Dylan Cover #400 Elvis Presley "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right"

In this ongoing Monday Series we will be exploring various artists versions of Bob Dylan song's. Today's tune comes from Elvis Presley covering "Don't Think Twice, It's Alright"

Thought's on Original:
From the first time we reviewed a cover of this tune:
This song is so iconic and flat out awesome, even people who dislike Dylan have to enjoy this tune right? Biting and yet not bitter, a toss off of the grandest proportions, "Don' Think Twice, It's All Right" is epic and yet so straight forwardly simple. It easily ranks as one of the bard's best works, truly a classic and has been covered by so many people in so many ways.
Cover:

Thoughts on Cover Artist:
RtBE will get to Elvis later this week, but what did Bob Dylan think of him? "The highlight of my career? That's easy, Elvis recording one of my songs."
Thoughts on Cover:
This is a fun studio jam as the band feels out the track and gets loose.  Elvis voice gets loose as well especially in the beginning as he rumbles gets low and sings with gusto. A very cool take, which wasn't meant for critical ears, just fun run through.

With 100 in this series RtBE focused on an all time legend, same for 200, 300 was Emmylou Harris and now back to Elvis for 400. Just wanted to take a minute here to send out a hearty thanks for reading this Monday series and the site in general. 

Happy 25th Anniversary Tom Petty's Wildflowers

One of our personal favorites, Tom Petty's Wildflowers album turns 25 today.

Back in 2014 when it turned 20 we gave our thoughts on the record, so we won't rehash those, instead let's just enjoy some really cool songs from what we feel was the high point of Petty's career. 

He is missed but will always live on with amazing tunes like these:




 

Full Show Friday: Carl Perkins 9/9/85 Capital Theater Passaic, NJ

We search the murky back waters of youtube to find full concerts and post them to the site weekly, come back every seven days to help us celebrate Full Show Friday's. These shows are of varying quality and may not be here for long so enjoy them while you can...As always, please support the artist every which way, but especially by seeing them live (if they are still playing)...This week...Carl Perkins!

For November The Masters showcases the greats of early Rock and Roll

The King of Rockabilly Carl Perkins is the focus of this weeks Full Show Friday. Perkins was part of the million dollar quartet and a force at the birth of rock and roll. He deserves to kick off our spotlight on the masters of that era.

This show comes from a little later in his life, 1985 to be exact, and features a host of guest stars including two Beatles and Slowhand. The English guys loved Perkins with Paul McCartney famously saying, "if there was no Carl Perkins there would be no Beatles".  They pay back their idol here and Perkins himself proves that he was still going strong in 1985. Also of particular note is a young Rosanne Cash killing it mid set, a hell of lineup.

Pro Shot, Pro Sound, Set list and info below. Enjoy:


Carl Perkins - Full Concert Recorded Live: 9/9/1985 - Capitol Theatre (Passaic, NJ) More Carl Perkins at Music Vault: http://www.musicvault.com Subscribe to Music Vault: http://goo.gl/DUzpUF

Setlist: 0:00:00 - Boppin' The Blues w/ Dave Edmunds & Lee Rocker 0:03:06 - Put Your Cat Clothes On w/ Dave Edmunds & Lee Rocker 0:05:18 - Honey Don't w/ Ringo Starr 0:08:30 - Matchbox w/ Eric Clapton & Ringo Starr 0:11:44 - Mean Woman Blues w/ Eric Clapton 0:15:00 - Turn Around 0:18:02 - Jackson w/ Rosanne Cash 0:21:19 - What Kind Of Girl w/ Rosanne Cash 0:23:31 - Everybody's Trying To Be My Baby w/ George Harrison 0:26:04 - Your True Love w/ George Harrison 0:29:10 - The World Is Waiting For The Sunrise w/ George Harrison 0:30:49 - Medley w/ Eric Clapton, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Rosanne Cash, Dave Edmunds, Lee Rocker 0:38:17 - Gone, Gone, Gone w/ Eric Clapton, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Rosanne Cash, Dave Edmunds, Lee Rocker
0:40:57 - Blue Suede Shoes w/ Eric Clapton, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Rosanne Cash, Dave Edmunds, Lee Rocker

