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
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