The Black Keys Broaden Sound On Upbeat “Ohio Players”

Last Friday, April 5, The Black Keys released their latest studio album Ohio Players. While the pop and rap influences evidently didn’t only surprise me and have led to mixed reviews, overall, I’m intrigued with what Dan Auerbach and his collaborator for 20-plus years Patrick Carney have delivered.

Based on the hill country blues covers album Delta Kream, which brought The Black Keys on my radar screen in 2021, and a handful of other songs, I had associated the duo with a fuzzy DIY style sound, drawing from garage, blues and psychedelic rock. On Ohio Players, their traditional raw sound has evolved, thanks to prominent guests, mostly notably the genre defying Beck, Brit pop stalwart Noel Gallagher, as well as rap artists Juicy J. and Lil Noid.

The album title is a play on Auerbach’s and Carney’s Akron, Ohio roots and ’70s funk and R&B band Ohio Players. “We’ve been doing these record hangs, where we play 45s at pop-up parties and invite friends to join us, so one of the guest DJs threw on an Ohio Players 45 and it was like, ‘ahhh’,” explained Carney in a recent interview with USA Today.

Dan Auerbach (right) and Patrick Carney met in high school, began jamming together in 1986, and eventually formed The Black Keys in 2001

Ohio Players, the 12th studio album by The Black Keys, follows May 2022’s Dropout Boogie, which in turn came after the aforementioned Delta Kream. That album was preceded by Let’s Rock, their first after a four-year hiatus, during which Auerbach and Carney pursued other projects. Let’s take a closer look at the music on Ohio Players.

Since I featured the pop rock opener This Is Nowhere in my most recent weekly new music review, I’m skipping it here and go directly the second track Don’t Let Me Go. Like This Is Nowhere, it is part of the seven songs Beck co-wrote with Auerbach and Carney. The Black Keys’ relationship with him dates back to 2003 when they opened for him during his Sea Change Tour. Don’t Let Me Go is also credited to Gary Crockett, Dominic Glover and Daniel Nakamura, aka. Dan the Automator – yes, definitely more pop-oriented than previous Black Keys songs but heck, it’s bloody catchy!

On the Game is one of three songs Auerbach and Carney co-wrote with Noel Gallagher. Additionally, the track’s credits include songwriter, producer and record executive Leon Michels. Gallagher also played guitar and sang backing vocals, while Michels contributed guitar and organ. “Dan wanted to work with Noel and we’re both fans, so we kept reaching out and hearing he doesn’t have time,” Carney told USA Today. “My neighbor I golf with used to be Oasis’ booking agent for 20 years, so I asked him, “Maybe Noel will be interested?” That’s when Noel got back to us and gave us a window of four days in January (2023) in London.” Sometimes, persistence pays off!

Candy and Her Friends, co-written by Auerbach and Carney, features Lil Noid. “I was getting into underground Memphis rap from the 1990s and early 2000s, cassette tape stuff really only available on YouTube and like Three Six Mafia and Juicy J,” Auerbach explained to USA Today. “There was the “Paranoid Funk” album Lil Noid made and even being a lifelong rap fan, I’d never heard this stuff. Every time we got in the car after a record hang we’d put on his “Riding in the Chevy” and be like man, it would be fun to work with Lil Noid. He came up to Nashville and he was really cool, a total character.”

The soulful ballad I Forgot to Be Your Lover is the only cover on the album. Co-written by William Bell and Booker T. Jones, it originally appeared in 1968 as a single by Bell. A remake by Billy Idol, which he titled To Be a Lover and included on his 1986 studio album Whiplash Smile, became an international hit. The Black Keys stay close to the original.

The final track I’d like to call out is the closer Every Time You Leave, another song Auerbach and Carney wrote with Beck, as well as Greg Kurstin. The multi-instrumentalist and award-winning producer also provided backing vocals, guitar, keyboards, percussion and synthesizer. Again, Beck’s pop influence shines through. At the same time, the song includes elements of The Black Keys’ traditional sound.

“No matter who we work with, it never feels like we’re sacrificing who we are,” Auerbach said in a press statement. “It only feels like it adds some special flavor. We just expanded that palette with people we wanted to work with. We were there to support them and their ideas, to do whatever we could to see that moment flourish. But when it came time to finish the album, it was just Pat and me.”

Added Carney: “What we wanted to accomplish with this record was make something that was fun. And something that most bands 20 years into their career don’t make, which is an approachable, fun record that is also cool.”

Ohio Players appears on Auerbach’s label Easy Eye Sound and is distributed by Nonesuch Records. Last week, The Black Keys announced a North American headline tour to support the album. The 31-date International Players Tour will kick off in Tulsa on September 17 and also include other cities across the U.S., such as Austin, New York, Los Angeles and Chicago, as well as Toronto, Canada. The full schedule is here.

Sources: Wikipedia; USA Today; Nonesuch Records website; YouTube; Spotify

New Music Musings

It’s Saturday, which means time to take another look at the latest developments on the new music front. All picks are on albums that were released yesterday (April 5).

Cuffed Up/Meet the End

Starting us off today are Cuffed Up, a Los Angeles band playing melodic post punk. The were formed in 2018 by Ralph Torrefranca (vocals/guitar) and Joe Liptock (drums), who were joined by Christina Apostolopoulos (vocals, guitar) in 2022. Their website notes they share a love of stirring rock music, from the urgent tension of the U.K. post-punk revival to the tender, ornate compositions of Death Cab for Cutie. The group debuted in February 2020 with an eponymous EP. Off their first full-length album All You Got, here’s Meet the End. I like it!

