25. The Gnomes – Introducing…The Gnomes
Nuggets-style garage rock never seems to go away, and this band out of Melbourne checks all of the boxes. Blazing harmonies, screeching guitars, and frenetic drums, the entire spectrum is represented. Come for the early Beatles gang vocals but stay for the Flamin’ Groovies energy on this, their debut record.
24. Ty Segall – Possesion
One of his more cohesive efforts in recent years, Possession finds Ty Segall at his most melodic, with toned down fuzz and leanings into his old school psychedelic side.
With the Steely Dan horns and the John Lennon touches, this highly accessible record is a welcome change from his more experimental prior efforts, “Hotel,” and “Alive” with their cinematic range have an ELO feel to them, and “Another California Song” is epic in its grandeur.
23. Brian D’Addario – Till The Morning
When is a record really/not really a solo album? The answer is nuanced but in this case with the latest from Brian D’Addario, one-half of the Lemon Twigs twins, both answers may be correct.
The first release on the brothers new label Headstack Records, most of the songs were recorded with brother Michael who is also credited as co-producer.
Self described as country- baroque the entire record is full of Donovan-worthy gems. “Nothing On My Mind” would have been a perfect early Kinks single, “Only To Ease My Mind” is Brian Wilson-worthy, and if “This Summer” is not your summer anthem of the year you should have your ears examined.
It is too early in his career to say that Brian D’Addario has created his own Pet Sounds, but when all is said and done you might not be wrong.
22. Charley Crockett – Lonesome Drifter
Recorded in just 10 days at the legendary Sunset Sounds Studio in LA with knob twirling assistance from Shooter Jennings, the record has a certain live feel to it with many songs recorded in one take.
With touch-points-a-plenty the musical influences make themselves known with Waylon Jennings, Bill Withers, and Woody Guthrie all representing.
Lonesome Drifter might not be his best record, Welcome To Hard Times would likely take that honor among aficionados, burn it will lkely garner high honors when the end-of-the-year polls are gathered.
21. Silver Synthetic– Rosalie
Floating in a nexus of euphoric cosmic cowboy haze, Silver Synthetic stands on the shoulders of Rose City Band, Beachwood Sparks, and Poco. Every song on this charcuterie plate of a record that sounds like Neil Young fronting Big Star is a feast for the ears.
“Rosalie” will have you searching for a campfire and a bottle of whiskey, the opener “Age Of Infamy” is hot tub time machine worthy ‘70s smooth country rock at its finest, and “Right Time” carries the freshness of The Sheepdogs and the slick pop of early-era Eagles.
There is nothing not to like about this record.
20. S.G. Goodman – Planting By The Signs
The Kentucky native writes rich narrative vignettes in the Lucinda Williams mold. On this, her third record, Goodman has come into her own with a classic Americana record that would make Jason Isbell proud.
19. Willie Nelson – Workin’ Man: Willie Sings Merle
Following Tributes dedicated to Ray Price, Harland Howard, and Rodney Crowell, this time out Willie rolls out the red carper for friend and fellow outlaw Merle Haggard. Easily Willie’s best effort in several years, and with his faithful guitar Trigger by his side, tribute is well paid. No earth shattering deep cuts here, just love letters to a friendship and a catalog that is well worth preserving.
18. Tedeschi Trucks Band – Mad Dogs And Englishmen Revisited
Captured during a historic performance at the Virginia Lockn’ Festival in 2015 Susan Tedeshi and Derek Trucks gathered some of the artists from the iconic concert tour in 1970 including Leon Russell and Rita Coolidge to pay tribute to Joe Cocker and the iconic live album generated from the event.
Every song presented here is spectacular with extra credit going to Warren Haynes and Leon Russell pitching in on “She Came In Through The Bathroom Window,” “With A Little Help From My Friends” with able assistance from Chris Robinson, and a knock your ears out rendition of “Feelin’ Alright” with Dave Mason and Anders Osborne.
17. The Delines – Mr. Luck And Ms. Doom
Rich and cinematic in the fashion of most of The Deline’s best records, Willy Vlautin, Amy Boone and the band deliver another set of Americana vignettes that would fit in quite nicely in a Raymond Carver short story collection.
16. Jason Isbell – Foxes In The Snow
With his first solo record in over a year Jason Isbell is entering the Nebraska phase of his career. Recorded with Isbell’s voice and guitar this sparkling, elegant beauty is a love letter to his home state of Alabama.
