filtered through a prism of The Rolling Stones and ZZ Top hasn’t changed much in 35 years for The Quireboys, but that’s not really the point. These guys can still write a killer hook and their new songs can stand ear to ear with tunes they may have written decades ago. Are you listening Rolling Stones? And, we’re not letting you off the hook Billy Joel. Their scorching opener “Original Black Eyed Son” swings the barroom doors open in the best of ‘let’s get ready to rumble’ ways. With the drum beat introduction and the horns kicking in, once the organ joins the party early on in the song you can almost see lead singer Spike Gray swashbuckling into the room with a bottle of Jack Daniels under one arm and a busty blond under the other.

Two songs in with “Singer Serenader” you are left wondering if these guys are really in their sixties or just might be a bunch of millennials with a garage band who grew up listening to their grand parents Classic Rock record collection.

And yes, Spike Gray, with a voice that sounds like he gargles with sandpaper, cigarettes and whiskey can take things lower and even slower and deliver a ballad with the best of them like he does on “This is It.” It is here where there is a spit take moment towards the end of the song when the ghost of Papa John Creach seemingly joins the party with a fiddle outro. It’s subtle, but it’s there. And it’s delicious.

There literally is not a bad song on this record. The entire proceedings are so cool that the guys can almost be forgiven for going all Bryan Adams on our ears with “Dancing In Paris.” Well, almost. They tried to hide it by sneaking it in as the second to the last song on the album. The spot that is typically reserved for songs that are added at the last minute for filler purposes. We are on to your little reindeer games Quireboys. Shine on you crazy diamonds!

New Music Friday: What We’re Listening To: Friday, June 12, 2019

Penelope Isles – Chlorine

From their debut album, shimmery guitars, spacious keyboards and an expansive melody makes this one a fine summer listen.

The Press Club – Thinking About You

With one album under their belts this band is next-level ready if this single that will remind you of The Killers is any indication.

Bedouine – Sunshine Sometimes

There is more than a little Carole King in Azniv Korkejian, a singer from Saudi Arabia who records as Bedouine. Her album Birdsongs Of A Killjoy is simply stunning. This song marries 60’s folk with 70’s Laurel Canyon splendor.

Purple Mountains – All My Happiness is Gone

After an eleven year absence David Berman of The Silver Jews is back with new band. This one is his first song in advance of their upcoming album.

The 40 Acre Mule – I’ll Be Round

A killer bass line, Santana worthy congas and an infectious blue-eyed soul groove. Say no more and listen.

Lucy Spraggan – Last Night (Beer Fear)

Today Was A Good Day, her latest record, is definitely worth a listen, but this ear worm of a song from a few years back will bore it’s way into your brain with no hope of escaping.

Mark Mulcahy – Taking Baby Steps

Any friend of Thom Yorke and Michael Stipe is a friend of ours. This song is a splendor of a listen. Bowie meets R.E.M..

Five Cool Ones: Five Cool Albums Released Today (July 12, 2019)

Sure, we are just biding our time for the new Rodney Crowell and Delbert McLinton records to come out, but after a week off there are still some gems to cull from the herd.

The Steel Wheels – Over The Trees

This Virginia based Americana band has just enough bluegrass to keep things cool. The song writing is first rate, the harmonies are really spot on and their life on the road song “Road Never Ends” is a highlight almost making you feel like you are in the back of a van at 3:00 in the morning heading to your next venue.

The Dollyrots – Daydream Explosion

Little Steven’s favorite all girl band is back at it with another more than solid set of girl group Surf Noir. There are not about saving the world. Living La Vida Loca is just fine with them.

Kyle Craft – Showboat Honey

This dude is a bit genre defying, this dude is. A bit Kinks, slightly Brit Pop, some Power Pop Badfinger, but it’s all pretty cool. This one is a nifty follow up to the equally excellent Full Circle Nightmare from all the way back in 2018.

Khruangbin – Hasta El Cielo

This Houston, Tx based group is the chilliest band on the scene today. Their blend of Mediterranean Psychedelic Surf-Noir will put you in a haze you may never want to shake off.

Imperial Teen – Now We are Timeless

There is a definite 80’s Brit-Pop feel to this band. Based primarily out of San Francisco led by Faith No More’s Roddy Bottum these former punk bad boys deliver a surprisingly coherent set of ear inspiring mini marvels.

New Music Friday (June 28, 2019)

It has been a been a bit too long since we have gone down the Rock and Roll rabbit hole in search of songs and bands that act like any year after 1989 never existed. Sure Greta Van Fleet, Rival Sons and The Struts are fine Rock and Roll bands in the grand old school tradition, but there are a lot more bands than that that deserve some of your ear time. Here are a few we are listening to right now.

Turbonegro – Special Education

These cats from Oslo, Norway went on hiatus for a bit in the late 80’s but thankfully for their legions of fans the band reappeared in 2007 and have been hanging and banging ever since. With a sound that floats somewhere between The New York Dolls and Judas Priest their songs feature more hooks than an episode of The Greatest Catch.

Massive Wagons – Tokyo

With recent tours opening for The Wildhearts it is still head scratching that on the strength of their latest record Full Nelson this band has not yet become the next big thing to save Rock and Roll.

The Bad Somethings – Let It Roll

Any song that kicks things off with a cowbell pretty much has us at hello. Alive era Kiss is the template for this band with just an ever so slight scent of Bachman Turner Overdrive wafting in the year. Good stuff.

Giuda – Overdrive

If the Bay City Rollers were cool they would sound like these Italian retro-rockers. One of the view bands that are bringing back the Glam with hints of Slade, Sweet and small slice of The Knack thrown in for good measure.

Ex Hex – Tough Enough

A girl super group of sorts featuring Mary Timony, Betsy Wright, and Laura Harris this band ramps it up with wild riffs, cool vocal harmonies, and heaps of power chords.

Bishop Gunn – Anything You Want

Word on the streets is that Bishop Gunn is right now in the studio working on the follow-up to their highly excellent 2018 release Natchez, and it can’t come too soon. The Black Crowes by way of Blackberry smoke make this one a smooth down home listen in the Lynyrd Skynyrd mold.

Helen Rose – John Coltrane on the Jukebox

Part Blues, Part Country Soul Helen Rose is a bit of a Genre Bender. This one is from her 2018 release Trouble Holding Back.

John Diva & the Rockets of Love – Dance Dirty

There is something entirely refreshing about a band that totally embraces their influences with no shame in their game whatsoever.  In this case it is all Def Leppard most of the time and that is never a bad thing.