DC Larson's JUKEBOX JURY

Capsule reviews by a jury of one: Iowa journalist/author DC Larson. Rockabilly, Psychobilly, Blues, Alternative, Western Swing, R and B, Punk, Swing, Hillbilly, Glam, Americana. DC Larson's retro science fiction writing blog, from which the Eddie Atomic Space Adventures are available, is RETRO RIFF BOOKS. And his political writings one is AMERICAN SCENE MAGAZINE. Both are also on Blogspot. All original content on these three blogs is under author copyright.

Friday, April 12, 2024

The Meteors

40 Days A Rotting

(Mutant Rock)

P. Paul's netherworldly fixation is but garish accoutrement laid atop compositions so textured and layered as to be sophisticated, but at once much too grim for mainstream sensibilities. Prolific with songcraft pen, he devastates with six strings of doom. Surly phrasing befits murk.

Recommended: "The Blood Red Sea," "Road Burn," "Blood Moon," "40 Days A Rotting," "Murder Party," "Seven Skulls," "The Rage (Never Just For Fun," "Dead Man's Hand," "In the Land Of a Spider God"

Video: "40 Days A Rotting"

Djordje

"The Way I Am" single

(Ceklin)

The personnel involved recommend Djordje Stijepovic's latest: Joining him are Paul Pigat, Dusty Grave, Aleksander Petrovic, and Rene de la muerte. Those desiring further data are advised that in an economical two-and-a-half minutes, classic Rock'n'Roll changes, beach-cruising Pop harmonies, and chordy thrashings straight out of sneering Punkdom forge fun fun fun.

video

The Unknowns

East Coast Low

(Drunken Sailor)

Australia's Bargain Bin label released this hurtling LP for its domestic market in 2023. Mere days prior to this writing, Drunken Sailor reissued it for global appreciation. The wax is swelled nearly to bursting with distorted guitar pyrotechnics, "Whoa woah!" choruses that compel raucous sing-a-longs, and street-race propulsion no statute could restrain. As is always favored, songs open/make their points/and conclude in compact spans.

Recommended: "Shot Down," "Dianne," "Rid Of You," "Crying," "Beat Me," "Thinking About You," "Know It All," "I Don't Know," "Deleted," "Supersonic Love"

Video: "Crying"

CUIR

Album Album LP and digital release

(Offside Records)

Scant online information can be located for this trenchant French Synthpunk. One rare source asserts it is the conceit of an erstwhile member of various hardcore outfits. That mystery to the side, one is struck by dominance of burly guitar in material notable for fleet vehemence. Any language impediment is as nothing, given the bellicosity projected.

Recommended: "Gast," "Phoenix," "Les nerfs à vif," "Bloqué," "La force de continuer," "Un air de Mexico," "Toujours pareil," "On verra bien"

Video: "Gast"

Offside Records

Tuesday, April 9, 2024

Evil Conduct

10 Tracks...No Bullshit

(Randale Records)

When this erupts into thunderous actuality, guitars swung in rumbustious offensive and drums smashed to smithereens, no battleship chains could restrain it. We are beset by an exultant rallying cry whose brutal magnetism compels every disconnected misfit to pull on combat boots, stab air with knuckly fist, and stomp in the shaved-head parade.

Recommended: "Boots On Our Feet," "Lost Time," "Stand Accused," "Hey Ho!," "Nothing But Lies," "City Life," "Because Of You," "Cost Of Living," "Older Than Dirt," "Stick To Your Guns," "1969" (bonus track), "You're Wondering Now" (bonus track)

Video: "Boots On Our Feet"

Randale Records

The Lazy Tones

Laundry Sessions EP

(El Toro)

Honest music is one reason it's good to be breathing. From deep within these grooves springs finger-popping, tilted brim-sporting style of the sort once cultivated by Leonard and Phil Chess. Direct production focuses attention on Blues magic wrought by four cats on fire with the boldness that tore Chicago joints wide open in post-WWII years.

