In this column I showcase four fantastic new audio titles available now.
Artist: Ringo Starr
Title: Long Long Road (Ringo Starr)
You might like if you enjoy: Ringo Starr, The Beatles, Molly Tuttle, Billy Strings
Tell me more: Beloved singer-songwriter/drummer Ringo Starr is back with yet another wonderful studio album, the aptly titled Long Long Road. The 10-track Nashville-mining album features a slew of musical heavyweights who add their talents to bolster the T Bone Burnett-produced LP. Indeed, Sheryl Crow, Sarah Jarosz, Molly Tuttle, St. Vincent and Billy Strings are among the notables featured on Starr's 22nd solo album; the original songs on the disc were co-written by Starr alongside Burnett as well as with Daniel Tashian and Bruce Sugar. Early highlights on the album abound; the breezy Appalachia-tinged "Returning Without Tears" finds Starr's signature vocals a perfect fit with harmony vocals courtesy of Tuttle's lovely soprano (she also plays acoustic guitar on the track). The breezy "Baby Don't Go" (the latter featuring some flashy acoustic guitar work from Strings), the driving "It's Been Too Long" with Starr's masterful drumming front and center (his outstanding lead vocals blend perfectly with backing vocals provided by Tuttle and Jarosz), and the buoyant gem "Why," the latter featuring stellar acoustic guitar work from both Tuttle and Strings are fantastic. The last half of Long Long Road continues to cast its magic via the shimmering "You and I (Wave of Love)," lovely "My Baby Don't Want Nothing" and Beatlesque "Choose Love." Bringing it all home is the pedal-string swept title track that finds a grateful Starr looking back at his incredible life and how — no matter the challenge — he continues to live each day with purpose, love and strength. Long Long Road is available on audio CD, vinyl LP, "Ultraviolet Dream" color vinyl and via all streaming/download services. Ringo Starr and his All Starr Band have a number of upcoming concert dates on the West Coast this spring, including a performance at Findlay Toyota Center in Prescott Valley, AZ on Sunday, May 31, 2026. Information: ringostarr.com.
Artist: Peter Case
Title: My Life To Live: Peter Case At McCabe's (Sunset Blvd Records)
You might like if you enjoy: Peter Case, Bob Dylan, The Nerves, The Plimsouls
Tell me more: Three-time Grammy nominated artist Peter Case's stellar legacy is celebrated across the new commercial concert recording My Life To Live: Peter Case At McCabe's. Recorded during a sold-out two-night stand at McCabe's in Santa Monica, CA, the stellar songwriting and top-tier vocal delivery of Case shines across the recording that highlights material from across his celebrated discography. Highlights include the melodic "Estella Hotel," nuanced "Ain't Gonna Worry No More," blues-folk political sortie "Water From A Stone," poetic "Underneath The Stars," piano-anchored "Oldest Story In The World" and literate thought-provoking cut "Every 24 Hours." Nothing captures the "unplugged" magic of the album's sweep like the authentic take of "Somebody Told The Truth" which features Case's a cappella vocals and blues harmonica blasts perfectly framed by the spot-on clapping accompaniment of the entire audience. Information: petercase.com.
Title: Slidemaster (MoMojo Records)
You might like if you enjoy: Bonnie Raitt, Derek Trucks
Tell me more: If you love slide guitar, you are going to absolutely love Grammy-nominated guitarist Rick Vito's aptly-titled Slidemaster. This truly unique album features Vito's all-instrumental selections played exclusively on slide guitar. Standouts on the dozen-track collection include the fiery opener "Vegas Jump," emotive slow Chicago blues-flavored "Steal Away," the moody '60s-mining "The Danger Zone," and "Soul Shadows," sumptuous reading of Peter Green's "Albatross," a nuanced version of Sam Cooke's "A Change Is Gonna Come" and ambitious original "River Of Blues." Information: rickvito.com.
Title: The Last Days Of Loma (Big Stir Records)
You might like if you enjoy: They Might Be Giants, Del Amitri, The Kinks, sparkle*jets u.k.
Tell me more: Released on April 24, Wormstew's debut album The Last Days Of Loma is loaded with originals that are artful, melodic, intelligent and never less than alluring. Mike Schnee (lead vocals, guitars, keyboards, percussion), Teresa Cowles (bass, vocals, keyboards) and Michael Simmons (drums, vocals, electric guitar, keyboards and more) are a formidable trio, conjuring up past masters while bravely crafting a sonic palette all their own. The melodious jazz-tinged opener "Spinning," tuneful "Sheriff Brody" (a literate look back at the protagonist from the classic movie "Jaws"), shining harmonies sortie "Letters On The Wall," delightfully driving Americana nugget "Movin' Along" and haunting "J.P. McCartney" are among my early faves on the 14-track disc. The exuberant bluegrass gem "Assholes," wistful "Irony At Its Finest," melancholy-filled Kinks-flavored "When Cats Are Sad," soaring "When Our Worlds Collide" and sophisticated "Another Stupid Song" thrill on Side 2 of the masterwork. The Last Days Of Loma is available on vinyl, audio CD and via streaming services worldwide. Information: bigstirrecords.com.
Robert Kinsler