Album Review: High On Fire - Bat Salad

High on Fire

Bat Salad

**and1/2 out of *****

This past Record Store Day the Grammy award winning metal band High on Fire released this brief EP, titled Bat Salad. The groups recent efforts have been the strongest in their career with their previous release, the powerful full length Electric Messiah appearing on a few year end lists (including RtBE's).

This three song quickie is a cool stop gap from the band as they begin the EP with the original title track instrumental. The band grooves and slams around with distortion but it is drummer Des Kensel who leads the way, even getting a funky outro which is fitting as he recently announced his departure from the band.

With their future a bit up in the air the band dives into a two covers to wrap up the EP. First comes their take on Celtic Frost's "Into The Crypts of Rays" it is a fairly straight ahead pounding take on the metal track as the band propels forward with fury and thundering low end bass from Jeff Matz around Mike Pike's guttural vocals and riffs.

The trio close with their spin on the Bad Brains hardcore banger"Don't Bother Me". While the originals rawness and H.R.'s unique lyrics are their own breed, High on Fire do a much more metal-fied, double kick drum fueled version as Pike adjusts his vocals to get a bit clearer in delivery.

A fun, brief release from one of the best metal bands out there who will have to regroup with Kensel's departure. Here's hoping they come back stronger than ever and Bat Salad just sounds like something which should be served up on Halloween....
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Support the band, buy the album, stream it below or on bandcamp and peep some video:

Celebrating the Halloween Spirit Through Songs

A few years ago, one of the best blogs out there, WFMU's Rock and Soul Ichiban put together a great collection of Halloween inspired tunes and playlists.

They have crafted one dealing with ghosts which you can directly download. Another that tackles vampires and you can grab that one directly as well. Now there is also Weird-O-Matic streaming and a you can also drink a spooky cup o' Alligator Wine!

All of these are fantastic and as always Ichiban gives us old songs that are brand new to RtBE and all are also flat out awesome!

I mean how could we have missed The Bar-Kay's "Holy Ghost" for all of these years?

Damn that is some funky stuff. WFMU Rock and Soul Ichiban always delivers the goods, but in 2014 they got some help from their friends over at Fringe Factory who offered up a Halloween themed show themselves right here.

Here are a few songs that jumped out to us from these shows/free downloads and of course it wouldn't be Halloween without Elvira. She closes out our Halloween focus with her Third Man Records release "2 Big Pumpkins" written by the B-52's Fred Schneider:
The Pastel Six: "The Strange Ghost"

The Primates "The Creep"

The Upsetters "The Vampire"

Virgil Holmes "Ghost Train"

Elvira "2 Big Pumpkins":

Album Review: Hyemen & Metalfunkel - Coasters

Hyemen & Metalfunkel 

Coasters

***and1/2 out of *****

Have you ever asked yourself the following: What if Simon and Garfunkel reunited and decided to only do covers of 70's and 80's metal tunes? If you have, then do I have an album for you! Coasters by Hyemen & Metalfunkel puts that premise to the test and surprisingly the end result passes with flying colors; who knew Ronnie James Dio would hold up under soft textured examination?

Apparently Sean Ferguson and Andy Wagstaff knew, as the duo behind the project they tackle some of the better known metal efforts from the era with nuanced acoustic playing and gorgeous harmonies. Dio's best known track "Holy Diver" twinkles along before light drums enter as Wagstaff and Ferguson support each other vocally, jumping on the tiger before a flamenco inspired solo. All of the tracks are expertly textured, and lovingly played.