Recommended: "Lend Me a Train Fare," "Look-a-Here," "Natural Born Lover," "Sloppy Drunk," "Baby Please Don't Go"

Video: "Lend Me a Train Fare"

Boom! Boom! Deluxe

"Leopard Print" digital track

(Self-issued)

For 3:57, New Zealand's Boom! Boom! Deluxe envelops listeners with teasingly languid and jazzy ambiance, from within which passions curl inviting fingers. Sultry Henrieta "Hettie LaBombe" Tornyai purrs in delicious symbiosis, her breathiness effectively redoubling steam heat.

Interviewed by NZ Musician, she daubed a fetching portrait:

"Inspired by 1950s instrumentals like 'The Stripper' by David Rose, I pictured a seedy nightclub full of smoke with a burlesque dancer stripping to the sound of a sleazy saxophone. I wanted something that would swing but still be at a driving, danceable tempo.

"It began with a riff based around a D Blues scale written on the double bass, which is my main instrument. Right from the start I knew I wanted a baritone sax as the main feature. It really evokes the '50s and '60s, and I love that grunty sound!"

Video

Connie and the Rockets

s/t vinyl LP

(El Toro)

Dependability ensures satisfaction. Connie and her tuned-up confederates never stray across orthodox Rockabilly's boundaries, finding instead much rock-ribbed vivacity within them. Others may wander, but there's no place like home.

Recommended: "My Place," "The Turning Tide," "Toda la Noche," "Your Misery," "I'm a Rocket"

Video: "My Place"

Sunday, April 7, 2024

Mary B. Good

Loh's Rägne

(MBG Music)

Flame-tongued six-string licks are torn off with attention-riveting flair, and pumping 88s delight as this stomper blooms. Rugged doghouse and snapped-beat drumming fix all to adamantium foundation. No profound messaging or exploration of being are present, nor are such of interest. Instead, Mary and her nitro-jazzed guitar rip into boisterous Rockabilly bacchanalia fun. Everyone plunges into the revelry, and come morrow no one will remember anything.

Video

zdigital.com.au

Tygers of Wrath

First Roar

(Beatclap)

The furious employ of instruments as tools for venting aggression at top volume and reckless speeds may skirt legality, but it sounds more ecstatically alive than anything the established industry has marshalled in recent years. Vocals are sent out in equally turbulent contempt for quietude. Listener radicalization probable.

Recommended: "Sucio Traidor," "Fight," "Corazón Delator," "Recuerdo los 90"

Videos: "Sucio Traidor" "Fight"

Richie Wohlfeil

What a Way To Die EP

(Self-issued)

Packing only a guitar and the fire of a soul for whom restraint is anathema, Richie declares himself before the world. In lone directness, his playing finds virtue. Rockabilly and Country swayings dash in these wonderfully unvarnished compositions. And Richie's weathered singing bespeaks both potency and real-world credibilty no technical artifice could contrive.

Recommended: "Hillbilly Wolf," "Misfit," "Will You Remember," "What a Way To Die"

Video: "Hillbilly Wolf"

zdigital.com.au

Back In the Day, 2008

Crazy Cavan & the Rhythm Rockers

C'mon, Let's Fuckin' Rock

(Crazy Rhythm)

By the time this volatile document perched on shop shelves, Cavan Grogan and his chain-swinging mates had enjoyed Ted deification for decades. Their embrace of not only the uncompromising music but concommitant swaggering lifestyle merited no less. Lyndon Needs's guitar approach was to employ it as either savage and twanging agent -- in which case he tore up strings with frantic vigor -- or smoothly harmonic ally, depending upon the moment's demand. At the fore arched Cavan, tousled hair cascading down forehead and massive, bristly sideburns framing his angular features, giving lusty vent to rollick in inimitable spectacle.

