New releases featuring Hollis Brown, Mindi Abair and the Fallen Stars are available now and should be on everyone's summertime listening list...
Artist: Hollis Brown Title: Ozone Park (Cool Green Recordings) You might like if you enjoy: Collective Soul, Jackie Greene, Ben Harper Tell me more: Queens, New York-based band Hollis Brown has just released Ozone Park, a magnificent album that blends the best elements of classic and modern rock along with other styles with authenticity and grace. Listen close to the work of the talented quintet (singer-guitarist Mike Montali, lead guitarist Jonathan Bonilla, drummer Andrew Zehnal, keyboardist Adam Bock and bassist Chris Urriola) and you'll hear rock solid instincts blended with R&B, pop, soul and more. "Do Me Right" is an infectious and alluring track, a magical musical bridge between the best melodic instincts of power pop, indie rock and synth pop masters. The triumphant "Someday Soon" strikes a similar artistic chord. Hollis Brown — named after a 1964 Bob Dylan track — impresses in other reaches of the musical universe; the lovely "After The Fire" segues into the nuanced "Forever In Me." "Bad Mistakes" is the LP's biggest surprise, a psychedelic rocker draped with buzz guitar lines and a swirling '60s feels right at home on this wonderful release. The album ends with an in-the-pocket finale courtesy of the funkafied "Go For It." Information: hollisbrown.com.
Artist: Mindi Abair and the Boneshakers Title: No Good Deed (Pretty Good For A Girl Records) You might like if you enjoy: Mindi Abair, Southern Avenue, Sue Foley Tell me more:Mindi Abair and the Boneshakers' No Good Deed offers up plenty of musical firepower and infectious blues-styled songs on a fantastic set produced by famed producer Kevin Shirley (Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith, Joe Bonamassa). Recorded in a mere five days, the 10-track disc features plenty of Abair's incredible work on her collection of Yamaha soprano, alto and tenor saxophones. But listening to No Good Deed is to be instantly reminded of the skills of her Boneshakers band mates (guitarist Randy Jacobs, keyboardist Rodney Lee, drummer Third Richardson and bassist Ben White), all of whom add to the sway of the tracks. Although best known for her incredible sax playing with artists ranging from Aerosmith to Duran Duran, Abair is a first-rate vocalist; her nuanced singing on the stirring ballad "Sweetest Lies," nuanced "Who's Gonna Save My Soul?" and flat-out rocker "Movin' On" are especially persuasive. Information: mindiabair.com.
Artist: The Fallen Stars Title: Leaves On The Wind Collection:Can't Stop the Signal (Kiss My Squirrel Music) You might like if you enjoy: Joss Whedon's "Firefly," the Jayhawks, Gram Parsons & Emmylou Harris Tell me more: Six years after the Fallen Stars embarked on an ambitious quest to create a cycle of songs based on the groundbreaking sci-fi western TV series "Firefly," the complete collection of 16 inspired tracks (including the pair's interpretation of the theme song from the series) has been compiled and released as the terrific "Leaves On The Wind Collection: Can't Stop the Signal." The Fallen Stars, featuring the talents of husband-and-wife duo Bobbo and Tracy Byrnes, are both big time fans of the show (which premiered in fall 2002) and the acclaimed 2005 film "Serenity." The new audio CD version of the collection allows fans of the series (known as "Browncoats") and lovers of top-tier Americana music to hear artful and rich songs based on "Firefly." The wistful "Still Flying" (bolstered by the Byrnes' blended vocal harmonies), edgy rockers "Nothing" and "Miracle," tender "Stronger Than Steel," mandolin-anchored "Goodnight Kiss" and probing "Here I Am" showcase the range of the show's themes as well as the depth of the couple's stellar songwriting. Information: TheFallenStars.com.
