US Rocker Video Playlist for February
Lotti Golden: ‘Dance To The Rhythm Of Love’
Lotti Golden, the legendary NYC singer-songwriter has returned with the reissue of her landmark debut album, “Motor-Cycle,” set to drop Friday, March 28 on CD and vinyl LP.
The release by High Moon Records of the singer-songwriter-producer is accompanied by extensive liner notes on the remarkable story of the how the 17-year-old Golden came to make an album as singular and audacious as “Motor-Cycle.”
Included in the release are exclusive essays by Richard Hell and David Toop, and a wealth of archival photos, including more than 30 never-before-seen photographs by renowned rock photographer, Baron Wolman. Along with the original album track listing, the “Motor-Cycle” CD includes the rarely heard Atlantic single “Sock It To Me Baby/It’s Your Thing” b/w “Annabelle With Bells (Home Made Girl).”
The story of the single “Dance To The Rhythm Of Love (Brill Building Demo)” has a story of its own and was in a long-forgotten collection until recently discovered. Golden hadn’t heard her demo in the nearly 50 years since she’d made it.
Dope Lemon to Release Fifth Album, ‘Golden Wolf’
Dope Lemon will release “Golden Wolf,” on May 9th via BMG. The album blends introspection with expansive sonic landscapes, fusing indie rock and psychedelic soul to reveal Dope Lemon at their most honest and vulnerable yet.
In addition to the album announcement, Dope Lemon – the award-winning project of acclaimed Australian musician Angus Stone – has also released the album’s second single, “Electric Green Lambo” and music video. The artist will also be returning to North America this spring for performances at SXSW, BottleRock and Bonnaroo — look for additional dates soon.
Follow Dope Lemon on Instagram.
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Billy Ray Cyrus Joins Tommee Profitt on ‘Lost’
Billy Ray Cyrus joins Tommee Profitt and Sam Tinnesz on “LOST.” Cyrus’ soulful and gritty vocals on “Lost” showcase his stylistic approach on this alternative track.
“Lost” is the second release from Tommee Profitt and Sam Tinnesz upcoming album “The Fall,” out April 11th, and captures a feeling of endless wandering and existential yearning.
“The Fall,” which features Cyrus on “Lost,” also includes collaborations with Our Last Night, Shaya Zamora, MaryJo, and more.
This summer, Cyrus will release a new album of all new music produced by his son Braison Cyrus.
To keep up with Cyrus, follow him at billyraycyrus.com.
The Holy Knives Release ‘I Don’t Wanna Win’ Produced by Jamie Hince
The Holy Knives – brothers Kody and Kyle Valentine – released this week the new vinyl edition of their Jamie Hince produced EP, I Don’t Wanna Win, celebrating today by sharing a video for the album’s dark and mournful “Let Me Rest.”
The Holy Knives turned once again to director Meeno Peluce, shot in the orange groves and oilfields outside of Los Angeles.
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Purchase the vinyl at theholyknives.com.
Lost Music ‘Don’t Stop Now’ by Sean Nelson and the New London Big Band
Sean Nelson believes the great composer/arranger/trumpeter/bandleader Thad Jones was a genius and he wants listeners to understand that.
Thad’s complex voicings, his unique melodic twists, the technical challenges for the band hits the listener on a deep gut level. These qualities hold true whether Thad was composing and arranging for the Count Basie Band in the 1950s, for the historic Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra that he co-led from 1966-78, in writing projects for a variety of guest solo singers or writing for his later bands in Europe.
Nelson is the leader and founder of the New London Big Band. By day, he is enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard, where he plays trombone with the Coast Guard Band ’s concert band and jazz ensembles, serves as staff arranger , and is music director for both the Beacons Jazz Ensemble and the Guardians Big Band. Sean also serves as jazz trombone instructor at the University of Connecticut.
Sean’s big band arrangements are published at iJazzmusic.com.
Cloakroom Drops Edgy Single ‘The Story of the Egg’
Cloakroom’s new single, “The Story of the Egg”, is concise and boundless all at once. Sonically a duality, Cloakroom’s influence of punchy and downpicked punk of the late 70s / early 80s is matched with lush and amorphous compositions.
The single is about “the new found anxiety and stress from the alertness that comes with finally feeling the otherwise positive effects of a full night’s rest,” drummer Tim Remis explains. “There was a phenomenon of feeling anxious after working with a sleep doctor, realizing I spent most of my adult life without getting rest, had dulled my human sensations. Upon getting some deep sleep and rest, my new, heightened senses were overwhelming and I was left with a different feeling of anxiety.”
The Indiana three return next month with their next studio album, “Last Leg of the Human Table“– the follow up to 2022’s post-apocalyptic space western Dissolution Wave, and label debut for Closed Casket Activities.
Heaven Releases Track ‘The Fire You Know’
Forming an amalgamation of their influences, the single “I Need You More Somehow,” debuted last month with an official music video, pairing timeless melodies with layers of reverb-driven guitar.
