Rock Chick of the Day: Brandi Carlile – Party of One

Brandi Carlile is the most nominated female artist at the upcoming 61st Grammy Awards with six nominations including Album Of The Year (By The Way, I Forgive You), Record Of The Year (“The Joke”), the song of the year (“The Joke”), Best Americana Album, Best American Roots Song and Best American Roots Performance. And yes, there is still time to get on the bandwagon.

Five Cool Ones: Five (More) Reasons Rock Is Not Dead.

5Snakewater – Girl Like You

Dirty blues from Manchester England. There is a touch of Led Zeppelin, Bad Company, Peter Green and Gary Moore in their sound.

Lee Aaron – I’m A Woman

Hard Rock and Heavy Metal Queen Lee Aaron absolutely kills this Koko Taylor classic. “Shake hands with the devil, make him crawl in the sand.” Indeed.

The Bad Somethings – Let It Roll

Just about every 70’s and early 80’s is represented here, and it is awesome. Cheap Trick, Kiss, Bachman Turner Overdive, check, and check. Need more proof? “Let It Roll” is an oscure hit from the obscure 70’s Rock and Glam band Albatross. And oh yeah, lots of cowbell.

RHR (Redfern, Hutchinson, & Ross) – She Painted The Moon

Don’t sleep on these guys simply because they are miss cast often times in the AOR (Alum Oriented Rock) category. They rock with the best of them.

The Rumjacks – Cold London Rain

Enter into this carefully, these guys might become your next favorite party band if you are not careful. Full of Celtic, Folk, and Punk Rock swagger these guys stand pint for pint with The Dropkick Murphy’s.

Five Cool Ones: 5 Of The Best Songs of 2018

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Courtney Marie Andrews – Took You Up

We could have chosen any number of the songs from May Your Kindness Remains, but this song kept rising to the top. A slow builder that speaks to the virtues of making things work.

The Nude Party – Chevrolet Van

Strange band name, great song. This ode to musicians traveling from city to the next city will remind you of Arlo Guthrie.

Neko Case – Curse of the I-5 Corridor

This epic seven minute plus tune talks to the past and the unsure footing of the future. Duet partner Mark Lanegan takes this one from very good to great.

Ruston Kelly – Mockingbird

One of the Nashville shining stars, “Mockingbird” ebbs and flows and seems to come from a tortured soul. He wrote it in a Dominican hotel detoxing from a bad relationship.

Sonny Smith – Burnin’ Up

One of the best pure pop songs of the year this is another one from Dan Auerbach’s Easy Eye studio. Angel Olson adds background vocals.

 

 

 

 

Video of the Day: Mandolin Orange – Golden Embers

The latest video from Bluegrass band Mandolin Orange from their soon to be released album, Tides of a Teardrop on Yep Roc records. The song and video chronicles the suffering and healing singer Andrew Marlin and his father endured following the death of Marlin’s mother.

Best Albums of 2018: Foxwarren – Foxwarren

11298 [Converted]One of the best debut albums of the year, Foxwarren, a band of childhood friends now living in various provinces around Canada, have a loose casual sound that is part Indie Rock and part Psychedelic. There is a smoothness throughout the record that allows Andy Shauf and his bandmates space for the music to breath. “To Be” is a pastoral beauty, and “Everything Apart” is a great driving tune.

Five Cool Ones: Five Cool Artists From Easy Eye Sound

5One of the best ways to discover an artist that will become one of your new favorites is to find out the record label that released an album by someone that has captured your groove. The odds are very good that there will be several other artists in the stable that will capture your fancy. Dan Auerbach’s Easy Eye Sound  is a fine example of this like attracts like phenomenon. And besides, any label that has Duane Eddy as part of the house band has got to be pretty cool.

Robert Finley – Holy Wine

Dan Auerbach – Waiting On A Song

Shannon Shaw – Broke My Own

Dee White – Wherever You Go

Sonny Smith – Burnin’ Up