Category: AOR

Five Cool Ones: Five New Albums Released This Week (March 28, 2025)

With summer only a couple of fortnights away, the time is right for dancing in the streets.

Be very careful putting the pedal to the metal on this high-octane barn burner from Josh Todd and the Buckcherry boys.

De’Wayne is a newcomer on the scene and an artist to watch out for. The vibe here is Prince fronting the killers. Never before has Indie Rock and Classic rock blended so seamlessly.

And, finally, Rock is the New roll favorite, Luke Spiller is prepping for his April 25 release, Women Will Kill Me Before Cigarettes And Wine.

And if this rock and roll splendor doesn’t tickle your fancy enough, here are five new morsels for your ears to digest this week

Dawn Brothers – Cry Alone

All the way from the Dutch city of Rotterdam, The Dawn Brothers produce a refreshing blend of Rock, Americana, and Memphis Soul. Sort of like Hall and Oates teaming up with the Travelling Wilburys. If you did not know the band’s origin, with just one door-to-ceiling listen of their new record, Cry Alone, you would be hard-pressed to tell if they were from Rotterdam, Memphis, or Los Angeles.

The opener, “Do Me Wrong” sets the hook with a funk-driven backbeat and a Memphis Soul Stew vibe, “Can’t Let You In, Can’t Let You Out” is perfect Travelling Wilburys fare, and “I Cry Alone” would have been a perfect addition to the Hall and Oates Abandoned Luncheonette record.

Much like The Little River Band from back in the day, there is a timeless appeal to this record that will soothe the soul.

The Darkness – Dreams On Toast

For those not previously in the know, The Darkness, with their flamboyant frontman Justin Hawkins, is a U.K.-based rock and roll band that combines the over-the-topness of Sheer Heart Attack era Queen, Jellyfish, and for a more recent vintage touchpoint, Luke Spiller and the Struts. Glam energy, bombast, glass-breaking falsetto’s and more is the order of the day.

From the opening blast-off of “Rock and Roll Party Cowboy” the DNA of the band’s eighth album, Dreams On Toast is on full display. No-holds barred party like its 1975, good time, rock and roll played like its meant to be played, loud and proud.

Lead-off single “Longest Kiss” is pure Jellyfish vibing, and “Hot On My Tail” is the Darkness’ version of Queen’s “Seaside Rendevous,” deliciously operatic and bombastic with a bit of whimsey thrown in for good measure.

A welcome addition to the canon of one of the best rock and roll bands to come around in the last decade.

Lucy Dacus – Forever Is A Feeling

As one-third of the indie rock supergroup that includes Phoebe Bridgers, Julien Baker and an album that was rewarded with three Grammys, lucy Dacus steps out on her own with an understated record of hushed harmonies, warm shades, and gentle, close-to-shoegaze, instrumentation.

“Ankles” has Laura Nyro in its DNA, “Talk” is a slow-burn pastoral epic, and “Limerence” could have done well in the hands of Karen Carpenter, if she was just a little hipper.

This one belongs on your Sunday chill playlist as if that’s such a bad thing.

W.E.T. – Apex

If AOR-adjacent, 80’s rock in the Def Leppard and Night Ranger mold is what you are into, then W.E.T.’s latest, Apex, is going to be your jam.

“Where Are The Heroes Now” is pure peak-era Bon Jovi, “This House Is On Fire” is Journey by way of The Scorpions, and “The Believer” is a stadium-ready anthem.

Don’t think with this one, just listen.

Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Bobby Rush – Young Old Fashioned Ways

You can feel the feel the energy and the chemistry bursting from the speakers on this old-school meets younger gun collaboration between Bobby Rush and Kenny Wayne Shepherd.

Giving a respectful nod to Rush, his vocals and his harp throughout, Rush provides the vocals as well as a killer harp on all ten of these tracks. Holed up in a Memphis studio, the pair launches into a stripped-down set that leans into the blues half of their respective blues-rock resumes.

