With his first new song in almost 30 years, just in time for a Grammy appearance, Billy Joel delivers a ballad in the “Just The Way You Are”, “New York State Of Mind” mold. in other words, it sounds like Billy Joel.
With the opening lines “Please open the door, nothing is different, we’ve been here before,” truer words rarely said.
The weather may be cold, but the music is hot this week as many artists are scrambling to give us a morsel of singles in advance of a proper release.
Blackberry Smoke shows that they can go mellow low and slow when they are not putting out barn stompers with “Azalea.”
Circles Around The Sun delivers on a psychic Laurel Canyon mushroom cloud with “After Sunrise.”
And, Joe Bonamassa and Peter Frampton burn the house down with their version of Humble Pie’s “Four Day Creep.”
But wait, don’t put up those winter jackets just yet. Here are five records to keep you warm this week.
Ty Segall – Three Bells
Ty Segall, renaissance man, Swiss army knife, and bell weather cow of the indie rock scene is out with Three Bells, another monstrous record by a monstrous artist.
Song after song our ears are treated to the sonic wizardry that is Ty Segall. Not known to be especially user-friendly to the ears, oftentimes bathing in a foggy haze of fuzz, this time out he delivers a one-hour set of intricate guitar chords, Jimi Hendrix-worthy riffage, and Seagall-ist production that is not only accessible, but also provides a texture to the proceedings that is both refreshing and sorely missed in today’s musical landscape.
If this record was a Jazz album it would be John Coltrane’s Giant Steps record with the melodic frenzy of “Giant Steps” morphing with the tempo-changing “Countdown.”
Impressive accomplishments, indeed.
Gurf Morlix – Melt Into You
The first thing that will hit you between the speakers is that Gurf Morlix, on his latest record, Melt Into You, sounds an awful lot like Ray Wylie Hubbard which makes perfect sense since he has been twirling the knobs for both Ray Wylie and Lucinda Wiians for the last several years.
Morlix tackles old age and lonely travels on “Melt Into You,” as well as the self-reflecting “Last Days of the Dinosaur,” wrapping things up with a sentiment all of us experience at one time or another on “A Meaningless Life.”
Stop at three shots of bourbon if you listening to this one in one sitting.
Sarah Jarosz – Polaroid Lovers
With the essence of 80’s ladies and Garth Brooks-era country, this Sarah Jarosz gem of an album covers all of the touchstones.
With her deft songwriting and classic Americana-centric vocal stylings the multi-instrumentalist, multi-Grammy winner apples her trade like a slightly less cool Jenny Lewis.
The opener, “Jealous Moon” could have been a K.T. Oslin hit from back in the day, closer “Mezcal and Lime” is a last-call woozy sort of affair, and “Runaway Train” will transport you back to a simpler era when the women ruled the country radio dial.
Katy Kirby – Blue Raspberry
With this, her sophomore record, Katy Kirby comes out strong chronicling new discoveries and first-time lesbian experiences on the exquisitely cool, Blue Raspberry.
The crystalline vocals pushed forwar in the mix means you will not need to consult a lyric sheet to ascertain the lyrics that highlight the little things women recognize in other women.
Listening to this record in total within the confines of a serious listen lends itself to a revelatory stroll in a forest of reflection as it surely does in the string-subtle “Party of the Century.”
You will be a better person for listening to this record.
The Umbrellas – Fairweather Friend
The Umbrellas, an Indie Pop band that brings to the minds-ear the classic sounds of bands like The Go-Betweens, The Bats, or even The Cranberries.
With jangle guitars and layered harmonized vocals, each song has a nostalgic feel to it that scantily varies throughout the song set. The lyrics, poetic in their simplicity, along with the alternating vocals are delivered with the honesty that should serve the band well as they continue on the path to critical acclaim and more.
R.I.P. Melanie Safja. Best known for her hit song “Brand New Key” she also knows her way around a cover song. Here, she employs her unique voice and phrasing talents on the iconic Kansas hit.
