Michael Bruce
Born Screamer
single

This latest from the master-crafter of many Alice Cooper hits illustrates that the puissance of rock'n'roll riffing remains almighty.
Boy howdy.

Videos: "Born Screamer"
             Excerpts of "Born Screamer," "Famous Face," and "Riding               a Hurricane" from upcoming LP


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Chuck Mead
Close To Home
(Plowboy Records)

Moody fun from the BR5-49 icon. Memorable passages, agreeably dispensed.

Recommended: "Big Bear In the Sky," "Close To Home," "Daddy Worked the Pole," "The Man Who Shook the World," "There's Love Where I Come From."

Video: "Big Bear In the Sky"
           "Daddy Worked the Pole"
           "The Man Who Shook the World"

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Dave Del Monte
and the Cross County Boys
Can't Stop Buying Records 
mp3
(self)

"Well, if you come to my house, I got records everywhere," drawls Dave in this roomy, slap bass-centered number.. His vocal likeness to Carl Perkins adds import, as does snapped-tight soloing. The effect is wonderfully familiar.

video: "Can't Stop Buying Records"

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The Mellows

s/t 

(Swelltune Records)

Such mellifluousness as to broach artistic territory, but rustically real enough (in a Holly way) to avoid high-falutin' airs. Down-on-the-corner Joes with elan.

Recommended: "A Thousand Kisses," "City Lights," "Walkin' Zombie," "Always," "Here and Now," "I Want To Be the One," "Shooting Star"

Videos: "A Thousand Kisses"
             "City Lights"
             "Always"
             "Shooting Star"

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(singer/guitarist Colton Turner)

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The Sharks
Songs From the Sarcophagus
(A Tribute To Screaming 
Lord Sutch)
(Western Star Records)

Sinister stage-prowler Sutch cut a distinct figure in the 1960s; Alan Wilson and mates lovingly exhumed his morbid melodies. This is a reissue of the sold-out Sharks' 7 inch. According to the WS label, a new, 30-second bit appears at the conclusion. Plus, pre-orders receive a "Graveyard postcard."

Recommended: "She's Fallen In Love With the Monster Man," "Dracula's Daughter," "Jack the Ripper," "Monster In Black Tights."

Videos: "She's Fallen In Love With the Monster Man"
             "Dracula's Daughter"
             "Jack the Ripper"
             "Monster In Black Tights"

Western Star

High Noon
Change / You Done Did It
single
(Swelltune)

Heralded as High Noon's first new disc in 12 years. "Change" is an animated pastoral stepper, rendering repose impossible. "You Done Did It" emanates sunny sanguinity as it forges course with confident stride. Upper tier. 

Video: "You Done Did It"

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Mad Sin
Are You Ready
single
(Century Media Records)

Mammoth sheets of angry guitar cascade. An ominous bassline slinks in and out at high caliber. In eyes-clenched apoplexy, vocals are spat. And a pulse slams incessantly. Mad Sin is again a-prowl.

Video: "Are You Ready?"

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The Rhythm Torpedoes
Wild Invasion
(Wild Records)

A pomped cat strolled into the shop. "Whatta ya got that's solid, in a genre-reverential way?" he inquired of the bespectacled chap behind the counter. This CD was what he whistled back out with.

Recommended: "Wild Invasion," "Do the Bop Bop Bop," "The Boxer Song," "Step Back," "The Attack of the Giant Squid," "The Lumberjack Song," "Cherokee Dance," "Wildfire Bop," "It's Nothing To Me."

Video: "Do the Bop Bop Bop"
           "The Boxer Song"
           "The Attack of the Giant Squid"


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The Quakes
Voice of America
(Nervous Records)

The Quakes' career lifted off with this roar. 30 years on, and it yet resounds. Economical. vibrant, and hurtling. It was exemplary.

Paul Roman was always a master songwriter. His endeavors were both bracing and tuneful. Actual songs, with memorable riffs, stomp-along choruses, and exhilarating agit-moods.

Many wonderful Quakes discs followed, and all boasted unique charms. But the blast-furnace quality evinced here remains remarkable.

Recommended: "Stick To Your Guns," "One of a Kind," "What Will They Say About Me," "I Gotta Go," "Growin' Up Evil," "All Messed Up."

Video: "Stick To Your Guns"
           "One of a Kind"
                "I Gotta Go"

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Headcat 13
Let's Go Crazy
single
(Cleopatra)

A full-length disc is slated for September issuance. In the meantime, this thunderous preview tittilates as it pulverizes.

Video: "Let's Go Crazy"


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Swamp Shakers
Don't Wanna Miss
Full CD + bonus 45
(self)

The single was issued last year. I wrote: "The compact 'Don't Wanna' Miss' cruises agreeably, its briskness and amiable melody certain magnets. 'Shake It' is of much the same character, though in higher gear. Both benefit from clean vocals and dedicated instrumentation. And each throws a punch that connects."

That applies equally to this entire effort. Trenchent, smooth, lapel-grabbing. The scene benefits from bands that mean each note.

