The Best Albums of 2012 (10-1)

10. The Stone Coyotes - Wild Bird Flying
Family affair!
9. Japandroids - Celebration Rock
Rare consensus of almost all list makers!
8. The Jim Jones Revue - The Savage Heart
The only top 10 album from England
7. Dan Stuart - Deliverance of Marlowe Billings
Ex Green on Red comeback!
6. Leonard Cohen - Old Ideas
Mature Work!
5. Andrew Combs - Worried Man
Future of Country!
4. Father John Misty - Fear Fun
Better than his ex group!
3. Iris DeMent - Sing the Delta
That's alright Ma'!
2. The White Buffalo - Once Upon a Time in the West
Rough diamond!
1. Dexys - One Day I'm Going to Soar
Worth waiting 27 years!

The Best Albums of 2012 (20-11)

20. Natural Child - Hard in Heaven
It should've been ranked higher!
19. Malcolm Holcombe - Down The River
He deserves this!
18. Sean Rowe - The Salesman and the Shark
Rare baritone in rock!
17. Bob Dylan - Tempest
Still going strong!
16. Angel Olsen - Half Way Home
Operetic voice!
15. South Memphis String Band - Old Times There...
Charlie Parr Annual Award!
14. Ben Sollee - Half Made Man
Maybe too high!
13. Holly Golightly & The Brokeoffs - Sunday Run Me Over
Like! Like! Like!
12. Kasey Chambers & Shane Nicholson - Wreck and Ruin
Spreading love all around!
11. Alabama Shakes - Boys & Girls
Real rhythm and blues!

The Best Albums of 2012 (30-21)

30. Jonathan Byrd and Chris Kokesh - The Barn Birds
This album mysteriously disappeared from Bandcamp, but is still on my list
29. The Oh Hellos - Through the Deep, Dark Valley
Texan siblings made one of the best debuts of the year
28. Grant-Lee Phillips - Walking in the Green Corn
Maestro is back!
27. Josephine Foster - Blood Rushing
Freak Folk princess makes your blood rush!
26. The Walkmen - Heaven
If you can stand unusual voice of Hamilton Leithauser you'll enjoy this one!
25. Tift Merritt - Traveling Alone
The best female artist country album of the year
24. Giant Giant Sand - Tuscon
Howe Gelb is on another peak of his career!
23. Mark Lanegan Band - Blues Funeral
St.Louis Elegy is one of my favourite songs of the year
22. Neil Young & Crazy Horse - Psychedelic Pill
Better of this year's two albums
21. Sharon Van Etten - Tramp
Chanteuse!

The Best Albums of 2012 (40 - 31)

40. Langhorne Slim - The Way We Move
Fine honky tonk piano here and there!
39. Otis Gibbs - Harder Than Hammered Hell
Another raspy voice and silky songwriting
38. Alejandro Escovedo - Big Station
Sabor a mi is enough to secure his place on the list
37. Justin Townes Earle - Nothing's Gonna Change The Way You Feel About Me Now
Finally out of reach of father's giant shadow!
36. Calexico - Algiers
American ambient music visits Africa
35. Ty Segall Band - Slaughterhouse
British Garage (Enlightened Amateurism)
34. Jack White - Blunderbuss
White turns blue from red
33. The Trishas - High, Wide & Lonesome
Tear - jerker of the year!
32. The Tallest Man on Earth - There's No Leaving Now
Out of gigantic Dylan's shadow
31. The Mountain Goats - Transcendental Youth
John Darnielle pays more and more attention to production and less and less to the quality of songs but still he is good enough to be 31.

The Best Albums of 2012 (50 - 41)

50. Jake Bugg - Jake Bugg
That youngster is part of the New Sensitivity movement!
49. Dinosaur Jr. - I Bet on Sky
J Mascis with his guitar
48. Ry Cooder - Election Special
His playing overshadows even this ugly subject
47. Anais Mitchell - Young Man in America
Authoress!
46. Fiona Apple - The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than the Driver of the Screw and Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do
Authoress!
45. Ty Segall & White Fence - Hair
Hipster's Garage
44. Jon Dee Graham - Garage Sale!
Song of the year - Unaffraid
43. Bill O'Sullivan - Phillip's Head
Grunge singer/songwriter is younger than his voice!
42. Carolina Chocolate Drops - Leaving Eden
Like when you drink cold water from the source
41. Chelle Rose - Ghost of Browder Holler
Even cowgirls get the blues

