The Top 10 Albums of 2019 (so far)

There has been a truck load of great records out this year and before the new Bruce Springsteen comes out this Friday, everything else is just a placeholder, here are our top ten favorites.

10. J.S. Ondara – Tales of America

This Minnesota by way of Kenya Americana Folk singer is this years Leon Bridges. An inspiring new find , Ondara fully absorbs himself in any song he sings.

09. Austin Meade – Waves

This denizen of the Texas hill country lays down a template of 70’s outlaw inspired country influenced songwriting with more of than a touch of Rock as well as Roll.

08. Yola – Walk Through The Fire

You won’t need to to much past the first song on this record, “Faraway Look”, for this one to grab you. With pipes that would make Dusty Springfield blush along with the production fairy dust from Dan Auerbach and his Easy Eye team, this is one could have been released in 1968.

07. Guida E.V.A

An extremely rambunctious listen, E.V.A., the latest from Italian Glam Rock titans Guida combines Glam, 70’s Rock, and a tinge of disco that will mood-set your day at first listen.

06. Jack Ingram – Ridin’ High … Again

Ingram’s tribute in spirit to Jerry Jeff Walker and the rest of the hill country troubadours. Another record that could have been made in 70’s era Nashville. His take on “Desperados Waiting on a Train” is worth the price of admission alone.

05. Nightbeats – Myth of a Man

There is a real and pronounced outlaw-groove Tarantino-Noir vibe that permeates every pore of this album.

04. Kenny Wayne Sheppard – The Traveller

Kenny Wayne Sheppard with each release seems to be more and more comfortable with his place in the pantheon of guitar slingers. His latest, a Classic Rock concoction of Blues, Boogie, and Rock is a powerhouse. Singer Noah Hunt is in fine grizzled form still sounding like Warren Zevon’s less drug addled brother, and Stevie Ray’s old stick man Chris Layton pushes the band down the rails like a runaway train. Including eight originals and two covers, the best of the lot being a scorched earth version of Neil’s Mr. Soul, this one might be the bands best record to date.

03. Jenny Lewis – On the Line

Firmly entrenched in Laurel Canyon California Lounge-Rock of the 70’s. Any record that features Benmont Tench, Ringo Starr, Jim Keltner, Beck, and Don Was has to be the coolest. And this one is.

02. Better Oblivion Community Center – Better Oblivion Community Center

This one came out of nowhere, also way back in January. A collaboration between Conor Oberst and Phoebe Bridgers, both site favorites, this one is a tight Folk- Rock record that brings out the best in both artists.

01. The Delines – The Imperial

Brooding and vulnerable Country Soul from the side-piece band for Richmond Fontaine head honcho. Every song is a Raymond Carver short story.

Five Cool Ones: Five Cool Albums Released This Week (June 7, 2019)

This one is a week for the Rock and Roll OG’s. Gloria Gaynor, Tommy James, Savoy Brown, and Ricki Lee Jones all have records out this week. Here are five that have caught our ear-tention.

Eagles of Death Metal – EODM Presents Boots Electric

This one is shaping up to be one of the more fun records of the year. “God of Thunder,” “Abracadabra,” “High Voltage”,” C’mon man!

The Mattson 2 – Paradise

A groovy, psychedelic 60’s inspired listen. Lots of trippy California road trip vibes on this one.

Peter Frampton – All Blues

Another record of cover songs, this time Peter Frampton displays his prodigious guitar chops going old school with delicate versions of “The Thrill is Gone,” “I’m a King Bee,” and “She Caught The Katy” just to name three. “Georgia On My Mind” is a stellar hi lite.

Dylan LeBlanc – Renegade

Townes Van Zandt and Fleet Foxes inspired, as the son of Muscle Shoals session player James LeBlanc, Dylan Le Blanc delivers a solid set of songs blending solid songwriting with dreamy soundscapes.

Hollis Brown – Ozone Park

Named after the character in a Bob Dylan Song, this Queens, N.Y. these guys are more U2 mixed with Tom Petty and a dash of Black Crowes than Dylan. An album that is a bit more Rock than Roll, this is an extremely accessible record that will be on your regular listening rotation very soon. There is not a bad song in this basket.

New Music Friday (June 7, 2019)

The music for this week is pretty ridiculous, mostly in a good way. Here are the newest nuggets we are listening to this week.

Hollywood Vampires – Heroes

Johnny Depp grabs the microphone as The Vampires release another song from their upcoming album. This one, a spot on cover of the David Bowie song, should be superb listening live and in concert.

Tanya Tucker – The Wheels of Laredo

Tanya Tucker, the female country music OG, has released her first new song in 17 years. Produced and written by Brandi Carlisle and Shooter Jennings, her new record should be terrific. Without Tanya there would be no Miranda Lambert, Maren Morris, or dare I say it, Nikki Lane.

Chris Stapleton – The Ballad of the Lonesome Cowboy

It’s good to be Chris Stapleton these days. Here he is between albums killing the this ode to Woody in the new Toy Story 4.

Ida Mae – Reaching

A little dark, a bit moody and on the Delta Blues side, the new Ida Mae record, Chasing Lights, could be featured on the new season of True Detective.

Mark Lanegan – Playing Nero

Walking down the same dimly lit streets as Scott Walker, here, Mark Lanegan once again shows he can do Nick Cave almost as well as the original.

Noel Gallaghers’s High Flying Birds – Rattling Rose

Don’t look for any Oasis scraps to be laid down on this one. Noel has been there, done that. His upcoming E.P. is a bit of a disco dusted affair, and deliberately so. Don’t worry if this song is any indication it should be a lot of fun.

Jesse Malin – Room 13

Always big fans of anything Jessie Malin puts out, his upcoming record, Sunset Kids, is set up to be top 10 worthy. His latest song from the set to be released in August features the always sublime Lucinda Williams.

Glorious Sons – Panic Attack

This new single from the upcoming album shows signs that a couple of albums in The Glorious Sons are turning into a fully formed high-spirited Rock and Roll band right before our very ears.

Sheryl Crow – Prove You Wrong

No real new musical ground broken here, but anytime Sheryl Crow, Stevie Nicks, and Maren Morris collabo on a project it is worth a look and a listen.

Video of the Day: Royal Republic – Fireman and Dancer

The band members of Royal Republic don’t believe in guilty pleasures, only pleasures, free of compromise. “Fireman and Dancer” is full of monster hooks, catchy riffs and a killer mid-song sax solo. Part Glam, Part disco, all fun, their new record Club Majesty has it all, and then some.