The Altar Billies

All In!

(Independent)

Think overt spiritual messaging is incongruous with rockers? Tell that to the Million Dollar Quartet. Not incidentally, this is some of the most muscular rockabilly out there. 

Recommended: "All In 1," "Union Pacific Railroad," "It's In the Music," "Where Did You Build," "God Has An Angrel Watchin' Over Me," "No Getting Over U," "Rock'n Through the Night," "All In 2," "Great Big Rollin' Big Boy," "Virginia Truckee Line," "Hold On"

Video: "Union Pacific Railroad"

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Mad Sin

Amphigory

(Bad Billy)

Bad Billy has just reissued the group's 1991 third LP, with 50 numbered and on red vinyl.

Given that release year, and the Mad Sin reputation, you can intuit this is old-school psycho. But what you'll only learn upon listening is how great their power was in the early season. Tyros could learn much. 

Recommended: "Amphigory," "Eat Yourself" (Survivor Type), "Body Snatchers," "Alien Bug," "Buried Alive," "Paranoid Brains," "Tornado," "Rockin' Bones," "Mind Blow"

Video: "Alien Bug"

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Hot Rod 56

Special Time

(Records Freight)

More than merely serviceable, these coursers rollick past like box cars hugging Dead Man's Curve; they adhere unerringly to tracks forged in confident conflagration.

Recommended: "I Don't Care," "Every Day," "Big," "If You Tell Me," "Leave This Town," "Keep Your Big Mouth Shut," "Special Time," "I Don't Cry No More"

Video: promo

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Rocking France

Francine

Rumble At Club 16 -

Radiomafia Live 1991

(Bluelight Records)

Newly issued archival recordings. The strongest of the tunes assembled are the ones in which the Stray Cats influence is pronounced. Which is not to imply that piquant originalism doesn't also report. 

Recommended: "Shake My Bones," "Red Hot Love," "Sweet Lovin'," "Good Love," "Downtown," "Little Girl Of Mine," "Rumble On the Bayou," "I'm On Fire"

Video: "Downtown"

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Carl Perkins

The King of Rockabilly

(Sun Records)

Newly remastered. Some Presleyites may dispute the title, but there can be no naysaying that Carl -- born in Tennessee sharecropper circumstances -- played a primary role in birthing the hillbilly/rhythmic blues blend that forever altered music. His early tracks attest abundantly. This is the stuff, as Sam Phillips in his wisdom perceived.

Recommended: "Honey Don't" (alternate), "Your True Love," "Boppin' the Blues," "Matchbox," "Blue Suede Shoes," "Pink Peedel Pushers," "Movie Magg," "Everybody's trying To Be My Baby," "You can Do No Wrong," "All Mama's Children," "Put Your Cat Clothes On"

Video: "Movie Magg"

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Alestorm

Seventh Rum of a Seventh Rum

(Napalm Records)

The Seven Seas-roving Alestorm and Old West-galloping Ghoultown would make a spectacular double bill. Each has a loud  and full sound, with scrupulously defined historic imagery that impacts lyrical narratives. And each is an experience. To listen is to be transported to severely demarcated territories. 

Alestorm, though, locates its singular vim in a more modern pastiche of instrumental colorations: metallic sweep with electronic keyboards, violin, across-the-universe guitars, horns, and Yo-ho-ho singalongs. 

For that reason -- and because they appeal as committed purveyors of craft with manifest yarns to spin-- they merit broad regard.

Recommended: "Magellan's Expedition," "The Battle of Cape Fear River," "Cannonball," "P.A.R.T.Y.," "Under Blackened Banners," "Magyroszâg," "Seventh Rum of a Seventh Rum," "Bite the Hook Hand That Feeds," "Return To Tortuga," "Come To Brazil," "Wooden Leg (Part III)"

Video: "The Battle of Cape Fear River"

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Little Dave & the Sun Sessions

"Everybody"

(Independent)

Like a man possessed by the Union Ave. spirits that preceded him, Dave jitter bops all over the place, a crackling combo at his elbow. The rockabilly they monger is of the prototypical variety; the type that never fell out of favor with the cool crowd. Pick 'em up and put 'em down.

Recommended: "Everybody," "Good Rockin' Tonight," "Inject Your Soul," "Right Behind You Baby," "Shake Your Hips," "Shoo Shoo Baby," "Whole Lotta Trouble"

Video: live

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Atomic Psychos

Lone Highway

(Independent)

Quickly, one intuits that Atomic Psychos heed no polite-society strictures against blast-furnace venting. Which is as it should be. Casualties lay in piles.