27th of November

Holly Golightly & The Brakeoffs - Sunday Run Me Over (2012)

Whatever syntagma "Garage Rock" means, Holly Golightly and her partner Lawyer Dave fit in. Country, Traditional R&B, Folk, Rockabilly, Alt.Country, Blues, Rock'n'Roll and everything else that comes to mind are mixed up in this unique music sung in optimistic key (this time). Good humor, joy and happiness radiate from this album trying to contaminate us with those nowadays undesirable feelings. The choice of covers, starting with The Davis Sisters No.1 from 1953 "I forgot more than you'll ever know (about him)", through Wayne Raney's (of Delmore Brothers fame) "We Need A Whole Lot More Of Jesus (And A Lot Less Rock And Roll)"with their "less Jesus more Rock'n'Roll" change to Mac Davis' hit "Hard To Be Humble", show us their intention to make us laugh and transcend us in the good mood. The originals have the same spirit and that all together force us to push repeat button over and over again. Maybe my exaggerated enthusiasm for this album comes from overdose of depressive singer/songwriter regulars on my playlist, but I still think this could be one of the best "under the radar" albums of the year.

Official Website

7th of November 2012

Andrew Combs - Worried Man (2012)

Andrew is, for me, the unquestionable future of American country music. Maybe it's too audacious to compare the significance of this album with the first Willie Nelson album "And Then I Wrote" from 1962 but both announced to the world the appearance of great songwriter. Better comparison would be with debut albums of two great country artists Steve Earle and Lyle Lovett, because Andrew covers up the whole range of moods and emotions of both Steve and Lyle. Andrew's songwriting is first class, singing also, still I'm afraid he'll suffer the faith of Matraca Berg, another great songwriter, whose songs have made famous other singers, but she stays almost completely anonymous. The disturbing factor for superficial listeners is always-present thin line of sorrow in his voice, which Steve and Lyle also have, but the greatest mainstream country stars e.g. Clint Black, Garth Brooks or George Strait don't. However, I don't think Mr.Combs wants to be mainstream country star. He just wants to play his songs and to improve musically and as a performer. The progress could be seen if you listen continuously his EP Tennessee Time and this album. The first is top notch material, specially my favorite "Hummingbird", but looser, more relaxed and musically simpler, on the second one, the band is more prominent and tighter in fast numbers. It sounds like rock'n'roll, and it's compliment!

I'd rather not bother you anymore, fortunately you can hear it all for free and buy if you like on BANDCAMP

26th of October 2012

Iris DeMent - Sing the Delta (2012)

The first song on Iris' first album "Let the Mystery Be" showed clearly her "credo", emerged from her Pentacostal background and her tight-knit family. True believers don't ask questions, they just follow. True believers are sometimes angry with their God, but they know how to forgive. True believers they spread love, first among the family, then to the outside world. True believers don't need proofs, they need comfort.  The cynical twenty first century shows no mercy for that kind of characters, they are last of their kind, misunderstood, underestimated and hopelessly dated. 

But even the coldest hipsters have their moments of reminiscing of childhood days when everything seem so easy and when they feel unconditionally loved and protected. Iris DeMent's new album (and all her previous albums) is ideal soundtrack for these moments.I can't recall any singer in any genre who dedicated more songs to his/her parents and home. On Sing the Delta there are at least four: title track, the opening Go Ahaed and Go Home, Makin' My Way Back Home and Mama Was Always Tellin' Her Truth. In fact, all her songs are, one way or another, about family idyll of her childhood at Arkansas Delta. Thanks to her high-lonesome trembling soprano, the mix of country, folk and blues leans towards country which may be repulsive to some people. On the contrary, it is very appealing to me. Appealing enough to be in my top 5 this year!

20th of October 2012

The Jim Jones Revue - The Savage Heart (2012)

The Jim Jones Revue look like they just left Charles Dickens novel leaving Artful Dodger on his own, to make his way through muddy streets of XIX century London. Than, they transcendentally cross the ocean to meet their spiritual brothers Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard, The Stooges, MC5 and some Delta bluesmen too. The result is this record - mean rock'n'roll played with a little dose of English arrogance. The counterpoint between loose lead vocals and tight backing vocals spiced with honky tonk piano in "7 Times around the Sun" made it easier for me to pick my favorite track, but the others are also very good and differ from each other enough not to be annoying. Even in slow blues "Midnight Oceans & The Savage Heart" you can clearly hear the savageness of these hearts.