Recommended: "Groovy At the Movie," "Teddy Boy Blues," "Bing Bong Boogie," "Who the Fuck Do Ya Think," "Bye Bye Bo Diddley," "This Heart's On Fire," "Tailor Made," "Cool As My Baby," "She's Alright," "Don't Knock What You Don't Understand"

Video: "Who the Fuck Do Ya Think"

Saturday, April 6, 2024

The Atomic Bats

Psycho In the City pre-release demo

(Self-issued)

Hard-lashed instrumental renderings are so compacted that no breathing space exists between them, and therein lies only one element of this work's strength. Infernal, morbid narratives pronounced in subterranean tones factor into grotesque environment. Nearly claustrophobic murk pervades. Psychobilly's dark aspect is clad in metallic hard shell, the product being engrossing and, at one juncture, Kafkaesque.

Recommended: "Psycho Carnival," "Awoke In My Grave," "Les Revenants," "Darkness Comes"

Video: "Psycho Carnival"

Flea Bops

Get In, Sit Down, Shut Up, Hold On

(Vinylux)

In the 1980s, I interviewed Paul Burlison for a Goldmine article. He termed Rockabilly "good-time music," a warmhearted denotation that also applies here.

The contributive hillbilly component that lends Rockabilly its bounce is dominant. Most songs spring down bucolic dirt roads with friendliness. Prevalent is easeful atmosphere, a 'just folks' cameraderie whose reassuring sentiment surely hung in the air at old-days barn dances.

This disc was recorded prior to the sad 2022 passing of Flea Bops singer Ronnie Joyner. Remaining members include drummer Lance Lebeau (formerly of legends Go Cat Go), his wife, Wendy Lebeau, who sings and slaps doghouse, and guitarist Preston Lebeau. The three have pledged to continue.

Recommended: "Get In, Sit Down, Shut Up, Hold On," "Please Don't Go," "Driver Seat," "Sinner Not a Saint," "Patti Waggin," "Saved," "Mighty Hot In San Antoine," "Rock You In the Arms Of Jesus"

Video: "Driver Seat"

Rockin' Aldo

Baby Bomb!!!

(Rebel Music Records)

Any musician can replicate trademark Rockabilly traits. But lacking essential conviction, such efforts would sputter as artificial. Aldo has what those pretenders don't: heartfelt authenticity that imbues these romps with spiritedness and a love of the wildcat sound identical to that which spurred originators. Indicative of his canon-faithfulness is the good-time Country flair that lends affability to rollicking music that would be comfortable in any Ike-era jukebox.

Recommended: "Everybody's Rockin'," "Rock'n'Roll On a Saturday Night," "Get Yourself a Band," "Ooby Dooby," "Boogie Woogie Country Girl," "Jack Daniel's, Booze & Rock'n'Roll," "Little Rock," "Teddycats Rock'n'Roll," "Teenage Boogie," "Baby Bomb," "Real Cool Rocker," "Twenty Fight Rock"

Video: "Everybody's Rockin'"

Rebel Music Records

Back In the Day, 1976

Flying Saucers

Planet of the Drapes

(Nevis)

As a mid-1970s Southend-On-Sea Essex teenager too young for club admittance, future Rockats bassist Smutty Smiff was so enthralled by the Teddy Boy thrashings that emanated from nightspots that he slouched in outer shadows and dug the big beat. The Flying Saucers, fronted by singer Sandy Ford, bopped among the rebellious subgenre's topmost representatives and surely echoed in young Smutty's world. The pomped and sideburned combo's spirited preservation of cult-cherished fashions won a loyal international fanbase. Honking saxophone and 88s-run-loose augmented a line-up that paid febrile homage to vintage stylings - not in fond reminiscence, but as stalwart knights asserting Rockabilly's strapping relevance in days when Punk loomed.

In 1990, Netherlands label Rockhouse reissued Planet Of the Drapes in CD format. Nevis did likewise in 2003. And today, Sandy Ford leads an altered Flying Saucers configuration.

