Five Cool Ones – Five Cool Albums Released Today (January 18, 2019)

The year is still taking a while to get cranked up but there were are a few notable records released today you should be checking out.

Ronnie Milsap – The Duets

We haven’t really heard from Ronnie Milsap lately, but this latest record with a load of really top notch friends is really worth your attention. With appearances from Leon Russell, George Strait, Billy Gibbens, Kacey Musgraves and many more, the song selections are contemporary and Ronnie is in fine voice. And, of course, Willie Nelson jumps in on “A Woman’s Love.”

Sharon Van Etten – Remind Me Tomorrow

Five albums in Sharon Van Etten has really found her groove. The subtle flow of this record will have you entering a hazy fog that will really envelop you. This one will be on the best of the year lists for sure.

Maggie Rogers

Maggie Rogers is an artist that seems to be on the precipice of a major breakthrough. The album has some really fine hooks along with a Pop sensibility that is subtle and captivating at the same time. On the strength of her single “Alaska” Maggie Rogers is in for a good ride.

Danny Burns – North Country

Originally from Ireland, Danny Burns has been living in the United States for twenty years. Obviously he has made a lot of cool friends in that time as Tift Merritt, Jerry Douglas, Holly Williams, Dan Tyminski, and Tim O’Brien all show up on this highly excellent debut record.

The Steel Woods – Old News

There is no sophomore slump with these guys, their second release, Old News, is top notch. Southern Rock fanciers to the bone, they pay tribute to many of their heroes on this one. From the Allman’s “Whipping Post” to Petty’s “Southern Accents” on to Mighty Merle’s classic “Are the Good Times Really Over” everything is laid out rare and spare for the listener to soak in.

 

Live Video of the Day: The Struts – Dancing in the Dark (Live From The Basement East)

Sorry Greta Van Fleet, the Struts are the best Rock and Roll band on the planet right now. Dispensing with their Queen frocks for a song they bring Tom Morello on stage for as scorching a version of Springsteen’s “Dancing in the Dark.”

Song of the Day: Fat White Family – Feet

Fat White Family are back and the first single from their upcoming release, Serf’s Up, has just been dropped. Changing their sound to a Depeche Mode vibe, this will be their debut release for Domino records. The band temporarily dropped their respective side-piece bands The Moonlandigz and Insecure Men to reform Fat White Family. Look for the record on April 19th.

Video of the Day: Orville Peck – Dead of Night

Sub Pop Records is always pretty much assured to throw you a musical curveball with their eclectic stable of wonderful artists, and Orville Peck is no exception. If Country Goth was not a genre before, it is now. The new record, Pony, will hit the shelves on February 22nd.

Song of the Day: Townes Van Zandt – All I Need

A new collection of previously unreleased recordings from singer-songwriter Townes Van Zandt has been announced. Sky Blue collects early drafts of songs like “Pancho and Lefty” and “Rex’s Blues,” recorded with Bill Hedgepeth in 1973. It also features two songs that have never been heard before—“Sky Blue” and “All I Need”—and covers of songs by Richard Dobson and Tom Paxton.
Sky Blue arrives March 7 (what would have been Van Zandt’s 75th birthday) via TVZ/Fat Possum.

— From Pitchfork —

Live Video of the Day: Allen Toussaint – American Tune (Live On Austin City Limits)

The legend that is Allen Toussaint makes this one his own on an Austin City Limits Live performance. You can check out his studio version of the Paul Simon tune on his 2016 posthumously released album. American Tunes.

Song of the Day: Ex Hex – Cosmic Cave

Ex Hex is made up of the power trio of Mary Timony, Betsy Wright, and Laura Harris. The band smashed their way onto the scene in 2014 with the album Rips, an album that garnered much critical acclaim and was on top of many best album of the year lists. Now, in advance of the new record It’s Real that comes out on March 22nd, we are treated to a sign of the marvelous sounds that will soon reach our collective ears.

Video of the Day: Blank Range – Radio

Yet another of the really cool bands to come out of Nashville. A Rock band with an Americana bent to their vibe, “Radio” is the first single to be released from these guys that just finished touring with Tyler Childers, Margo Price and Nicki Lane. Look for the new record, In Unison, scheduled to be released on February 1.