King Drapes
Tatooed Heart
(Independent)
A query presents itself: Can a disc on which pace generally is kept under leash, and that includes several evocative instrumentals, satisfy the discriminating Ted appetite? Comes immediately the rejoinder: Shut up and spin the wax.
Recommended: "Rockabilly Train," "Biker Gang Riot," "High-Class Ted," "Heart To Hell," "Like a Bullet," "Brighton Beach," "Teds Night Out," "Treat Me Cruel," "Be My Teddygirl"
Video: "Rockabilly Train"
The Centuries
"She Saw Me Rockin'" "Baby, Come On Over"
(Independent digital singles)
Bandcamp: "She Saw Me Rockin'" "Baby, Come On Over"
Vaden Landers
Lock the Door
(Hill House)
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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"
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Joe Keene
I've Done It All In My Time
(Spring Fed)
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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"
To purchase: ORCD
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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)
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"
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)
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"
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)
Recommended: "Shake the Rocks," "General Procession," "New Tune In Town," "Trains Don't Wait"
Video: "Shake the Rocks" (live)
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Orphan Riot
eponymously titled
(Coffin Curse)
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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"
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)
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)
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"
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.
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Link Wray
Collection 1956-62
(Acrobat)
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"
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"
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