15. Alice Cooper – The Revenge Of Alice Cooper
Given that this is his first record since the tepid Muscle of Love in 1973 with the original Alice Cooper Band, Alice Cooper, Michael Bruce, Dennis Dunaway, and Neil Smith, it is no surprise that the record marks a return to the Billion Dollar Babies and School’s Out era. Filling in for Glen Buxton on guitar is glamster Gyasi Heus with the Doors Robbie Krieger adding some guitar work on “Black Mamba.” A nostalgic walk down shock rock lane, this one is very much harkening back to the ’70s when riff-heavy unapologetic rock was the order of the day.
“What Happened To You”’ would have been a terrific Chuck Berry B-Side, “What A Syd,” a tribute to Pink Floyd’s Syd Barrett, would have slid in quite nicely on the Lace and Whiskey album, and “Blood On the Sun,” the requisite semi-ballad, may be the best song of the lot.
A far better listen than it has any right to be, Alice has produced a record that stands up favorably with his best work. Anytime there is a new Paul Weller record to savor, there is cause for celebration.
14. The Cold Stares – The Southern Part 2
8 records in, Evansville’s own The Cold Stares have carved out a reputation as one of the best Blues Rock outfits in the game today. There is a whole lot of Johnny Lang by way of ZZ Top buried in the DNA of “Evil Eye,” Stevie Ray’s ghost haunts the moody “Hurting Side Of Love,” and “Can’t Call That Love” slides into the moody side of Lynyrd Skynyrd.
With this, a follow-up to last year‘s The Southern, it is inspiring to see a band striking while the iron is hot, releasing an album every year with groovy singles in between.
13. Pulp – More
Incredibly, More, the last record for Jarvis Cocker and the boys, is Pulps first proper record in 24 years since their breakup in 2002, and it’s a banger.
The opener, “Spike Island” provides a David Bowie background against classic Jarvis Cocker vocals, “Got To Have Love” is a disco treat that comes the closest on this set to rolling out vintage Pulp, “Grown Ups” is a throwback to the Brit Pop glory days, and “My Sex” is Barry White shag-funk.
Sure, Jarvis Cocker’s solo efforts have been good, sometimes great, but what the hell man, where have you been, and welcome back to a band that we didn’t realize we sorely missed. Until now, that is.
12. Taj Mahall and Keb’ Mo’ – Room On The Porch
With their second collaboration, Room On The Porch, the follow-up to 2017’s highly excellent Tajmo, Taj Mahall and Keb’ Mo’ may have just curated the most soul affirming record of the year.
From the opener, “Room On The Porch” on to the old school blues of “The Blues’ll Give You Back Your Soul” this one is perfectly suited to sitting on your porch reflecting with an old friend.
The version presented here of “Nobody Knows You When You Are Down and Out” is worth the price of admission alone.
11. Ben Kweller – Cover The Mirrors
The latest record from Ben Kweller is a deeply personal affair. Released on would have been the 19th birthday of his son Dorian who died tragically in a freak car accident, Cover The Mirrors has a real heart on the sleeve tattoo inked on every groove.
A supreme example of an artist turning personal grief into a salve, every song is a thought-provoking journey into the healing process. Getting by with a little help from his friends, Waxahachie pitches in on “Dollar Store,” Coconut Records on the appropriately named “Depression,” and MJ Lenderman joins the party on the closer, an ode to a father’s son, “Oh Dorian” is Kweller’s “Tears in Heaven” Tribute to his son.
10. Samantha Fish – Paper Doll
The reigning queen of the blues has been pretty much everywhere lately with her solo work, her collaboration with Jesse Dayton, and her partnership with BFF, Joe Bonamassa.
Full of bad-ass bravado, the likes of which we haven’t heard since the latest Beth Hart Record, the opener “I’m Done Runnin,” is a defiant ode to self-reliance, “Can Ya Handle The Heat” could have been a Bonnie Raitt anthem, and “Rusty Razor” kicks out the jams while veering heavily into the rock lane on the blues-rock highway.
09. Turnpike Troubadours – Price Of Admission
You would be hard pressed to find a more legitimate roots country band over the last ten years than Stillwater’s own Turnpike Troubadours.
Ignoring the glitter of Nashville, the band instead has chosen to stick to their Oklahoma roots and imbed themselves in a state, a town that is as hardscrabble as it gets with an everyman ethos that is palpable.
Produced by Shooter Shennings, the new record meanders from pensive to rowdy in the blink of a hot steel guitar solo.
Critics might call out the semi-slick production, one of the hazards of hiring a big-time producer, while others will revel in the honky tonk ethos.
Come for the poignancy of “Forgiving You,” but stay for the heartbreak of “A Lie Agree Upon” with this one.
08. Dawn Brothers – I Cry Alone
All the way from the Dutch city of Rotterdam, The Dawn Brothers produce a refreshing blend of Rock, Americana, and Memphis Soul. Sort of like Hall and Oates teaming up with the Travelling Wilburys. If you did not know the band’s origin, with just one floor-to-ceiling listen of their new record, Cry Alone, you would be hard-pressed to tell if they were from Rotterdam, Memphis, or Los Angeles.