There is a swirling “Sympathy For The Devil” vibe wafting in the air of this match made in musical heaven collaboration between Zach Person and The GoGo’s Kathy Valentine.
Katie Crutchfield, commonly known as Waxahatchee is out with her latest single in advance of a new record, Tigers Blood, coming later in the year.
The dam is getting to break as the artists come out of their winter hibernation and begin to release new music.
On that front, Indie Pop maestros Gospelbeach are out with a refreshing Laurel Canyon vibing tune, “Hang Thyme.”
Great White’s Jack Russell and LA Gins Tracii Guns combine their collective rock and roll creds to a collaboration.
And, new to us the EMO influenced Remo Drive are out with a new single.
But all hail rock and roll, here are five new records to hit the ear-waves this week.
Bill Ryder Jones – lechyd Da
For this this, Coral frontman’s sixth proper record, Bill Ryder Jones has pulled out all the stops even employing a kids choir on several tracks on his latest, lechyd Da, Welsh for cheers.
With an Elliott Smith appeal and Beatles carnival pop feel, the production value is first rate with ELO inspired strings delicately placed in all the right places.
“I hold Something In My Hand” is a song that Ryder Jones goes to frequently do get him through hard times, and the symphony-laden “This Can’t Go On” will have you facing your own demons with The Moody Blues leading the parade.
The Vaccines – Pick-Up Full of Pink Carnations
Put a pin in this one and allow it to resurface several times over the next few months as there is a tendency to neglect January records in the avalanche of new releases.
As per usual, with this Indie rock band The Vaccines deliver boisterous wide screen anthems on a foundation of sticky hooks and Brit Pop influences.
High octane with a hint of garage rock, “Lunar Eclipse” is a sun-kissed bouncer, and “The Dreamer” is patented Vaccines pop song craft.
Look for this one to show up on many year end best-of lists.
Magnum – Here Comes The Rain
Magnum is an English hard rock and AOR band that applies their trade in the being of Night Ranger and early Journey.
Doing business since 1972, with Hear Comes The Rain, the band’s 23rd album, the band delivers melodic power ballads combined with straight ahead rockers thrown in for good measure. The title track is pure orchestral AOR splendor, and “The Seventh Darkness” rides the rails along the darker side of Bon Jovi.
Sadly, Tony Clarkin, guitarist and songwriter for the band, passed away two days before the release of the record.
Mike Flanigin – West Texas Blues
Texas Honky Tonk Blues in the Stevie Day Vaughan mold, Mike Flanigin is mostly known for his proficiency on the Hammond B3 organ and collaborations with Jimmie Vaughan, Billy Gibbons and Steve Miller.
“I Got My Eyes On You” will drift you right back to your favorite Texas roadhouse, the opener “West Texas Blues” seances the spirit of SRV’s “Pride and Joy,” and “I Live Where The Action Is” presents a love letter to the Austin music scene.
Brothers Brown – Nowhere Left To Go
From the VW van with the peace sign on the cover of the album there is a retro vibe to the proceedings that will take you back to the Fillmore West on a bill with The Band, The Grateful Dead, and Van Morrison.
Opener, “Wrong Side of Town” could have been a “Tupelo Honey” B-side, “Junior’s Back” settles in like a lost Songs From The Big Pink demo, and “My Baby” will put you right on the sawdust honky tonk floor with Delbert McClinton.
There is nothing not to like with this one.
A nostalgic journey of a video from her latest single. The song, “Rewind” is a perfect window into the soul of Singer Songwriter Rosali.
With a song that should hold a prominent level once the best songs of the year rankings come around, the spirit of Harry Chapin is all over this delicate tune.
The first single to see the light of ear from the collaboration between Rod Stewart and Jools Holland from the upcoming album, Swing Fever.
Sir Rod gives it his all from tonight’s edition of the Jools Holland Hootenanny.
Rock Is The New Roll 