"Th Trooper" by Iron Maiden is a studious display, lending itself amazingly well to this folk-metal interpretation (with added cello Isabel Castellvi) while the dour take on Motley Crue's "Looks That Kill" it is nowhere near as fun as  Ozzy Osborne's  "Crazy Train" or the country shuffling of Motorheads "Ace of Spades" in this rollicking format.

Even better efforts are White Snake's "Here I Go Again" whose upbeat drums from Paul Greenhaw add a spritely sense of adventure while Judas Priests "Breaking The Law" in this arrangement could be mistaken for a 100 year old folk song written for serfs rebelling against vassals. All are solid but the track that stood out most to these ears is the dynamic record closing "Peace Sells". The technical playing, lyrics and extra backing harmonies added by Abigael Upton Brown really feel as if this is a perfectly crafted folk protest song rather than a chugging metal anthem from Megadeth.     

The production from Ferguson and rich vinyl sound add to the overall feeling of retro success as if this was a relic of a different era, and in some cases it is. Folk fans, metal heads, all are welcome to put on a black turtleneck and snap your fingers and bang your beret to these heavy metal yet coffee house friendly classics. Coasters is worth a listen because beyond the laugh appeal, the playing, singing and production all add new dimensions to old warhorses.
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Support the band, buy the album on bandcamp and peep some streaming songs below:

Live Review - Misfits, Rancid, The Damned @ MSG, NY, NY

Misfits, Rancid, The Damned 

Live 10/19/19 

Madison Square Garden, NY, NY

All reviews here are taken seriously, this show was just a pure blast of fun drunken energy that RtBE literally took zero notes.  If you are looking for a good review check out some other places. 

Last year The Original Misfits surprising return to their home state of New Jersey was RtBEs pick for Best Show of the Year and they may just win that title back to back as Saturday Night at MSG on October 19th was one for the ages. It was also a sloppy mess on our end as we caught the last song of The Damned, all of Rancid's great set and the cyclone of singalongs which were the Misfits. 

They are amazing...go see them...blah blah blah. But since we were in party mode, how about some booze puns on Misfits song titles for a review instead of a rehash? Get a beer, put on Among the Living and most importantly feel free to add your own in the comments....

Drunk Came Rippin'
Where Eagles Drink
I Turned Into a Martini
We Are 138 (Beers Deep)
20 IPA's
Some Kinda Hefeweizen ... or
Southern Comfort Kinda Hate
Return of the Rye
High-Life Moments
Highball Hotel
London Drygin
Teenagers in Bars
Die, Die My Yuengling
Theme for a Jager
All Hell Grey Goose
Vodka World
Lager Caress

Thanks to my show and bad booze pun partner Billy for joining on this raucous night of mayhem. 

  

Album Review: Exhorder - Mourn the Southern Skies

Exhorder

Mourn the Southern Skies

*** out of *****

One of the originators of  groove metal Exhorder have returned with their first studio album in over twenty seven years.  While it has been an obscenely long absence the band still plays with burning aggression and bone slamming power.

Only two original members remain in the current lineup as lead singer Kyle Thomas and lead Guitarist (and album producer) Vinny LaBella anchor things as guitarist Marzi Montazeri (Superjoint Ritual and Philip H. Anselmo & The Illegals), bassist Jason Viebrooks (Heathen, Grip Inc.), and drummer Sasha Horn (Forbidden) join up for this go around.

Staring with the perhaps the hardest quit your job song ever recorded "My Time" ups the thrash metal ante and lets every listener know that Exhorder has still got it. "Asunder" deals with family love/hate while the most main stream metal "Hallowed Sound" speaks to Southern reliance. Thomas' vocal style is clean and direct, unlike others in this field and his lyrics play with poetic images and interesting phrasing (how many metal lyricists incorporate Laissez-faire and vestiges in back to back lines?) while keeping the fuck you's and screams of aggression.

"Rumination" reminds of what the band does best while "The Arms of Man" stirs the sludge as the hyperactive "Ripping Flesh" and "Beware of the Wolf" kick up the dust and din with galloping drums and thrash metal goodness.