The opener, “Do Me Wrong” sets the hook with a funk-driven backbeat and a Memphis Soul Stew vibe, “Can’t Let You In, Can’t Let You Out” is perfect Travelling Wilburys fare, and “I Cry Alone” would have been a perfect addition to the Hall and Oates Abandoned Luncheonette record.
Much like The Little River Band from back in the day, there is a timeless appeal to this record that will soothe the soul.
07. The Darkness – Dreams On Toast
For those not previously in the know, The Darkness, with their flamboyant frontman Justin Hawkins, is a U.K.-based rock and roll band that combines the over-the-topness of Sheer Heart Attack era Queen, Jellyfish, and for a more recent vintage touchpoint, Luke Spiller and the Struts. Glam energy, bombast, glass-breaking falsetto’s and more is the order of the day.
From the opening blast-off of “Rock and Roll Party Cowboy” the DNA of the band’s eighth album, Dreams On Toast is on full display. No-holds barred party like its 1975, good time, rock and roll played like its meant to be played, loud and proud.
Lead-off single “Longest Kiss” is pure Jellyfish vibing, and “Hot On My Tail” is the Darkness’ version of Queen’s “Seaside Rendevous,” deliciously operatic and bombastic with a bit of whimsey thrown in for good measure.
A welcome addition to the canon of one of the best rock and roll bands to come around in the last decade.
06. Tito & Tarantulas – !Brincamos!
Widely known as the house band in Quentin Tarantino’s From Dusk Till Dawn, Tito Larriva and his tarantulas have been mainstays of the Los Angeles punk and roll scene for decades with their genre-bending mix of rock, punk, Tejano, and surf music.
And now, with !Brincamos! the band has delivered a masterpiece of Latinx punk rock with raw ballads and energetic anthems leading the way. The opener “X the Soul” would have been perfect in the hands of Tom Waits, if Waits ever let things fly that is, 99.9 sounds like an Alejandro Escovedo garage rant from the nugget days, and “Sneer At The Drummer” could have been a Willy De Ville classic.
This is a real rock record from a real rock and roll band.
05. My Morning Jacket – Is
With this, their 10th record in 30-plus years of existence, the jam band-adjacent My Morning Jacket has entered into a new phase of their career for the first time in a decade, for them, an outside producer is in charge, Brendan O’Brien who has worked with Bruce Springsteen, Pearl Jam, and Phish.
Every song on this record is melodic, transcendental, and perfectly executed. The spirit is uplifting and “Everyday Magic” as well as “Time Waited” remind us of the underrated genius that is Jim James when it comes to crafting a love song.
This might not be the album of the year, but it will certainly be on heavy rotation on our turn tables for the rest of the year.
Shifting to a five-piece band Wet Leg has produced a more mature follow-up that is fiery and emboldened with their best Indie-Rock anthems to date. Just listen to “Catch These Fists and tell us we’re wrong
03. Horsebath – Another Farewell
The Canadian roots group romanticizes the open road on a debut album filled with weird cowboy songs, streamlined saloon rockers, big-hearted folk tracks, and pastoral interludes that would make for a perfect road trip playlist.
02. The Waterboys – Life Death And Dennis Hopper
Never failing to surprise the Waterboys never fail to surprise. This ode to film icon Dennis Hopper runs the gamut from Vintage with “Hollywood ‘55”to Easy Rider on “Memories Of Monterey and beyond with “Hopper’s On Top (Genius).” The spoken word along with the narrative vignettes make this one an instant classic.
01. Big Thief -Double Infinity
Addrienne Lenker and Big Thief have delivered yet another pristine masterpiece. A bit more stripped back than we may be used to from the band but the late-era Fleetwood Mac mantra gives the record a polished sheen that seems ready-made for a road trip.
“All Night All Day” is a swirling epic and “Happy With You” is a buoyant affirmative ode to love, “happy with you why do I need to explain myself.” An uplifting sentiment in troubled times.
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record has the feel of a real concept album in the Tommy mold, and is best digested in one sitting. The mix of rockers like the standout “Department of Youth,” and the guitar heavy anthem “Devils Food,” are intrinsically interspersed with the somewhat creepy “Steven,” a song that seems to share some DNA with the theme from exorcist, with the far off calling of Steven’s mother downright chilling, and the equally scary “The Awakening,” all kicked off in fine macabre fashion with “Welcome to my Nightmare,” a song that goes from a whisper to a scream to set the stage for what we are about to experience. Welcome to my nightmare I think you’re gonna like it. I think you’re gonna feel you belong.
Rock Is The New Roll 