Tag: Wyldlife

Five Cool Ones: Five New Records Released This Week (May 30, 2025)

Whoever said that rock is dead just isn’t trying. All you need to do is look around. Its in the air.

Frontier Record continues to produce vintage rock, this time ballad style, with Malvada’s “I’m Sorry.”

The ever-interesting Jenny Hval is out with another single.

And, the always evocative Low Cut Connie is out with a socially aware single.

But enough of that, here are five new records to savor this week.

Wyldlyfe – Sorted

Coming to you from Little Steven’s Wicked Cool stable, Wyldlyfe blends Rock, Garage, Punk, and Glam into a a blender of coolness that will tickle the earlobes of any fan of good old fashioned rock and roll.

Riding on the coattails of The Ramones, The New York Dolls as well as the accessible side of The Stooges, this latest record finds the band a bit more Power Pop melodic than we may be used to from the firebrands, however as evidenced by the opener, “Bystander,” the punch in the gut opener, the urgency is still there.

Somehow fresh and vintage sounding at the same time, “Dizzy” sounds like Luke Spiller fronting Oasis, and Mia M.I.A. Sounds like Blondie on steroids.

A solid escape sort of record that will scratch your rock itch for sure.

When Rivers Meet – Addicted To You

When Rivers Meet is Grace and Aaron Bond, the best husband-and-wife blues rock duo this side of The White Stripes with a sound that mixes the more melodic side of Led Zeppelin, with a touch of The Black Keys and Bonnie Raitt thrown in for good measure

There is a real ’70s rock feel to the proceedings with this, their fourth proper record, and with songs like “Still Standings” with a ready-for-the-festival chorus, and the change of pace with the lush and beautiful “Coming Up For Air,” the future is so bright for this band they won’t need to wear shades.

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.

Chapparelle – Western Pleasure

Chaparelle is a Texas-based supergroup consisting of Zella Day, Jesse Woods, and Beau Bedford handling knob-twirling duties.

With their feet firmly planted in the classic country sand, their sound is exquisitely crafted to blend traditional George and Tammy country, Lee and Nancy hipster-noir, vintage pop, and dirty blues all peppered with a bit of Sun Records rock and roll.

“Devil’s Music” could have been produced by Sam Phillips himself, “Inside The Lines” is a hip-swaying earworm that will stick with you a while, and their version of “Dance With Somebody” reimaged with steel guitar would have fit in quite nicely on a Dusty Springfield record.

Pretty much a perfect record, lets hope that this debut album is a beacon leading to a stellar career for this band.

Deraps – Viva Rock N’Roll

If you are a fan of early Van Halen and the Sunset Strip era rock scene, and if you are not, you should be, Deraps and their sophomore record, Viva Rock N’ Roll will become your new jam.

This one has everything a 70s and 80s rock aficionado would want. “Solitaire” cranks up the classic era Styx by way of Night Ranger, the opening title track is all Diamond Dave and Van Halen, and “The Dawg Stomp” could have been an Aerosmith “ Walk This Way” B side.

This one is the leader in the clubhouse for rock record of the year for sure.

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,” Kwellers “Tears in Heaven Tribute to his son.

Five Cool Ones: Five Cool Albums Released This Week (April 24, 2020)

Ok, let’s take care of the elephant in the room right away. If you are a Danzig fan, do NOT listen to the new Danzig record, Danzig Sings Elvis. If you are an Elvis fan, do NOT, under any circumstances listen to, Danzig Sings Elvis. Now, if there were some way we could get an Elvis Does Danzig record, well color us hell to the yeah.

This week is more notable for the singles and E.P.’s than albums. The Everly Brothers cover version of “Mr. Soul” from an upcoming archives release, is next-level cool. The Rolling stones have a new single out, are you listening to this Billy Joel, called “Living In A Ghost Town,” that is pretty epic. Jackson Browne is pimping his new record set to come out later in the year with the song “Downhill From Everywhere” that is pure ’80s era, Jackson. And, Rock Is The New Roll muse Check Prophet gives us a treat with a four-song mini-E.P. foreshadowing his new record, Land Time Forgot.

But, we digress. Here are five cool ones giving us an eargasm this week.

Lucinda Williams – Good Souls Better Angels

We suppose it was only a matter of time that Lucinda Williams would make her presence known on her view of the state of affairs in the country today. If you had any doubt before where she stands, the song titles alone on this one will tell you pretty much everything you need to know. “You Can’t Rule Me,” Man Without a Soul,” and “Down Past the Bottom” are just three. But, politics aside, this is Lucinda at her Tom Waits by way of Steve Earle with a nod to Patti Smith best.

Darell Scott – Darrell Scott Sings the Blues of Hank Williams

Full disclosure here, while Rock is the New Roll writers Cletus Crowe and Jeremy Wren might not be fans of cover songs, or entire albums of songs covering one artist for that matter, some of us, the ones that matter, love them. And here, is one terrific one in Darell Scott Sings the Blues of Hank Williams. “Just a Deck of Cards and a Jug of Wine” is a terrific and accessible way to take a journey down the Lost Highway that is the Joie-de-vie of Hank Williams.  The arrangements here are contemporary enough to make this a cool as hell listen and the nod of the cowboy hat is always front and center. “Lost Highway” is a must-listen, and the closer “(I Heard That) Lonesome Whistle” might just bring you to your knees. We are calling our shot now. This is the covers album of the year.

Wyldlife – Year of the Snake

It has been back in the days of yore, the days of  The Biters and The Struts, since a real live Rock and Roll band has garnered as much praise within the hallowed halls of Rock is the New Roll HQ as we have heard in recent days with the release of Year of the Snake, the new record from Wyldlife. All killer, no filler, as they say with that intoxicating flair of blending ’80s Brit-rock, ’70’s Glam, and CBGB’s Ramones era Post-Punk, all in one blender. Anthems galore on this one including “Sacre Bleu,” “Automatic,” and naturally, our favorite, the album closer, “The Falcon.”

Hazel English – Wake Up

Wake Up, the hippy, trippy debut L.P. from New Zealander Hazel English is some sort of wicked hot tub time machine, Austin Powers soundtracking, mind warp blending of a Best Coast, Dusty Springfield, Marianne Faithful extravaganza as produced by Phil Spector. Just listen to “Shaking” and tell us we’re wrong.

Brendan Benson – Dear Life

If you have not heard One Mississippi, the Power Pop masterpiece by Brendan Benson released in 1996, stop whatever you are doing right now and listen to it. Here, we will help you out with that.

Now, with your pump sufficiently primed, take an ear-gander at Dear Life, the first proper record Brendan Benson has released into the wild since 2013. Taking a break from his side-piece band, the Jack White-fronted  Raconteurs, Benson proves once again that despite what Matthew Sweet might tell you, Benson is the reigning prince of Power Pop.