Five Cool Ones: Five New Albums Released This Week ( March 29, 2024)

The rock is certainly rolling this week as summer is a mere fortnight away. Beth Hart is giving us a preview of her upcoming record with “Little Heartbreak Girl.”

Painted Fiction has released “Nameless Horse” not to be confused with “A Horse With No Name.”

And, if that is not enough, Rock is the New Roll favorites The Sheepdogs are out with a new French-speaking single. In any language these are one of the best retro-rock bands in the game.

But don’t put the phone down just yet. Here are five new platters released this week that are very worthy of your ear time.

Sarah Shook and the Disarmers – Revelations

Despite the name change to River Shook (The band name stays the same) with her latest record, Revelations, Shook continues her badassery and maintains her title as the queen of the underbelly.

The title track is an ode to depression with the lyric “Hey baby I’m barely getting through each day” as a case in point, River seems particularly cranky as she declares “Mind your own damn business and keep your opinions to yourself” on “You Don’t Get To Tell Me,” and is downright pissed when it comes to “Motherfucker” and the declarative statement “You’re going to get what’s coming to you.”

Clearly, River Shook and the band has a lot to get off of their collective chests.

Mission accomplished.

Thee Sinseers – Sinseerly Yours

With a sound that combines ’60s Soul, think Leon Bridges meets Charles Bradley, and Chicano Soul in the Malo mold, the bands debut record is a soul-stunner.

The ballad “Hold On”’ could have been a Sam Cooke classic, “Talking Back” is an instrumental groover reminiscent of James Brown’s “Night Train,” and “As I Can Give” takes things low and slow on a song that could have been on any Temptations record.

One only needs to listen to the Motown Meets Latin Soul blending on “Can’t Do That To Her” to come away smitten with this record which is a shape-shifting wonder.

Scott H. Biram – The One & Only Scott H. Biram

With a DNA lineage that goes all the way back to Dale Watson, Waylon and Willie and the rest of the 70’s outlaws, with his latest almost self-titled record, Scott H. Biram has stepped up his songwriting almost to the John Prine and Shel Silverstein level.

The smoke of Willie Nelson is all over “Inside A Bar,” and “Easy Rider,” the sole cover song in the set, is pulled off with its own panache.

This one will definitely take you back to the barrooms again.

Alejandro Escovedo – Echo Dancing

For a man that follows his own musical muse to include rock, punk, Americana, and singer songwriter fare, with his new record, Echo Dancing, Alejandro Escovedo takes a stab at giving his own songbook a punk infused touch up.

Combining the more well-known tracks, “Sacramento & Polk” and “Swallows of San Juan” with the real deep cuts, “Inside This Dance” and “Wave,” the result has a cohesive feel to it with a familiarity that we have grown to love since the early days before Escovedo decamped from Austin and set up shop in Dallas.

Dent May – What’s For Breakfast

With a pleasant A.M. Radio esthetic that has a Captain and Tennille by way of Cheap Trick feel if produced by Jeff Lynne, stopping just short of yacht rock, Dent May is establishing himself as a power pop star in the making with his latest release, What’s For Breakfast.

A perfect listen for a lazy afternoon with “Coasting On Fumes” holding water for Fleetwood Mac, and “Cactus Flower” playing forward early pre Pet Sounds Beach Boys.

Take this one to the beach with you.

Five Cool Ones: Five New Records Released This Week (March 22, 2024)

The sun is shinin’ and the beats are frying’ this week as the new releases roll along in fine fashion.

The Treatment lays down their own brand of AC/DC boogie with Let’s Wake Up This Town.

The Irish duo Dea Matrona are in perfect brooding form with their Fleetwood Mac evoking “Black Rain.”

And, Jesse Dayton is returning to his rock roots with this latest single in advance of his new record.

And if all of this awesomeness doesn’t float your boat, here are five tasty nuggets to tickle the lobes and sweeten the senses.

Ted Russell Kamp – California Sun

With his third post-pandemic release Ted Russell Kamp seems to be solidifying his position as the hardest working artist in Americana.

His latest, California Son, serves as a love letter to his native state as well as a biography of sorts. The title track lays out the story of his trek from New York to California by way of Seattle in search of his dream. Just him and his guitar in his Chevy van.

From “The Upside to the Downslide” to “Ballad of the Troubadour” the melancholy werewolf kind of life that a working musician endures is chronicled with intimate detail.

If Jim Croce grew up on the West coast he might have been Ted Russell Kamp.

Cody Jinks – Change The Game

A shining star on the independent artist scene, Cody Jinks is likely the best outlaw country artist that you have never heard of. Jinks deserves to be right up there with Chris Stapleton, Jamey Johnson, and Charley Crocket on the pantheon of present-day Country artists.

“Wasted” could have been a mid-career Merle Haggard “The Bottle Done Me Wrong” classic, and on his ode to the everyday American “Working Man,” there is more than a little George Strait timber to his voice.

If this is your first exposure to Cody Jinks, where have you been? If you are already one of the many flockers, settle in for a whiskey-soaked listen and a life-affirming experience.

Sam Morrow – On The Ride Here

Sam Morrow straddles the “Americana or Rock” ethos with the skill of a Wallenda. His whiskey-soaked smooth vocals will bring to mind Chris Stapleton, and once he starts playing you will swear that you are listening to Leon Russell sitting in Lynyrd Skynyrd.

“Medicine Man” might be the leader in the clubhouse for driving song of the year, “Thunderbird Motel” could have been a ZZ Top classic, and “High-Class Woman” is an ode to the random pick-up.

Positioned as a trilogy behind Concrete & Mud and Gettin’ By On Gettin’ Down, this one is a perfect blend of the Rock and Country worlds that should stand the test of time.

Fast Eddie – To The Stars

Rock and Roll the way it is meant to be played, loud, real, and with passion. Produced by Tuk Smith this ones combines The Strokes with a little plenty os Sunset Strip sleaze thrown in for good measure.

This tidy 8 song set includes outright rockers, case in point, the opener “Stepping Stones,” crisp anthems with “In Too Deep,” and Green day evoking bangers as evidenced by “No More Neon Nights.

Every song presented here is a sacrifice to the Rock and Roll Gods.

Waxahatchee – Tigers Blood

Katie Crutchfield, also known as Waxahatchee, is on a serious roll. Having released 6 albums over the last 10 years or so, her latest, Tigers Blood just might be her best.

With a Country-Adjacent 10,000 maniacs vibe, the overall arch of the record is a reflection of the importance of spending time around people that make you better. The porch-side banjo on “Right Back To It” with MJ Lenderman is a salve to the soul, “Burns Out At Midnight” celebrates the joy of staying home and staying sober, and “Bored” will remind you of the best of Sheryl Crow.

A solid best of 2024 topender, this one is Grammy worthy.