This single just dropped courtesy of Easy Star Records and was definitely one I wanted to check out right away. Double Tiger (who is AKA Jay Spaker) had a long run with seminal American reggae band John’s Brown’s Body, adding his guitar and vocal skills to their sound. That group, which was started out in Ithaca, New York back in the mid-90’s, has some great albums you can check out if you have any interest in listening to their music. A good starting point is All Time which was their 1996 debut but it is hard to find. I was fortunate enough to have someone play a CD copy for me back in 2005 which I believe was some kind of a re-release of the original. For an easier to find suggestion check out This Day from 2000.
This new song from Double Tiger is a very melodic reggae style tune with some great horns adding warm textures right after a short rhythmic lead-in. It carries a slow, groovy tempo throughout the track and has a great bass sound that provides a nice counterpoint to the drums. Also featuring a mellow vocal line that still delivers poignant lyrics this single is a good listen and worth a spin when you are ready to indulge in some peaceful contemplation about keeping life a little more simple.
The video for this can be checked out here:
And if you have the inclination …think about purchasing it if you can as steaming music does not pay well even times a thousand.
Please remember to support your locals – community is powerful!
Well, twenty-four years between albums is admittedly a long time but I was pretty interested when I received the press release from Earshot Media. I was not aware of this band back in the late 90’s and early 00’s when they were actively putting out three albums in five years. Instead I had run across them during one of those Apple Music rabbit holes where you start clicking on “Similar Artists” (I think back then it was “you might also like…” or “other artists like…”?) and eventually cross paths with some interesting bands. I believe that particular chase had started with Samian but however it started, I ended up on Self-Made Mess (1997) from Six Going on Seven. The music on that album was unique in its sparse lyrics and the arrangements woven around those words. “Flu Season” and “Getaway Car” are two stand-out tracks on that release. They had a couple more after that with Heartbreak’s Got Backbeat and American’t (Or Won’t) before they dropped off the scene. Josh English (vocals, bass) released some solo work after that (“Great like Ghosts” is a favorite of mine) and I am unfortunately not aware of what James Bransford (guitar) and Will Bartlett (drums) have been up to in the interim.
The new album is set to come out January 9, 2026 via Spartan Records and this single is the first one available to check out their current sound. It opens up soft and slow and sets a kind of wistful tone that is joined by a little piano before filling out to a more full sound a little after the one minute mark. The song from that point on is defined by a fairly linear drum track which sets an excellent framework for the music. It is enhanced by bass guitar that adds sonic texture and guitar that jumps through at some moments like a lonely scream. The vocals are clear and assertive, delivering lyrics that have a definite story to tell. This track, which shows the band is back and already going strong, is a good listen and hopefully a sign of a lot of good things to come on that album.
You can check out the video for this one here on YouTube:
You can pre-save the album (and yes, this does help:) here:
So, this is a new band to me and I do appreciate that Mike Cubillos at Earshot Media included me in a chance to give this a listen. I later went back to check out some of their previous releases and found some good music there also. I especially liked “Down Not Out” (from their 2021 self-tiled EP) and “Run, Run” (2023’s Master & Machine).
This new single opens on a very cool sonic vocal that seems to breathe big and evoke open spaces. You get about 20 seconds of that great vibe, accompanied very lightly by a spare guitar strum, and then it jumps right into a fast paced, drum-fueled sprint full of spirit and emotion. The track then ends on a long run out that is an interesting combination of falling in on itself and rushing out toward the horizon. This is a really good song in the alternative rock genre and I have high hopes for the rest of what might be on that upcoming EP which will be released on Gold Ship Records.
Musicians on this are: Tyler Schlagenhauf (vocals, guitar), Tim Fahlen (guitar), Tony Caruso (bass) and Jason Guadalupe (drums).
They have a video out for this also (with a slightly disconcerting deer’s head included…I felt like it was watching me the whole time…) and you can check it here:
You can also review some of their older music, including what I referenced above here:
Having just recently picked up a CD copy of a Sonics album, namely Boom (the version I purchased had been released in 1999 by Norton Records – originally it came out in 1966 on Etiquette Records), I thought it was pretty cool when Leigh Pierce from Grizz Media emailed me a heads up about this single from The Chains. The Sonics version of the song (written by their lead singer Gerry Roslie) appears on an album from 1965 simply titled Merry Christmas. That release features eleven holiday themed songs from The Wailers and The Galaxies in addition to four from the Sonics.
