Five Cool Ones: Five Cool Albums released this week (February 22, 2019)

The music scene is starting to crank up quite nicely. Karla Bonoff has a new record out as does John Mayall. Conor Oberst has a new side piece band and Julia Jacklin released a gem of an album this week. The music scene is very much alive and well!

Yola – Walk Through The Fire

This, her debut album, just might make Yola the reigning queen of Country Soul. Walk Through The Fire is a genre- bending sonic masterpiece brought to you courtesy of Dan Auerbach and the good folks at Easy Eye Sound.

Ray Charles – Modern Sounds In Country and Western Music Vol. 1&2

Under normal circumstances we do not cover reissues as part of our weekly release countdown. But if that release is this ear buster of an album we are all over it. “Your Cheatin’ Heart,” “I Can’t Stop Loving You,” the best cover version of “Careless Love” you ever will hear. Damn straight!!

Susto – Ever Since I Lost My Mind

This Charleston, Sc band is a bit of a throwback to the early 2000’s. Led by Justin Osborn, this six-piece band should bring to mind Band of Horses, or from a more recent vintage, The Lumineers. Justin Osborne is the singer and the star of this show. “Last Century” will Be in our top 100 songs of 2019 List.

Better Oblivion Community Center – Better Oblivion Community Center

Rock is the New Roll as well as The Falcon’s Nest are huge fans of Conor Oberst. We don’t care if he is recording as Bright Eyes, under his own name, or with his new band that features Oberst and Phoebe Bridgers on set that is a tight-knit folk-rock tour de force.

Attic Lights – Love In The Time of Sharks

This 70’s Power Pop influenced band never fails to expand the mind and impress the soul. Their latest, Love In The Time of Sharks, somehow, without pretense, combines Power Pop, Americana, and Rock and Roll all in one musical gumbo. The Raspberries by way of Big Star on this one.