"Yesterday's Bones" mixes things up by stretching out, starting with chugging groove metal guitars before melodic solos and a full on theatrical ending complete with swelling organs and acoustic strings. Along with the extended closing title track which toys with mixing up levels of power and aggression, the group is expanding its sound while remaining true to their roots.

While no song jumps out as must hear, Mourn The Southern Skies is a unexpected comeback but a damn good one as the band who helped start a genre and never really found success now seems poised to the reap some late career benefits.
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Support the band, buy the record and peep some video below:

Album Review: Tomb Mold - Planetary Clairvoyance

Tomb Mold

Planetary Clairvoyance

*** out of *****

Tomb Mold hail from the cold North of Toronto, but their heavy as hell tunes and cosmic excursions suggest even further out locales for their landing points in the cosmic realm of heavy metal.  The quartets most recent album is Planetary Clairvoyance and it plays in many metallic sub genres as it slams its way through your cranium.  

The quartet,  Max Klebanoff Drums, Vocals,  Steve Musgrave Bass, Payson Power and Derrick Vella Guitars, slam and motor but also use intricate passages and shifts in tone to keep the ear off balanced and engaged. Opener "beg For Life" has the most obvious example of this as midway through the tune there is an acoustic break with classical guitar amidst the heavy riffs crunching low end which leads to soaring solos and riffs to close; it is an exhilarating display of metal prowess. 

If you are listening to a band named Tomb Mold, you probably already have some idea what these vocals sound like, but Klebanoff goes one step deeper and beyond. Their lyrics incorporate outer space, aliens and possibly the financial situation of modern day Bombay, but listeners will never be able to understand any of it. 

There is no doubt that metal fans are used to this, but the vocal style completely limits the groups appeal and acts a one trick pony, without adding lyrical content to the mix, a shame because this playing is top notch. 

    

"Planetary Clairvoyance (They Grow Inside Pt 2)" uses double kick drum and mixes punk with metal as soaring guitars slam into each other and soar. Both "Infinite Resurrection" and "Accelerative Phenomenae" frantically travel up and down the fret-board with screeching riffs, hyper active drummer and thundering finales while "Phosphorene Ultimate" is a bizarre spoken word sound experiment which works as a pause from the metal assault.  

"Cerulean Salvation" ends with a spacey flow which drips into the black hole chaos of "Heat Death" which just may be the best of the bunch with its elongated intro. If you enjoy the singing style or even can just deal with it, Planetary Clairvoyance, is a hell of metal record. Even as it stands RtBE enjoys the pounding and growling immensely. 

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It is going to be a very metal week here on RtBE. Support the artists, buy the album, stream it on bandcamp or below and peep some video:

Dylan Cover #399 Bruce Springsteen "The Times They Are A'Changin'" Live 1997

In this ongoing Monday Series we will be exploring various artists versions of Bob Dylan song's. Today's tune is a live cover by Bruce Springsteen  playing "The Times They Are a' Changin'"

Thoughts on Original:
Short and sweet from the first time we tackled a cover of this tune:
Well it is his most famous song for a reason, it is one of the greatest ever produced in any genre, ever.
Cover:


Thoughts on Cover Artist:
We will be focusing on Bruce Springsteen all month in our on Masters series. RtBE dig's the Jersey Devil and his bombastic style.

Thoughts on Cover:
Well we wrap up our focus on Springsteen's Dylan covers this week with his take on perhaps the Bard's most iconic song. For someone called the "next Dylan" too often it is fun to revisit Bruce covering Dylan a few times this month.  This one is great, as they all are.

Full Show Friday: Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band Paris 1985

We search the murky back waters of youtube to find full concerts and post them to the site weekly, come back every seven days to help us celebrate Full Show Friday's. These shows are of varying quality and may not be here for long so enjoy them while you can...As always, please support the artist every which way, but especially by seeing them live (if they are still playing)...This week...Bruce Springsteen & The E-Street Band!