Recommended: "Lone Highway," "Necro Ophelia," "El Estrangulador,"

Video: "El Estrangulador"

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 Mark Twang Trio

...this ain't the time

(Tessy Records)

Aggressive and teeming with verve, growling guitar at center, this flat-gone disc speeds from tune to tune without throwing a glance over its shoulder. As is appropros, when your prescription specifies 'seek immediate fracture.' 

Recommended: "Blurry Lines," "Haunted," "Shape You're In," "Redheads," "Jump," "This Ain't the Time," "Waitin' For Saturday Night"

Video: promo

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Travis Koester

Out With the Old

(Independent)

More than can normally be asked of a recording retrospective, this includes blues moods from pensive to stutter-stepped to bold and brash. Travis boasts the chops, but the major industry is unconcerned with substance. That leaves it to independents to mine the real treasure - as is so often the case.

Recommended: "Zorro Goes Surfin'," "Hold On Mama," "The Bassette Lodge Blues." "Truck Driving Daddy," "I'm Your Dog," "Workin' Daddy," "Troubadour," "Take Me To the River," "Hot Rod Mama"

Video: "Workin' Daddy"

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Hi-Speed Rockets

At Arola's Backwood School's Studio

(Independent)

Yes, the rocking is stalwart. (And that, alone, recommends.) But the forays into more moody and tempered territory suggests depth beyond pedestrian. There's much interesting going on, here.

Recommended: "Shadow My Baby," "Dark-Haired Woman," "Tijuana's Hot Rod Juke Joint," "The Last Song," "Over You," "Midnite Blues"

Video: "Over You"

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Haunted Rhythm

Bop Like Never Before

(Tessy Records)

A bit phlegmatic, peradventure, but it  manages nicely in rock'n'roll fashion. One could argue that, without straining at its bit, this combo locates the essential bop without superfluous effort. And it concludes a victor.

Recommended: "Bop Like Never Before," "Dance, Dance, Dance," "Don't Go," "Gonna Get Back Home Somehow," "I Got Burned," "I Can't Get Enough," "Red Lips," "It's True," "Be Mine Just Mine," "Silver and Gold," "She's Mine," "Ever Fallen In Love"

Video: live compilation

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MidNight Boppers

Underneath the Mistletoe

single

(3488584 Records DK)

Some might wonder at the employ of romping jump blues in a holiday paean. They need not. It works handily, pressing rhythm to the cause of seasonal cheer with bouyant consequence.

Video: "Underneath the Mistletoe"

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Sha Na Na

Woodstock 20 Years After

(Liberation Hall)

Two decades after the initial Woodstock (during which the group gave its eighth performance), Sha Na Na joined several other festival veterans in celebrating that landmark event. Anyone dismissing them as a novelty act is missing the point that, when you've got the chops, antics are icing.

Recommended: "Rock Around the Clock," "High School Confidential," "Le's Dance," "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'," "Tonite, Tonite," "Oh Lonesome Me," "Promised Land," "Rock'n'Roll Is Here To Stay"

Video: "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'"

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Back In the Day, 1999

Frantic Flattops

Rock-N-Roll Murder

(Get Hip Recordings)

Their meteoric rise and fall left behind three CDs, of which Rock-N-Roll Murder was the last. By this moment, they had transmogrified from the straight rockabilly unit of previous waxings into one that incorporated punk, Mex, and strident brass into their presentation. Those discs, and indefatigable touring, resulted in a plethora of fans who doubtless mourned the band's premature dissolution.

Recommended: "Stick Around," "Sugar Daddy," "Trail of Tears," "All I Wanna Do," "You Better Move," "Matador del Mar," "Burnin' Love"

Video: "Stick Around"

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Heinz

The Heinz Sessions Vol. 1

(Cherry Red)

Like 1960s British rock'n'roll contemporaries Wee Willie Harris and Screaming Lord Sutch, the German-born Heinz continued rocking into subsequent decades, albeit with reduced reward. The peroxided crooner's earliest tracks, here compiled, were produced by the storied Meeks.

Collectors of halcyon sides doubtless already own Heinz wax. But this collection contains unreleased alternate takes, making it a sterling addition to libraries.

Recommended: "Just Like Eddie" (Geoff Godddard's guide), "Movin' In" (Take 8), "I Get Up In the Morning" (Take 4), "Country Boy" (Take 1), "Voices In the Wind" (Take 7), "Tribute To Eddie" (Joe Meek's demo), "Long Tall Jack" (Joe Meek's demo)

Video: "Country Boy"

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Djordje Stijepovic

Hurtless

single

(Ceklin Publishing)

Modified Burlison riffing opens "Hurtless," and reemerges, throughout. But in the main, this number takes avenues unexpected and of multifarous character. Intriguingly textured. Much architecture lies in the imaginative composition, with novel changes and background choruses lending vivid coloration.

