Album of the Week
Chlorine Beach: Teenage Dreams So Hard To Beat
Album Of The Week (For The Week Of December 1, 2024) Chlorine Beach - Always, Never Emanating from the secret recesses of High School America, Always, Never is the 9 track 26 minute debut album from Chlorine Beach, the solo project of talented 17-year-old songwriter,...
Ringo Starr The Crooked Boy
Album Of The Week (for the week of November 24, 2024) Ringo Starr Crooked Boy Even with all their past glories burning brightly as ever, there has been an unprecedented whirlwind of Beatles releases over the past 12 months, not the least of which is perhaps the...
STRATOS presents TechNo*el
Album Of The Week (Week of November 17, 2024) Bryan K. Borgman, aka Stratos, is a music composer and producer, game designer, author, bass guitarist in The Stereoflowers and full time Father. In 2010 Borgman presented his sprawling 21 track...
Light Organ Records: Our First Christmas
Album Of The Week (Week of November 10, 2024) As has been the case with many indie record labels over the years, Mint Records, Sympathy For The Record Industry, Cinnamon Toast Records and Philles Records just to name a few, there’s been a long lasting tradition for...
Henrik Appel – “Shadows”
Album Of The Week (Week of November 3, 2024) What Henrik Appel initially intended as a side project has now become a full-scale reinvention. After years establishing himself as one of the key figures in Stockholm’s punk underground, playing bass with Martin...
Weeping Willows – “Christmas Time Has Come”
Album Of The Week (Week of October 27, 2024) Weeping Willows is a Swedish indie rock group that started in 1995. Since that time they have released a dozen albums, all of which successfully cracked the Top 20 in their native Sweden. Released on Razzia Records in 2014,...
Ayla Tesler-Mabe: New Rock Guitar God!
Ayla Tesler-Mabe is the electrifying former lead guitar wizard for the all too short lived Canadian indie garage group Calpurnia. Formed in 2017, they originated from Canada’s west coast city of Vancouver and included noted Canadian actor/musician Finn Wolfhard...
Gary Numan “Berserker” 40th Anniversary Remastered Edition
A music auteur in the Art Of The Album, British electronic music pioneer Gary Numan was just 26 years old when he abandoned the security of a major record label to embark on the creation of his own record label, Numa Records. Available for the first time in years, and...
Top Albums For The Week Of October 6, 2024
RNRF ALBUMS OF THE WEEK for the week of October 6, 2024 2024 Top 10 Albums Of The Week For October 6, 2024 Robyn Hitchcock 1967: Vacations In The Past JD McPherson Nite Owls Nick Wheeldon & The Living Paintings Waiting For The Piano To Fall...
Rock Truck Bee Sides by Younolovebunny
Album Of The Week for the week October 6, 2024 Rock Truck Bee Sides by Younolovebunny YOUNOLOVEBUNNY is Claus Frohlich, one of the heroes of the Danish underground. Bottom lingering, life altering indie pop melodies float effortlessly as clouds around his...
JD McPherson “Nite Owls”
Album Of The Week: For the week of September 29, 2024 JD McPherson “Nite Owls” The most authentic Rock N Roll album of 2024. If you like Rockpile, Dave Edmunds and Nick Lowe you’re going to LOVE this. And be sure to pick up his Xmas album Socks too while you’re at it....
Album Of The Week – Robyn Hitchcock “1967: Vacations In The Past”
In all the years olde English psychedelic tunesmith Robyn Hitchcock has been making albums, going all the way back to his 1979 debut, A Can Of Bees, with his band Soft Boys, he has never made a bad album. As a matter of FACT, Robyn Hitchcock has never made a mediocre...
Jack White “No Name”
Album Of The Week for the week of September 15, 2024 ”No Name” by Jack White No Name is the sixth solo studio album by Jack White, released in physical formats beginning July 19, 2024, through White’s label Third Man Records, and digitally on August 2, 2024....
“Duly Noted” by TUNS
Album Of The Week for the week of September 8, 2024 Duly Noted by East Coast power pop supergroup TUNS Released March 26, 2021, TUNS is Matt Murphy (Superfriendz) guitar, vocals Mike O’Neill (The Inbreds) bass, vocals Chris Murphy (Sloan) drums, vocals...
