Gentlemen Rogues AND Kings
I can’t resist a good strident punk tone, and the Gentlemen Rogues have that in abundance. But the Rogues have quite a few tricks up their sleeves. If I can mix metaphors, pop-punk isn’t the only hat they wear, or…
Mavis Staples AND Charles Ellsworth
A few music tidbits for today. First of all, in case you missed it a while ago, Anti- Records artists Son Little and the legendary Mavis Staples have teamed up to create a nifty EP called Your Good Fortune. I…
The Honey Dewdrops — Tangled Roots
To listen to the Honey Dewdrops’ Tangled Roots, one would think they lead a somber and melancholy life. The opening track, “Same Old,” captures the monotony of daily life and a hint of wanderlust. “Young,” my favorite track, reflects upon…
Samantha Crain — Under Branch & Thorn Tree
Samantha Crain’s fourth release is notable for its surefootedness. All of Crain’s songs are anchored on strong, straightforward melodies that are buttressed by her delicate lyrics. The album focuses on short stories that make the everyday lives of her characters…
Black Vincent — Teardrop Deluxe
One of the most surprising facts I learned at the Country Music Hall of Fame is that the Everly Brothers are members. I don’t really hear it — in my mind they’re very solidly a part of rock’n’roll, even if…
Stop Paying Attention — J Marinelli
Clocking in at 17 minutes, it might be easy to think that J Marinelli’s Stop Paying Attention is a paean to distraction. With his fuzzed out, distorted vocals and the music’s rip-roaring pace, it’s almost as if he’s challenging us…
Faster Stereo — Come On
If you’re not drawn in by the confident power pop swagger on Come On‘s titular track, then you probably don’t have a pulse. The rest of the album is like a Snickers bar — sugary but oddly satisfying (fun fact:…
The End Men — Terms and Conditions
If there’s one band I’d pick to listen to during the apocalypse, it’d be The End Men. Their bass and drumlines are nothing less than earth-shattering, a fitting soundtrack to the destruction of the Gomorrah I’ve chosen to surround myself…