Category: Artists We Like

Album of the Day: Stephen Dale Petit – 2020 Visions

Stephen Dale Petit (4.5 out of 5)

It seems that California based guitar player Stephen Dale Petit has waited for his entire career to produce this record that is a mini-masterpiece and a master class in what modern Blues Rock should be, and where it is headed. And this, complete with album artwork from Klaus Voorman, the artist who created The Beatles’ Revolver cover, is, by all accounts, his own personal best and has the potential for Grammy consideration in the Blues category. Joe Bonamassa may get all the press these days, But this guitar slinger that has already made a name for himself on the other side of the pond can easily stand fret for fret with his idol.

With about as diverse a palet of songs as you will find, every Blues nugget presented here stands alone. One second the sonic wonder of Stevie Ray hits you between the ears on “Tinderbox,” and in the next breath all hell breaks loose with the snarling Clash influenced title track on “2020 Visions.” The nuanced slow burn of “The Ending of the End” brings to mind both Kings, Freddie and B.B., and “Steppin’ Out” would hold up quite spectacularly at the crossroads battling it out with the devil for the soul of the song.

Anthems are not left out of the mix, and “Soul of a Man,” a song that features Shemekia Copeland, shares a lot of DNA with “Beds are Burning” and will be a call and response staple on the festival circuit this year. If there is a festival circuit this year, that is. There are no throwaway tunes on this one. “Zombie Train” may be the weakest of the lot, not surprising given the song title, but beyond that, this album is a real page-turner. Stay with all nine minutes of “The Fall of America” churning, burning apocalypse-blues plays as legit at it can get.

Album of the Day: Richard Davies & The Dissidents – Human Traffic

Richard Davies & The Dissidents – Human Traffic (3 out of 5)

There is no rocket science being studied here with Richard Davies and his band of dissidents on this his debut solo record, but none the less, there are plenty of sweet sounds to sink your ears into. The template that is thrown down here on Human Traffic is no-nonsense, straight forward, Brinsley Schwartz Pub Rock and Roll. Cutting his guitar teeth as a guitar slinger sideman for the likes of Peter Perrett and Glen Matlock as well as with his own band The Snakes, Davies more than holds his own with a solid set of self-penned tunes and to add to the coolness factor “Heartbeat Smile,” an Alejandro Escovedo cover song is thrown in for good measure admirably performed with a Post-Punk flair.

With “21st Century Man” sounding like a new wave Tom Petty, and (“Long Road) To Your Heart” carrying a Billy Idol meets Greg Kihn mojo-sound, there is enough sonic diversity to keep things interesting and to warrant several more trips to the musical well.

 

 

Album of the Day: Marker Starling – High January

 

Marker Starling – High January (3.5 out of 5)

There is a certain ’70s singer-songwriter pathos to just about every song on this latest release from Marker Starling, also known as keyboardist vocalist Chris A. Cummings. The stark and enveloping Bedroom Pop on this record not only transforms you into a bubble of butterfly ribbons but also lays you down in a field of Steely Dan and Todd Rundgren influenced musical Nuggets. “Starved For Glamour” could have been on a deluxe edition of Aja, and “A Little Joy” is tailor-made for inclusion on an early-era America record. Produced by Sean O’Hagen of The High Llamas, High January is a fully formed full-band affair giving the proceedings a warm feeling made, even more, intoxicating with the presence of Laetitia Sadler classing up the joint on guest vocals.

The song structures and the use of vintage instruments in the production process only prove to enhance the vintage AOR vibe of the record. If anything is wrong with this album it would be the sameness that starts to creep in around the twenty-minute mark or so. The vocals aren’t overly active, maintaining the same mellowness for most of the 34 minutes. But, if you are looking for a kick-back sort of listening experience while you knock down a couple of Bombay Saphire martinis then this just might be your escapist jam.