Artist: Bobbo Byrnes Title: The Red Wheelbarrow (Kiss My Squirrel Music) You might like if you enjoy: The Fallen Stars, Rhett Miller, Old 97's Tell me more: In addition to his role in the Fallen Stars, Bobbo Byrnes is a prolific and leading voice on the independent Americana scene. That will come as little surprise after getting a listen to his new solo effort The Red Wheelbarrow. The clever "Part Time Cowboy" is a probing look at a musician finely tuned into the musical tapestry of country music even he doesn't "wear a cowboy hat…(or is not) built to wear a nudie suit." Able to deliver winning songs amidst detailed storytelling, Byrnes paints vivid musical soundscapes across the 10-song disc. The melodic nugget "Look For It," introspective "Looking At The World Thru a Windshield," countrified winner "Lovers" and freewheeling "Sally Starr" and "January" excel with equal doses of excellent song craft and rousing studio performance. Byrnes' poignant songs are brought to rich life via a cast of wonderful musicians including his wife Tracy Byrnes (bass guitar, backing vocals) and famed keyboardist Rami Jaffee (of Wallflowers fame). Information: songsandwhispers.comor bobbobyrnes.com.
Happy Wednesday everybody! Ready to check out some great new music? Below are links and information on highly-recommended tracks from Hollis Brown, elbow and Hurray for the Riff Raff. First up, listen to the latest single from Hollis Brown, "Run Right To You," a rousing and rollicking rocker that is infectious and authentic. It bristles with the spirit and energy of '60s blues rockers such as the Yardbirds and Kinks, as well as modern-day Irish rockers the Strypes. "Run Right To You" is available via a limited edition 7" with the B-Side "She Don't Love Me Now," an affecting Americana track. Listen to "Run Right To You" via YouTube below:
Get more information on New York-based rockers Hollis Brown at http://www.hollisbrown.com/. It is great to have English alternative rock troupe elbow is back. Earlier this year, it was announced that long-time drummer Richard Jupp was leaving the group and their upcoming 2017 album would be recorded without him. Check out the first single, aptly-titled "Magnificent (She Says)," from the band's forthcoming album Little Fictions (set for release on Feb. 3, 2017) on the band's YouTube page embedded below:
In other new music news, Hurray for the Riff Raff is set to return with the new concept album The Navigator on March 10, 2017. According to a media release, Hurray for the Riff Raff singer-songwriter "Alynda Segarra tells an interwoven, cinematic story of a wandering soul at a crossroads of identity and ancestral weight. It finds a street kid named Navita traversing a perpetually burning city in search of herself." The first single "Rican Beach" blends Latin rhythms, Kate Bush-styled experimental rock and other sounds with perfection. Watch the lyric video for "Rican Beach" off the upcoming album below:
New music heroes and classic rock icons, as well as one of Disney's greatest-ever soundtracks are showcased via recent releases. Artist: Styx Title: Live at The Orleans Arena Las Vegas (Eagle Rock Entertainment) You might like if you enjoy: Styx, Kansas, Tommy Shaw Tell me more: Just as Rush, and subsequently Kansas have enjoyed a wide-ranging resurgence over the past few years, Styx has experienced a renewal for songs blending virtuoso musicianship, memorable songwriting and arena-worthy dynamics. Live at The Orleans Arena Las Vegas is the perfect audio showcase of Styx's contemporary powers, with the dozen-song set mixing up hits ("Lady," "Renegade," "Come Sail Away") and choice album cuts ("The Grand Illusion," "Suite Madame Blue"). The most memorable selections here are nuanced version of singer-guitarist Tommy Shaw's masterwork "Crystal Ball," and a rocking take on "Blue Collar Man (Long Nights)" where Styx is joined by former Eagles lead guitarist Don Felder. Information: eagle-rock.com or styxworld.com.