Recommended: "Hot Rod Rocket," "Buzz Me," "Born To Rock," "Don't Wanna Miss," "Gotta Gimme Watcha Got," "Shake It," "Didn't Start Livin'," "Hula Hoop Baby."

Video: "Hot Rod Rocket"
           "Buzz Me"
           "Born To Rock"

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The Best Bad Influence
Rock-It (self)

The brash spirit and sound of the 1980s rockabilly revival. Sharp swerves into psycho territory lend swell relief. Then, it's leaping up from the forbidden and bounding back into creeper-land.

Recommended: "Polka Dot Cadillac," "Miss. Shaker," "Interstellar Boogie," "Rat Rod Mama," "Voodoo Woman," "What D'ya Mean?" "Dream Girl."

Videos: "Polka Dot Cadillac"
                   "Miss. Shaker"


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Robert Gordon
Rockabilly For Life
(Cleopatra)

Even greater than this disc's particular merits (which are abundant) is what it represents: A new and triumphant manifestation of Robert's nonpareil identity as vital link between cool sounds that once provoked crowds to delirium and this fraught moment, so in need of genuine rock'n'roll unmolested by studio sterility.

The road's been rocky, from the 1970s NYC scene to contemporary global renown. But the only hint of that in Robert's voice now is a bit of seasoning. Otherwise, he sounds as stentorian and assuredly declarative as during the Private Stock sessions with Link Wray.

He growls, hiccups, and yelps as befits a man who is of similar gold-standard rank as the genre's pioneers. His range yer amazes, grandiloquence knocking back on their pins every cat and gator in the joint.

In illustration of the man's elevated worth, celebrated musicians rally beneath his banner: James Williamson, guitar madman of the illustrious Stooges, electrifies. So do Letterman piano-pounder Paul Schaffer, Dale Watson, Blaster Dave Alvin, and Blondie's Clem Burke. 

And Booker T and the MG's Steve Cropper, Linda Gail Lewis, Albert Lee, Go-Go Kathy Valentine, and longtime RG accompanist Chris Spedding. And Jimmie Hall, Rosie Flores, Joe Louis Walker, Steve Wariner, and Emanuela Hutter.

Appropriately spartan production by Danny B. Harvey (the fretboard virtuoso who also sits in on these sessions) is of the executive character demanded by this top-shelf amalgamation. 

A galaxy of nuggets come in for fiery reinterpretation, never sounding more solid, more relevant. So long as heart-fevers rage and rhythms shake skeletons, sounds so suitable will enjoy urgent demand.

Plaudits for this CD as a career-crown, though, might be premature, as still more majesty may be around the corner.


Recommended: "Steady With Betty," "Let's Go Baby," "Everybody's Rocking But Me," "She Will Come Back To Me," "Try Me," "I'm Glad My Baby's Gone Away," "Please Give Me Something," "Black Cadillac," "Three Alley Cats," "If You Want It Enough," "Hot Dog! That Made Her Mad," "One Cup of Coffee," "I've Had Enough," "Would Ja," "Knock Three Times.

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Cleopatra (CD ordering)

Robert Gordon & Chris Spedding
Tear Up the House
2-CD set
 (Sunset Blvd)

Not just any guitarist would sufficiently complement RG. The Guitar Jamboree-man did. Thunder aplenty on this wax.

Recommended (CD 1): "Beside You," "Mess of Blues," "Heart Like a Rock," "Don't Leave Me Now," "Young and Beautiful," "The Wanderer," "Devil In Disguise."

Recommended: (CD 2): "Blue Moon of Kentucky," "I Love My Baby," "The Catman," "Gunfight," "Lonely Weekends," "Walk On By," "Motorbikin;," "Suspicion."

Videos: "Beside You"
             "Heart Like a Rock"
             "Walk On By"

Sunset Blvd

Robert Gordon with Danny Gatton
The Real Humbler (Bear Family)

A stupefying pairing that lit all manner of jaw-dropping pyrotechnics throughout chestnuts well-known and prized.


Recommended: "Good Rockin' Tonight," "Drivin' Wheel," "Cruisin'," "Black Slacks," "Ubangi Stomp," "Look Who's Blue," "Loverboy," "Rockbilly Boogie," "There Stands the Glass." 

Videos: "Cruisin;"
             "Black Slacks"
             "Loverboy"

Bear Family

Robert Gordon and Link Wray
The Last Tour
2-CD set
(Bear Family)

The Voice and The Guitar were the hottest match of the 1970s. This showed the way, though no followers made the journey with similarly gritty elan.

Recommended (CD 1): "The Way I Walk," "Twenty Flight Rock," "Lonesome Train," "Rumble," "Rawhide," "Tutti Frutti/Shake, Rattle, and Roll," "Don't."

Recommended: (CD 2): "Rock Therapy," "Mystery Train," "I Sure Miss You," "Baby, I Don't Care," "The Fool," "Red Hot," "Sea Cruise," "Flying Saucer Rock and Roll."

Videos: "Red Hot" (live)
             "The Way I Walk" (live)

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