JD & The Straight Shot Good Luck & Good Night Self Release
This is the sixth release from a band that has been active since 2005 and they play a mix of Americana and Country Roots music. Fronted by James (Jim) Dolan, a wealthy business executive, this could be seen as nothing more than a guilty pleasure for someone who can afford the indulgence. However, despite his obvious connections in the world of corporate conglomerates and the music industry, the abiding sense is that Jim Dolan is in this project for the pure love of playing music and performing it in a live setting.
JD & The Straight Shot are comprised of a troupe of excellent players with the beautiful violin and background vocals of Erin Slaver a real highlight throughout the ten songs featured here. Chris Carmack, of TV show Nashville, co-writes two songs and is a partner of Erin Slaver. The rest of the band is Michael Rojas on Accordion, Shawn Pelton on percussion, Byron House on upright bass, banjo & vocals with Jim Dolan on vocals and co-writes on seven of the songs.
The production is by Marc Copely who also plays guitar, mandolin and sings background vocals. The arrangements and melodies are very pleasant with a cover of the Glen Frey/Jack Tempchin song, It’s Your World Now, and the closing Never Alone; based on the poem Alone by Maya Angelou.
Romantica Shadowlands At The Helm
It has been a number of years since this Minnesota band last released an album. Over this period, family commitments, personal illness and record label disputes have conspired to keep their creative muse from finding an outlet.
Irish-born, Ben Kyle is both singer-songwriter and frontman for the band that also includes Tony Zaccardi (bass), Danger Dave Strahan (guitar), Ryan Lovan (drums), Aaron Fabbrini (pedal steel guitar, dobro), Jayanthi Kyle (backing vocals), and Peter Schimke-McCabe (piano).
There are many excellent songs on this 14-track release that spans an hour of listening time. The intimate feel of the project and the plaintive quality and reflective singing remind me of early Lambchop at times and there are also echoes of The Band.
As reviewers, we sometimes run the risk of either being too gushing in our praise or too critical of honest effort; however, in this case I can honestly say that I was pleasantly surprised and very taken with the sheer quality of the talent on display.
Songs like Get Back In Love, After The War, Buffalo Bill and Harder To Hear contain a yearning tone that is more than balanced by the easy groove of tracks like Shandy Bass, Cecil Ingram Conor, Lonely Star and St Paul City Lights.
Full marks to all involved and a real contender for undiscovered artist of the year.
Mark Ripp & The Confessors Under The Circumstances Hanbury Park
Releasing music since the early 1990’s this talented musician has been a front man and writer for Canadian roots rockers The Bel-Vistas. The last couple of decades have been spent raising a family and pursuing music as a solo artist. Think John Hiatt and then JJ Cale and Tom Petty; meeting on a ledge where the Rolling Stones hang loose. You get the idea … organic and rootsy.
Mark plays acoustic and electric 6 & 12 string guitars, bass and harmonica. John Toffoli plays drums and percussion and co-produces the project with Mark. Bob Hamlyn is the other core member and plays electric 6 & 12 string guitars – the trio being joined by guest Confessors Bruce Hemmings on keyboards, Tim Rutledge on saxes, David Stokaluk on bass and Madalen Tojicic on background vocals.
I’m 99 is a very strong opening track and leads into the gospel/blues groove of Lose My Way; a really strong track that adds to the momentum of the album.
Everything Is Made In China is such a clever commentary on Globalisation and corporate hegemony. The message in Hey Little Guy walks a similar path with a paean to the ‘common man’ and the aspiration to throw off the yolk imposed by authority … "where the hell is Woody Guthrie to sing a song and make them realise that this land is our land." What can you do but agree…
Wishin’ is Hiatt meets Jagger in a fast food restaurant, as is Shitty Little Cavalier, while Twilight is pure JJ Cale. Stay The Night sums it all up with the lines "nothing’s black and white, I just need you to stay the night." Great stuff and a recommended purchase for any self-respecting music collector.
TG Swampbusters Swamp Rock Country Blues Booze
The blues has come to town. Tim Gibbons, after years of playing the banjo, has moved to the guitar and delivers a down n’ dirty country blues record. Opening up with Honky Tonk Song and supported by Patch on drums and Swampy Jo Klienfiltr on bass; Tim Gibbons (TG) drums up quite a groove with his guitar and harp playing very much to the fore. Five Minutes Past Midnight is Stevie Ray Vaughan territory and the slow tempo of the song allows for some sweet soloing around the beat.
A follow-up to his debut 2015 release, Swamp Tooth Comb, this album is a real treat for those who like their blues stripped down and raw… All songs are written by Gibbons and were recorded at Blue Tilt Studio in Hamilton, Ontario. There is a touch of early ZZ Top in the slow burn arrangements and distorted guitar on the track Pitching A Tent, while Cranberry Corners and She Gave Me The Blues finish off the project in fine style.
Thunder and Rain Start Believing Self Release
Thunder and Rain is a country/roots band from Golden, Colorado. They released their debut album, Holler Out, in 2015 and a follow-up EP in 2016, Run With You. They are a 4-piece, with Erinn Peet-Lukes (vocals/guitar), Pete Weber (mandolin), Ian Haegele (bass) and Chris Herbst (Dobro/lap steel) being joined for this project by a further four musicians and three back-up vocalists to deliver a full studio sound.
The melodies are very strong throughout and all songs are written by Erinn Peet-Lukes and RP Oates. Production is by John Mcvey and the thirteen tracks here are bright and breezy. Peet-Lukes is a fine singer and her vocals carry the arrangements along with a swing and a tempo that highlights the excellent playing on tracks like Tennessee Is Burning, Start Believing, Cut The Wire and Wyoming is For Miles. I am reminded of I Draw Slow on repeated listens and that is no bad thing. For all lovers of country music that borders on bluegrass but with a modern twist.
June Star Sleeping With The Lights On Self Release
June Star started up in 1998 and this is their seventh studio release. Andrew Grimm is the frontman, songwriter, and plays guitars, banjo, harmonica in addition to providing lead vocals. He is joined by Andy Bopp on guitars, bass and backing vocals with Kurt Celtnieks on drums and backing vocals.
The songs attack with real attitude and are somewhat reminiscent of Son Volt with jangling guitars and a loose feel to the song arrangements. Backing vocals are supplied by Ellen Cherry and J Robbins plays organ to provide a full sound to the twelve tracks. Grimm co-produced with Andy Bopp and J Robbins and the results are very upbeat and engaging.
Telegraph, Hum & Buzz and Cinnamon are fine band workouts with Smoke & Diesel, Faithless and You’re Still Here showing a different side to the band dynamic. Closing tracks My Sugar and Already Saved show a possible shift in direction towards traditional Country but the band are perfectly capable of delivering on whatever stage they want to. The title track is certainly worthy of commercial air play, but here’s wishing.
If you like a guitar driven; let’s get dressed for Friday night feel; then this is going to really light you up!