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)

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Coffin Curse

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"

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Dualtone

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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.

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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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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).

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Cactus Records

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"

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