Rock Is The New Roll

The rock continues to roll this week with plenty of prime choices. Rock is the New Roll favorite Blues Pills is out with their Fleetwood Mac meets Black Keys single, “Birthday.”

London-based rockers The Karma Effect deliver on a cloud of Foreigner with a sprinkle of Blackberry Smoke,

and, the best thing to happen to Southern Rock since Lynyrd Skynyrd is front and center with Blacktop Mojo and “As The Light Fades.”

And, on top of all that here here are five all killer no filler records released the week.

Wesley Fuller – All Fuller No Filler

With is his second proper record, Wesley Fuller announces himself with a solid set of Psych-Power Pop Aussie style.

The opener, “Back To Square One” has a definite Beatles flair, and “Jacandara” could have been a long lost Elvis Costello B-side. “The House of Love” is a boogie down banger, and “Look No Further” could have been the theme song for a 70’s sitcom.

This one is an overall feel-good record that will get your feet moving and your soul soaring with subsequent listens.

The Black Crowes – Happiness Bastards

The first set of new songs since 2009’s Warpaint, their latest, Happiness Bastards has the Robinson brothers and the rest of the Crowes performing at their absolute best, so much so that several Crowe’s aficionados are calling this one their best output since The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion released in 1992.

From the Stones doppelganger opening salvo of “Bedside Manners” next to the urgent festival-ready anthem “Rats and Clowns” the message is clear, The Black Crowes, despite their absence, might be the best guitar band in the game today.

Kacey Musgraves – Deeper Well

A redemptive record coming out of a divorce chronicled on 2021’s Star Crossed, with Deeper Well, Musgraves may have just painted her Masterpiece.

From the hushed Americana undertones to the next level songwriting the entire effort represents the maturation of an artist that continues to be genre defying.

Whether it’s the poignant retelling of a recently deceased friend visiting her in the form of a cardinal, and calling out getting rid of the people who are wasting your time, this record is best consumed with a single malt and a lyric sheet.

Tucker Woods – Sunshine Blues

A rock and rollover, Tucker Woods applies their trade alongside the Likes of Oasis, The Who, The Kinks and Tom Petty. And with this their sophomore release, the should be about to slip into the mainstream.

With pop-centric melodies and Americana-tinged landscapes particularly on the Oasis evoking “Somersault.” “Are You Glass” takes on the shapeshifter of a Jesse Malin single, has a Whiskeytown flair.

A in all, this is one of the most enticing roots-rock record of the year so far.

Armchair Boogie – Hard Times And Deadlines

We likely have Billy Stings to thank for our recent foray into banjo-based Americana and the New Grass phenomenon. Here, with the latest from Armchair Boogie a solid set of clever songwriting, exquisite musicianship, and old-school sawdust dancehall tunes is presented with accesible flair.

The title track is not your grandpa’s Hee Haw where all you have is a cheap old car and a bottle of gin, and “Liquor Store” goes emotionally deep in describing one too many visits to the Liquor store.

Having been dragged to this release kicking and screaming we have moved all of our chips into the middle of the table in support of Armchair Boogie and Hard Times & Deadlines.