18th of October 2012

Jake Bugg - Jake Bugg (2012)

Who is this guy remind you of? The majority of you would say Bob Dylan for sure. And the majority of you would be right. But it's not that simple, it's not just another regular "new Bob Dylan" candidate. His dangerous look on inadequate young face, his acoustic guitar and his simple jacket are "pro", but his songs (at least some of them) are "contra" epigone arguments. His songs are strongly reclined on the folk singer/songwriter tradition, his performance evokes the memory of Don McLean, one of the first "new Bob Dylans" from the beginning of the seventies. Young Jake personally admitted this connection in BBC interview, quoting "Vincent" as very important song to him (see videos below).

Why he showed up on the mainstream now (with some others, Ed Sheeran or Mumford and Sons, for example)? Because people are tired of alienating electronica, offensive rap and meaningless modern R'n'B, people need to get in touch with their own feelings, people need New Sensitivity! 

5th of October 2012

Dan Stuart - The Deliverance of Marlowe Billings

There's no doubt that Dan Stuart was the heart and mind of Green on Red, long forgotten predecessor of what we call "Americana" today. You can feel it in every note of this album, made with Sacri Cuori, his Italian backing band. Although Antonio Gramentieri is not Chuck Prophet, nor Christian Ravaglioli is Chris Cacavas, Dan alone is more than enough to bring us back old memories and to deliver the same feeling. Frankly, the energetic level is few octaves lower than in Green on Red times, partly because of Italians who mellowed out the sound in Mediterranean way, partly because of his 50+ years of age, with last few spent in rehab from divorce and nervous breakdown ("....now I'm just searching through the pieces, looking for whatever's left of me"). Now, he is back, still trying to overcome the hard period in his life. This album is his cure and judging by a show described below remedy is effective. The Deliverance of Marlowe Billings secured it's place among my best albums of 2012 not with great singing (it isn't!), not with great songwriting (good, but not essential), not even with great playing (just competent), but with great outburst of emotions, like in psychotherapy session.

Dan Stuart & Sacri Cuori Live at Gun Club, Belgrade, 04.10.2012

Lucky me, I saw him with Sacri Cuori last night at Gun Club, with predominantly gray-headed audience enjoying the show. He was very communicative, mentioning Jeffrey Lee Pierce (association to the name of the venue "Gun Club"), Jonathan Richman (Old World cover) and Joe Strummer (announcing song "What are You Laughing About" as a tribute to him). He was trying very hard to play rock'n'roll, but with exaggerated foolish grimaces on his face during fast numbers, it seemed to me that this is part of his"out-of -depression" therapy. On the other side, in slow numbers he was on his territory, playing them even slower than on album, with more credibility. Generation gap was not an issue here, we understood each other very well, our problems may differ a little, but late middle age is late middle age. With the last song (an old Green on Red favorite) Little Things in Life, played in irresistible Tarantella rhythm (oooh those Italians!), he gives us the answer - enjoy little things in life and you'll easier make it through!

Little Things in Life live from the living room in Belgium (video I made from Gun Club have terrible audio, and is not usable)

21st of September

The Trishas - High, Wide & Lonesome (2012)

Corb Lund - Cabin Fever (2012)

The Trishas and Corb Lund have two things in common. Country background and down-to-earth approach. For many people that's enough to bypass them in wide arc, for the others like me, it's compliment. If you expect them to be innovative or adventurous (in musical terms), go somewhere else, but if you want sincere and heartfelt music stay and enjoy. 

The Trishas (Jamie Wilson, Kelley Mickwee, Liz Foster and Savannah Welch) they took their name because they covered Savannah's father's Kevin Welch composition that had become a hit for Trisha Yearwood. Those Texan girls already had their careers when they met on tribute concert for aforementioned Kevin back in 2008 and stayed together ever since. Surprisingly, their career goes very slow knowing how perfect their harmonies are, how fresh they look and how strong is that tear-jerking quality in their singing. I doubt they'll ever be Dixie Chicks, not because the lack of quality but because the lack of urge. They are singing for their own fun, they are singing for the sake of the song! Only the title of the album "High, Wide & Handsome" remains mystery to me - is it entitled by Rouben Mamoulian's movie musical starring Irene Dunn, Doroty Lamour and  Randolph Scott or by Loudon Wainwright III project about legendary banjo picker Charlie Poole. Neither makes sense, so I suppose it's only coincidence.