X Ambassadors/Half-Life

X Ambassadors are a pop rock band from Ithaca, N.Y. They have been around since 2009 and include Sam Harris (lead vocals), Casey Harris (keyboards) and Adam Levin (drums). During tours they are supported by Russ Flynn (bass, guitar). AllMusic characterizes the group’s music as passionate, electronic-tinged pop centered around the throaty, soulful vocals of Sam Harris. Including their June 2015 debut VHS, they have released four albums to date. Their latest is called Townie. Here’s Half-Life, a pleasant ballad.

Dana Gavanski/Song For Rachel

Dana Gavanski is a Canadian indie folk singer-songwriter of Serbian descent who is based in London, England. In 2017, she released her debut EP Spring Demos. Her first full-length album Yesterday Is Gone appeared in March 2020. Gavanski is now out with her third album Late Slap. “This album is my take on the tension between cynicism/despair and openness/trust,” she explains on her Bandcamp. “It’s about tenderness in a world that’s constantly trying to desensitize us.” Here’s Song For Rachel. The song’s neat sound and Gavanski’s ethereal vocals, which remind me a bit of Sarah McLachlan, drew me in.

Pernice Brothers/I Don’t Need That Anymore (feat. Neko Case)

Pernice Brothers are an indie rock band formed by Joe Pernice in 1998 after his old group Scud Mountain Boys had broken up. Pernice Brothers who also include Joe’s brother Bob Pernice released their first album Overcome by Happiness in May 1998. Their eighth and new album is titled Who Will You Believe. Here’s the gorgeous I Don’t Need That Anymore featuring singer-songwriter Neko Case on vocals. She’s also a member of Canadian indie rock group The New Pornographers.

Dustin Kensrue/High Scalers

Singer-songwriter Dustin Kensrue is best known as lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist of California post-hardcore group Thrice who he co-founded in 1998. After releasing three albums with Thrice, Kensrue began working on solo acoustic material and eventually released Please Come Home in January 2007, the first album under his name. The country-tinged High Scalers is from Desert Dreaming, Kensrue’s new solo album. I really dig the pedal steel on this song, which gives it a beautiful, warm sound.

The Black Keys/This Is Nowhere

Wrapping up this review are The Black Keys. The rock duo formed in Akron, Ohio by high school friends Dan Auerbach (lead vocals, guitar, bass guitar, keyboards) and Patrick Carney (drums, percussion) has been releasing music since 2002. A few years later, Auerbach also started recording, engineering and producing for other artists, which I recently covered here. After a 4-year hiatus, The Black Keys have put out new albums at a steady pace since 2019. Off their 12th and latest, Ohio Players, here’s the opener This Is Nowhere. The pop-flavored song with a garage vibe was co-written by Auerbach, Carney and Beck who also provides backing vocals.

Sources: Wikipedia; AllMusic; Cuffed Up website; Dana Gavanski Bandcamp page; YouTube; Spotify

The Wizards of Vision and Sound

Dan Auerbach first entered my radar screen in April 2020 when I reviewed southern guitarist Marcus King’s soulful debut album El Dorado, which was produced by Auerbach. At the time, I didn’t realize yet how prolific the now 44-year-old musician, singer-songwriter and producer is. Between two solo albums, his involvement in The Black Keys and various side projects, as well as his record engineering and production work, Auerbach has had his fingerprints on more than 90 albums to date! In this post, I’d like to primarily focus on his activity as a producer.

Dan Auerbach (born Daniel Quine Auerbach, May 14, 1979) was born in Ohio and grew up in a family who exposed him to a variety of music during his childhood. Reportedly, his first concert experience was a Whitney Houston show where his mother took him; his second a Grateful Dead concert, thanks to his dad who also got the boy hooked to the blues via his vinyl collection. Auerbach’s uncles liked bluegrass.

Dan Auerbach (left) and Patrick Carney ca. 2005

Around the age of 9, Auerbach started playing guitar. While attending high school in Akron, Ohio, he became friends with his future Black Keys partner and drummer Patrick Carney. The two had first met when there were 8 or 9 and lived in the same neighborhood. In 1986, they began jamming together. Eventually, this led to the formation of The Black Keys after both had dropped out of college.

During college, Auerbach was heavily influenced by blues guitarist Junior Kimbrough, leading him to drop out, so he could focus on his guitar-playing. Other major influences include the likes of Robert Johnson, R.L. Burnside and Hound Dog Taylor, as well as artists outside the blues, such as bluegrass and country singer Clarence White and rapper RZA.

The Black Keys released their debut album The Big Come Up in 2002, but it wasn’t until 2004 and their third album Rubber Factory that they were started to get noticed. A couple of years later, Auerbach began recording, engineering and producing for other artists, using downtime from The Black Keys. He also opened his own recording studio in Akron.

By the time The Black Keys hit their commercial breakthrough in 2010 with their sixth album Brothers, Auerbach had already worked on more than 15 albums for other artists. Some of his projects during this period included garage punk band SSM, blues rock musician Patrick Sweany and garage rock revival band The Ettes. In 2009, Auerbach also launched The Fast Five, a side project with Carney and members from the bands Hacienda and My Morning Jacket. Somehow, Auerbach also managed to release his debut album Keep It Hid in February 2009!

Dan Auerbach (second from left) with The Arcs in 2015

After Auerbach moved to Nashville in 2010, he established Easy Eye Sound studio there. In 2015, he launched garage rock band The Arcs, another side project. They released their debut album Yours, Dreamily in September of the same year. And, he also co-produced it, together with band member and multi-instrumentalist Leon Michels. Two years later, Auerbach founded his own label in Nashville, naming it after his recording studio. The first album that appeared on Easy Eye Sound was Auerbach’s second solo effort, Waiting On a Song, in June 2017.