Video: "Hurtless"

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Jyrki 69 feat. Danny B. Harvey

Tuhma Annabelle

single

(Independent)

Smokily atmospheric, teasingly measured. Hangs in consciousness like echoing dreamscape. Harvey's guitar offsets with pointed interjections, which impress with their heatedness.

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MidNight Boppers

Break It Loose!

(3488584 Records DK)

This trio eschews esoterica, prefering instead to make much of orthodox modes. Some of the most rambunctious rocking this scribe has heard in years. Disciplined, yet full throated. 

Recommended: "Shake and Walk," "Break It Loose," "Rockabilly Jiver," "Blacktop Boogie," "I'm Cryin'," "I'm Gonna Make You Mine," "Mexican Standoff," "On My Way To Tennessee," "Billyclub," "Shake A Pretty Baby"

Video: "Shake A Pretty Baby"

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NOFX

Double Album

(Fat Wreck Chords)

The contrast between punk speed-grind and literate lyricism unafraid of its own intellect is savory. Those who appreciate both will locate much to attract in these serrated grooves. Steel yourself for variegation.

Recommended: "Darby Crashing Your Party," "My Favorite Enemy," "Don't Count On Me," "Fuck Day Six," "Alcopollack," "Three Against Me," "Gone With the Heroined"

Video: "My Favorite Enemy"

Fat Wreck Chords

Graham Fenton And Friends

s/t

(Foot Tapping)

An old saw holds that a man can be judged by the company he keeps. If so, the erstwhile Matchbox frontman merits especial esteem. For at his elbow are confederates of redoubtable skill. And Graham, himself, captures observers with remarkably stout vocals. A particularly bouyant endeavor.

Recommended: "Blame It," "That Sounds Like Fun," "Beer, Bourbon, and Wine," "Run On," "Rockabilly Baby," "When Will I Learn," "Both Wheels Left the Ground," "Thank You and Goodnight"

Video: "Both Wheels Left the Ground"

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Slim Jim Phantom

Speed of Sound

single

(Wicked Cool Records)

Propulsive in all manners, co-written by SJP and Chris Cheney (The Living End). Of a more modern bent than SJP's standard efforts. But the characteristic vim is in abundant evidence.

Video: "Speed of Sound"

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Darrel Higham

Made In England

(Foot Tapping)

The title indicates the conceit: All tracks are covers of Old Blighty notables like Marty Wilde, Tommy Steele, and Billy Fury. Higham excels in revisiting their stellar material, and acquits himself admirably on guitar (as is his wont). He stands tall in the uppermost rank.

Recommended: "Rebel Rock," "Rock With the Caveman," "Play Rough," "Gonna Type a Letter," "Just Too Late," "Dynamite," "Bad Boy," "Jelly Baby"

Video: "Rebel Rock"

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The Swing Cats

...Presents A Rock-A-Billy Christmas

(Cleopatra Records)

Despite the billing, the musicians involved use several band names. Players include Danny. B. Harvey, Lee Rocker, Gary Twinn, and Slim Jim Phantom. First issued in 2001, this was just rereleased in both green vinyl and CD formats.

While the present writer makes it a rule to avoid holiday-themed rock 'n' roll, an annual exception is eagerly made in this case.

Recommended: "Jingle Bells" (Honeydippers), "Rock, Santa, Rock" (Gary Twinn), "Jingle Bell Rock" (Swing Cats), "I'll Be Home For Christmas" (Gary Twinn), "Christmas Tree Boogie" (Swing Cats), "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" (Gary Twinn), "Hoy Hoy Hoy (Rockin' On Christmas Eve)" (Honeydippers), "Three Kings" (Danny B. Harvey)

Video: "Jingle Bells"

Cleopatra

                              Gary Twinn and Danny B. Harvey

The M3T3ORS

Madman Roll

(Mutant Rock)

Exhumed on its 31st anniversary, this disc bespeaks atmosphericness. Psychobilly as it was originally intended to sound by dark Creator P. Paul Fenech: inventive in untoward manners, formidably sinister. 

Recommended: "Madman Roll," "Queen of the Slug People," "Bertha Lou," "Theme From 'The Hypnotist'," "Paint It Black," "You're Mine," "A Very Handy Man (Indeed)," "Running 'Round," "Simply Ravishing,"  "Chainsaw Boogie"

Video: "Madman Roll"

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