For October The Masters focuses on Bruce Springsteen

Here comes the Jersey Devil for our October Masters Series as The Boss has been wowing fans for decades now and his live shows are things of legends. All Full Show Friday's this month will be a testament to these and get ready because we have some doozy's lined up. 

Thanks to our resident Springsteen expert Tom Gallagher for curating this month's Friday concerts.

Today we jump back to Paris in 1985 at the height of Bruce's Born In The USA tour. When we reviewed his best studio albums, no other album made as much of a jump in our rankings as that one as Bruce and all the players just sound great. He is muscled up and bandanna'ed out, totally ock cliche, but killing it all over. 

That energy was translated to this tour, one of the biggest in history until that point and the crew nail it in Paris.

Enjoy:


Like the last few weeks this show is from a playlist which you can access here:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL51C234F973000CA3

Album Review: Kim Gordon - No Home Record

Hey all, got a new review up @glidemag which you can read Right C'here!!!

It is of Kim Gordon's first solo release, No Home Record.

RtBE love Gordon, having followed her as the coolest lady back in the day with Sonic Youth, her work with Body/Head and are now happy to dig her first release.

It fits that she found a home in modern LA and can give her spin on the city, culture etc. through this album and hopefully beyond. 

Support the artist, buy the record, read the review and peep some video below:

Album Review: Shovels & Rope - By Blood

Shovels & Rope

By Blood

**and1/2 out of *****

On their last album 2016's Little Seeds, the indie folk rockers Shovels & Rope used modern day events to paint affecting sonic pictures over a mix of sound ranging from noise rock to prayers. It was the strongest album of their career and now on the followup By Blood, the band moves even more into the mainstream with mixed results.

The band is a husband and wife team of Cary Ann Hearst and Michael Trent who recorded and produced the effort. By Blood starts off strong with three tunes that experiment with success. "I'm Comin' Out" uses digital beats and guitar distortion while "Mississippi Nuthin'" displays personal scattered lyrics, excellent harmonies driving drums and keyboard work.

The best tune on the collection is "The Wire" which is also the most poppy/dance laden with clipped drums and a banging chorus that soars; it could be a big pop hit in the right hands/marketing department with its swelling defiance.

Where the band stumbles this go around is when they turn back the dance and rock beat to go more soft spoken and country (usually their wheelhouse). "C'mon Utah!" begins this trend as it waltzes with folk sounds and a harpsichord but begins to over layer the pomp. "Carry Me Home" follows suite with over dramatizing things before dripping into "Twisted Sisters" which pushes this trio over the top in a Broadway schmaltz way.

The group strips down for a simpler (and better) "Good Old Days" and deliver a bizarre field song via fiddle with "Hammer" but it just might be the cinematic title track closer which points the way for this band as they have thrown lots of instrumentation and overblown tracking into this effort. While high points do exist, By Blood feels like a come down and transitional album for the duo, who are never afraid to try new avenues.   
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Support the band, buy the album, stream it below or on bandcamp and peep some video:

Live Review: Shannon and the Clams 10/17/19 The Bell House Brooklyn, NY

Hey all, got a new review up @glidemag which you can read Right C'here!!!

It is of Shannon and the Clams recent live set at The Bell House in Brooklyn.

The band is fantastic live and pulls off everything which made their last album Onion one of RtBEs Favorites of 2018. Having seen them open for Dan Auerbach in the past, it was nice to catch them do a full set of tunes.

Support the artist, see them live, read the review and peep some video below:

The Masters: Bruce Springsteen - Best Live Albums

RtBE loves listening to new music and prides itself on keeping tabs on up and coming artists but in 2019 we are also going to have a monthly spotlight on legendary artists who we really love. We are calling this series The Masters. It will focus on the best albums, live records, transcendent shows and other odd ways we appreciate the artists and their contribution to music, culture and our formation.