This may be hard to believe. I’m in the eighth paragraph of this post, and I feel I’ve only provided a topline summary of Auerbach’s extensive bio. I wonder whether he ever sleeps or takes any other breaks! Let’s take a closer look at some of his work as a producer.

Black Diamond Heavies, a blues rock band from Nashville, turned to Auerbach for their sophomore album A Touch of Someone Else’s Class, released in June 2008. It was recorded at his studio in Akron, and he also served as producer. Here’s Bidin’ My Time featuring Auerbach’s Black Keys partner Patrick Carney on drums.

In April 2012, New Orleans R&B artist Dr. John released Locked Down, a well received studio album produced by Auerbach, which won the 2013 Grammy Award for Best Blues Album. It was mixed by him and recorded at Easy Eye Sound studio. Auerbach also co-wrote the songs and played guitar. Here’s Getaway.

In May 2014, outlaw country singer-songwriter Nikki Lane released her sophomore album All or Nothin’. It was recorded at Easy Eye Sound and produced by Auerbach who also co-wrote five of the 12 tracks, and shared vocals with Lane on one of them. “Working with Dan and his professionalism on top of his creative capabilities is so great,” Lane told Billboard in July 2014. “To watch him bring together such a wide variety of artists – legends like Kenny Vaughan, who is such a guitar bad ass, and Russ Pahl [pedal steel guitar – CMM]. Just watching him work with all those people, is such an inspirational experience.” Here’s the opener Right Time.

In 2016, Auerbach worked with Chrissie Hynde on what became the 10th studio album by Pretenders. At that time, the English-American rock group had become a project of Hynde with her as the sole member. Appropriately titled Alone, the album was recorded at Easy Eye Sound and produced by Auerbach. The session musicians, among others, included Arcs members Leon Michels (keyboards) and Richard Swift (drums). Auerbach also co-wrote two songs and provided guitar, keyboards and backing vocals. Hynde was very complimentary about Auerbach, telling the Akron Beacon Journal, “He’s very involved and dedicated to it, and he has just stellar ideas and his instincts are good.” Here’s the title track.

Next I’d like to turn to British singer-songwriter Yola, who blends vintage country, soul and R&B with contemporary pop, and her compelling debut album Walk Through Fire, which I reviewed here. It was recorded at Easy Eye Sound, produced by Auerbach and released on his label (with distribution by Nonsuch Records). He was also involved in the writing of most songs and assembled an impressive cast of session musicians and guests. The latter included Vince Gill and Molly Tuttle who contributed vocals. Here’s the tasty Love All Night (Work All Day).

I’d like to wrap it up with Black Bayou, the fourth full-length album by blues and soul singer-songwriter and guitarist Robert Finley, released in October 2023 on Auerbach’s label and produced by him. Finley and Auerbach had first met in 2017 when they worked together and released an original soundtrack for the graphic novel Murder Ballads. Auerbach had also produced Finley’s two albums that preceded Black Bayou. Once again, Auerbach played a key role in the songwriting on Finley’s latest album, which was well received by critics. Let’s listen to What Goes Around (Comes Around).

To date, Easy Eye Sound has released more than 20 albums that have received 16 Grammy nominations, according to a short profile on the website of Concord Records, which entered into a joint venture with Auerbach’s label in 2021. The profile also quotes Auerbach: “Because I’ve lived many aspects of a musician’s life, I have a unique connection to my artists, and I channel that into this label and studio to record and share with musicians that inspire me. I look for honest and overlooked voices and stories and try to shine some light on them.”

Well, Auerbach certainly has a long and impressive track record, especially when considering he’s only 44 years! Following is a Spotify playlist that features the above songs and others produced by Auerbach except for music he produced for himself, The Black Keys or any of his side projects.

Sources: Wikipedia; AllMusic; Billboard; Akron Beacon Journal; Concord Records website; YouTube; Spotify

New Music Musings

Happy Saturday and welcome to my weekly new music review. All picks are from new albums that were released yesterday (February 2) except for the two final songs, which appeared as singles on February 1.

Britti/Lullaby

Kicking us off today is New Orleans-based singer-songwriter Britti (nee Brittany Guerin). Her Bandcamp profile lists Diana Ross, Beyoncé, Dolly Parton and Sade as influences. According to a press release, she grew up surrounded by classic soul and R&B, blues, zydeco and other music. Her uncle, jazz bassist Roland Guerin, took her to his gigs with Allen Toussaint, Dr. John and others. It all rubbed off. Lullaby, co-written by Britti, Dan Auerbach and Roger Cook, is from her debut album Hello, I’m Britti. Britti “grew up in the most musical environment in the world,” stated Auerbach who also produced the album. “It’s in her DNA.” He wasn’t kidding – Britti’s vocals drew me in right away!

Rick Rude/P2PU

Rick Rude are a New Hampshire-based rock band who have been around for 10 years. Their current line-up includes Ben Troy (guitar, vocals), Chris Kennedy (guitar, vocals), Jordan Holz (bass, vocals) and Ryan Harrison (drums). The group’s third and latest album is titled Laverne. On their Bandcamp page, they characterize it as “an effort in energy” that has “a thicker guitar punch than the quartet’s first three releases.” Here’s P2Pu, a song with an interesting guitar riff and sound that caught my attention.

