Tag: southern rock
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American Aquarium – Things Change LP
Usually when I’m reviewing vinyl records, I try to present my thoughts in a linear manner – from front to back, A-side through B-. In my mind, it just makes sense; unlike on CDs (where it’s really easy to jump around from song to song as a listener likes), records play best song-by-song and bands…
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The Texas Gentlemen – TX Jelly (LP)
It might not be so easy for readers to remember now, but TX Jelly – the debut LP by Texas Gentlemen – actually springs from a tradition which once favored allowing an album to build and develop organically as musicians made it in the studio. Back before punk rock and all its myriad sub- and…
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Corrosion of Conformity – No Cross, No Crown
Don’t get me wrong, I really dug those two records COC put out as a three-piece in the past five years… but just like southern cooking, it ain’t the same without Pepper. Mr. Keenan’s return injected new life into some old tunes back in 2015, and now they’ve finally returned with another new album, making…
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Kadavar – Rough Times
After the demise of Graveyard, it could be argued that Kadavar are now the leading purveyors of Euro psych—at least on the continent. Their fourth album, and third for Nuclear Blast, would do little to disprove this theory, as the Berlin trio brings some solid tuneage for a good 45 minutes. Rough Times opens with…
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North Mississippi Allstars – Prayer For Peace
The terms and conditions for being regarded as an “artistic dynasty” are vague and often vary from band-to-band but, without question or argument, the Dickinson family fits the bill. First, there was Jim Dickinson. For forty-six years, Jim Dickinson was present in one capacity or another (either as an “artist” or as a “producer”) to…
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Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers – Long After Dark LP
In the first half-decade of their association together, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers had already hit some pretty spectacular highs and lows on a condensed timeline. Virtually from day one, the group established that they had some great potential to write hits (see “American Girl,” “Here Comes My Girl” and “Refugee” as easy and fantastic…
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Moonbow – War Bear
What do you get when you cross a BMX racer with Hank III, Valley of the Sun and Steve Earle? (No, not that Steve Earle…) In this case, you get Moonbow, an outfit formed by singer/biker Matt Bischoff and Hank III axeslinger David McElfresh. This is actually album number three from said ensemble, albeit with…
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Vermilion Whiskey – Spirit of Tradition
I’m sure I’ve said it before, but I’m a sucker for some good ol’ southern-style sludge metal. Actually, when I reviewed Forming the Void’s new record outta Lafayette, Louisiana, one of those dudes got in touch with me, and mentioned this other local outfit called Vermillion Whiskey that sounded much more like Crowbar, Down and…
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The Second Coming of Heavy Chapter 5 – Desert Suns/Chiefs split
I know I’ve reviewed the last couple of these Ripple Music compilations, and as long as they keep ‘em coming, I’ll keep listening. The fifth installment of The Second Coming of Heavy features a couple California outfits in Desert Suns and Chiefs, both from San Diego. As opposed to the third coming, which combined a…
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Wasted Theory – Defenders of the Riff
The heaviest damn band outta Bear, Delaware is back with its second record, with a nod to Judas Priest and an album cover that screams High on Fire. These guys pull no punches off the bat with “Get Loud or Get Fucked,” a solid southern-rock stomper. This song actually reminds me of the late, great,…