Corb Lund is real cowboy who's in love with his Alberta, Canadian State, his cows and his music. Song titles like "Bible on the Dash", "Cows Around", " Drink It Like You Mean It" or "(You Ain't a Cowboy) If You Ain't Been Bucked Off" spoke for themselves - the thematic range and performance leave no doubt about the respect for the tradition and for the canons of the genre. However he is not abusing the genre's common ground because he's got good taste not exaggerating in anything. He definitely proved his good taste inviting Turnpike Troubadours as special guest stars to his Cabin Fever 2012 Tour.

The Trishas - Liars and Fools Live

Corb Lund with Hayes Carll - Bible on the Dash

13th of September

..И ДРУГ МОЙ ГРУЗОВИК... "Годы Геологов" (2012)

(..And My Friend Truck - Geological Years)

Average internet addict from the Western World knows very little about Ukraine. He have maybe heard about Yulia Tymoshenko's ( Юлія Володимирівна Тимошенко) hair braid or soccer skills of Andriy Shevchenko (Андрі́й Микола́йович Шевче́нко) but about Ukrainian rock music he haven't heard nothing. I'll try to correct this by writing about the group И ДРУГ МОЙ ГРУЗОВИК and their new album Годы Геологов. My handicap is the fact that I don't understand a damn word from their songs but I have strong feeling that the lyrics are very important for this band. Maybe my friend Viktor Starodub who introduced me to ..And My Friend Truck will help me with this issue, but nevertheless I will dare to suppose that they sing or rather speak about politics (in a narrow or broad sense). Musically, it is indie rock with strong rhythm section and a singer who is talking the words supported with backing vocals every time the listener gets bored with that "talking blues". Keeping in mind there's only three of them, they are making pretty good noise! See them jamming with Damo Suzuki, legendary singer of German krautrock group Can.

See their clip "Otto Sander"

During the writing of this review it was inevitable to think about two Serbian groups, one with the same line-up (drums, bass and vocals), very influental in Serbian rock last 30+ years, Disciplin A Kitschme (see a clip from their last album "Uff!")

and the other, with similar vocal style, Goribor (see a clip from their last album "Evo je Banja")

For more information about ..И ДРУГ МОЙ ГРУЗОВИК  go to WETCHINA Blog

01st of September 2012

Wooden Ambulance - Intersection (2012)

It's rude comparing this kind of personal and emotive music to somebody else's, so I'll just say that the differences between Vojvodina plains and American mid-western prairies are not that big as it looks like to some people. The weight of the sky on frail shoulders of poor man is hardly bearable in both cases. So, if you are patient and meditative enough to pass through this record, at the end you won't be much happier, but you will surely know more about yourself than before. To start this voyage, just click HERE

25th of August 2012

Lee Fields & The Expressions - Faithful Man (2012)

When Sly Stone and George Clinton didn't make it to fictional surprise party for James Brown's 40th birthday back in '73, "boys (and girls) from the hood" Lee Fields, Sharon Jones and her Dap Kings and Charles Bradley put themselves in charge. The Godfather of soul asked himself "who, the hell, are those?" but when they start playing big smile showed up on his face "they'll bear torch of soul and funk in the future". Of course, this never happened in reality, I just want to display connections and influences between 60's/70's and contemporary soul/funk artists. The link that connects those periods is our hero Lee Fields whose first single was released in 1969 and the last album, Faithful Man, 2012. Most of these 40+ years, he was undercurrent (but well known in funk circuit), but every time he appears on surface it's holiday for soul/funk music. Try to find the last funk classic from the XXth century Let's Get a Groove On (1999) or recent soul classic My World (2009). His new, Faithful Man, reminds me of the best works of Eddie Floyd and Wilson Pickett. Singing is superb, voice is distinctive but still real soul voice, songwriting is good but not good enough to make any of these songs real classic. The only thing never missing from the scene when Lee Fields is around is SOUL. Keep it that way, Lee!

If you want to know more about contemporary Deep Funk go to:

Daptone Records

Single from the album:

Video from Sharon Jones & Dap Kings:

Video from Charles Bradley: 

Enjoy and share!