Joe Wong/Waiting

Joe Wong is a Los Angeles-based composer, musician, producer and podcast host. Wong picked up several instruments during his childhood and already began touring and recording with punk and indie bands at age 14. Later, he worked as a drummer, first primarily with jazz, Latin and African artists, and later with rock acts. In 2020, Wong released his solo debut Nite Creatures, a psychedelic, orchestral album. He has also composed various film scores and is the host and co-producer of a podcast/radio show. Off his sophomore album Mere Survival, here’s the great Waiting. I’m not always into heavy orchestration but think in this case it works very well.

The Paranoid Style/Last Night in Chickentown

Washington, D.C.-based garage rock and punk pop band The Paranoid Style have been around since 2012. Led by husband-and-wife duo of Elizabeth Nelson and Timothy Bracy, their name is based on a 1964 essay by American historian Richard Hofstadter, titled The Paranoid Style in American Politics – and, yes, I doublechecked, this came out in 1964! The group released their debut EP The Power of Our Proven System in 2013. Last Night in Chickentown, written by Nelson, is a song off The Paranoid Style’s new album The Interrogator, which looks like their fourth full-length studio release – this rocks!

Studio D’Lux/Silence Is Louder

Studio D’Lux is a music recording project launched in 2021 by keyboarder and vocalist Doug Kistner. The New Jersey musician has performed with the likes of Trans-Siberian Orchestra, John Waite and Blood, Sweat & Tears. Currently, he plays with ’60s and ’70s classic rock and soul cover band Summer of Love, led by ex-Styx member Glen Burtnik, as well as The Lords of 52nd Street, a rock group primarily comprised of members of Billy Joel’s backing band from 1976-1981. Studio D’Lux’s new single Silence Is Louder, written and produced by Kistner, also features drummer Liberty Devitto (formerly of Joel’s backing band), guitarist Jon Herington (Steely Dan), Burtnik (vocals), vocalist Reagan Richards (Williams Honor), bassist Malcolm Gold (India.Arie, Sheryl Crow) and Tom Timko on woodwinds (Gloria Estefan, Tower of Power), according to a press release I received – quite an impressive line-up. Best of all, blending elements of classic and yacht rock, the song was instant love!

Billy Joel/Turn the Lights Back On

Wrapping up this week’s new music review is Billy Joel – funny coincidence, given the previous song. The piano man from Long Island, New York, who I trust needs no introduction, is out with Turn the Lights Back On, his first new single in 17 years. A statement on Joel’s website notes the song was co-written by Freddy Wexler, Arthur Bacon and Joel and produced by Wexler. The last song written by Joel, which was released as a single in December 2007, was Christmas in Fallujah performed by then-20-year-old Cass Dillon, another songwriter from Long Island. What’s most stunning to me about Turn the Lights Back On is that the song feels as if time had stood still, both musically and vocally. It’s classic Billy Joel and could have come out 30 or 40 years ago! Is this a one-off? That would be my assumption, but I guess we’ll find out!

Sources: Wikipedia; Britti Bandcamp page; Shore Fire Media press release; Rick Rude Bandcamp page; Joe Wong website; Mixtape Media press release; Billy Joel website; YouTube; Spotify

Best of What’s New

Happy Saturday and welcome to my latest new music revue. Lately, I feel like I’m starting to sound like a broken record. Once again, I found more releases than I can possibly cover – not sure whether this reflects an increased volume of new music, my evolving taste, or a combination of both. All featured tunes are on releases that came out yesterday (June 23).

Ayron Jones/Blood in the Water

My first pick is Ayron Jones, a guitarist and singer-songwriter from Seattle I first featured in a May 2021 Best of What’s New installment. Jones has been active since the age of 19 when he started performing at local bars. In 2010, he formed Ayron Jones and the Way, a trio influenced by the likes of Cream, Jimi Hendrix Experience, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble, and Prince and the Revolution. Their debut album Dream appeared in October 2013. Later Jones was signed as a solo artist and has since released two albums under his name, including his latest, Chronicles of the Kid. Here’s the cool-sounding Blood in the Water, credited to Jones, Blair Daly, Marti Frederiksen, Scott Stevens and Zac Maloy.

Corvair/Shady Town

Portland, Ore.-based Corvair are an indie rock duo and married couple of Brian Naubert and Heather Larimer. According to their website, between the two, they have played in various bands and can be heard on more than 20 albums. They started Corvair in 2019 and have released two albums to date. The new one is titled Bound to Be, which their website characterizes as veering “from muscular rock songs to languid pop confessionals, from stunning atmospherics to raw intimacy, held together by sharp lyrics and potent imagery.” Based on what I’ve heard thus far, I like their music. Here’s the opener Shady Town, which first appeared as the second single on May 19.

Emily James/New Name to Heartbreak

Emily James is a Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter. From her website: Singer-songwriter Emily James began writing her own music when she was 10 years old, inspired by such musical influences as Bob Dylan, Fleetwood Mac, and Adele. At 16, James moved from New York to Nashville and, a year later, released her self-written EP, Emily James, produced by Grammy award winners Ian Fitchuk (Kacey Musgraves) and Jacquire King (Kings of Leon). She relocated to Los Angeles in 2017 and, soon after, put out her project, Til the Morning, written by James and produced by Ryan Hadlock (The Lumineers, Vance Joy). Off her new release, her third EP called Grey, here’s New Name to Heartbreak, a lovely-sounding ballad about a less-than-cheerful topic.

Pecos & The Rooftops/Bricks

While Pecos & the Rooftops have a website, unfortunately, it doesn’t include any background. According to a recent review by The Music Universe, this Lubbock, Texas-based country rock band was formed in 2019 by college friends and includes frontman Pecos Hurley, Zack Foster (lead guitar), Brandon Jones (rhythm guitar), Hunter Cassell (guitars & keyboards), Kalen Davis (bass) and Garrett Peltier (drums). Their self-released debut single This Damn Song appeared in April 2019. The group’s first EP, Red Eye, came out in January 2020. The latest release is their self-titled full-length debut album. Here’s Bricks, co-written by Hurley, M. Wallace, producer Andrew Baylis and frequent collaborator Michael Whitworth.

