Rock Is The New Roll

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.