Category: Americana

Five Cool Ones: Five New Records Released This Week (January 10, 2025)

Amazingly, 2024 is in the books and we are ready to do the work since you don’t have to to find the best music, according to us anyway, to hit your ear-waves.

The new record comes out in March, but in the meantime check this out with vocal help from Fivers Simone Schmidt. This one is the leader in the clubhouse for video of the year.

Youth Lagoon, the project of Idaho-based singer-songwriter Trevor Powers has released a single in advance of his February 21 record, Rarely Do I Dream.

And, Horsegirl has released a new single, “2468” in advance of the Chicago-based trio’s album Phonetics On And On

But wait, don’t jump off the train just yet. Here are five new records to keep the toes moving and the heart beating.

Lambrini Girls – Who Let The Dogs Out

Labrini Girls will remind you of the night you left the party with that wild girl and ended up in the alley with a ripped shirt and no socks on top of a pile of beer cans and cigarette butts.

“Big Dick Energy” careens down the black diamond slope like a ski racer with Tourettes, and “Filthy Rich Nepo Baby” is the GoGos on steroids. And, thankfully there is nary a cover of “Who Let The Dogs Out” to be found in this rambunctious set.

Ringo Starr – Look up

Not since the iconic Buck Owens cover of “Act Naturally” have we heard Ringo Starr embrace country music with the fervor that he does here with his lasted record, Look Up.

Guest spots abound, both country and laymen, with Molly Tuttle, Alison Krause, Billy Strings, and Larkin Poe leading the way.

This one is a listenable record that we can put in our pocket waiting for the next Paul McCartney album.

Franz Ferdinand – The Human Fear

Scottish Indie rockets Franz Ferdinand shows whats under their kilt with their latest, The Human Fear. Buoyant and danceable, there is nothing not to like on this one.

“Everdaydreamer” sounds like U2 if Bono actually decided that he wanted to have fun, “The Doctor” bounces like Duran Duran on the bumper cars at the amusement park, and “Hooked” is Devo set to 78rpm at the disco with their side piece The Talking Heads.

A ray of sunshine in a gloomy world.

Early James – Medium Raw

With Medium Raw, his third effort for Dan Auerbach and his Easy Eye sound label, Early Janes takes things low and slower with this set recorded at a 100-year-old house in Nashville dubbed The Honky Chateau using an old tube console mostly recorded in one take.

A young man with an old soul, the record brings out the blues side of the singer mostly known for his Americana leanings. This stripped down affair may not be as favored as its more polished predecessors, but discovering another layer of this still-up-and-coming artist bodes well for the future.

Joan Armatrading – How Did It Happen And What Does It Now Mean Now

Having never really gone away, with her latest, How Did It Happen And What Does It Mean Now, Armatrading combines disco-light, yacht Rock, and straight-up pop on a set that is pleasant enough fare albeit lacking a bit of the heart that we are used to from an iconic artist.

Wholly produced in her home studio, sometimes adding polish to silver doesn’t make it shine any brighter.

Five Cool Ones: Five New Records Released This Week (October 25,2024)

Going down the stretch in 2024 there is a bustle of activity on the new music front.

Gyasi embraces the joy of 70’s glam rock with “Sweet Thing,”

And, if all of that is not enough, Jesse Malin has just released his first new music since his stroke with “Argentina.”

Cats In Space – Time Machine

With Time Machine, Cats In Space continues to plant their flag on the hallowed grounds of Classic ‘70s Rock and Roll.

With loud guitars, pristine multi-track harmonies, and knob-twirling tighter than skin on an apple, this record brings to the minds ear the glory days of Deep Purple, Night Ranger, and REO Speedwagon.

The opener and title track would be well-placed on any Toto album, “Yesterdays Sensation” has a Styx “Renegade Vibe,” and the instrumental “Ivory Anthem” bursts out Meatloaf style like a bat out of hell.

Don’t sleep on this one.

Chuck Prophet – Wake The Dead

14 records in now, having recently recovered from stage four lymphoma, Chuck Prophet joined by Cumbia group Qiensave is at the top of his game with the release of his latest record, Wake The Dead.

Over 11 tracks Prophet digs deep into Cumbia music using traditional Latin American instruments including accordions, a bajo sexto (Mexican twelve-string guitar), and a Farisa Organ along with Tejano and bolero stylings making this an electrically groovy listen.

Beth Hart – You Still Got Me

This one has been bubbling for most of the year with the drip-release of some gritty singles including “Savior With A Razor” featuring Slash, and “Suga N My Bowl,” a song that features some axe assistance courtesy of Eric Gales.