Nat Myers/Pray For Rain

Nat Myers is a Korean-American blues poet, according to his website. When he was a child, his mother gave him a guitar, trying to keep him away from his rowdy friends. While Myers developed “a deft picking style,” he didn’t intend to become a musician and was much more interested in poets like Shakespeare and Homer. He ended up studying poetry in New York City while playing music on the side in the subway and on street corners. After COVID had put an end to his public performances, Myers began uploading videos to social media. Eventually, these clips caught the attention of Black Keys frontman and record producer Dan Auerbach who produced Myers’ new debut album Yellow Peril. Let’s listen to Pray For Rain. I love everything about this story and the tune!

Trophy Eyes/Life in Slow Motion

Wrapping up this post are Australian pop punk rock band Trophy Eyes. Formed in 2013, they currently consist of co-founders John Floreani (lead vocals) and Jeremy Winchester (bass, saxophone backing vocals), along with Josh Campiao (lead guitar) and Blake Caruso (drums). Since their November 2014 full-length debut Mend, Move On, Trophy Eyes have released three additional albums including their latest, Suicide and Sunshine. Off the latter, here’s Life in Slow Motion. The song is credited to the group’s former and recently departed lead guitarist Andrew Hallett, Caruso, Winchester and Floreani, as well as producers Fletcher Matthews and Shane Edwards. It’s an edgy, yet quite catchy song!

Last but not least here’s a Spotify playlist of the above and a few additional tunes.

Sources: Wikipedia; Corvair website; Emily James website; The Music Universe; Nat Myers website; YouTube; Spotify

Best of What’s New

Happy Saturday and welcome to another Best of What’s New installment. All picks are from albums that came out yesterday. Without further ado, let’s get to it!

Kolby Cooper/Woke Up Hungover

Kicking us off today is Kolby Cooper, a young country singer-songwriter from East Texas. Here’s more from his Apple Music profile: Possessing a honeyed twang and an enduring affection for the smoother sounds of ’90s country, Kolby Cooper wasn’t as gritty as some of his peers on the Red Dirt circuit of the Southwest during the last days of the 2010s...Kolby Cooper started playing guitar at the age of 12, inspired equally by classic country and ’90s alt rock. His adolescence turned out to be tumultuous. His father died of cancer when Cooper was 14 and shortly afterward, he started writing songs, eventually finding his way to local talent competitions. When he was 18, Cooper became a father and husband in short order. Initially, he planned to attend nursing school but he decided to give the music business a shot. His 2017 debut single Every Single Kiss was followed by an EP, Vol. 1, in February 2018, and Cooper’s first full-length album Good Ones Never Last in 2019. Woke Up Hungover is a tune from his second and latest album Boy From Anderson County To The Moon – country rock with a pleasant dose of pop!

Cass McCombs/Music Is Blue

Cass McCombs is an eclectic singer-songwriter hailing from California. After playing in numerous bands in the Bay Area and Pacific Northwest during the ’90s, McCombs launched a solo career in 2001 with his debut EP Not The Way E.P. Two years later, A, his first of now 10 studio albums appeared. McCombs’ music has blended elements of different genres, such as rock, folk, psychedelic and alt country. Music Is Blue is the opener of his new album Heartmind. As happens most of the time with artists I feature in Best of What’s New, I’m completely new to Cass McCombs, but I sure like what I’m hearing here!

Silversun Pickups/Stillness (Way Beyond)

Silversun Pickups are an indie rock band from Los Angles, formed in 2000. Five years later, they released their debut EP Pikul. Their debut album Carnavas made the U.S. Billboard 200, reaching no. 80, and peaked at no. 5 on the Independent Albums chart. It has since been certified Gold in the U.S. The group’s sophomore album Swoon peaked at an impressive no. 7 on the Billboard 200 and topped the Independent Albums chart. It also enjoyed success outside the U.S., especially in Australia and Canada where it climbed to no. 14 and no. 23, respectively. The group’s current line-up includes founding members Brian Aubert (lead vocals, guitar) and Nikki Monninger (bass, backing vocals), along with Joe Lester (keyboards, guitar) and Chris Guanlao (drums, percussion) who joined in 2002. This brings me to Stillness (Way Beyond), the first track of their sixth and latest studio album Physical Thrills. Like the other 13 songs on the album, it’s credited to all four members of the band. I like it – check it out!

Early James/Pigsty

My final pick for this week is new music by Early James (born Fredrick James Mullis Jr.), a singer-songwriter from Alabama. Shortly after he had received his first guitar as a Christmas present at the age of 15, he started writing his own songs. James Taylor and Johnny Cash were among his early influences. Here’s more from his AllMusic bio: Early James draws from a deep well of American roots music. Backed by upright bassist Adrian Marmolejo, James’ expressive voice and stripped-down blend of Southern blues, country, folk, and jazz evokes Jason Isbell by way of early Tom Waits and Harry Chapin. In 2019, James inked a deal with Black Keys’ Dan Auerbach’s Easy Eye Sound and headed into the studio to lay down tracks for a debut album. The deeply southern and luminous Singing for My Supper, which featured a full-band, was released in 2020. James is now out with his sophomore album Strange Time To Be Alive, and based on what I’ve heard thus far, it sounds mightily sweet. Here’s a sample: Pigsty.