“A Dream Is All We Know” by The Lemon Twigs
Album Of The Week for the Week of September 1, 2024 ”A Dream Is All We Know” by The Lemon Twigs
Are The Rolling Stones Knocking On Heaven’s Door?
Rock N Roll Fashionistas works tirelessly to shed light on new and emerging artists. And to prove this point we have selected the latest album from a band that celebrated its 60th anniversary two years ago as our Album Of The Week. Ok. You'd have to be in a comma to...
Move Over Elvis, There’s A New Clambake In Town
If you didn’t know it yet, Shannon and the Clams are the thing in indie garage punk today. From Oakland, California, their killer sound successfully blends vintage vibes, R&B, garage, psych and surf music into a frolicking ball of irresistible fun....
Lou Reed, The Reverend And Their Perfect Day
Can I get an Amen? AMEN! The Reverend Al Green is the winner of 11 Grammy Awards, including the venerable Lifetime Achievement Award. He is both a BMI Icon Award recipient given to songwriters to honor their “unique and indelible influence on generations of music...
This Dude’s Strange, Grady Strange
Originally from New Jersey, nowadays Grady Strange can be found churning out his own self styled brand of saltwater cowgirl rock n roll in Los Angeles, California. Legend has it he was initially inspired to make music after scoring a garage sale 4-track tape...
Never Mind The Haters, Here’s Greta Van Fleet
Everybody hates Nickelback, you’re allowed to. But only old people hate Greta Van Fleet. When it comes to Rock N Roll, never trust anyone over 40. 40 is the new 30. Yippie Jerry Rubin said it first over 50 years ago, “Never Trust Anyone Over 30”. Old...
32 Years Young Paul McCartney Shines In One Hand Clapping
In the summer of 1974, as Paul McCartney and Wings soared to the top of the charts with their breakthrough smash hit album Band On The Run, the band found themselves back at Abbey Road Studios for a groundbreaking project that would ultimately be shelved for...
John Lennon’s 4th Solo Album Reimagined By Son Sean
“I wanted to represent it in a way that gave it a second chance” - Sean Ono Lennon Sean Ono Lennon has done an absolute miracle of a job remixing this all too often dismissed album. His Dad knocked off Mind Games in a matter of weeks whereas Sean painstakingly...
Who The Fuck Is Frank Carter And Why Do The Sex Pistols Care?
This coming August 13, 14 & 15, 2024, The Sex Pistols will be playing their blueprint for punk rock, Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols, across three nights to raise funds for West London's 400-capacity Bush Hall on 310 Uxbridge Road. Speaking about...
Jobriath Or Bowie: Who Is The True Fairy Of Rock
In June of 1972, after suffering a decade of flops and failed attempts at fame, David Bowie released what would become a seminal step towards success. Although his album The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars failed to chart in America...
Two Classic 70s Rock Albums You’ve Never Heard
Are You Serious? Idiot Optimism Both of these instant classic rock albums were recorded between 1978 and 1979 by Memphis born singer, composer, guitarist Van Duren when he was in his mid twenties. From the time he was a teenager in 1970 through...
Brian Wilson: As The Curtain Falls On A Remarkable Life
With all due respect to this legendary wizard of songcraft, it ain’t over until the fat man sings. Having just recently celebrated his 82nd birthday, Brian Wilson now finds himself suffering from the ill effects of dementia as well as the loss of his longtime...
First New Lennon & McCartney Track In 55 Years
Unless you’ve been under a rock this past spring you are probably aware that Sean Ono Lennon, son of John & Yoko, along with James McCartney, son of Sir Paul and Linda McCartney, have come together to collaborate on the first new Lennon & McCartney track in...
Black Men With Guitars: How Did Rock N Roll Get So Racist?
"This is a Black-fronted punk band, and that's really important. Rock'n'roll is mostly white suburban kids — that's what gets promoted. But we are Black and we out here. I was inspired to make rock music when I saw a Black guy on stage, and if someone sees that...
GTO Pamela Des Barres Is Rock N Roll Royalty
Who: GTOs What: Permanent Damage Where: Los Angeles, California, USA via the mountainous neighborhood of Laurel Canyon in the Hollywood Hills region of the Santa Monica Mountains within the Hollywood Hills West district of LA via the 1.7 mile Sunset Strip...