Recommended: "The Ballad of Johnny Reb," "Cat Talkin'," "Let's Rock the Town," "Grandpaw's a Crazy Cat For Sure," "My Babe," "Be Bop Boogie Girl," "Diggin' the Boogie," "Sugaree," "Oakie Boogie," "Rock With Me Sugar," "Wildcat," "Rocky Road Blues," "Adam and Eve," "Alabama Shake"

Video: "Grandpaw's a Crazy Cat For Sure"

Bear Family (ordering)

Wednesday, April 3, 2024

King Drapes

Hot Rock Teds

(Rebel Music Records)

Rock'n'Roll that revels outside benign parameters contains an element of menace. That truism is particularly valid in Rockabilly's case. These flick-knife wolves generously accent their lean, turbulent rocking with swagger alien to favored pop. Boldly trumpeted and limber-limbed bop exercises are occasionally offset by more relaxed, tuneful airs. But such serenity inevitably surrenders spotlight when swinging vigor returns to reclaim authority.

Recommended: "Teds Here We Come," "I Will Stay," "Bad Rockabilly Suicide Girl," "Five Hundred Miles," "Half a Rocker Half a Ted," "Back On the Road," "Rockabilly Tattoo," "We Got a Date," "Can't Help Fallin' In Love," "Love Another"

Video: "Teds Here We Come"

Rebel Music Records

Otoboke Beaver

Super Champon Colored vinyl, digital, and CD versions available

(Damnably)

Attraction is immediate. But what may initially seem helter-skelter -- songs jet past at impossible velocity, with frenetic stop/go punctuation a frequent feature --is actually meticulously choreographed. Arrangements tend toward the elaborate, summonng to mind the un-Punk recollection of early Mothers Of Invention. Multifacetedness is all the more noteworthy given songs' strict brevity.

Recommended: "I Am Not Maternal," "Yakitori," "I Won't Dish Out Salads," "Nabe Party With Pocket Brothers," "Leave Me Alone! No, Stay With Me!," "I Put My Love To You In a Song," "Don't Call Me Mojo," ''First-Class Side-Guy," "I Don't Want To Die Alone"

Video: "First-Class Side-Guy"

Summertime

No Me Dejes Sin Rock

(Alo Music Ar)

Much locomotive dash will be savored by those adding this to collections. The Blasters salute indicates band disposition: forward-surging coursers in which vintage bents throw sparks. But herein also breathes gentler folk inclinations and fetching tunefulness that convey depth beyond solitary focus. When a combo equally capable of rumbling and crooning appears, attention is merited.

Recommended: "Marie Marie," "Rockabilly en 78 RPM," "Escapndo De Tu Amor," "Arreglando El Mundo Una Noche," "Quiero Un Camión"

Video: "Arreglanddo El Mundo Una Noche"

zgigital.com/au

Duane Eddy

The Biggest Twang of Them All vinyl LP

(Sundazed)

By the time of this LP's 1966 Reprise Records issuance, Duane already had numerous, raunchy instrumental hits to his credit (including "Rebel Rouser" and "Peter Gunn"), and was rightly lauded as a stringed-orator of estimable capacity. A twanging, reverbating presence was his recognizable imprint. He was complemented on these voiceless reinventions of topical chart worthies by a multitude of adroit colleagues. (Per Sundazed, their number included two drummers, four additional guitarists, plus various bass and sax players.)

In other circumstances, the star's shine might have been obscured by so many accompanists. But Duane was too commanding a figure, and his Gretsch too formidable in tone and dispatch, for such fate to transpire. Besides, judicious producer Lee Hazlewood was wiser than to allow it.

The musicians had gathered, not to overshadow Duane, but to augment and advance his visions. And that, they did - in melliflous fashion.

With deceptive ease, he interpreted popular material as only a master guitarist might. His articulations were alternately introspective, striding, and playful, but always engaging.

Sundazed has announced May 17th as its re-release date for this LP, but pre-ordering is presently available. It can be selected in either black or "Coke clear" vinyl.

