With a new record scheduled for 2019. The prolific Stephen Malkmus is a master of the Indie Pop Song.
Live Video of the Day:Kenny Wayne Shepherd – Shotgun Blues
With a rhythm section that was good enough for Stevie Ray Vaughan, Kenny Wayne Shepherd and his band pretty much scorch the earth on this one.
Video of the Day: Yola – Faraway Look
Another eclectically cool artist from Dan Auerbach and his table from Easy Eye Sound operating out of Nashville. The new record comes out on February 22nd but here is an early listen to this one that should make Yola one of the breakthrough artists of 2019. This one would make Burt Bacharach proud.
Video of the Day: This Wild Life – Figure It Out
Much in the mold of The Lumineers or Vance Joy This Wild Life is comprised of Anthony Del Grosso on guitar and Kevin Jordon on vocals and guitar. Changing up from a full band to an acoustic duo in 2010 there is a Milk Carton Kids Vibe with their latest 2018 release Petaluma.
Video of the Day: David Gray – The Sapling
All is right with the world when there is a new David Gray bubbling up in the atmosphere. It is actually pretty ear boggling to think that he has not released a proper album since Mutineers in 2015. Thankfully, all of that is about to change on March 8th with the release of Gold In The Brass Age. “The Sapling” is the first single and video from the album.
Video of the Day: John Hiatt – Cry to Me
Much like John Prine, John Hiatt is an undervalued National treasure. “Cry to Me” is the latest video to be released from his 2018 release, The Eclipse Sessions.
Song of the Day: James Yorkston – Shallow
From a small village in Scotland, James Yorkston produces elegant pastoral songs bringing to mind Bert Jansch and John Martyn. His latest record, The Route To Harmonium comes out on February 22nd.
Live Video of the Day: Greta Van Fleet – Black Smoke Rising
The boys from Greta Van Fleet make their Saturday Night Live debut singing “Black Smoke Rising.” If the hype surrounding this Rock and Roll band has sucked you into its vortex yet there is still time to jump on the bandwagon.
Live Video of the Day: Rolling Stones – Sweet Virginia
Woke up this morning and revisited an old friend The Rolling Stones ” Exile on Main Street”. In my opinion, this record one of the top 10 – 20 albums of the past several decades. Not a dog on the tracks, every song is a scorcher. If you are close to my age no further explanation needed, if not, I urge you to stop what you are doing stop right now and check it out. Your life will be better for it. Pure Rock and Roll – Keith and Mick at their artistic best. As I understand it they left England for tax reasons and moved to the south of France where “Exile” was recorded. The rest, as they say, is history.
— Johnny Shrike —
Best Albums of 2019 (So Far)
No time like the present to start compiling the best albums of the year. Stay tuned to this space as this list will be constantly updating.
001. The Delines – The Imperial
Every song could be an episode of True Detective on this one. The songwriting is living on the edge middle America Noir with every character seemingly living on the razors edge. Brooding Country-Soul courtesy of Willy Vlautin and his muse Amy Boone.
002. Liz Brasher – Painted Image
This one is likely to be on the list of best debut albums of the year. With vintage Dusty Springfield old school grooves mixed with contemporary Blues swirling throughout there is a definite new age feel to the record to complement the vintage sounds. “Cold” baby sounds like Otis Redding’s long lost sister.
003. Red Rum Club – Matador
With Matador, as debut albums go, Liverpool sextet The Rum Club has delivered a record that is sure to be on most of the Best-Of lists once the end of the year rolls around. With a distinct gumbo of a sound that is part 80’s Brit-Rock, part Psychedelic Rock, Part 60’s Surf-Garage, part Tarantino-Noir, and all cool, the texture of the album changes from track to track with even more influences filtering through the ears upon multiple listens.
004. The Twilight Sad – It Won’t Be Like This All the Time
Given the dark often gloomy tenor of this record it should come as no surprise that Robert Smith of the Cure is a big fan of this Scottish four piece band. In fact, he was sort of a musical muse on this record. A grower of an album, after a few listens of this you will definitely feel alive.
005. Maggie Rogers – Heard It In A Past Life
It is her singing voice that carries the day here as Maggie Rogers moves effortlessly between singer songwriter fare and electronic pop. Fully prepared not to enjoy this album, the jaunty 80’s Olivia Newton John vibe of “Give a Little” and the more folk-centric jam of her debut single “Alaska” made a believer out of these ears.
006. The Steel Woods – Old Woods
This Americana and Outlaw Country by way of Southern Rock band is the real deal. The opening couple of riffs on the lead off song, “All of These Years” will have you digging out your old Lynyrd Skynyrd records, and if that’s not enough, their cover versions of “Whipping Post” along with Petty’s ” Southern Accents” will direct your attention to the music that these guys discovered when they were growing up.
007. Sharon Van Etten – Remind Me Tomorrow
The consistent tone and perspective change on this, Sharon Van Etten’s fifth album, makes this one an extremely enjoyable listen. “Seventeen” is likely to be on many best songs of the year listings.
Rock Is The New Roll 