Five Cool Ones: Five New Albums Released This Week (October 4, 2024)

The Starbenders are back in all their glory with a new single and a new drummer Qi Wei.

The band Austin Gold has a rocking new record brewing.

The Hot Damn is one of the glam-static new bands on the plant and “Fizz Buzz Crash” is a banger.

But let’s not bury the lead here, there are five top notch records that have been unearthed this week.

Leon – Leon

Rising from the remnants of his last excellent record, Gold Diggers Sound, his latest self titled new album provides a glimpse into the Texas places that helped to shape Bridges musical life.

“Panther City” provides a first hand account of his early life, “Peaceful Place” seems to level sit his career and life, and “Ghetto Honeybee” could have been a Motown classic.

With much of the record record in Mexico City’s studio El Diserto this record takes the listener on a spiritual journey well worth taking.

D-A-D – Speed of Darkness

D-A-D, the abbreviation for Disney After Dark, has released their 13th record of ’70s rock glam-inspired blow-pop good times music.

The opener “God Prays To Man” roars like an AC/DC 45 inch sung by Steven Tyler slowed down to 33rpms, “The Ghost” attempts to out Bon Jovi Bon Jovi, and “Strange Train” carries a bong hit of Black Sabbath.

These Danish rockers never fail to deliver on their musical soundscape that those of a certain age and musical acumen will find to be quite fulfilling.

Bobbie Dazzle – Fandabidozi

One of the more groovy releases of the year, Bobbie Dazzle rides with the Silver Surfer on a wave of Slade, The Sweet, and T-Rex.

The opener “Lightning Fantasy” sets the table for what you can expect with slightly more amped-up Suzi Quatro vocals fast riffs, and yes, cowbell.

There is nothing square about this hip-to-be-cool record. Glam in all of the right places, sprinkles of Bowie with an ELO accent throughout, and pure excessive ‘70s over-the-topness is the order of the day.

Hayes & The Heathens – Hayes & The Heathens

Americana legend Hayes joins forces with The Band Of Heathens on a pairing that we didn’t realize that we sorely needed.

8 songs were collectively penned that range from the whimsical “Nobody Dies From Weed,” a song that reflects the bunch of guys playing hooky vibe carried on throughout the record.

This one is so loose that even the Proclaimer’s “I’m Gonna Be (5000) miles perversely works.

Kasey Chambers – Backbone

With songs mostly culled from her upcoming book, Just Don’t Be A Dickhead, her latest, “Backbone,” is a collection of stories detailing her upbringing and painting her stories of a life well lived.

The song “A Love Like Springsteen manages to name-check the Boss’ songs “Glory Days,” “I’m On Fire,” “My Hometown,” and “Dancing In The Dark” among others, while not turning into a shlock-fest, and “Silverado Girl” takes the listener on the open road of an artist that may have painted her own personal masterpiece.

The Top Songs of 2019 (25-21)

There have been a lot of really great songs released in 2019. This year, we will be revealing our top 100 songs five tunes at a time all the way to number one. Here are our picks for 25-21

25. Sheer Mag – Hardly To Blame

A singalong chorus enhances the bounciness on this Rocker of a song from the Philly based group.

24. Leon Bridges and Khruangbin – Texas Sun

Two soon to be Texas legends, Leon Bridges from Fort Worth and Houston’s Khruangbin team up on a classic sounding single.

23. Gillian Welch & David Rawlings – When a Cowboy Trades His Spurs For Wings

The undeniable chemistry on this stand-alone (so far) single from Gillian Welch and David Rawlings makes for sweet harmony filled listening, courtesy of the San Saba Songbird from The Ballad of Buster Scruggs.

22. Yes Factory – Radio Waves

Some Matthew Sweet vintage Power Pop for the new age. The band is from Rockford Illinois and features Ian Zander, son of Cheap Trick’s Robin Zander. This apple falls not so far from the Rock tree.

21. DeWolff – It Ain’t Easy

One of our more pleasant Rock and Roll finds from 2018, it took us a bit to get used to the Jamiroquai vibes on this one from their latest two-song E.P. but after a few studious listens of this one, the mid-song guitar noodling sold us big time.

 

 

 

 

New Music Friday (July 19, 2019)

Midland – Put The Hurt In Me

Gearing up for the release of a new record, these boys do 80’s Country with the best of them. I’m really trying not to like this band, but they are definitely growing on me.

Rodney Crowell and Lyle Lovett – What You Gonna Do Now

We already putting a placeholder for Rodney Crowell and his new album Texas in the top ten of albums of the year, but in the meantime here is another song to be enjoyed.

Jesse Malin – Meet Me At The End Of The World

Jesse Malin, a favorite of Rock Is The New Roll, absolutely never disappoints. Here, he is a bit more upbeat and his Lou Reed vocal delivery seems to go places we have not heard in a while.

Corb Lund and Hayes Carll – On The Cover of the Rolling Stone

A single released in advance of his new record, here he teams up with Hayes Carll to deliver a pretty darn good ‘make it their own’ version of a terrific song. Maybe they’ll get their picture on the cover.

Leon Bridges – That Was Yesterday

The latest from the San Cooke Meets Marvin Gaye Soul Singer.

DeWolff – Share the Ride

One of our favorite Rock and Roll bands du jour, DeWolff brings a template of 70’s rock with a modern flair. Listen closely for a touch of Creedence as well.