Of course, this post wouldn’t be complete without a Spotify playlist that features the above and a few other tunes.

Sources: Wikipedia; Apple Music; AllMusic; YouTube; Spotify

Best of What’s New

Happy Saturday and welcome to another installment of Best of What’s New. While the first two tracks are included in releases that came out yesterday (July 15), the two remaining tunes are picks from upcoming albums. Let’s get to it.

Interpol/Renegade Hearts

Interpol are an American rock band from New York City, formed in 1997. Apple Music calls them a key player in the 2000s post-punk revival with a dark, atmospheric sound that’s influenced such successors as The Killers. Here’s a bit more from their profile: BBC Radio 1 host John Peel liked their demo and asked them to record a session for his show, leading to a deal with Matador Records. Interpol’s debut LP, 2002’s Turn On the Bright Lights, was named one of the top albums of the decade by Rolling Stone and Pitchfork. In 2004, the band had their first Top 20 US hit, “Slow Hands”…Their major-label debut, 2007’s Our Love to Admire, was their biggest chart success, debuting in the Top 5 in both the US and the UK. The band’s current lineup includes co-founders Paul Banks (lead vocals, rhythm guitar, bass) and Daniel Kessler (lead guitar, piano, keyboards, backing vocals), as well as Sam Fogarino (drums, percussion). Renegade Hearts, credited to all three members, is a track from Interpol’s seventh and new studio album The Other Side of Make-Believe.

Zach Bryan/Oklahoma Smoke Show

Zach Bryan is a talented red dirt country singer-songwriter I featured in previous Best of What’s New installments here and here. Red dirt is a music genre named after the color of soil found in Oklahoma, which includes elements of Americana, folk, alt-country and a few other genres. Soon after receiving his first guitar as a 14-year-old, Bryan learned how to play and started writing songs. Later he followed in the footsteps of his family and enlisted in the Navy. But he didn’t give up music, and during a break in Jacksonville, Fla., Bryan and his friends spontaneously decided to record some tunes that would become his 2019 debut album DeAnn. Two additional full-length studio albums have appeared since, including an ambitious 34-track triple album that just came out in May. Oklahoma Smoke Show is a song from Bryan’s latest release, Summertime Blues, an EP.

Marcus King/Blood On The Tracks

Marcus King is another great artist who I’m happy to say I covered on previous occasions here and here. From the 26-year-old’s website: GRAMMY® Award-nominated artist, performer, and songwriter Marcus King was downright destined to play music. By eight-years-old, the fourth generation Greenville, SC native performed alongside pops, grandpa, and his uncles for the first time. Logging thousands of miles on the road as “The Marcus King Band,” he established himself with unparalleled performance prowess and a dynamic live show. During 2020, he linked up with Dan Auerbach [The Black Keys] and cut his solo debut El Dorado, garnering a GRAMMY® Award nomination in the category of “Best Americana Album.” In between packing venues on his own, he performed alongside Chris Stapleton, Greta Van Fleet, and Nathanial Rateliff in addition to gracing the bills of Stagecoach and more with one seismic show after the next. Along the way, he caught the attention of Rick Rubin and signed to American Recordings. Here’s Blood On The Tracks from King’s second solo album Young Blood, scheduled for August 26. His debut on American Recordings will be produced by Auerbach, who also co-wrote the tune with King and Desmond Child. Love this song and really looking forward to the album!

Julian Lennon/Breathe

I’d like to wrap up this week’s new music revue with an artist I thought essentially had retired from music. After all, Julian Lennon has become involved in many other endeavors over the past 20-plus years, including photography, publishing children’s books and producing film documentaries. His 1984 debut album Valotte was great. While I selfishly loved that the title track could have been a John Lennon ballad, I think it was smart for Julian to subsequently record songs that sounded different from his father. After his 1991 single Saltwater, his last more significant chart success, he kind of fell off my radar screen. On September 9, Julian Lennon will be back with Jude, his first new album in 11 years. The title is a nod to the legendary song ‘Hey Jude,’ by The Beatles, written by Paul McCartney to comfort 5-year-old Julian following his parents’ separation, according to an announcement on Lennon’s website. “Many of these songs have been in the works for several years, so it almost feels like a coming-of-age album,” said Lennon. With great respect for the overwhelming significance of the song written for me, the title JUDE conveys the very real journey of my life that these tracks represent.” Here’s Breathe co-written by Lennon and Peter-John Vettese.

Last but not least, following is a Spotify playlist featuring the above and some additional tunes.

Sources: Wikipedia; Apple Music; Julian Lennon website; YouTube; Spotify

Best of What’s New

All tunes appear on albums that were released yesterday (May 13).

The Black Keys/Good Love

My first pick this week is new music by The Black Keys. While I had been aware of their name, I only started paying attention a year ago when the rock duo of high school friends Dan Auerbach (vocals, guitar) and Patrick Carney (drums) released their then-latest album Delta Kream. Now, they are back with Dropout Boogie, their 11th studio release. When they started work on the album in the summer of 2021, Auerbach and Carney first envisaged recording it as a duo but subsequently decided to collaborate with other artists. One includes Billy Gibbons, a longtime friend of the duo from Akron, Ohio. Here’s Good Love, co-written by Auerbach, Carney and Gibbons and featuring the ZZ Top guitarist. Like on predecessor Delta Kream, I dig the rawness of The Black Keys’ sound. Gibbons is a great match!

