Black Joe Lewis & Honeybears "The Difference Between Me & You"
For their 5th album, Black Joe Lewis & Honeybears did what may seem impossible for 2018. They made The Difference Between Me & You an authentic, honest to goodness blues album. I mean, if ever there was a time for the blues to come back, now would be it, eh? If that doesn’t whet your appetite, check out this quote from Glide Magazine “a deep repertoire of sounds: the heavy grooves of Albert King, punked-up blues of R.L. Burnside, the storytelling of Bobby “Blue” Bland, and the soulfully layered horns of The Rolling Stones.” Check out the horn-heavy “Culture Vulture.”
Tommy and the Commies "Here Comes (Slovenly)"
We recently welcomed Slovenly Recordings to the BRM fold. Not familiar with their crazy excellent releases? Well you are about to be. They are known for releasing “psyched out garage punk shit rock for crazy kids all over the planet.” (their excellent words, not ours.) Case in point? Well, the first new release after we signed them is the excellent new mod-punk release from Tommy and the Commies Here Comes. Authentic, energetic rock ‘n’ roll for the scooter set here. Somewhere between The Jam and ‘70s UK band The Chords comes this scorcher of a release. Check out the snotty power of “Permanent Fixture” and welcome Slovenly to the fold!
Alexandra Streliski "Inscape (Secret City)"
If there is a more sensitive, cinematic pianist than Alexandra Stréliski working today, please let me know about it-because her latest is one gorgeous collection of neoclassical pieces and I’d gladly listen to as much of it as the universe is willing to allow. Inscape (Secret City) is full of the kind of music that has made her in-demand on screens both big and little, her work finding its way most famously into Dallas Buyers Club (and most recently in Sharp Objects). If you are a viewer of either, then you know she knows her way around some emotional heft. Check out the haunting “Changing Winds.”
Fucked Up "Dose Your Dreams (Merge)"
The Hardcore punks have found your stash of psychedelics, and they are doing things with them you wouldn’t even dream of. Dose Your Dreams is the latest from the legendary Fucked Up, and their first for the legendary Merge Records. Here you will find their love of a concept album mixed with drone hints, psych-rock, krautrock-y grooves, and everything else a music fan could ask for from a record. This is a towering achievement from a band that already has a tower of achievements. I’d tell you to check out some specific tunes here, but its a concept album! So start with “None Of Your Business Man” and let the whole thing play!