Just like that Sonics version, this track from The Chains is short (1:53) and it adds a bopping-along groove with a cool reggae vibe layered in for good effect. Going along with that is an absolutely great bass line that really sets the rhythm and keep this song moving along nicely. This single is a solid start to a new holiday playlist for anyone (especially if you have a bit of a sense of humor!).
Musicians on this are: Kevin Leo (lead guitar), Jakob Palitzsch (organ), David Peter (bass), Lasse Elmer (rhythm guitar), Pato Siebenhaar (vocals), Bjørn Hardenberg (drums).
Once you get a chance to give this one a listen …think about purchasing it if you can as steaming music does not pay well even times a thousand.
Erin at Dreamspider Publicity was kind enough to loop me in on a preview of this single and I initially thought that Red Clay Revival was a totally new band to me. Something though was tickling the back of my memory as the name sounded vaguely familiar (…and not as a reference to Red Clay Strays although that is another group you could check out when you have a minute) so I dug around my collection. It turns out that I did have a prior track that featured this band. They had appeared on an interesting EP from Josh Phillips back in 2023 called Starts to Rain. Basically the premise of that project was Phillips taking a single from an upcoming full album (’Til We All Move Forward) and including some re-mixes / interpretations of that song by various other musicians and groups. It was a different approach, kind of a “covers album before release” situation that caught my attention at the time. Red Clay Revival’s “campfire mix” was my personal fav interpretation of the song.
This track has a kind of soul / southern rock feel and combines some great guitar sounds with piano, organ, drums and also a bit of banjo providing melody in the background. Their singer Doug McElvy Jr brings strong and clear vocals to the song along with his work on synthesizer and rhythm guitar. Check out a couple cool solos along the way and you have a solid listening journey that will leave you feeling a little soulful.
Musicians on this (other than McElvy) are: Jacob Baumann (drums), Drew Matulich (electric guitar), Daniel Iannucci (bass guitar), Simon George (piano, organ), Shaun Nicklin (banjo) and Billy Cardine (steel guitar)
You can check out the video here:
It is of course available at your favorite listening channels also – and maybe think about purchasing this song after you listen – streaming music does not pay much even times a thousand…
I am always a fan of artists who take a chance and step out of their usual style or genre to give some other sounds a try. Knipp has long been a great talent (mostly in the blues / rock space) going all the way back to her first album Midnight Mind. She has displayed other chops along the way (speaking of that first album check out “Someonewherelse” which is a piano driven number and a fav of mine). Some other highlights from the past to check out include “Santa Cruz Blues” (off Take It With You), “The Gospel of Good Intentions” (The Well and also a great performance on Live at the Green Room Social Club) and “Outlaw Doc” (Me). One of the things I appreciate the most (other than the great band she always has with her) is her ability to write piercing lyrics that kind of sneak up on you sometimes…you can just be listening along and she will turn a phrase or a sharp line on you unexpectedly. So, all of that being said, when I started seeing her release some “re-mixes” as singles I had a “what the heck is this all about moment?” Not to worry though as Dance Me, which she proudly proclaims as “my first ever electronica record!” is an interesting and worthy addition to her catalog.
This new album, featuring re-mixes of eight of the ten songs off of 2024’s Me, hits a range of grooves in that electronica space. These include a club-bopping version of “Vampire”, the slow and slightly breathless funk of “Go” and a dreamy and stark reggae influenced take on “Stillness.” You can definitely dance to these but they are also pretty cool to listen to just sitting around and pondering the world.
If you check these songs or the album out…please think about purchasing as streaming does not pay well even times a thousand.
You can check out more music and info at either link below:
I wanted to get a quick post out about this very cool news – Wicked Cool Records just released this ten track set on October 31st and it is worth picking up right away. I had the good fortune to be able to preview the music and was impressed not only by the songs themselves but also by the production quality. This album sounds great – loud, clear and just as boisterous as anything else the Chesterfield Kings ever put out. My personal favs are “Pictures of Matchstick Men” (a bit on the psychedelic side) and “Rosalyn” (just a killer rock n’ roll tune) but there is a lot to like here.
If you are new to this band you might have to work a little harder than usual to get a full feel for their sound as it goes all the way back to 1982’s Here Are The Chesterfield Kings (if you ever see this on vinyl…please get hold of me!) and spans 11 albums and a wide collection of singles and EP’s. There have also been a good number of musicians in and out of the group over that time period but the music has stayed consistently good and accessible. If you want a quick tour through the years I would suggest that first album (if you can find it), Drunk On Muddy Water (with a pretty cool version of Robert Johnson’s “I Got Ramblin”), 2007’s Psychedelic Sunrise and their most recent album, We’re Still All The Same.