49 Winchester/All I Need

49 Winchester are a Russell County, Va.-based group who on their website describe their music as “tear-in-your-beer alt-country, sticky barroom floor rock-n-roll, and high-octane Appalachian folk.” Following is a bit more from their website: Formed eight years ago on Winchester Street in the small mountain town of Castlewood, Virginia (population: 2,045), the band started as a rag tag bunch of neighborhood teenagers who just wanted to get together for the sake of playing together. Aside from Gibson [Isaac Gibson, singer/guitarist – CMM], there’s also his childhood friend, bassist Chase Chafin, alongside other Castlewood cronies — guitarist Bus Shelton, and Noah Patrick on pedal steel. Here’s All I Need, a track from the group’s fourth and latest studio album Fortune Favors The Bold. The country rocker, credited to Blaine Gibson, reminds me a bit of Lynyrd Skynyrd. Good stuff!

State Champs/Here to Stay

Next up are Albany, N.Y.-based pop-punk band State Champs, who according to Apple Music are known for their vocal harmonies and layered guitar riffs. Here’s more from their Apple Music profile: The group’s first album, 2013’s The Finer Things, reached No. 2 on Billboard’s Heatseekers Albums chart. They won two Alternative Press Music Awards, including Best Breakthrough Band in 2016 and Music Video of the Year in 2017, for “Losing Myself.” Both 2015’s Around the World and Back and 2018’s Living Proof include two songs cowritten with All Time Low’s Alex Gaskarth. “Time Machine,” from 2018’s Living Proof, featured a guest vocal appearance from blink-182’s Mark Hoppus. This brings me to the group’s new album Kings of the New Age and the opener Here to Stay. Much of contemporary pop isn’t my cup of tea, but in this case, the combination with rock works for me.

Say Sue Me/Still Here

I’m pleased to wrap up this week’s music revue with indie rock from South Korea, Say Sue Me, the first time I feature a band from that country. From their website: Cited as one of 2018’s ‘break-out bands‘, Say Sue Me are a Surf Rock inspired indie band from Busan, South Korea. Members consist of Byungkyu Kim on lead guitar, Sumi Choi on vocals and rhythm guitar, Jaeyoung Kim on Bass and Sungwan Lim on Drums. Releasing their first album “We’ve Sobered Up” in 2014, and EP “Big Summer Night” in 2015, on Korean label Electric Muse, UK label Damnably Records released a self-titled compilation that paired their first record and EP in 2017, marking the band’s first release outside of Korea, which served as their introduction to International audiences. Fast forward five years to The Last Thing Left, which appears to be their third full-length album. Here’s Still Here written by Choi, a tune with a pleasant laidback sound. Also, check out her vocals – cool!

Last but not least, here’s a Spotify playlist featuring all of the above tracks and a few others.

Sources: Wikipedia; 49 Winchester website; Apple Music; Say Sue Me website; YouTube; Spotify

Best of What’s New

Another Saturday is upon us. Today, Best of What’s New is hitting a milestone of sorts with its 100th installment. Since the publication of the weekly feature’s inaugural post on March 21, 2020, I’ve covered more than 400 newly released songs. Discovering tunes I sufficiently like can be a challenge, given I’m primarily into the ’60s and ’70s. But I continue to be encouraged it’s still possible to find decent new music, as long as you are willing to look for it. Let’s get to this week’s picks, which all are on albums that were released yesterday (February 18).

Gregor Barnett/Driving Through the Night

I’d like to kick things off with new music from the debut solo album by Gregor Barnett. He is best known as a co-founder of Philadelphia-based punk band The Menzingers, which has been around since 2006. Here’s an excerpt from Barnett’s bio on the website of his label Epitaph Records: “It was this perfect storm,” says Menzingers guitarist/co-vocalist Gregor Barnett. “The band couldn’t tour, I was going through a really difficult time, and I was stuck at home watching my family struggle with illness and death and hardship. The only thing I could do was write my way through it.”And yet, despite all the turbulence surrounding its creation, there’s something deeply hopeful and reassuring about Don’t Go Throwing Roses In My Grave, Barnett’s debut release under his own name. Written and recorded in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the collection is a sonic departure from Barnett’s more punk-leaning work with The Menzingers, drawing on the gritty, off-kilter Americana of Tom Waits or Warren Zevon as it faces down loss and doubt in search of relief and redemption. Here’s Driving Through the Night, which like all other tracks on the album was penned by Barnett. I like his sound!

The Heavy Hours/Wasting All Our Time

The Heavy Hours are an alternative rock band from Cincinnati, Ohio. Here’s more from their website: On the heels of releasing their acclaimed Wildfire EP (2021) in the midst of a global pandemic, The Heavy Hours now return with Gardens, a full-length album that further exemplifies their distinctive strain of warm-hearted, open-armed alternative rock. The Cincinnati, Ohio-based quartet recorded Gardens several years ago, long before the group had management, an agent or a record label in their corner. With money they had collectively saved up, each of the members took a week off of work and set out to record a pocket full of songs at Montrose Recording located on remote farmland in Richmond, Virginia with producer Adrian Olsen (Nate Smith, Foxygen, Futurebirds). Somehow these early studio recordings found their way into the hands of multi GRAMMY award-winning producer/songwriter and Black Keys frontman Dan Auerbach who immediately took a shine to the band and in turn led to organizing a writing session in Nashville, TN, which crafted tracks released on the Wildfire EP. This brings me to Gardens, which according to this mini-documentary was recorded in 2018. Here’s Wasting All Our Time, credited to all four members of the band: Andrew Yorio, Michael Marcagi, Jonathan Todd Moon and Ian Malott. I’m glad The Heavy Hours were finally able to release this great music.

