DC Larson's JUKEBOX JURY

The Centuries

"She Saw Me Rockin'" "Baby, Come On Over"

(Independent digital singles)

The manifest virtues are rollicking musicianship, in which nary a needless note is heard, and memorable songcraft. Melodic tenor rules this day.

Bandcamp: "She Saw Me Rockin'" "Baby, Come On Over"

Vaden Landers

Lock the Door

(Hill House)

Honky Tonk conviviality is on offer, as the hardwood beckons. Surrender all worries and give in to a good time.

Recommended: "Shine My Shoes," "I Know For Certain," "Lock the Door," "Booze In My Blues," "I Cried a Tear," "Don't Fake It," "Barkiing Up the Wrong Tree"

Video: "Lock the Door"

Mala Vista

Ruthless and Toothless

(No Front Teeth Records)

Slouched progeny of 1970s NYC royalty the Heartbreakers and Dead Boys. The stances (both musical and atitudinal) seem intrinsic. Vigor at the speed of neon, louder than a subway train.

Recommended: "Baby So Wasted," "NY Groove," "Obsolete With Me," "Western Beef," "Criminal," "Saint Bastards," "Nowhere To Go"

Video: live

Sunday, February 26, 2023

Joe Keene

I've Done It All In My Time

(Spring Fed)

This is the real meat and potatoes: a seasoned man with piano and stories to tell. As he plies universally relatable country, classic rock'n'roll, and gospel, one can only wonder at today's music-industry refusal to embrace humanity.

Recommended: "I've Done It All In my Time," "It's the Sweetest Lips (That Tell the Sweetest Lies)," "I Don't Mind Being Tied Down," "I'm Gonna Get Right Tonight," "Till Something Better Comes Along," "I've Never Been This Close To Heaven Before," "Hitch Hikin' Soldier," "It Just Keeps Getting Better," "Get It While You Can," "Daddy's Old Hat," "Nobody Can Do It Like Me"

Video: "I've Done It All In My Time"

Spring Fed

To purchase: ORCD

Psychotropix

Eponymously titled

(Independent)

There's much to relish in this trio savagery, like narrative images of ghastliness and a rambunctiousness that rattles the bones in a wonderful way. Lost souls who savor speed-of-light chords splintering into ireful shards need search no more.

Recommended: "We Are Psychotropix," "Heart From a Killer," "Smells Like Blood," "Last Train," "Once Upon a Time," "Psychotropix Surf"

Video: "Psychotropix Surf" (live)

Mick Wigfall & the Toxics

Hot Legs

(Independent)

There can be no stillness when this mighty band strikes up. Blues-grounded, rock'n'roll volleys rain. Sympathetic production advances the loud cause, maintaining lucidity and jaw-jutting presence.

Recommended: "Hot Legs," "Up Jumped the Devil," "Money Man," "Bird Dogging"

Video: "Money Man"

Moron's Morons

High Tension Situation

(Sweet Time Records)

Amazing how wanton aggro can be channeled through instruments, and in bite-sized portions, at that. All the sturm und drang of youthful years, with none of the elder-age hangovers.

Recommended: "Knife At Your Throat," "Night Visions," "Psychosis Diagnosis," "Pure Love," "Fueled By Hate," "Possesssed To Fuck," "Free-Time Crimes," "Headless Eyes"

Video: "Night Visions"

Saturday, February 25, 2023

The Brains

Rare Tracks From the Vault

(Cleopatra Records)

Wreckers familiar with The Brains will expect ferocity. And they'll emerge validated. Directly aimed splenetic projectiles hurtle from tornadic constructions. All demos, each a jewel.

Recommended: "Murcielagos," "I'm So Glad," "I Don't Wanna," "Full Moon," "Crazy Paradise," "Little Drinks"

Video: "Little Drinks" (live)

Cleopatra

Those Deadbeat Cats

This Ain't Rockabilly, This Is...

(Western Star Recording Company)

It's a valid concept, one attributed to several icons: There are only two kinds of songs-- good ones and bad ones.

Undertaken in these grooves is reinterpretation of others' hits in peculiar styles. (One recalls Big Daddy essayed a similar feat in the 1980s.)

The results are engaging. In the main, the material was top-drawer to begin with. The quality of recreations, then, hinges on new approaches put upon the table. And these evince strategic planning and enthusiastic realization.