Recommended: "This Guitar Was Made For Twangin'," "Batman," "Strangers In the Night," "Night Train," "The Ballad Of the Green Berets," "Daydream," "What Now My Love," "Younger Girl," "Where Were You When I Needed You," "A Grooy Kind Of Love," "Mame"

Video: "This Guitar Was Made For Twangin'"

Sunday, March 31, 2024

Those Deadbeat Cats

Frankenstein's Jukebox

(Western Star)

In any other circumstance neo-Rockabilly, Jazz-hipness, and Ska reinventions of recent years' chart sensations might be folly. That it engages in this instance owes to Those Deadbeat Cats' self-effacing waggishness. Novel spins are rendered with estimable capacity that makes the project worthwhile.

Recommended: "Bye Bye Bye," "Spiderman," "What's Up?," "Shotgun," "Eight Days a Week," "Wonder Wall," "Basket Case," "20th Century Boy"

Video: "Spiderman"

zdigital.com.au

The Stolen Hearts

"Over the Line" digital single

(Self-issued)

Satisfyingly fat Rockabilly riffing bespeaks the attitude afoot. Poised vocals claim command. A razor-sharp solo slices determinedly. And the bustling, economical arrangement suspends its forcefulness to allow for a cooled-down standup/drums aside, before resuming strut. Profuse jaw-jutted elan flares for 2:31.

Video

(This track will soon be available on other listening platforms, as well.)

Hot Laundry

"Made Like This" digital single

(Self-issued)

Rock'n'Roll's scorching promise in fishnets. While a driving band that recalls the genre's historic fireballs thunders in their hourglass shadows, bellicose sirens with sequined wrapping brandish defiance in tones at once sonorous and mesmeric. Kipling warned that the female of the species is more deadly than the male.

Video

Son of Twang

Freddie's Ready

(Self-issued)

The absence of vocalists on this stage (recorded over a two-year period) afforded phenominal picker Fred Stucky latitude for extended six-string orations, as he cruised the welcoming avenues roots music offers. An animated performance resulted, with both dignified and galvanizing passages performing their magics.

"Every song has a vintage Gretsch being used," Fred explained in the Gretsch-Talk site's forum. He disclosed the impressive equipment he'd relied upon for his crisp endeavor. Included were "vintage 6120s - '54, '55, and '59. I also used my '57 green Duo Jet. The '59 6120 has the Bigsby B Bender and it's used to good effect on 'Small Time' and 'Black Jack.'"

Accompanying them in his chosen arsenal were two Fender amps, a 1956 Harvard and a 1958 Deluxe. He noted effects employed were a Nocturne Mystery Brain 301 and various vintage Echoplexes.

The "Rockabilly roots bop" he imputed to Freddie's Ready on that message board conveys its uptempo attractions. But mention must be made here also of Blues and Country idioms that rise for recognition. From them, Fred produces fretboard majesty.

Plaudits for Freddie's Ready were pronounced by other Gretsch-Talk members. "Man, the sound is just incredible," enthused one. Another raved: "That's some nice [explicit] guitar playing going on there.

Such relish is well warranted.

Recommended: "Heartbreak Hotel," "Strollin' Guitar, "Skaggsville," "Eddie Eddy (The Sixty-120 Blues," "The Small Time (Was Big Enough For Me)," "Hammy Blues," "L Is For Lonely," "I Almost Lost My Mind," "Blackjack"

Video: "Strollin' Guitar"

Friday, March 29, 2024

The BuckOffs

Sleeve

(Self-issued)

Predominantly a Buck Owens tribute trio (one that hot-rods the star's classics with Rockabilly thrust), Florida's BuckOffs also mint original creations. Worthy strands of fifties and sixties origin loom, even as instrumental virtues proclaim themselves. Notable among those are the felicitous stringed bracings of frontman Daddy-O, nee Stephen Charles. Vitality owes to dedication.

Recommended: "Sleeve," "Misunderstood"

Video: "Misunderstood"

zdigital.com.au

Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)