Five Cool Ones: Five New Albums Released This Week (November 1, 2024)

Careening towards the end of the year, there is a bevy of great music to bathe our ears in.

The Nude Party is bubbling up with their unique take on the Laurel Canyon sound.

Newcomers Velvet Rush are setting the stage to be factors in 2025.

And, Los Lonely Boys are now touring promoting their aptly named record Resurrection.

But, don’t go to sleep just yet. Here are five new records to savor this week.

Warren Haynes – Million Voices Whisper

It has been ten years since his last solo trip around the sun with the highly recommended excellent Ashes and Dust released in 2014 after all he is an adopted son in the Allman Brothers family and has his active band in Gov’t Mule, so he has been sort of busy.

And Now, with guest drop-ins from Derek Trucks, Lukas Nelson and Jamey Johnson, Haynes has crafted one of the best records in his career.

With songs already written that had less of a Southern Rock vibe to them that did not fit the Govt’ Mule essence, Haynes culled them from the herd for his solo project.

“Real,Real Love with Duane Allman worthy slide work courtesy of Derek Trucks plays like a Bonnie Raitt ballad, the politically motivated Day Of Reckoning” is completed with a chorus that includes Haynes, Lukas Nelson and Jamey Johnson, and “Hall Of Future Saints” is a blues marvel that name checks Ray Charles, James Brown and Elmore James among others.

Welcome Home Warren Haynes.

The Virginmarys – The House Beyond The Fires

Part Punk, lots of Rock with a bit of blues sprinkled in, guitar player Ally along with drummer and husband Danny Dolan make some beautiful noise together with their band The Virginmarys.

From the full-tilt boogie of “You’re A Killer” to the frenetic swagger of “Lies, Lies, Lies.” on to the staccato rhythms of “Trippin New York City” there is barely a chance to take a breath on this post-punk call to arms.

Willie Nelson – Last Leaf On The Tree

With 153 records under his bandanna, there is not a lot to say that hasn’t been said when a new Willie Nelson record comes out. This one is pure Willie at his most frail coming from the perspective of a man and guitar that are at the back end of a life well Lived.

Much like Johnny Cash did in his Sunset series of songs with American V: A Hundred Highways, here with the title track “Last Leaf On The Tree,” the mournful “The Ghost,” and the poignant reading of Zevon’s “Keep Me In Your Heart” all cover the reflections of a man and a guitar that are peace with their mortality.

Jeremie Albino – Our Time In The Sun

Coming from the stable of thoroughbreds at Dan Auerbach’s Easy Eye Sound, Our Time In The Sun, Jeremie Albino’s fourth album seems to straddle that line between glistening present-day and vintage throw-back with the dexterity of a tight rope walker.

Auerbach, with his effective usage of vintage instruments, live-in-studio recording, and uncluttered production perfectly complements the everyman vibe that Albino generates.

“Rolling Down The 405” with 70’s one hit wonder dusting just might be the driving song of the year.

Paul Kelly – Fever Longing Still

It seems absurd that this will be the first proper post we have delivered concerning Paul Kelly, universally considered to be Australia’s finest singer-songwriter. Yet, here it is.

With this, his 29th studio record, and first solo release since 2018’s Nature, Kelly mixes it up with minds-eye narratives on “Hounds Tooth Dress” and National Geographic-worthy widescreen landscapes as he does on “Northern Rivers” as well as on the closer “Going To The River With Dad,” a song that would have fit in quite nicely in the canon of Harry Nilsson.

Regarded now along with Paul Weller, Nick Lowe and Elvis Costello as one of the senior singer songwriters of the day it is no wonder that Paul Kelly is nationally considered to be the Bruce Slringsteen of Australia.

Video of the Day: Crossbone Skully – The Boom Went The Boom (feat. Phil Collen)

Yet another single leaked out in advance of their album Evil World Machine to be released November 29. Produced by Mutt Lang and featuring Alice Cooper guitarist Tommy Henricksen there is a lot of Whitesnake and Def Leppard in the DNA of this record.

Five Cool Ones: Five New Records Released This Week (October 25,2024)

Going down the stretch in 2024 there is a bustle of activity on the new music front.

Gyasi embraces the joy of 70’s glam rock with “Sweet Thing,”

And, if all of that is not enough, Jesse Malin has just released his first new music since his stroke with “Argentina.”

Cats In Space – Time Machine

With Time Machine, Cats In Space continues to plant their flag on the hallowed grounds of Classic ‘70s Rock and Roll.

With loud guitars, pristine multi-track harmonies, and knob-twirling tighter than skin on an apple, this record brings to the minds ear the glory days of Deep Purple, Night Ranger, and REO Speedwagon.

The opener and title track would be well-placed on any Toto album, “Yesterdays Sensation” has a Styx “Renegade Vibe,” and the instrumental “Ivory Anthem” bursts out Meatloaf style like a bat out of hell.

Don’t sleep on this one.

Chuck Prophet – Wake The Dead

14 records in now, having recently recovered from stage four lymphoma, Chuck Prophet joined by Cumbia group Qiensave is at the top of his game with the release of his latest record, Wake The Dead.

Over 11 tracks Prophet digs deep into Cumbia music using traditional Latin American instruments including accordions, a bajo sexto (Mexican twelve-string guitar), and a Farisa Organ along with Tejano and bolero stylings making this an electrically groovy listen.

Beth Hart – You Still Got Me

This one has been bubbling for most of the year with the drip-release of some gritty singles including “Savior With A Razor” featuring Slash, and “Suga N My Bowl,” a song that features some axe assistance courtesy of Eric Gales.

With her vocal growl better than ever and her women empowerment messaging on full display, Beth seems to be at the peak of her powers most notably demonstrated on “Never Underestimate A Gal,” and the should-be country classic, “Wanna Be Big Bad Johnny Cash.”

And, of course, Beth’s ability to craft a song that reaches the depth of your soul is always bubbling just beneath the surface, this time with “Don’t Call The Police” and “You Still Got Me.”

Scarlet Rebels – Where the Colours Meet

Scarlet Rebels Where The Colours Meet, released just in time for rock record of the year consideration, with a landscape of anthemic rock bringing both U2 and Muse to the minds ear.

From the opener “Secret Drug” a song that sounds like a street fight between AC/DC and The Cult, all the way to “Out of Time,” an epic ballad that features Elles Bailey, there is not a rat floating in this punch bowl.

Tack this band up on your bands to follow wall.

Lone Justice – Viva Lone Justice

From the band that virtually invented the term Alternative Country, Viva Lone Justice is their first album in 40 years. Releasing their self-titled record that was deemed the 1984 record of the year in some circles, they have scarcely been heard of since.

And now, with an album cobbled together in the studio with all of the original band members, going down a country classic deep rabbit hole reinterpreting other people’s songs.

With Maria Mckee serving as ringleader the band offers up an almost unlistenable version of Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You,” from the bowells of the Appalachian mountains “Wade In The Water” is delivered, and for some odd reason, “Teenage Kicks” is on the menu.

Is there a really good reason for this record to exist? The answer is no. But if for nothing else, bringing the albums Lone Justice and Shelter back to the minds ear for some much-delayed spins Viva Lone Justice has served its purpose