Grounded by sirens of feedback, the song previewed an album full of emotional exploration tied up in otherwordly instrumentation. Dream Aloud was first teased last year by quintessentially dreamy lead single, “I’ll Let You In.” The record was recorded in New York City, mixed by Jonathan Krienik (The Rapture, Gang Gang Dance), mastered by Christopher Colbert (The Walkmen, Pedro the Lion) and features guest guitar on the title track by Steve Schiltz (Longwave, Wah Together).
Heaven ride a massive sonic wave in delivering their introspective yet dreamy tracks. Matt Sumrow and Mikey Jones created the band in New York City after touring and recording with artists such as Dean And Britta, Swervedriver, Ambulance LTD, Caveman, The Comas, The Lemonheads, and others. Now joined by bassist Sonia Manalili, the trio is excited to share their first album in 7 years, their most somnambulistic to date, the band’s third full-length, “Dream Aloud.”
Heaven will be hitting the road this spring, heading across the country to make their Treefort Music Festival debut and stopping in various cities along the way. For more information, see below for a full list of shows and follow the band on Instagram at @heavenbandnyc.
Josh Joplin Group Captures Imagination with ‘One More Someone’
Josh Joplin Group shared “One More Someone,” the latest single from their upcoming album “GpYr” (pronounced “gap year”), which will mark Josh Joplin’s return to music after 12 years.
After a self-imposed hiatus to focus on raising his daughter—who lends her talents as lead guitarist and vocalist on the track “Before The Light Takes Us”—Josh is back with his decades-long collective of musicians, the Josh Joplin Group, whose chemistry adds depth and nuance to his work. Their collaborative shorthand honed over years of shared experiences shines on “GpYr,” which is out on April 4 via NarrowMoat/Missing Piece Records.
Gino Vannelli Returns with ‘No Where To Go But Up’
Gino Vannelli has remained one of the most distinctive voices in contemporary music having sold over 20 million records worldwide. From rock, to jazz, to soul, even classical, he’s left no musical stone unturned.
He has released the new album The Life I Got (To My Most Beloved) via COA Productions, with distribution by BFD / The Orchard, and the single/video “No Where to Go But Up.”
Listen to the album here.
“It’s a really nice video, full of smiling faces of young aspiring dancers, singers, and musicians,” Vannelli said about the “No Where to Go But Up” video. “Two long days, shot in the streets of Belgrade, but worth every bead of sweat. And as for me, just what the doctor ordered…have a good time! Thank you all.”
Michigander Releases Self-Titled Album + Video Single ‘I’ll Be OK’
Michigander – the acclaimed indie rock project led by singer-songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Jason Singer – has released their highly anticipated eponymous debut album today via Totally Normal Records/Thirty Tigers.
The album features the single “Peace of Mind,” co-written with renowned producer/musician Butch Walker (Green Day, Weezer, Fall Out Boy), “Emotional” and the top 5 AAA summer favorite, “Giving Up,” which was released alongside an official music video, directed by longtime visual collaborator Tyler Appel (Andrew McMahon, Manchester Orchestra) and featured on beloved TV shows “Shrinking” and “Grey’s Anatomy.” Michigander is now available digitally and on limited-edition vinyl exclusively at shop.michiganderband.com.
Chick Corea Delivers Potent Cover of Thelonious Monk’s ‘Trinkle Trinkle’
Candid Records and Chick Corea Productions released Corea’s rendition of Thelonious Monk’s “Trinkle, Tinkle,” the second single from the upcoming double live album Trilogy 3 (out digitally February 28, with CD & vinyl pre-orders available now for release on May 30.
In 2020, National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master and jazz icon Chick Corea hits the road with his powerhouse trio of Christian McBride and Brian Blade, embarking on what would be Corea’s final tour.
The recordings from those shows are now being released as Trilogy 3, the third installment from this extraordinary group. On Sunday, Corea was posthumously awarded with his 28th GRAMMY® for “Remembrance,” a collaborative album recorded with Béla Fleck. Learn more at www.candidrecords.com
Swedish Supergroup Midlife Crisis to Release ’45 Turns 33′
The Swedish “Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young of Punk Rock,” Midlife Crisis are excited to release their latest album ’45 Turns 33′ via Sound Pollution.
It all started in 2004 as bassist Urrke T’s “solo project”. He and three of his friends met in the studio and recorded some of his personal Punk Rock favorites.
On the first EP, the band even called themselves Urrke T & the Midlife Crisis. An eclectic bunch, gathered from bands like not only Maryslim, but also Backyard Babies, The Hellacopters, Crimson Shadows, etc., with the only goal in mind being to play some old school Punk Rock and have some real fun.
So, they went into the studio, and soon after, their debut EP was released on the small label Bootleg Booze Records where success was inevitable. Over the next 14 years, they recorded and released three more vinyl EPs on BB Records.
Fast forward to 2024, and Urrke and Dregen are meeting with Wild Kingdom Records at the headquarters in Stockholm. During the meeting, they agreed on a deal to release everything Midlife Crisis had recorded between 2004 and 2018 on an excellent compilation album—on CD, vinyl, and digital platforms.
The Midlife Crisis has never been more palpable or relevant than it is now.
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– Edited by DONNA BALANCIA