Once you check it on your usual places and see what you think!
Very nice to see this track drop on October 17th (via Punkerton Records) which follows the release earlier this year of “Turn This Up” which I reviewed here back in July.
This new single is a great follow-up and starts on a quick drum fill backed up by powerful guitar riffs and a pulsing bass accentuating every beat. Lead singer Dizzy Doll’s vocals, snarly and soaring all at the same time, punch through the music nicely and there is also a ripping guitar moment around 2:08. A really good, melodic punk style tune with plenty of volume and power!
These two singles definitely have me eagerly anticipating Yard Sale which is set to come out on December 12th. Described in the Earshot Media press release as a “raw and reflective punk rock scrapbook — a record built from the pieces of a life lived loud, lost, and learned the hard way,” I believe this one should be well worth the wait.
Musicians (in addition to Dizzy Doll) are: Daniel Marchelewski (guitar, vocals), Mason Cohen (drums), Mitchell Rhein (lead guitar) and Mina Maziekis (bass).
Check it out on your favorite streaming channel (link below) – and let me know your thoughts about it – music makes for good conversation 🙂
This group is a new one to me and they just dropped this single October 17th on Sell The Heart Records. The press release from Earshot Media noted that the group channels “the energy and urgency of punk rock through stripped-down, acoustic-driven arrangements.” Well, that sounded pretty interesting so I gave it a listen and was impressed.
It definitely has a spare and grassroots vibe right from the start; a couple quick, bare guitar chords and then a raw and edgy vocal that spells out some pretty basic life moments and experiences such as “trying to figure out what our body has left.” That general groove stays true throughout the song which also features some dual vocal parts that feel anguished and hopeful all at the same time. This is a good tune in the tradition of punk but with the interesting acoustic style and arrangement.
Musicians on this are: Jeremy Quitko and Travis Johnides
This should be out there to listen to on your favorite channels now.
And if you have the inclination…think about purchasing it if you can as steaming music does not pay well even times a thousand.
Ever since I reviewed the early single “All This Time” from this album I had been (patiently?) waiting for my pre-ordered copy to arrive. It finally did show up last week and I have been happily listening to it since then.
One of the best things about Sidereal Days (Day 1) is that it sounds awesome. Every selection just breathes like it is alive and takes you on a sonic journey to the setting of each story Scorzari is telling. Making a record that has such great quality and depth of sound across all instruments and vocals takes a lot of patient planning, careful execution and talented production work – much appreciation to the group of people that brought this album together.
There are ten tracks including three extended play selections (“And Carries Me Away” at 8:10, “Endgame” 7:31 and “Grace” 7:14) that are quite notable for the fact that they do not feel strung out at all. Instead, they incorporate diverse instrumentation, engaging composition and Scorzari’s simple yet so very real-to-life lyrics to create these interesting and evocative short stories. I have hit repeat on the CD player multiple times after each of these comes to an end just to go through that experience again.
The other songs on this album are more traditional in length and there is one (“From Your Heart”) which I think may be the shortest Bill Scorzari tune of all time at 2:21 in length. It is a powerful 2+ minutes though with a simple guitar melody supported by haunting strings and pedal steel, wistful mandolin, a faint piano and a few magical dobro moments. A couple other favorites of mine are “All This Time” (my prior review here) and “Did We Tie.”
“Tie” is a slow-paced song with a few notable elements; an organ that adds some subtle but poignant texture, percussion (including some muted cymbal crashes) that peeks out at just the right moments and a deliberate pacing that almost seems like a slow march. Also, the mix on this track is wonderfully subtle and intricate – get those good headphones on if you have them, sit back and just let this one come alive for you. I also have to use this track as an example of why I think Scorzari’s lyrics are so unique and powerful. One line of this song goes like this: “Who’s the bigger fool between you and I.” That would be enough for many songwriters but then there is a little stop after which he adds, “or did we tie?” It is a simple thing really but it is those kinds of extra little add-ons that caught my attention early in my experience with his songs and I think it is pretty cool. There are plenty of other examples of this on the record and on his others but “Endgame” here is a great one for a full introduction to his lyrical style.
A set of great musicians play on this album other than Scorzari including: Brad Talley, Neilson Hubbard, Michael Rinne, Chelsea McGough, Danny Mitchell, Megan McCormick, Cindy Richardson Walker, Joshua Britt, Marie Lewey, Juan Solorzano and Eamon McLoughlin.
You can check out more of the music and information here:
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