13th of August

Chavela Vargas - 30 Exitos - Voz y Sentimiento (1994)

Chavela Vargas (b. 17th of April 1919 in San Joaquin de Flores, Costa Rica d. 5th of August 2012 in Cuernavaca, Mexico) was, in my opinion, among the best female singers ever lived, alongside with Billie Holiday and ......hmmm......that's it! To be really great artist, you have to have that pain inside you that tears you apart and that bursts out of your mouth when you sing. Listen to Esta Tristeza Mia, En El Ultimo Trago, Mi Segundo Amor, La Noche De Mi Mal, Con Mis Propias Manos or any other song from this extraordinary collection, and you'll see her whispering, crying, roaring, screaming.......emitting emotions of such quantity and intensity, almost unbearable for average today's listener. The title of this album Voz y Sentimiento precisely describes Chavela in two words - Voice and Feeling.

P.S. It would be a crime not to mention the ingenious guitar playing of Antonio Bribiesca

Finally, link to the one of my favorite Chavela's songs not on this album:

9th of August

Dexys - One Day I'm Going To Soar

Kevin Rowland explained the 27-year gap between albums "I wanted to have material that I felt confident enough about ... I’ve got high standards, and that’s a blessing and a curse. The perfectionism hasn’t gone, although these days I won’t storm out of a room swearing and shouting at people*.

It was worth waiting!

* 09/03/2012. "The return of Dexys" . Music.excite.co.uk. Retrieved 2012-06-21.

6th of August 2012

The Stone Coyotes - A Wild Bird Flying

I won't valorize this record, I'll just paraphrase Jolie Holland from Old Fashioned Morphine "what was good enough for Lowell George, it's good enough for me" (Lowell covered one of early songs of Miss Barbara Keith, heart and mind of this band). The Stone Coyotes are actually family project: mom Barbara Keith sings and plays guitar, dad Doug Tibbles plays drums and son John Tibbles plays bass. Somebody described their music as "AC/DC meet Patsy Cline" but I don't completely agree with this statement. I'd rather say it's MC5 meet Bonnie Raitt, 'cause there's more rock'n'roll than hard rock in band's playing and more blues than country influences in her singing. But, those are just irrelevant nuances. You better listen for yourself HERE.

P.S. The final result of similarity reconsidering (after few more listenings) is Maria McKee and her band Lone Justice

31th of July 2012

Jon Dee Graham - Garage Sale (2012)

Once member of legendary band True Believers with Alejandro and Javier Escovedo, Austin, Texas born Jon Dee Graham is experienced man. He himself told us so in first few verses of his new album... I've pulled the torn from the paw of the lion, I snatch a fang from the jaw of the snake, I've stole the coins from the eyes of my enemy, And now I am unafraid....and we believe him. His tomwaitsesque voice tells us that his life was "passing through thick and thin" and natural consequence is becoming fearless. The second peak of the album is "Oh Dearest One" sung with Erin Ivey, tender song dedicated to his second son who suffers from rear chronic childhood Legg-Perthes disease. But, as any great love song, it could be about anybody you cherish and care about. These two songs would be enough to make this my album of the year, but Jon Dee, maybe to prove that he really is "unafraid", published "Radio UXTMAL (Venceremos)", electro-funk song that almost ruined the whole atmosphere of the album. Pity!

Listen HERE

18th of July 2012

Easy Baby and his Houserockers - Sweet Home Chicago Blues (1977)

I do not remember the last time I heard of an old blues artists that I did not know that it is good. I recently stumbled upon one. His name would be more appropriate to a porno actress, but when I heard Easy Baby for the first time, I forgave him the name and fell in love with the music he is playing. Some would say: Blues with feeling. I would add: new blues artists lost feelings somewhere along the way. So, try your luck with Easy Baby.

9th of July

The Smashing Pumpkins - Oceania

After so many years of machines making music for the machines, now again human is making music for humans. Maybe it's not as fresh as it was in it's first coming, but still has enough pathos to be recognized as Billy Corgan's best since.........Mellon Collie?