For October The Masters focuses on Bruce Springsteen

While it took a few studio records for Springsteen to completely nail his style, he was a must see live act from his very first days playing, giving it his all when the band members may have out numbered those in attendance.

Live Springsteen is legendary. Whether it is just him and a guitar, constructing a Broadway show, sitting in with a pick-up bar blues outfit or fronting the mighty E-Street Band, Springsteen is a beast on the stage, giving it his all and then some. Ben Stiller even did a sketch on this, love the filling up the ketchup bottle, but it is true, he gives everything to his fans.

RtBE has seen him a bunch (some contributors to the site have caught him A LOT) and there has never been a bad or remotely off show. Same goes for any of the live albums as he has not put out a bad one, even though some of them get more spins than others.

However, until recently there hadn't been many live album releases. Like a lot of older artists in the digital age, Bruce is using the internet to release archival shows and this allows us to have a much more robust section to choose from. Unlike other Masters focused artists who will release seemingly odd/random shows, Springsteen's archival releases tend to capture the best of the best, and while many longtime fans had bootlegs of these shows, now they are "official" and get improved audio; a nice upgrade. 

Again this list is meant to start conversations not end them, so without further ado let's get to racing in the streets...

Album Review: Chelsea Wolfe - Birth of Violence

Chelsea Wolfe

Birth of Violence 

***and1/2 out of *****

Chelsea Wolfe’s most recent effort, 2017’s Hiss Spun, was a heavy/punishing affair, and if you judged her newest by its title, Birth of Violence, you would think this is simply more of the same, but that’s not to be as Wolfe completely shifts gears, returning to her folk roots with exciting results.

While the sludgy industrial drone may be gone the naturalistic Gothic folk in its place can be just as dark. On the title track Wolfe sings of codeine inflicted comas and coming to know what she needs, visualizing while she bleeds, but the musical accompaniment boarders on pretty, even gorgeous at times.

Opener “Mother Road” wallows in its sparseness as doom slowly arrives via tom drums as strings warble at the fringes before a full cinematic ending; all after Wolfe has sung about spiders in Chernobyl. Things are musically brighter with the easy dripping/swirling sounds around smooth vocals as Chelsea surprisingly calls the listener to dance on “American Darkness” before the gorgeous heights Wolfe’s voice reaches on the ominous “Deranged for Rock & Roll”.

Birth of Violence is chock full of cinematic moments as Wolfe uses her vocals like a flute at times blending with varied instrumentation bending and soaring, constantly growing throughout the songs. “Erde” uses strings in the deep background barely audible until the dramatic final swelling while “Dirt Universe” slowly marches along, increasing the power as it progresses. Wolfe’s vocals truly tie it all together whether they are performing high wire acts like on “When Anger Turns to Honey” or setting the exasperated/breathy scene on “Little Grave”

Ben Chisholm worked with Wolfe to create the sonic landscapes around her earlier constructed folk melodies and those expansive pastures can help elevate and expand on her sound with the simplest twist of knobs or insertion of distortion; from the lush/delicate “Be All Things” to rain storm closing “The Storm” the mood is set with expertise.

Birth of Violence pulls off the neat trick of managing to sound hopeful among the darkness, an excellent statement on modern times and a stark reminder of Wolfe’s vast artistic range.

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Got double booked on this one for Glide, but glad I did as this record is not one RtBE would seek out, but is worth hearing. Support the artist, buy the record and peep some video below:

Dylan Cover #398 Bruce Springsteen "I Want You" Live Westbury, NY 1975

In this ongoing Monday Series we will be exploring various artists versions of Bob Dylan song's. Today's tune is a live cover by Bruce Springsteen singing "I Want You" 