Ska and turbulent rock influences inform the fresh versions. Punkish spew has its way, as well. (And the Addams Family-theme breakdown in "Hungry Like the Wolf?" That bespeaks creditable lightness of intent.)

The present writer took up the reviewing task with trepidation, but concluded it as a convert. A suitably flagellated one.

Recommended: "Hungry Like the Wolf," "Creep," "Don't You Want Me Baby," "Word Up," "Material Group," "Ace of Spades," "Karma Chameleon"

Video: "Hungry Like the Wolf"

Western Star

Maibell & the Misfires

"Fire" b/w "Hey You"

(El Toro Records)

On the A-side, the band gives out with romping delivery through cohesive architecture. That, alone, would warrant acquisition. But comes then the B-side's purring and exquisite come-hitherisms. Per Homer, such desirous overtures led ships to splinter on rocks.

Video: "Fire"

El Toro

Speedbottles

HRHRHRRNR single

(Bar Hill Records)

This single is taken from a forthcoming album, so one expects similarly metallic and crunchy, guitar-forward onslaughts will enjoy representation. It would stand tall against any time-venerated hard rock you'd care to cite. Advisory: Turn up the volume.

Video

Bar Hill

Thursday, February 23, 2023

The Rebel's Howl

Hard Knock Teddy Boy

single track

(Independent)

While awaiting the combo's full effort, we should appraise this singalong first issuance. It boasts the thrown-down beat and swagger intrinsic to their chain-swinging sect. Embraced outsiderness is proclaimed cheekily and with much tattooed dedication. The Teddy Boy marches on...

Video: "Hard Knock Teddy Boy"

The Shakers

Shake the Rocks EP

(El Toro Records)

Twangs bend the airs, in manners owing to rich country lineage. But the tumultous rhapsodies give evidence that the players strayed across the tracks to the wilder side of town. Often.

Recommended: "Shake the Rocks," "General Procession," "New Tune In Town," "Trains Don't Wait"

Video: "Shake the Rocks" (live)

El Toro

Booze and Glory

Raising the Roof

(Katabomb Records)

There are no pills that produce this much energy. Join the clawing mob at stagefront and scream your guts out.

4-track Oxblood EP.

Recommended: "Raising the Roof," "Betrayed," "C'est La Vie," "The Streets I Call My Own"

Video: "Raising the Roof"

Katabomb

Jez Alborough

Rockabilly Groove single

(Indeependent)

A renaissance figure, Jez is a best-selling author in addition to musician. By itself, his rockabilly riffing turns one's head; it is of the old school and makes for an agreeeably captivating experience.

Video

Tuesday, February 21, 2023

Orphan Riot

eponymously titled

(Coffin Curse)

Racing through chord collisions, mindful of purpose in the midst of vented fury, the assembled attackers lustily pounce on youth ennui. It is beaten to a pulp. Everyone cruises home happy.

Recommended: "Don't Count On Me," "Devil's Work," "Yesterday," "The Hatchett," "Give 'Em Hell," "Time Again," "Vampires"

Video: "The Pawn"

Coffin Curse

Johnny Cash

...With His Hot and Blue Guitar

(Sun Records)

Remastered in 2022, this indispensible wax was the Man In Black's introduction to the world beyond regional crowds. This early on, Sam recognized Johnny's unique value. The rest, as goes the saw, is history.

Recommended: "Rock Island Line," "I Heard That Lonesome Whistle," "If the Good Lord's Willing," "Cry, Cry, Cry," "Country Boy," "So Doggone Lonesome," "I Was There When It Happened," "I Walk the Line," "Wreck Of the Old 97," "Folsom Prison Blues," "Doin' My Time"

Video: "I Was There When It Happened" (live)

Reverend Horton Heat

Roots of the Rev, vol 1

(Fun-Guy Records)

Covers are rarely superior to the originals; at least, said truism goes for classics. That being stipulated, the guitar-slinging Rev does truly impressive takes. And his connection to this top-flight material is actual -- something few other emulators can claim.

Recommended: "School of Rock 'n' Roll," "Ready Teddy," "Right String, Wrong Yo-Yo," "Make Me Know You're Mine," "Lights Out," "Crazy Crazy Lovin'," "Race With the Devil"

Video: "Lights Out" (live)

Faccbook

Chupaskabra

Trash City Rockers

(Coffin Curse)

In distinction-violative musicalizing can lie fresh excitement. This ska-punk is such a rewarding gesture. It is of stern heft, instilling in those methods new and creative substance. Frontiers unbroken beckoned, and their siren call solicited demonstrative response.

