Category: Rock

Song of the Day: Alice Cooper – Black Mamba

Alice Cooper is back for the first time in 50 years with his original band courtesy of his upcoming July 25 album, The Revenge of Alice Cooper. A fitting successor to Love it to Death, Killer, and Billion Dollar Babies, the record brings back the vintage shock-horror of vintage Alice Cooper.

Five Cool Ones: Five New Albums Released This Week (April 18, 2025)

The summer is close and things are heating up across the world, but there is a cool breeze blowing on the album front. So grab a Mai Tai and settle in.

Pearl Charles is quilting her Nancy Sinatra vibes prepping for a new record to be released later in the month.

Silver Synthetic released a new record, Rosalie. Think Big Star if they spent more time at Joshua Tree.

And, for fans of Queens of the Stone Age, the band HIMALAYAS will scratch your desert rock itch.

But, that’s not all. As per usual here are five new players to spin on your turntables.

Valerie June – Owls, Omens, and Oracles

With her genre bending music that flows through the veins of Americana, Soul, Pop and Blues her latest Owls, Omens, and Oracles is a life-affirming record with plenty of earworms throughout.

Produced by pop master M. Ward the record channels ‘70s pop on “Trust The Path,” Phil Spector wall of sound on “All I Really Wanna Do,” and Amy Winehouse vibes on “Endless Tree.”

This record is a ray of optimism in desolate times.

Those Damn Crows – God Shaped Hole

Straightforward rock and roll is the order of the day on God-Shaped Hole, the latest from Nashville-based Those Damn Crows.

From the opening salvo of “Dancing With The Enemy,” your ears are treated to some sort of Devil’s hybrid combining The Hu, U2 in their prime, and Metallica. Interesting stuff indeed.

Word of caution, don’t listen to “Let’s Go Psycho” when driving, and “Night Train” burns the soul much like a Pearl Jam ballad in the “Jeremy” mold.

Don’t sleep on this one as the leader in the clubhouse for the rock record of the year.

Cold Specks – Light For The Midnight

Just listen to the first two minutes of “How It Feels,” the initial salvo from Cold Specks on her latest record Light For Midnight, and we dare you not to have Carole King ear worms drilled into the minds ear.

The musical project of Laden Hussein, Cold Specks floats on a cloud of atmospheric synths, delicate piano, and deep R&B to create her own vision, a sort of doom soul.

“Venus In Pisces” has a certain ‘Till Tuesday lilt to it, “Lingering Ghosts” harkens back to darker times when she was misdiagnosed as having schizophrenia, and “Endlessly” is a study in stellar songwriting.

A record that would not seem out of place it was released in the early ’90s, this one represents an artist coming out of a dark tunnel and delivering what might be the best album of her career.

Turnpike Troubadours – Price Of Admission

You would be hard pressed to find a more legitimate roots country band over the last ten years than Stillwater’s own Turnpike Troubadours.

Ignoring the glitter of Nashville, the band instead has chosen to stick to their Oklahoma roots and imbed themselves in a state, a town that is as hardscrabble as it gets with an everyman ethos that is palpable.

Produced by Shooter Shennings, the new record meanders from pensive to rowdy in the blink of a hot steel guitar solo.

Critics might call out the semi-slick production, one of the hazards of hiring a big-time producer, while others will revel in the honky tonk ethos.

Come for the poignancy of “Forgiving You,” but stay for the heartbreak of “A Lie Agree Upon” with this one.

Little Barrie – Electric War

Mutch like you get with virtually every Easy Eye Sound release, The latest Little Barrie collaboration with drummer Malcolm Catto, is an exploration in eclectic sounds and textures.

With a distinct raw, analog feel, the record, with its groove-centric pulse takes on a jazz feel that seems to be vintage and refreshingly contemporary at the same time.

With elements of funk, psychedelia, rock, and jazz permeating the air, this one is an eclectic listen that will educate your ears.

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.