Album of the Day: Michael Parrett – Influence This

Michael Parrett – Influence This (5 out of 5)

With Luke Spiller and his band, the Struts, relaxing in that between album no man’s land, Adam Lambert performing brilliantly filling in for Freddie Mercury, not so much so with his solo efforts, Scissor Sisters Jake Shears MIA for the last couple of years, and The Biters Tuk Smith trying to get his Mojo back after having to dissolve his band, it is quite understandable that in theses pandemic funky feeling days that one could be left to wonder where the next Marc Bolan Ziggy Stardust is coming from.

Well, the question asked, question answered. The man to put the Glam in Wham Glam, Thank You, Ma’am, is Michael Parrett courtesy of his latest highly excellent slice of wax, Influence This. The swaggering heir apparent of the London Glam and Psychedelic Rock scene, this debut release takes no prisoners with its genre-bending Austin Powers Mojo display of ’60’s Donovan spirit love, Marc Bolan with a better driver metal guru guitar prowess, Suzi Quatro swagger, and Garage Rock rambunctious innocence.

The highlights here are, really, too many to mention, but we will give it a go. “Checkbook Charlie” is a guitar-laden propulsive Mojo-Rockin’ epic gem of a song in the Flamin’ Groovies mold, “Last Years Model is The Struts meets Love, and “Tattoos and Whiskey” carries a Tremolos by way of Ty Segall energy, and “Bad For You” is classic England’s Latest Hitmakers Rolling Stones in all its retro glory.  And, let’s not forget “Sugar Lover” a song that is on a planet all its own.

Album of the year? Let’s give it time to marinate a bit, but damn this is a fantastic debut effort from a force to be reckoned with.

 

Album Of the Day: Pop Co-Op – Factory Settings

Pop Co-Op – Factory Settings (4 out of 5)

Your ears only need to do a sound check of the influences that the band calls out for themselves when asked what was in their record selection growing up and you will know instantly the joie-de-vie inherent in this intoxicating North Eastern Band.  Among others, the key contributors to their musical DNA would be The Beatles, Squeeze, The Beach Boys, The Kinks, Rockpile, and Elvis Costello, just to name a few. The vibe is mostly Power Pop with a healthy dose of Americana and Psychedelic dustings dropped in just to make things even more interesting. On this, their sophomore effort, the band offers a more mature set of songs with more concise songwriting courtesy of Steve Stoeckel and Bruce Gordon. With shining examples including “Catching Light” and “Underworld” demonstrating the band’s Power Prop proficiency. They also cut a mean rug on the ballad front, case in point “Sleeve,” a solo Mccartney era-inspired stunner.

There is nothing not to like on this record with “The Price of Admission” complete with preamble cowbell, the Chuck Berry inspired “Won’t Be Me,” and “Requiescat”, a song that could have been a single on George Harrison’s All Things Must Pass, as clear genre-diverse winners.

 

Album of the Day: The Corner Laughers – Temescal Telegraph

The Corner Laughers – Temescal Laughers (4 out of 5)

It is somewhat difficult to comprehend that a band that centers itself around a lead singer that wears cat-eye glasses, plays the ukelele and cites bird watching as one of her hobbies could be cool, let alone hip, but that is exactly what this band is, and even more so. The lyrics and melodies are catchy as hell and the songwriting has a complexity about it that separates the group from most of the hipster Power Pop bands of the day. While on previous records, the ukelele is the star of the show, here, Karla Kane’s go-to instrument is used as sort of an accent piece, hummingbird-like floating and landing in just the right places making its presence known at just the right time. Every track on this immensely underrated record is brilliantly constructed and immensely ear-pleasing. Whether it is “Sisters of the Pollen” with a sort of vim and vigor that is sorely lacking in today’s music or “Goodbye Sun,” a shimmery pastoral beauty that is perfect lounging in the garden sweetness, every nuance of this record will make you wonder why you have never heard of this band before.

Quarantune of the Day: White Reaper – Real Long Time

White Reaper is one of our new favorite bands and their 2019 record You deserve Love was one of the best albums of 2019. With their we’re coming to your town, we’ll help you party down attitude this gang of Louisville rock and rollers should be on your musical radar. Here, they perform an at-home version of their hit single “Real Long Time.”