Video of the Day: Lucifer – Maculate Heart

Lucifer, the bastard scions of Black Sabbath and the band Heart, are a ’70s worshiping Goth-Rock Stockholm based band steeped in gothic fare and haunted mansion vibes. If you don’t believe us just listen to their ballad “Slow Dance In Crypt” and the early Sabbath inspired “At The Mortuary.”

Five Cool Ones: Five New Platters Released This Week (January 12, 2024)

The dam is getting to break as the artists come out of their winter hibernation and begin to release new music.

On that front, Indie Pop maestros Gospelbeach are out with a refreshing Laurel Canyon vibing tune, “Hang Thyme.”

Great White’s Jack Russell and LA Gins Tracii Guns combine their collective rock and roll creds to a collaboration.

And, new to us the EMO influenced Remo Drive are out with a new single.

But all hail rock and roll, here are five new records to hit the ear-waves this week.

Bill Ryder Jones – lechyd Da

For this this, Coral frontman’s sixth proper record, Bill Ryder Jones has pulled out all the stops even employing a kids choir on several tracks on his latest, lechyd Da, Welsh for cheers.

With an Elliott Smith appeal and Beatles carnival pop feel, the production value is first rate with ELO inspired strings delicately placed in all the right places.

“I hold Something In My Hand” is a song that Ryder Jones goes to frequently do get him through hard times, and the symphony-laden “This Can’t Go On” will have you facing your own demons with The Moody Blues leading the parade.

The Vaccines – Pick-Up Full of Pink Carnations

Put a pin in this one and allow it to resurface several times over the next few months as there is a tendency to neglect January records in the avalanche of new releases.

As per usual, with this Indie rock band The Vaccines deliver boisterous wide screen anthems on a foundation of sticky hooks and Brit Pop influences.

High octane with a hint of garage rock, “Lunar Eclipse” is a sun-kissed bouncer, and “The Dreamer” is patented Vaccines pop song craft.

Look for this one to show up on many year end best-of lists.

Magnum – Here Comes The Rain

Magnum is an English hard rock and AOR band that applies their trade in the being of Night Ranger and early Journey.

Doing business since 1972, with Hear Comes The Rain, the band’s 23rd album, the band delivers melodic power ballads combined with straight ahead rockers thrown in for good measure. The title track is pure orchestral AOR splendor, and “The Seventh Darkness” rides the rails along the darker side of Bon Jovi.

Sadly, Tony Clarkin, guitarist and songwriter for the band, passed away two days before the release of the record.

Mike Flanigin – West Texas Blues

Texas Honky Tonk Blues in the Stevie Day Vaughan mold, Mike Flanigin is mostly known for his proficiency on the Hammond B3 organ and collaborations with Jimmie Vaughan, Billy Gibbons and Steve Miller.

“I Got My Eyes On You” will drift you right back to your favorite Texas roadhouse, the opener “West Texas Blues” seances the spirit of SRV’s “Pride and Joy,” and “I Live Where The Action Is” presents a love letter to the Austin music scene.

Brothers Brown – Nowhere Left To Go

From the VW van with the peace sign on the cover of the album there is a retro vibe to the proceedings that will take you back to the Fillmore West on a bill with The Band, The Grateful Dead, and Van Morrison.

Opener, “Wrong Side of Town” could have been a “Tupelo Honey” B-side, “Junior’s Back” settles in like a lost Songs From The Big Pink demo, and “My Baby” will put you right on the sawdust honky tonk floor with Delbert McClinton.

There is nothing not to like with this one.