Artist: Hollis Brown Title: 3 Shots (Inkind Music) You might like if you enjoy: Counting Crows, Simon and Garfunkel; Crosby, Stills and Nash Tell me more: With an artistic spirit that recalls a myriad of roots and folk rock greats, New York-spawned quintet Hollis Brown's 3 Shots rings true via the anthemic "Cathedral," lush "3 Shots," the ambitious "John Wayne" (that grows from an acoustic lament to a roaring rocker over nearly 7-1/2 minutes), Bo Diddley-mining "Rain Dance" and tuneful "Sweet Tooth." The band also joins forces with acclaimed Americana songstress Nikki Lane on the infectious rootsy rocker "Highway 1." Hollis Brown is currently on tour and will open for Counting Crows at Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre in Irvine, CA on Oct. 2 and at Austin City Limits in Texas on Oct. 7; Hollis Brown will also headline at Hotel Cafe in Los Angeles on Oct. 3. Information: hollisbrown.com. Buy '3 Shots' here
Artist: Tommy Keene Title: Laugh in the Dark (Second Motion) You might like if you enjoy: Matthew Sweet, Marshall Crenshaw, The Replacements Tell me more: There isn't a clunker anywhere to be found on rocker Tommy Keene's Laugh in the Dark, the latest in a long line of strong discs from the Maryland native. Kicking things off with the driving "Out Of My Mind" and continuing with the romantic "Dear Heloise," Keene's songs cast their spell with a single listen. "Last Of The Twilight Girls" and "Alone in These Modern Times" mine that melody-meets-melancholy rock territory once owned strictly by the Smithereens, while the beautiful "All The Lights Are Alive," spirited Replacements-minded "I Belong To You" and genre-blending "All Gone Away" cast further delight on the singer-guitarist's potent original song craft. Information: tommykeene.com.
Artist: Marshall Crenshaw Title: #392: The EP Collection (Red River Entertainment) You might like if you enjoy: Elvis Costello, Matthew Sweet, Tommy Keene Tell me more: Singer-songwriter Marshall Crenshaw isn't afraid to mix things up. Evidence the Detroit, Michigan native's excellent new #392: The EP Collection, a 14-track disc that features a dozen songs drawn from his purposeful series of six 10-inch vinyl EPs that the singer-guitarist released between 2013 and 2015, as well as a pair of never-before-heard tracks specifically included in this new set. Crenshaw's wide-ranging approach is to create lush soundscapes that totally support the songs (both his own, or artful remakes). The original "Red Wine" finds Crenshaw's emotive vocal delivery positioned amidst a lush mix highlighted by shimmering guitars and organ, while "Move Now" works as both a hypnotic rocker and compelling glimpse into the modern world. An involving tale of romantic departure is rendered via the jazz-rock nugget "Stranger and Stranger," this featuring Crenshaw's excellent lead guitar work. Must-hear covers include a sparse version of Jeff Lynne's "No Time," a poignant performance of the Burt Bacharach/Hal David classic "(They Long to Be) Close to You" and faithful take of the Bobby Fuller Four's 1965 classic "Never to be Forgotten." Information: marshallcrenshaw.com. Get '#392: The Ep Collection' here
Title: The Legacy Collection: Pocahontas (Walt Disney Records) You might like if you enjoy: Composer Alan Menken, singer Judy Kuhn Tell me more: Even when separated from the 1995 animated Disney classic that creatively mixed history and fantasy,The Legacy Collection: Pocahontas soundtrack is a joyful listen. Composer Alan Menken's instrumental score, as well as the songs he composed with lyricist Stephen Schwartz, shine bright more than 20 years after their creation on the newly-issued "The Legacy Collection: Pocahontas." The centerpiece "Colors of the Wind" is one of the decade's best film-related songs (far besting "My Heart Will Go On" from 1997's Titanic), and the new deluxe edition features that gem along with a number of other wonderful songs. Singer Judy Kuhn has a beautiful soprano, as heard on the soaring "Just Around the Riverbend" and dramatic "Epiphany/Savages" which features a mix of solo voices and chorus. A second disc includes some early demos (including the sweet duet "In The Middle of the River" which was not included in the final film). "Pocahontas" received two Academy Awards for its music, including Best Original Score and Best Original Song for "Colors of the Wind." Information: DisneyMusicEmporium.com. Purchase 'Walt Disney Records The Legacy Collection: Pocahontas [2 CD]' here Robert Kinsler
