Tag: Kings of Leon

Five Cool Ones: Five New Records Released This Week (May 17, 2024)

As we are driven kicking and screaming into the heat of the summer the record release parties seem to be thinning out a bit. But, we, as always, are doing the work so you don’t have to.

Joe Bonamassa’s side-piece band Black Country Communion is bubbling up with their new single, “Enlighten” in advance of a proper record.

Carol Hodge paints with a brush of a gothic Fleetwood Mac by way of Queens of the Stone Age Cover band.

And, Isobel Campbell meanders gently into your head-space with her latest, ‘4316.”

But wait, don’t get those beach chairs out just yet. here are five new records to throw in the fire pit to bask in the glow of a friendly flame.

Caldwell – Caldwell

With just a couple of salvos into track number one “No Flowers Today“ and on to “Love Confession” you will be kidnapped and will find yourself aboard a pirate radio ship somewhere between Austin Power’s bachelor party and a mushroom-infested evening with Donovan.

This one is a post-British invasion extravaganza that will have you reaching for those Dave Clark Five, Herman’s Hermits, and Gerry and the Pacemakers records that you have stashed in the attic.

Prisoners – Morning Star

The Prisoners are a mod-revival band from the early 80’s, and by the listen of things, with their latest Morning Star, they haven’t missed a beat in the intervening years.

With the Booker T Jones vibe of “Save Me” and the Badfinger influences shining through on “Morning Star,” the mod father time machine is tuned up, all systems go with the cool setting cranked up to high.

Kings Of Leon – Can We Please Have Fun

The Kings Of Leon, twenty years in now, are one of those rare bands that have been able to maintain the core joie de vie of their soul center while, at the same time keeping the arrow trending towards hip, relevant, and cool.

From the opener, “Ballerina Radio” from their latest effort, Can We Please Have Fun a song that envelopes you in the night swimming atmosphere that we have come to know and love from this band.

With the ripped from the headlines lyric, “There’s a war outside, we should all get high, as Caleb Followill recommends on “Nowhere To Run, and the apocalyptic energy of “Nothing To To,” yesterdays darlings have become today’s prophets.

Little Feat – Sam’s Please

While Little Feat has always been entrenched in the deep blues, a cover of Howlin’ Wolf’s “Forty-Four Blues” was included on their debut record, this is their first platter that is solely dedicated to the genre.

The opener, “Milkman” roams the back alleys like a sleazy Robert Cray love on the dark side of town tune, and “You’ll Be Mine” duck-walks across the stage drenched in a Chuck Berry riff. And, if you want some good old OG Little Feat just rest your ears on “Can’t Be Satisfied.”

With long-time conga player 74-year-old Sam Clayton handling the vocals, once you enter Sam’s Place you might just be walking into the home of blues album of the year.

The Mavericks – Moon & Stars

One of the best singers of his generation, Raul Malo brings his band and his velvet croon back to a time and place that will remind you of those glory “Dance The Night Away” days.

“Live Close By (Visit Often”) is classic 90’s Mavericks dance fever, the title track, “Moon & Stars” has Sierra Ferrell providing an assist channeling her inner Linda Ronstadt, and Roy Orbison makes a spiritual appearance on “A Guitar And A Bottle of Wine.” “Turn Yourself Around”’ even rides a Holland-era Beach Boys wave.

This one is a wonderfully typical Maverick’s record blending Latin music, Country, Tex-Mex, Classic Pop, Big Band, and 60’s noir into one of the best top-shelf margaritas that you will ever savor.

Five Cool Ones: Five New Records Released This Week (March 5, 2021)

As we hopefully are only months away from real live music becoming a thing again and musicians actually being able to make a fair living, there seems to be a burst of energy in the air taking shape with a lot of interesting notes in the air.

’70s style blues rockers Dirty Honey are teasing our ear lobes once again with a new single video “California Dreamin’.” No, not that song that you have in your head right now, but it’s still a cool rockin’ toon.

The semi-outlaw country artist Travis Tritt takes us back to those halcyon days when you could smoke in a bar with “Smoke In A Bar” his first original song released since way back 2013.

And, the band Wolf Alice shares their freshly minted new single on Later…With Jools Holland.

Here are 5 cool new morsels our ears are wrapping themselves around this week.

Kings of Leon – When You See Yourself

Reuniting with their old producer Markus Dravs (Arcade Fire, Coldplay), the Kings of Leon are back with their driving crescendo-driven rock and roll gloriousness. “The Bandit” is the royal ones at their finest starting slow and building up a head of steam pacing the listener into an atmospheric finish.  And, with “Time In Disguise” things are slowed down until tempo picks up careening the works into a wholly satisfying finish. The is no reinventing the Leon wheel here as the Followill brothers and cousin stick to the same experimental rock template they have been laying down for almost two decades now, but what they do, they do very well and fans will be pleased to have the band back in fine form.

Painted Shrines – Heaven and Holy

If there is anything good to come out of a global pandemic it’s the fact that artists have been able to collaboratively come together to combine their musical superpowers to come up with entirely new and different soundscapes than we may be used to from their individual projects. Here, Jeremy Earl from the Indie Folk Band Woods and Glenn Donaldson who is known for his work with the psychedelic band Skygreen Leopards come together forming the group Painted Shrines. Recorded over the course of one week the songs are loose, brightly energetic, and highly addictive.

“Panoramic” is a Jangle Pop instrumental gem with a bit of a Big Star influence, the song “Gone” highlights Earls falsetto voice that we have become accustomed to with his work from Woods, and the opener “Saturates the Eye” celebrates the Bydsian glory of Donaldson’s 12 string guitar.

This is a relaxed listen that will yield benefits with rotational spins.

The Gold Needles – What’s Tomorrow Ever Done For You
Once your ears regain their sensibilities and get over the shock of listening to the opening title track on this one, a song that brings to the minds-ear what The Grass Roots would have sounded like if they were a Country Band, and on the Moody Blues evoking “I Get The Pressure” there is a realization that sets in that record is a must check out album of the highest order.
With their cover version of the Hollies “Have You Ever Loved Somebody” the U.K. band does indeed make the song their own coming close to matching the original, and with “Dead Man’s Hand” their rock credentials are presented at the door in fine fashion on a song that could have been written by Buck Dharma and Blue Oyster Cult.
Every song’s a winner here, that’s for sure, and if you still are not a believer give the Pink Floyd-inspired wonderment of “Realm of the Black Dog” a spin. This one is an exciting Retro-Future record that will be getting many spins at Rock is the New Roll H.Q…
Mason Hill – Against The Wall
For the rockers in the house, the new banger from Glasgow’s own Mason Hill may be up your street. Strong,  powerful riffs accompanied by anthemic vocals most notably on “No Regrets” and the title track “Against the Wall,” there is a melody to the rock and roll here that sets the band apart and makes this record a must-listen for those that seek a bit of over-amped energy in their lives.

Benjamin Biolay – Grand Prix

Most definitely from the “and now comes something completely different category” comes Grand Prix, the latest record from French artist Benjamin Biolay. Citing influences the likes of The Smiths, New Order, and The Strokes, Biolay weaves textures of Kraut Rock, Post Punk, Electronica, Euro-Disco, Brit Rock, and Chanson into a blend that is distinctly cool.

Being French, of course, he has an affinity for beautiful women, and here his sirens of choice are ex-wife Chiara Mastroianni, former love Keren Ann, and current girlfriend actress Anais Demoustier all lend a helping background vocal here. The small band and slinky synthesizers used on this record set down a groove you won’t need to be a hipster or even French to enjoy.