4 of the songs displayed here are Bobby Rush tunes with an additional 5 co-penned, with a Willie Dixon song thrown in for good measure.

Whether the pair goes low and slow like they do on “G-String,” or the alligator stomp of “Hey Baby) What Are We Gonna Do),” the playful comradery between the two is infectious and palbable.

Rush sings with the vigor of a singer half his age and Shepherd delivers one of the best performances of his career.

The leader in the clubhouse for blues album of the year, for sure.

Five Cool Ones: Five New Albums Released This Week (February 28, 2025)

A bit of a slow week on the new release front as artists get ready for the pre-summer avalanche, but we do the work so you don’t have to.

Easy Eye Sound is at it again with Little Barrie and his fuzz-toned single from his upcoming release Electric War.

UK Indie-Punk trio Hotwax unleash their much-anticipated new record Hot Shock on March 7.

And, The Speaker Wars, featuring founding Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers member and drummer Stan Lynch has a long player due out on May 30.

But lets not rest on our musical laurels here. There a five really cool releases queued up to tickle your earbuds.

The Devil Makes Three – Spirits

With their first proper record since 2018’s Chains are Broken, The Devil Makes Three trio still apply their trade on the rails of muscular roots rock.

This time out, Spirits features more stripped-down performances with an ear towards an expression of weariness emanating from trying to keep sane in a troubled world with “Hard Times” pretty much telling it like it is.

“It’s hard, hard, hard times

They’ll charge you dollars

While they’re paying you in dimes

When they said it was going to trickle down

You know that they were lying

Mostly made while Cooper McBean was mourning the loss of his mother, brother, and best friend lamenting “How Come we got to take a bigger hit, just to get half as high.” This one is a collaborative listen from a band that wallows in the trenches with the rest of us.

Cimarron 615 – Cimarron 615

It would be auditorially impossible for a band that contains three former members of Poco and one Flying Burrito Brother to be anything but stellar. And, this latest effort, the sophomore record from the supergroup Cimarron 615, is just that, stellar and sublime in every way.

With a nostalgic mellow country-rock vibe that veers dangerously close to yacht rock in some places, as evidenced by “Fallin’,” the entire proceedings are a hot tub time machine that will take you back to simpler times.

“Butte La Rose” could have been a Don Henley single back in the day and “Night At The Radio” resonates like a late-era Eagles B side.

This one deserves more credit than it is likely to get.

Diamond Dogs and Chris Spedding – Macon Georgia Giant

For a group of renaissance rockers that typically do business in the dark alleys of 70’s British rock and roll to pay homage to Little Richard says a lot about The Diamond Dogs and even more about the king of rock and roll.

With a panoply of hits, deep cuts, and band favorites every note on this record is a scorcher. The opener, “The King Of Rock And Roll” starts things off with a bang, and things never let up all the way to the closer “Bama Lama Bama Loo.”

If this record has you scurrying to reintroduce yourself to Little Richard’s back catalog, job well done.

Split Dogs – Here To Destroy

Recklessly careening into your speakers like Ricky Bobby on a bender, Split Dogs are Lita Ford on speed run through a Motorhead filter.

Punk music like it is supposed to sound like “Monster Truck” is an absolute banger and “Precious Stones” would make The Sex Pistols blush.

This one grabs you by the gonads and doesn’t let up until you end up legs akimbo at the bottom of the black diamond slope.

Perfect Plan – Heart Of A Lion

Just wait long enough and what is old will be new again, and what was once considered lame is now being served at the cool kid’s table. And here, with melodic rock mavens Perfect Plan and their latest record Heart Of A Lion your inner ’80s Survivor jones will be satisfied and then some.

“We Are Heros” climbs out of your cable box MTV style, “Turn On Your Radio” sounds like the epic over the top, in a good way, a monster hit that the band Europe wishes they would have released back in the day, and “Little Miss Danger” would have been a Loverboy smash single right up there with “The Kid Is Hot Tonight.”

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