With her vocal growl better than ever and her women empowerment messaging on full display, Beth seems to be at the peak of her powers most notably demonstrated on “Never Underestimate A Gal,” and the should-be country classic, “Wanna Be Big Bad Johnny Cash.”

And, of course, Beth’s ability to craft a song that reaches the depth of your soul is always bubbling just beneath the surface, this time with “Don’t Call The Police” and “You Still Got Me.”

Scarlet Rebels – Where the Colours Meet

Scarlet Rebels Where The Colours Meet, released just in time for rock record of the year consideration, with a landscape of anthemic rock bringing both U2 and Muse to the minds ear.

From the opener “Secret Drug” a song that sounds like a street fight between AC/DC and The Cult, all the way to “Out of Time,” an epic ballad that features Elles Bailey, there is not a rat floating in this punch bowl.

Tack this band up on your bands to follow wall.

Lone Justice – Viva Lone Justice

From the band that virtually invented the term Alternative Country, Viva Lone Justice is their first album in 40 years. Releasing their self-titled record that was deemed the 1984 record of the year in some circles, they have scarcely been heard of since.

And now, with an album cobbled together in the studio with all of the original band members, going down a country classic deep rabbit hole reinterpreting other people’s songs.

With Maria Mckee serving as ringleader the band offers up an almost unlistenable version of Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You,” from the bowells of the Appalachian mountains “Wade In The Water” is delivered, and for some odd reason, “Teenage Kicks” is on the menu.

Is there a really good reason for this record to exist? The answer is no. But if for nothing else, bringing the albums Lone Justice and Shelter back to the minds ear for some much-delayed spins Viva Lone Justice has served its purpose

Five Cool Ones: Five New Albums Released This Week (October 4, 2024)

The Starbenders are back in all their glory with a new single and a new drummer Qi Wei.

The band Austin Gold has a rocking new record brewing.

The Hot Damn is one of the glam-static new bands on the plant and “Fizz Buzz Crash” is a banger.

But let’s not bury the lead here, there are five top notch records that have been unearthed this week.

Leon – Leon

Rising from the remnants of his last excellent record, Gold Diggers Sound, his latest self titled new album provides a glimpse into the Texas places that helped to shape Bridges musical life.

“Panther City” provides a first hand account of his early life, “Peaceful Place” seems to level sit his career and life, and “Ghetto Honeybee” could have been a Motown classic.

With much of the record record in Mexico City’s studio El Diserto this record takes the listener on a spiritual journey well worth taking.

D-A-D – Speed of Darkness

D-A-D, the abbreviation for Disney After Dark, has released their 13th record of ’70s rock glam-inspired blow-pop good times music.

The opener “God Prays To Man” roars like an AC/DC 45 inch sung by Steven Tyler slowed down to 33rpms, “The Ghost” attempts to out Bon Jovi Bon Jovi, and “Strange Train” carries a bong hit of Black Sabbath.

These Danish rockers never fail to deliver on their musical soundscape that those of a certain age and musical acumen will find to be quite fulfilling.

Bobbie Dazzle – Fandabidozi

One of the more groovy releases of the year, Bobbie Dazzle rides with the Silver Surfer on a wave of Slade, The Sweet, and T-Rex.

The opener “Lightning Fantasy” sets the table for what you can expect with slightly more amped-up Suzi Quatro vocals fast riffs, and yes, cowbell.

There is nothing square about this hip-to-be-cool record. Glam in all of the right places, sprinkles of Bowie with an ELO accent throughout, and pure excessive ‘70s over-the-topness is the order of the day.

Hayes & The Heathens – Hayes & The Heathens

Americana legend Hayes joins forces with The Band Of Heathens on a pairing that we didn’t realize that we sorely needed.

8 songs were collectively penned that range from the whimsical “Nobody Dies From Weed,” a song that reflects the bunch of guys playing hooky vibe carried on throughout the record.

This one is so loose that even the Proclaimer’s “I’m Gonna Be (5000) miles perversely works.

Kasey Chambers – Backbone

With songs mostly culled from her upcoming book, Just Don’t Be A Dickhead, her latest, “Backbone,” is a collection of stories detailing her upbringing and painting her stories of a life well lived.

The song “A Love Like Springsteen manages to name-check the Boss’ songs “Glory Days,” “I’m On Fire,” “My Hometown,” and “Dancing In The Dark” among others, while not turning into a shlock-fest, and “Silverado Girl” takes the listener on the open road of an artist that may have painted her own personal masterpiece.