1st of July 2012

VA - The First Rock and Roll Record

Interesting compilation about the roots of Rock'n'Roll. First CD is dedicated to the mentions of words "Rock" or "Rockin'" and "Roll" or Rollin'". The first ever song with this two words was the first song on CD1 sang by unknown group with the verse "We've been rocking an' rolling in your arms, rockin' and rolling in your arms, in the arms of Moses,". Nomen est omen, as old Latin proverb is saying, so the mention of the words "rock" and "roll" resembles the rock'n'roll itself, and as a result we have here some songs that we recognize as predecessors of rock'n'roll. The CD2 contains real predecessors of Rock'n'Roll, songs from other genres (blues, jazz, pop, country, bluegrass) whose influence is obvious. The CD3 contains real Rock'n'Roll, including a song widely known as the first rock'n'roll record Rocket ’88 by Jackie Brenston And His Delta Cats (one of the Delta Cats was Ike Turner, who later become famous with his wife Tina Turner). Compilation ends with the uncrowned king of rock'n'roll, the one and only Elvis Aaron Presley!

CD1
1. The Camp Meeting Jubilee – Unknown
2. My Man Rocks Me – Trixie Smith
3. Kansas City Blues – Jim Jackson
4. Going To Move To Alabama – Charley Patton
5. Move It On Over – Hank Williams
6. It’s Tight Like That – Tampa Red
7. Pinetops’s Boogie Woogie – Clarence Pine Top Smith
8. Jimmy Blues – Jimmy Blythe
9. Crazy About My Baby – Blind Roosevelt Graves
10. Tiger Rag – Washboard Rhythm Kings
11. Rock And Roll – Boswell Sisters
12. Get Rhythm In Your Feet – Benny Goodman Orchestra And Helen Ward
13. Oh Red! – Harlem Hamfats
14. Skippy Whippy – Mississippi Jook Band
15. Cross Road Blues – Robert Johnson
16. Sing! Sing! Sing! (With a Swing) – Benny Goodman And Gene Krupa
17. Rock It For Me – Ella Fitzgerald
18. Rock Me – Sister Rosetta Tharpe
19. Ida Red – Bob Wills
20. Roll ‘Em Pete – Big Joe Turner
21. Rockin’ Rollin’ Mama – Buddy Jones
22. New Early In The Morning – John Lee Williamson
23. Down The Road A Piece – Will Bradley
24. Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy – The Andrews Sisters
25. Lullaby (Rock A Bye Baby) – Virginia O’Brien

CD2
1. Flying Home – Lionel Hampton And His Orchestra
2. Blues, Pt. 2 – Illinois Jacquet
3. Mean Old World – T-Bone Walker
4. The Joint Is Really Jumpin’ Down At Carnegie Hall – Judy Garland
5. Rockin’ The Town – Gertrude Niesen
6. Straighten Up And Fly Right – Nat “King” Cole
7. Strange Things Happening Every Day – Sister Rosetta Tharpe
8. Be Baba Leba – Helen Humes
9. Honeydripper – Joe Liggins
10. Guitar Boogie – Arthur Smith
11. That’s All Right (Mama) – Arthur “Big Boy” Crudup
12. Let The Good Times Roll – Louis Jordan And His Tympany Five
13. House Of Blue Lights – Ella Mae Morse And Freddie Slack
14. Hillbilly Boogie – The Delmore Brothers
15. Ten Gallon Boogie (Original) – Pee Wee King
16. Good Rocking Tonight – Wynonie Harris
17. We’re Gonna Rock, We’re Gonna Roll – Wild Bill Moore
18. I Can’t Be Satisfied – Muddy Waters
19. Chicken Shack Boogie – Amos Milburn
20. Rovin’ Eyes – Bill Haley
21. Its Too Soon To Know – The Orioles
22. Drinkin’ Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee – Stick McGhee
23. Rock And Roll Blues – Erline ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll’ Harris
24. Rock the Joint – Jimmy Preston
25. Saturday Night Fish Fry – Louis Jordan And His Tympany Five
26. The Fat Man – Fats Domino
27. Rock A While – Goree Carter