Thoughts on Original:
(From the first time we tackled a cover of this song)
A song that fits the Gemini Dylan like a glove; direct lyrical yearning chorus with verses that meander about introducing characters like roadblocks in the way of true love. It was the last tune written for the mega Blonde on Blonde and a song he and others (it was Al Kooper's favorite) admired so much he almost titled the album after it. Never a track that jumps to the top of peoples "favorites" or "best of" Dylan lists but one that really nails what the artist is all about in some of the simplest terms.
Cover:

Thoughts on Cover Artist:
We will be focusing on Bruce Springsteen all month in our on Masters series. RtBE dig's the Jersey Devil and bombastic style.
Thoughts on Cover:
This is a crazy cover with lots of instrumentation, harmonica, violins, piano, bubbling bass, drums etc. While the recording is a bootleg quality, the ideas come through and make it pretty cool. Would be cool if he brought this one back with his current theatrical western style it would fit nicely.  

Full Show Friday: Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band The River Tour, Tempe AZ 1980

We search the murky back waters of youtube to find full concerts and post them to the site weekly, come back every seven days to help us celebrate Full Show Friday's. These shows are of varying quality and may not be here for long so enjoy them while you can...As always, please support the artist every which way, but especially by seeing them live (if they are still playing)...This week...Bruce Springsteen & The E-Street Band!

For October The Masters focuses on Bruce Springsteen

Here comes the Jersey Devil for our October Masters Series as The Boss has been wowing fans for decades now and his live shows are things of legends. All Full Show Friday's this month will be a testament to these and get ready because we have some doozy's lined up. 

Thanks to our resident Springsteen expert Tom Gallagher for curating this month's Friday concerts.

Like last week we are dipping into The River, but this time it is the original tour from 1980.  Bruce and the gang had a historic fiery night out in the desert as they blazed through Arizona. Enjoy:



Also like last week the video comes in play list form so if there are any issues just click here for the full list:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJ3gKh8Ty5pY3c0O865FKQLzxw_mipjU1

Album Review: The Dream Syndicate - These Times

The Dream Syndicate

These Times

*** out of *****

The Paisley Underground forebears The Dream Syndicate were reformed by front-man Steve Wynn in 2012 and These Times is the bands second release following 2017's How Did I Find Myself Here? While the groups Velvet Underground and Television influences are still present their is a late night lounge vibe also flowing through these tracks.

The opening double shot of "The Way In" and the driving "Put Some Miles On" recall the dark sunglasses New York of the late sixties with their tempo, grit and vibe but then the band retreat to sunny folk pop of "Bullet Holes" which brings back the California sweet pop strumming and gorgeous harmonies. Theses Times maintains the bands trademarks while trying out some new twists.

Wynn has mentioned he was incredibly influenced by J-Dilla's Donuts while recording the newest album and the more chill factor does pop up a few times, such as on the pulsing "Black Light" or the more moody "Recovery Mode". The best effort here "The Whole World's Watching" uses Wynn and Jason Victors unique guitar playing over lush bass and slapping drums to deliver an engaging groove worthy of hip-hop sampling in the future.

"Still Here Now" feels like a Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers long lost track while the warbling "Speedway" pushes up the road rock tempo with loud organ work from Chris Cacavas before "Space Age" ups the rumbling bass of Mark Walton and pounding drums of Dennis Duck.

Most importantly for reunion/reformation acts the band sounds like it is having fun and the end result is worth checking out. Fans may still only want to hear The Days of Wine and Roses when the band plays live, but These Times tracks could be slipped for a change of pace with little letdown to the vibe and sound, making it a overall success for the reinvigorated band.
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Support the band, buy the album, stream it on bandcamp (or below) and peep some video:

Album Review: The Milk Carton Kids - The Only Ones EP

Hey all, got a new review up @glidemag which you can read Right C'here!!!

It is of The Milk Carton Kids newest EP, The Only Ones.

The original review was harsher for Glide, before it was edited down. While RtBE dug their last release, this one seems like a clear step back. That said it is just an EP and perhaps more cool things are coming soon from the duo.

Until then, support the artists, buy the record, read the review and peep some video below: