Category: Rock

Five Cool Ones: Five New Albums Released This Week (March 21, 2025)

The dynamite is definitely going boom this week.

Hannah Cohen is bringing back ‘70s folk-pop.

Bryan Ferry teams up with Amilia Barratt on a new single, “Loose Talk”.

And, The Counting Crows have some new music in the pipeline.

But, that’s not all fellow muso’s. Here are five fresh off the presses playyers to enjoy this week.

The Damn Truth – The Damn Truth

This Canadian quartet operates on a planet of revved-up modern rock with a classic rock twist, and with this, their fourth proper long-player, their reputation that has been building as festival forces to be reckoned with should be permanently solidified.

Produced by Bob Rock, the same Bob Rock who twirled the knobs for Motley Crue, Bon Jovi, and The Offspring among many others, the sound is crisp, vocally energetic, with all of the top 40 panache you would expect with the hand-in-glove partnership of artist and producer.

“The Willow,”’a song that highlights the back of the arena pipes that belong to lead singer Lee-La Baum, is Zeppelin “stairway” worthy, “Addicted” bangs the head phones like a Beth Hart banger, and the anthemic “All Night Long” features AC/DC riffage alongside classic Bob Rock artistry.

This is a next-level record for a next-level rock and roll band.

Foxy Shazam – Animality Opera

This one tickles that G-spot between the flower-power psychedelic vibes of Jellyfish and the operatic bombast of the early Queen records.

A bit chaotic at times, less than cohesive for most of the album, this 11-track journey quite nicely puts the ethos of Foxy Shazam into a capsule that while being less accessible than its forebearers, is all the more of an interesting listen for it.

Tito & Tarantulas – !Brincamos!

Widely known as the house band in Quentin Tarantino’s From Dusk Till Dawn, Tito Larriva and his tarantulas have been mainstays of the Los Angeles punk and roll scene for decades with their genre-bending mix of rock, punk, Tejano, and surf music.

And now, with !Brincamos! the band has delivered a masterpiece of Latinx punk rock with raw ballads and energetic anthems leading the way. The opener “X the Soul” would have been perfect in the hands of Tom Waits, if Waits ever let things fly that is, 99.9 sounds like an Alejandro Escovedo garage rant from the nugget days, and “Sneer At The Drummer” could have been a Willy De Ville classic.

This is a real rock record from a real rock and roll band.

My Morning Jacket – Is

With this, their 10th record in 30-plus years of existence, the jam band-adjacent My Morning Jacket has entered into a new phase of their career for the first time in a decade, for them, an outside producer is in charge, Brendan O’Brien who has worked with Bruce Springsteen, Pearl Jam, and Phish.

Every song on this record is melodic, transcendental, and perfectly executed. The spirit is uplifting and “Everyday Magic” as well as “Time Waited” remind us of the underrated genius that is Jim James when it comes to crafting a love song.

This might not be the album of the year, but it will certainly be on heavy rotation on our turn tables for the rest of the year.

Brian D’addario – Till The Morning

When is a record really/not really a solo album? The answer is nuanced but in this case with the latest from Brian D’Addario, one-half of the Lemon Twigs twins, both answers may be correct.

The first release on the brothers new label Headstack Records, most of the songs were recorded with brother Michael who is also credited as co-producer.

Self described as country- baroque the entire record is full of Donovan-worthy gems. “Nothing On My Mind” would have been a perfect early Kinks single, “Only To Ease My Mind” is Brian Wilson-worthy, and if “This Summer” is not your summer anthem of the year you should have your ears examined.

It is too early in his career to say that Brian D’Addario has created his own Pet Sounds, but when all is said and done you might not be wrong.

Five Cool Ones: Five New Albums Released This Week (March 14, 2024)

Rarely has there been a cooler week of music than our ears were hipped to last week, but don’t worry, this Nantucket sleigh ride seems to be in full bloom once again.

The Violet Mindfield has an organ freakbeat nuggets feel about the band.

The Blusterfields have a popiness about them that belies their Kiss sensibilities.

Jason Boland and the Stragglers – The Last Kings of Babylon

Blending Country, Rock, Pop, and sometimes even Punk muses Jason Boland and his red dirt henchmen seem to be going back to their roots with original producer Lloyd Maines at the helm of their latest record, The Last Kings Of Babylon.

Showing off all aspects of this eclectic band, “Next To Hank Williams” could have been on a mid-era Johnny Cash record, “Drive” is just what you thing it might be, a get out of Dodge travelogue sort of song, and “High Time” could have been on any Little Feat album.

Should you be anywhere near a Texas or Oklahoma honky tonk where Jason Boland is playing do your ears a solid and slide on in.

Ricky Warwick – Blood Ties

Already keeping the spirit of Thin Lizzy and Phil Lynott alive with his band The Black Star Riders as well as his solo work and other projects, Ricky Warwick carries the torch even higher with his latest record, Blood Ties.

This one is a corker, “Rise and Grind” with Blackberry Smoke,’s Charlie Starr is a straight-up rocker, “ The Crickets Stayed In Clovis” is “Boys Are Back in Town” special, and “The Hell Of Me And You” packs a proper MC-5 wallop. A proper rock and roll record that once again proves that rock is not dead.

Tobacco City – Horses

With echoes of Gram, Emmylou, and The Flying Burrito Brothers, the psychedelic country of Tobacco City has a certain timeless quality that is both inspiring and soul-affirming.

The opener “Autumn” has a certain John Mellencamp other side of the street and very Delines-like in its dramatic storytelling, and the frolicking “Buffalo” sounds lie an REM goes country barn raiser.

Look for these guys coming to a honky tonk near you.

Charley Crockett – Lonesome Drifter

This just, in Charlie Crockett, with a voice that makes Johnny Cash sound like a soprano, is rapidly rising to the top of the Mount Rushmore among the current crop of country crooners.

Recorded in just 10 days at the legendary Sunset Sounds Studio in LA with knob twirling assistance from Shooter Jennings, the record has a certain live feel to it with many songs recorded in one take.

With touch-points-a-plenty the musical influences make themselves known with Waylon Jennings, Bill Withers, and Woody Guthrie all making themselves known.

Lonesome Drifter might not be his best record, Welcome To Hard Times would likely take that honor among aficionados, it will lkely garner high honors when the end-of-the-year polls are gathered.

Silver Synthetics – Rosalie

Floating in a nexus of euphoric cosmic cowboy haze, Silver Synthetics stand on the shoulders of Rose City Band, Beachwood Sparks, and Poco. Every song on this charcuterie plate of a record that sounds like Neil Young fronting Big Star.

“Rosalie” will have you searching for a campfire and a bottle of whiskey, the opener “Age Of Infamy” is hot tub time machine worthy ‘70s smooth country rock at its finest, and “Right Time” carries the freshness of The Sheepdogs and the slick pop of early-era Eagles.

There is nothing not to like about this record.

Five Cool Ones: Five New Albums Released This Week (March 7, 2025)

Wow, what a week is in store for your ears to enjoy, one week just gets better than the last.

The Baboon Show are percolating their wild vibes with their latest single “Forward In Reverse.”

Aussie legend shares “New Day,” a song that shares DNA with Tom Petty’s “Learning To Fly.”

And, Brian D’Addario, the youngest of The Lemon Twig boys is out with a sublime single ahead of his upcoming full length.

But, don’t push all of your chips to the center of the table just yet. Here are five freshly minted morsels to savor.

Neil Young – Oceanside Countryside

A previously “lost” record that was recorded in an earlier time but took 40 years to see the light of ear, Oceanside Countryside culls songs from Neil’s ‘70s American Stars ‘n Bars era.

Many of the songs represented here were previously released on Rust Never Sleeps, Hawks & Doves, or Comes A Time but in different versions. With two distinct sides, side 1 features only Young and his guitar while side 2 was recorded additional musicians.

Not that we needed a reminder, but listening to the versions here of “Dance Dance Dance” and “Pocahontas” reminds us of what a national treasure Neil Young really is.

Jason Isbell – Foxes In The Snow

Recorded in five days with just voice and guitar in Electric Ladyland studios with this, his tenth solo album, we see Jason Isbell coming out of the other side of the tunnel reflecting on a failed marriage, and the pitfalls of stardom following his brilliant star turn on Killers of the Flower Moon, and his battle with dangerous memories.

Every song presented here is good bordering on great with the elegantly sparse arrangements providing the backdrop to some of the best songwriting in Isbell’s career.

One of the few artists whose solo work is on par with the music that they make with their band, now that he has gotten a few things off his chest, most notably on “Eileen” and “Good While It Lasted,” despite the loneliness that permeates the record, the future looks very bright. Talent always wins the Day.

Sorrows – Parting Is Such Sweet Sorrow

Self-described by guitarist and front-man Arthur Alexander, Sorrows is an intoxicating blend of The Who, The Kinks and The Easybeats with a touch of early-era Rolling Stones thrown in for good measure. Just listen to the opening bombast of “Have You Seen Your Mother Baby, Standing in the Shadows,” and tell us we’re wrong.

“What A Boy” is pure My Generation with a dose of Elvis Costello, and “Somethin’ Else” could have been an Eddie Cochran monster hit, because, of course, it was.

Mike Farris – The Sound Of Muscle Shoals

Returning to his roots as a rocker and a soil singer, Mike Farris lays down a solid set of Muscle Shoals adjacent songs that resurrect the souls of Sam Cooke and Otis Redding and preach on the alter of Al Green.

Chris Stapleton comes to mind on “On The Humble, while “Slow Train” is Al Green Gospel bliss. A solid well crafted listen.

Hotwax – Hot Shot

Meant to be played loud, this Hastings via Brighton post-punk band rocks like some devil hybrid of Deborah Harry fronting Nirvana.

The opener, “She’s Got A Problem” sets the stage for a Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride adventure down a careening bobsled track.

“Dress Our Love” has Chrissie Hind Pretenders on 78 vibes, and “Lights On,” a song that features Stella Mozgawa, is a burner of a gem.

This is the type of band that would headline CB GB’s one night and play Coachella the next without missing a fret.

What We’re Listening To (March 7, 2025)

The halls are buzzing here at Rock is the new Roll Hall with a bevy of new music to savor as we zoom into the year.

The Cynz – Heartbreak Time

Coming to you from Brunswick New Jersey The Cynz will have you feeling Joan Jett vibes courtesy of lead singer Cyndi Dawson. “Heartbreak Time” is a retro-style rocker with plenty of earworms.

Sorrows – Out Of My Head

If you have ever sat around wondering what a band would sound like that was a mind-meld of the Stones, Beatles, and The Who and wasn’t Cheap Trick, hip your ears to Sorrows and the single from their latest record “Out Of My Head.”

Brass Camel – Borrowed Time

This gem from Brass Camel is Sly Stone funky, a bit proggy, with a lot of classic rock influences thrown in for good measue.

Blues Pills – What Has This Life Done To You

A bit of a departure from the more psychedelic side of Blues Pills, “What Has This Life Done To You” would make a terrific Bonnie Raitt cover.

Black Eyed Sons – Cowboys In Pinstriped Suits

A tribute to the glam-glitter bands of yore, most notably Mott The Hoople, “Cowboys In Pinstriped Suits features Def Leppard’s Joe Elliott, Chip Z’Nuff, and Ryan Roxie.

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.”