CD3
1. Gonna Dance All Night – Hardrock Gunter
2. Hot Rod Race – Arkie Shibley And His Mountain Dew Boys
3. 60 Minute Man – The Dominoes
4. How High The Moon – Les Paul And Mary Ford
5. Rocket ’88? – Jackie Brenston And His Delta Cats
6. Boogie Woogie Blues – Charli Gracie
7. Hound Dog – Big Mama Thornton
8. Rockin’ An’ Rollin’ – Charli Gracie
9. Lawdy Miss Clawdy – Lloyd Price
10. Have Mercy Baby – The Dominoes
11. One Mint Julep – The Clovers
12. Gee – The Crows
13. Crazy Man, Crazy – Bill Haley And His Comets
14. Mess Around – Ray Charles
15. Money Honey – Clyde McPhatter And The Drifters
16. Honey Hush – Johnny Burnette Rock ‘n’ Roll Trio
17. Shake, Rattle And Roll – Big Joe Turner
18. Sh-Boom – The Chords
19. Rock Around The Clock – Sunny Dae And The Knights
20. I’ve Got A Woman – Ray Charles
21. Work With Me, Annie – Hank Ballard And The Midnighters
22. Riot In Cell Block Number Nine – The Robins
23. Tweedle Dee – LaVern Baker
24. Bo Diddley – Buddy Holly
25. Maybellene – Chuck Berry
26. Tutti Frutti – Little Richard
27. Blue Suede Shoes – Carl Perkins
28. That’s Alright Mama – Elvis Presley
29. Rock Around The Clock – Bill Haley And His Comets
30. Heartbreak Hotel – Elvis Presley

23rd of June 2012

Kelly Montoya - Mostly Feelings

Following the best New York female singer/songwriter tradition, first that comes to mind are Suzanne Vega and Pepi Ginsberg, Kelly Montoya on her debut EP showcases her fragility and strength at the same time, trying to dig deeper into herself to find answers to unspeakable questions. I doubt she'll find the answers, but introspective selfsearch is satisfactory enough not only for herself but for dedicated listener. Try to be one HERE

7th of June 2012

Neil Young & Crazy Horse - Americana

We all know how mush Neil Young's music depends on American tradition. Although he was giving tribute to American traditional music throughout his long and meandering career, comes a time to show that it is two-way street. What is he doing on this album? He is revitalizing some of the most worn-out tunes of American music tradition appealing only to children not older than three and transforming them into new form (but the same content) acceptable for the generations to come. Before I finish, just one remark - the decision to include God Save the Queen here is a mystery to me, it's completely out of context and unnecessary. Despite of that, it's great album, surely in the upper half of Neil Young's extensive catalog.

PS - sorry, the mistake is all mine, English hymn is also part of American tradition, so please forget the complete sentence about God Save the Queen! 

31th of May 2012

The Honeycutters - When Bitter Met Sweet

The Honeycutters are from Ashville, NC but they easily could be from Nashville, TN, the capital of Country Music. The kind of Country Music they are playing is not of polished, overproduced crossover kind. Some call it Alt-country, some call it Americana, but for me it's just plain old Country Music, very rare these days. Responsible for this beautiful little record is singer/songwriter Amanda Anne Platt (greetings to her band too!). But don't waste your time reading this, go to listen to the music here!

26th of April 2012

Joe Pug - The Great Despiser

After three EPs and two albums, Joe Pug is standing still. The same mood, the same songs, the same music. Only hairstyle has changed. It's the last moment for him to make a move. In any direction!

3rd of April 2012

The White Buffalo - Once Upon a Time in the West

Jake Smith is big man with rare talent. That's why the name of his band is well chosen - The White Buffalo. The Rough Diamond would be also appropriate name, but he better be careful to stay rough and not let others to polish his music. Honesty and passion has to stay untouched!

16th of March 2012

Leland Sundries - The Foundry EP

Nick Loss-Eaton from Lexington, Mass. is a rich man. He has his Leland Sundries combo based in Brooklyn to play his songs. He has his half octave range baritone with expressive power stronger than someone's three octave range. He has the ability to write words for his songs. Is this enough to become rich in terms of money I doubt that. But I think it's the last thing he thinks about while he is making his music. You can check it out on   Grooveshark

10th of March 2012

Stray Dogg - Smile Official Video

Who is carrying who ........... in your relation?

25th of February 2012

The Parlor Soldiers - When The Dust Settles

Frederiscksburg, VA songwriters Karen Jonas and Alex Culbreth made one of the best albums in 2011 full of  compassionate stories about people from the margins of life. Playing is delicate (double bass of  Dan Dutton is helping a lot!), singing is passionate, matching is perfect. Can't wait for the new album! 

Hear it for free here (and buy if you like it!)

Stray Dogg Live at Dom Omladine Beograd, 18.11.2011

22nd of January 2012

Stray Dogg Live at Dom Omladine Beograd 18.11.2011

Stray Dogg played for the first time with bass guitar (Miljan Djokić) and drums (Uroš Milkić, guitar player of surf band Threesome) at Dom Omladine in Belgrade in front of the audience of 600 people. The sound in this video  is not good but you still can get an idea how it looks like.