Sarah Shook & the Disarmers/Been Lovin’ You Too Long

Sarah Shook & the Disarmers are a band around country singer-songwriter Sarah Shook. According to her Apple Music profile, Shook was born in Rochester, New York in 1985. She was raised in a deeply religious household, home schooled, and only allowed to listen to classical or Christian praise music as she grew up. Despite these restrictions, Shook taught herself to play guitar in high school and began writing songs…In 2010, she put together her first band, Sarah Shook & the Devil, who issued an EP in 2013, Seven. By the end of 2013, that band had split, and Shook & the Devil guitarist Eric Peterson started over with the group Sarah Shook & the Dirty Hand, a stopgap project that played live around the Chapel Hill area. Meanwhile, Shook had found a fan in producer and engineer Ian Schreier, who was eager to make a record with her. In 2015, she and Peterson assembled a new band to record with Schreier, which also included Aaron Olivia on bass, Phil Sullivan on pedal steel, and John Howie, Jr. (who is also Shook’s partner) on drums. The new combo, dubbed the Disarmers, cut their debut album live in the studio with Schreier at the controls. Sidelong was self-released in late 2015. Fast-forward about six years and two months to Nightroamer, the third album by Sarah Shook & the Disarmers. All tunes on the record were written by Shook. Here’s Been Lovin’ You Too Long.

Goodbye June/Breathe and Attack

My last pick for this week is by Goodbye June, a rock band from Nashville, Tenn., formed in 2005. I first featured them in a Best of What’s New installment in December 2021. The group consists of Landon Milbourn (lead vocals), Brandon Qualkenbush (rhythm guitar, bass, backing vocals) and Tyler Baker (lead guitar), who are all cousins. Apple Music describes them as a hard rock band who blend a rootsy sound with big guitars and plenty of strutting style. Their debut album Nor the Wild Music Flow came out in 2012. Breathe and Attack is from their fourth and latest studio album See Where the Night Goes. I said it before, I’ll say it again: This band reminds me of AC/DC. Milbourn has some of that Bon Scott swagger, and their guitar-playing stylistically is pretty similar to the rock & roll band from down under. Check it out!

Before I wrap up, here’s a playlist of the above tunes. As usual, I threw in a few others by the featured bands.

Sources: Wikipedia; Epitaph Records website; The Heavy Hours website; Apple Music; YouTube; Spotify

What I’ve Been Listening to: The Marcus King Band/Carolina Confessions

I first came across Marcus King in March 2020 when working on a post about the multinational music project Playing for Change and was immediately impressed. Taking a subsequent look at his solo debut album El Dorado in April that year confirmed my initial positive impression of the then-24-year-old guitarist and singer-songwriter from Greenville, S.C. And just last Friday, I was reminded of King who plays on a tune from John Mayall’s upcoming new album, which I included in my Best of What’s New installment that day. So I decided to explore more of his music.

According to King’s website, Marcus started learning guitar at age three or four. He has played professionally since he was 11 and always knew he wanted to make music his life. A fourth-generation musician, Marcus has followed in his family’s footsteps. His grandfather was a country guitarist, and his father continues to perform live. [His father is Marvin King, a well-known blues guitarist in South Carolina – CMM]

The Marcus King Band founded in Greenville, South Carolina in 2013, is his tight knit group. Drummer Jack Ryan, bass player Stephen Campbell, trumpeter/trombonist Justin Johnson, sax/steel guitarist Dean Mitchell along with Marcus—bring an irreplaceable combination of commitment, craft and soul to their work and are one of the hardest working bands today.

In 2015, The Marcus King Band released their debut album Soul Insight, which reached an impressive no. 8 on the Billboard Blues Albums chart. King was only 19 years at the time! Their eponymous sophomore release from 2016 did even better, climbing all the way to no. 2 on the blues chart. Carolina Confessions is the band’s third full-length LP that came in August 2018. Let’s take a closer look! Unless noted otherwise, all tunes were written by King.

Here’s the opener Where I’m Headed. All it takes is to listen to the first few bars to make two observations: The music is warm and rich, and King’s vocals sound very soulful – not what you’d expect from a then-22-year-old! The horns further boost the music’s soul vibe. This is so good!

Homesick is a great bluesy and funky tune. Again, the horns give this track a soulful vibe. Here’s a neat lyric video, in which you can see King and the band in action. He looks so young, and yet he sounds so mature!

Here’s How Long, another funky tune. It’s the only track that included other writers: Dan Auerbach, who produced King’s solo debut album, and Pat McLaughlin, a Nashville, Tenn.-based singer-songwriter whose tunes have been recorded by Bonnie Raitt, Taj Mahal and Al Kooper, among others.

Let’s do one more: Confessions, a slow-burning, blues-oriented rocker. I don’t mean to sound stereotypical here, but I just find it mind-boggling how a white artist in his early 20s can channel so much soulfulness in his singing. I mean, holy cow, check this out!

Carolina Confessions was recorded at the renowned RCA Studio A in Nashville, originally known as RCA Victor Nashville Sound Studios. The Beach Boys, B.B. King, Loretta Lynn and Leon Russell are among the many artists who have recorded at the storied studio.

https://open.spotify.com/album/6RVN0MPUbYBiYm2Otf6Li2?si=pyYqtK61TRSHFJyFpZcz3w

The album was produced and mixed by Dave Cobb who has worked with the likes of Rival Sons, The Highway Women, Chris Stapleton, Jason Isbell and John Prine. Like its predecessor, Carolina Confessions climbed to no. 2 on the Billboard Blues Albums chart. It also reached no. 2 on the Heatseekers Albums. I feel Marcus King has a bright future and look forward to hearing more music from this talented young artist.

Sources: Wikipedia; Marcus King Band website; YouTube; Spotify