Five Cool Ones: Five New Albums Released This Week (October 4, 2024)

The Starbenders are back in all their glory with a new single and a new drummer Qi Wei.

The band Austin Gold has a rocking new record brewing.

The Hot Damn is one of the glam-static new bands on the plant and “Fizz Buzz Crash” is a banger.

But let’s not bury the lead here, there are five top notch records that have been unearthed this week.

Leon – Leon

Rising from the remnants of his last excellent record, Gold Diggers Sound, his latest self titled new album provides a glimpse into the Texas places that helped to shape Bridges musical life.

“Panther City” provides a first hand account of his early life, “Peaceful Place” seems to level sit his career and life, and “Ghetto Honeybee” could have been a Motown classic.

With much of the record record in Mexico City’s studio El Diserto this record takes the listener on a spiritual journey well worth taking.

D-A-D – Speed of Darkness

D-A-D, the abbreviation for Disney After Dark, has released their 13th record of ’70s rock glam-inspired blow-pop good times music.

The opener “God Prays To Man” roars like an AC/DC 45 inch sung by Steven Tyler slowed down to 33rpms, “The Ghost” attempts to out Bon Jovi Bon Jovi, and “Strange Train” carries a bong hit of Black Sabbath.

These Danish rockers never fail to deliver on their musical soundscape that those of a certain age and musical acumen will find to be quite fulfilling.

Bobbie Dazzle – Fandabidozi

One of the more groovy releases of the year, Bobbie Dazzle rides with the Silver Surfer on a wave of Slade, The Sweet, and T-Rex.

The opener “Lightning Fantasy” sets the table for what you can expect with slightly more amped-up Suzi Quatro vocals fast riffs, and yes, cowbell.

There is nothing square about this hip-to-be-cool record. Glam in all of the right places, sprinkles of Bowie with an ELO accent throughout, and pure excessive ‘70s over-the-topness is the order of the day.

Hayes & The Heathens – Hayes & The Heathens

Americana legend Hayes joins forces with The Band Of Heathens on a pairing that we didn’t realize that we sorely needed.

8 songs were collectively penned that range from the whimsical “Nobody Dies From Weed,” a song that reflects the bunch of guys playing hooky vibe carried on throughout the record.

This one is so loose that even the Proclaimer’s “I’m Gonna Be (5000) miles perversely works.

Kasey Chambers – Backbone

With songs mostly culled from her upcoming book, Just Don’t Be A Dickhead, her latest, “Backbone,” is a collection of stories detailing her upbringing and painting her stories of a life well lived.

The song “A Love Like Springsteen manages to name-check the Boss’ songs “Glory Days,” “I’m On Fire,” “My Hometown,” and “Dancing In The Dark” among others, while not turning into a shlock-fest, and “Silverado Girl” takes the listener on the open road of an artist that may have painted her own personal masterpiece.