Rocking With The New Roll: April 12, 2019

This new feature, Rock With The New Roll, will be a somewhat random, usually spontaneous series of musings on the week in music. Some new, some old, this will be designed to highlight what is capturing our ear-tention.

Winetka Bowling League – Slow Dances

This Los Angeles band with firmly entrenched New York roots delivers music that has hooks for days. Much of their new music was written during a drive back to new york where the California vibe was ultra present all the way to the East Coast.

The song “On the 5” with the line “I want to go back to that summer in San Fran, listening to nothing but Revolver and Pet Sounds,” says all you need to know about this excellent band.

Nick Lowe – Trombone

This new song from Nick Lowe features Lowe’s recent collaborators Los Straightjackets as his backing band and Duane Benjamin on Trombone. The song addresses the handling of the feeling of abandonment after a lost love.

The Magpie Salute – The Killing Moon

Skip the Record Store Day lines and enjoy this first listen of the Magpie Salute’s tribute to Echo and the Bunnymen with their version of “The Killing Moon”

Walker Lukens – Didn’t Wanna Do Right

The latest single to be released in support of his upcoming record, “Didn’t Wanna Do Right” is a spectacular, pristinely produced song that is next-level great from this rising star.

Hayden Thorpe – Love Crimes

With the relatively recent of his band Wild Beasts, Hayden Thorpe is making great use of his time as a gets ready to release his first solo record to be released in the next couple of months.

Video of the Day: The Cadillac Three – Crackin’ Cold Ones With The Boys

No need to wrestle with the mental imagery here.

“We got ice, check.  We got coolers, check. “We got cases of cold domestic gold just waiting for the sun to set.”

“We got tunes, check. We got girls, check. So come on, have another, we got Sunday to recover and we ain’t started yet.”

Your jam of the summer has just been released.

Five Cool Ones: Five Cool Albums Released This Week (April 12, 2019)

The year seems to be pretty much hitting its stride with some major developments on the digital scene. The mighty Slade is now available on all of the digital and streaming platforms. More Glam all of the time is a very good thing. As far as the rock and mortar releases, it has been a crackin’ week as well. Bruce Hornsby is back, this time without his noisemakers, Norah Jones announces her welcome return and retro blue-eyed Blues belter Eli “Paper  Boy Reed” makes his triumphant return. And Yes folks, there’s more.

Big Search – Slow Fascination

If you are a fan of the Laurel Canyon Beach Boys West Coast vibe then the new record, Slow Fascination, is definitely your jam. Big search is the solo moniker for Matthew Popieluch who when he is not sitting in as a sideman for bands like Papercuts and Fools Gold is creating lush Indie Pop orchestrations. Pianos and acoustic guitars blend delightfully with blended harmonies and intricate arrangements.

Shovels and Rope – By Blood

The opening salvo on this set, “I’m Coming Out,” sets the sonic stage for this one. With a sound palette that is much more out front than their past more introspective affairs. By Blood rocks a bit more than 2017’s Busted Jukebox, Vol. 1, but no worries, the skin-tight harmonies are still front and center and the energy is satisfying.

Aaron Lewis – State I’m

Somewhat stepping through the Waylon Jennings-Noir door opened by Chris Stapelton, Cody Jinks, Jamey Johnson, and Whitey Morgan  Aaron Jennings borrows heavily from Waylon and the “Possum” George Jones on this set of Honky Tonk style tunes.

John Paul White – The Hurting Kind

Three years removed from his first post Civil Wars album, Beulah, a somewhat dark affair, John Paul White is back with an eclectic blend of Americana and Country that should go far in moving his star forward. With a voice that travels between Roy Orbison and Ray Price, this record has a classic sound with a modern feel.

Band of Skulls – Love Is All You Love

This British three-piece Rock band mixes electronic and live instruments on their fifth album. Propulsive and full of energy, “That’s My Trouble” is sexy, Cool Your Battles would be a great selection for your 2019 driving tune playlist, and “We’re Alive” has a bit of an 80’s Brit Rock tinge to it. Emma Richardson is the real star here, but the entire band shows a diversity that can be rare in the Rock and Roll world.

 

 

 

 

 

Five Cool Ones: Five Cool Albums Released This Week (April 5, 2019)

It is pretty much a reboot week with Brooks and Dunn along with Mike + The Mechanics delivering some of their reimagined hits, and Country Queen Reba McEntire makes a glorious nuanced return. It’s a busy music week, so let’s get cracking.

Lee Fields – It Rains Love

Lee Fields delivers another master class of grit and Soul on this collection. More Wilson Picket or Bobby Blue Bland On this one than James Brown there is not one miss step or note that is not delivered directly from the gut.

Molly Tuttle – When You’re Ready

Comparisons to Alison Krause aside, Molly Tuttle is stepping out from her family band The Tuttles and is emerging as a star in her own right. Americana-Country kissed Pop of the highest order, Jason Isbell adds harmonies to “Million Miles,” a song originally started by Jewel and finished by Tuttle, and “Made My Mind Up” will bring to mind Kacy Musgraves.

Martha – Love Keeps Kicking

With more hooks than an episode of Greatest Catch, the band Martha explodes with intricate, melodic Indie Rock. Evoking the best of the 90’s bands, the songs on this set are all high energy guitar driven monsters.

Big Eyes – Streets of the Lost

Another on of those “Rock Is Not Dead” torch bearers that is not Greta Van Fleet. With the twin guitar attack of Kait Eldridge and Paul Ridenour you will be bathed in a the same vibe you w0uld have experienced if Joan Jett had fronted Thin Lizzy back in the day.

Sarah Bareilles – Amidst the Chaos

The T Bone Burnett production gives Sarah Bareilees’ new record a more subdued and subtle texture that we may be used to from her, but there is a certain beauty in the sparseness that helps to bring out the full measure of this strong set of songs.

 

Video of the Day: The Underground Saints – White Noise

Rock is the New Roll is officially on The Underground Saints band wagon. Their business model is a unique one, releasing a song a month in advance of a proper record to be released in 2019. Their vibe is Classic Rock with tinges of Black Crowes and 80’s Glam all rolled into one. They are on the short list of the best find of 2019. Thanks to Dean Delray and his Let There Be Talk Podcast for getting us hip to the Underground Saints scene!