Recommended: "Chupa Stomp," "Daze In the Life," "Dictate," "Better Class of Enemy," "River Bottom Nightmare Band"

Video: "Daze In the Life" (live)

Coffin Curse

Sunday, February 19, 2023

Chuck Berry

Live From Blueberry Hill

(Dualtone)

It's standard knowledge that Chuck was among rock'n'roll's few actual patresfamilias. He contributed that genre's very lead idiom and stance. Less familiar may be the staggering truth that his sole Billboard #1 hit was 1971's "My Ding-A-Ling." That jocular cover of Dave Bartholemew's 1952 novelty number doesn't appear here, but numerous superior and much-loved Berry originals do.

Recorded in 2005 and 2006, these in-concert iterations feature competent players at his elbow. If he sounds a bit out of breath at times, well, chalk that up to advanced seasons - but never indifference. Mr. Rock'n'Roll was still having fun.

Recommended: "Rock'n'Roll Music," "Let It Rock," "Carol / Little Queenie," "Sweet Little Sixteen," "Around And Around," "Johnny B. Goode"

Video

Dualtone

Dave Crimmen

"Revved Up"

single

(Independent)

Always welcome is a scorching number like this: An economical tale of setting out on the night town with no expectation but a good time. That escapist mission will be familiar to common men. Seek kicks and ye shall find.

Video

Jane Rose and the Deadends

Queen Bee

single

(Independent)

At this date, the Bo Diddley beat qualifies as basic rock'n'roll verbiage, much like the Chuck Berry solo style. But it finds relief in intermittent blasts. The lyrics, meantime, speak of fleshly stirrings also of familiar vintage, though evergreen in relevance.

Various

High On the Hog: Honky Tonk and Hillbilly Bop Vol. Three

(Cactus Records)

They were simpler times, and in many ways, better ones. Bouncily picked, three-chord odes to love's fickle ways were enough to set houses to rocking and plain folks' feet to shuffling. No more than a couple of minutes were needed to harmonize regular stories.

Such clap-board Saturday nights are to be missed. They will never return.

Recommended: "Hobo Baby" (Joe and Ray Shannon), "Country- Style Boogie" (Bennie Hess),"Back When She Was Young" (Buddy Livingston), "Now He's Gone" (Reesa Lynn), "The Storm" (Johnny Stills), "I'm Telling You" (Jess Willard), "Warmed-Over Love" (Jacoby Bros.), "Hearts Breaking Up Over Love" (Jerry Gray), "I'm Comin' Home" (Unknown artist), "Pusan" (Billy Mize), "Red Rose Of Arkansas" (Alden Holloway), "You Lied" (Bob Cole), "Bubble- Gum Boogie" (Curley Rash), "Mother-In-Law Blues" (Mack McGuire), "Blue Monday" (Gradie Joe).

Video

Cactus Records

Thursday, February 16, 2023

Link Wray

Collection 1956-62

(Acrobat)

Of course, there were notable players before Link. Many. But none wielded a six string like a brutish flick-knife, savagely slashing at collision chords and febrile treble squeals. His throwing off of deafening passages still thunders as inimitable - though legions have sought to emulate his furious example.

Recommended, disc one: "I Sez Baby," "Rumble," "The Swag," "Raw-Hide," "The Dixie-Doodle," "Comanche," "Slinky," "Roughshod," "Vendetta," "Ain't That Lovin' You Babe," "Mary Ann," "Jack the Ripper"

Recommended, disc two: "Hold It," "Big City After Dark," "Right Turn," "Hand Clapper," "Run Chicken Run," "The Black Widow," "Ace Of Spades"

Video: "Big City After Dark"

Acrobat

Amazon

Tiger Army

Retrofuture

(Rise Records)

500-copy vinyl reisssue of 2019 CD.

The trio, at the instigation of Nick 13, progressed quite beyond their halcyon period. But they maintained the gut flame that made earlier endeavors attention worthy. Energetic singularity that mesmerized as it cascaded. Psychobilly with self-awareness, intellect, and heart.

Recommended: "Mi Amor La Luna," "Eyes Of the Night," "The Past Will Always Be," "Prelude: Tercio De Muerte," "Last Ride," "Valentina," "Night Flower," "Death Card," "Beyond the Veil"

Video: "Mi Amor La Luna"