Danny B. Harvey & Annie Marie Lewis

Reckless Wild & Crazy

(Rumble Road Productions)

While their ability to punch in with tumultuous rock 'n' roll has remained as robust as ever, I sense welcome maturation in balladeering. Both seem easeful with measured material that requires suitable dispatch.

This reissue of  a 2013 CD is now available on vinyl.

Recommended: "Shake It On Down," "Hot Rod Girl," "Trying To Get To You" (feat. Lemmy), "Reckless, Wild & Crazy," "Cry Me A River," "Down In Texas," "You Win Again," "Cat Fight"

Video: "Dark And Lonely Road"

Facebook

Rumble Road Big Cartel

The Roues Brothers

Undaunted digital album

(UpSouth Recordings)

Billy and Stephen Roues are alumni of 1980s New York rockabilly legends Finn and the Sharks. On their own, they pursue roots  rock'n'roll with victorious consequences. Would only that contemporary hit charts bannered such seriously rewarding material. 

Recommended: "Behind the Dixie Sun," "Number 1 Contender," "Bloodshot Boogie," "Nightspot Woman," "Just Like Humpty Dumpty," "True True Trudy," "Daydreaming," "The Waiting Game," "Roadhouse USA," "Undaunted"

Video: "Just Like Humpty Dumpty"

Bandcamp

The Brats

"Be a Man" b/w "Quaalude Queen"

(Breakout records)

They bust from the speakers with all the bravado and flash of NYC boulevard confrères the Dolls, and small wonder: guitarist Rick Rivets hailed from an embryonic iteration of that seminal glam group. His Brats never reached Dollsian heights of infamy, but rocked out in similarly boisterous fashion, just the same. 1974 single reissued by Italian Breakout label.

Video: "Be a Man"

Facebook

Bandcamp

Dex Romweber

"Comin' Home" single

(Propeller Sound Recordings)

Yes, this is the Horton chestnut. (Robert Gordon also covered it, a few years back.) Dex's atmospheric reinvention is solid. As always, he brings something at once familiar and peculiar to the table. And we appreciate that.

Video: "Comin' Home"

Facebook

Propeller

Slack-Jawed Yokels

Race, Rock, Wreck

(Independent)

This is unabashed Rock'n'Roll: fast, loud, and with an edgy attitude. The band members can take pride in a consistently vigorous disc. All vital elements coalesce, culminating in a whole whose sum is greater than its parts. Drop the needle and dig.

Recommended: "Swab the Poopdeck," "The Shop," "Drivin' After Midnight," "Maker's Mark Run," "Slammed By a Semi," "Nick Dale," "Tennessee," "Wanda," "Mean Lil Doggie," "The Flame," "Steer Clear," "Rev It Up," "Rockin' With My Baby"

Video: "The Shop"

Bandcamp

Amazon

Dixie Fried Hep Katz

"Keep Rolling On" single

(Chicken Beak Records)

A benefit of sparseness is lucidity. Trim instrumentation allows for sharp fulfillment of taut arrangements. Tilted-forward Rock'n'Roll accomplishes the most and the mightiest when streamlined; it makes its mark and exits.

Video: "Keep Rolling On"

Site

The Mopar Cams

Motorboatin' with...

(Independent)

A spry six-string wends its way around economical constructions, in this light-on-its-feet and eminently melodious effort. The guitar's tone is free of superfluous effects. It is clean and direct. Accessible vocals are of the relatable everyman sort. Elevating the value is remarkably strong songcraft.

Recommended: "MotorBoatin'," "Load Of Me," "Shaggin' Wagon," "You Ruined My Life," "Sodajerk Slinger"

Video: "MotorBoatin'"

Site

Bandcamp