Category: Artists We Like

Best Albums of 2019: The Limboos – Baia

The Limboos – Baia (Rating 5 out of 5)

limboos

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

limboos

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.

 

Video of the Day: Testarossa – Rock -N- Roll

Testarossa might just be your next favorite Rock and Roll band. Hailing from Charlotte, N.C., this band of hard charging Rock and Roll gypsies are in it to win it. “Rock – N – Roll” grabs your ears from the opening cowbell and demands that you grab your bottle of Jack Daniels and head to the stage. If Spike from The Quireboys fronted The Georgia Satellites this is what that band would sound like. The future should be bright for these guys.

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.

New Music Friday (August 9, 2019)

Rodney Crowell – 56 Fury

The new Texas-centric record comes out next Friday. In the meantime we are grooving to this one that features ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbens.

Pat Green – Trip Through Your Wires

Another Texas troubadour, Pat Green is putting together a highly anticipated record himself. Here he teams up wit Joe Ely.

The Darkness – Rock and Roll Deserves To Die

Justin Hawkins and The Darkness are experiencing somewhat of a comeback. Their latest song has a bit of Zeppelin mystery with Ronnie James Dio bombast thrown in. Fun stuff.

Modern Nature – Footsteps

Shoegaze Krautrock is the order of the day on this propulsive second track from their latest album, How To Live.

Shannon Lay – Death Up Close

One of Ty Segall’s sidekicks in his Freedom Band, so she must be good. And she is.

Rosalie Cunningham – Ride On My Bike

The ex front woman from the band Purson, Rosalie Cunningham commands the stage with this opener from her latest album. Queen meets Jefferson Airplane on this one.