Bite The Big Peach
Greetings faithful Fashionistas! Your record of the week has arrived For The Week Of 5/20/2024 Who: The Big Peach What: Observations Where: Manchester, England Why: For anyone interested in the swinging 60s styled unison singing of The Monkees, Dave Clark Five and...
“Lennon’s On Sale Again” – David Bowie
The 1990s gave rise to the creation of the Tribute Album, a sneaky new way for record companies to simultaneously sell and promote new emerging acts on the backs of older, established artists and their respective catalogues. And seeing as John Lennon is more...
Album Of The Week – Liam Gallagher “Why Me? Why Not”
Who: Liam Gallagher What: Why Me? Why Not. Where: Grasse, France, The French Riviera via North London via Manchester, England Why: Oasis were a shit show. And both Gallagher brothers were covered in it. Tambourine man and lead vocalist Liam Gallagher, along...
This Album Matters – Secret House by Jodis
Who: Jodis What: Secret House Where: Post-Metal America, USA Why: In 2007, the musical talents of guitarist James Plotkin (Khanate), drummer Tim Wyskida (Khanate) and singer Aaron Turner (SUMAC, Isis) converged to form the enigmatic trio known as Jodis. Drawing from...
This Album Matters: Tumble In Shade by Danny Arakaki
Who: Danny Arakaki What: Tumble In Shade Where: Brooklyn, New York, USA Why: Brooklyn based Danny Arakaki, known for his role as the guitarist/vocalist for the New Jersey sextet Garcia Peoples, steps into the spotlight with his solo debut album, "Tumble In...
Fleet Foxes Self Titled Debut Album
Who: Fleet Foxes What: Fleet Foxes Where: Seattle, Washington, USA Why: Seattle based post grunge indie folk rockers Fleet Foxes, under the careful, considered guidance of their fearless leader, principal songwriter and lead vocalist Robin Pecknold, held considerable...
Album Of The Week – Wavves “King Of The Beach”
Who: Wavves What: King Of The Beach Where: San Diego, California, USA Why: Centered around lead singer, guitarist, songwriter Nathan Williams, this Spin Magazine, A.V. Club, Pitchfork, Paste approved San Diego surf-punk band has released 7 albums and numerous singles...
Record Of The Week – Drag Racing 7” by Big Stick
Who: Big Stick What: Drag Racing/Hell on Earth 7″ Where: New York, New York, USA Why: In the vibrant music scene of 1985 New York City, a bold and unconventional musical duo emerged, capturing the heart of legendary BBC DJ John Peel with their indescribable, head...
This Album Matters – “Pacific Standard Time” by Velvet Starlings
Who: Velvet Starlings What: Pacific Standard Time Where: Los Angeles, California, USA Why: Early twenty’s 60s revivalist guitar slinger Christian Gisborne leads the festivities on this, the third Velvet Starlings album in four years. Released on Lemon Sun...
Album Of The Week – Ariel Pink “Dedicated To Bobby Jameson”
Who: Ariel Pink What: Dedicated To Bobby Jameson Where: Los Angeles, California via Santa Clarita, California via Beverlywood, Los Angeles, California via Mexico City via Louisiana via Los Angeles, California, USA Why: When first hearing this album, one cannot help...
Album Of The Week – Bobby Jameson as Chris Lucey “Songs Of Protest And Anti Protest”
Who: Bobby Jameson as Chris Lucey What: Songs Of Protest And Anti Protest Where: San Luis Obispo County, California via Hollywood, California via Glendale, California via Tucson, Arizona via Geneva, Illinois, USA Why: In the depths of musical obscurity lies the story...
Album Of The Week – Chris Ducey “Songs Of Protest And Anti Protest
Who: Chris Ducey What: Songs Of Protest And Anti Protest Where: Los Angeles, California, USA Why: Two albums titled "Songs Of Protest And Anti Protest", released nearly 50 years apart, have caused quite a bit of controversy and confusion since being recorded in 1965....
The Rock N Roll Resurrection Of Bobby Jameson
In the depths of musical obscurity lies the story of a forgotten legend and a legacy reborn. In 2017, Ariel Pink, the enigmatic American recording artist known for his lo-fi recordings and eccentric style, embarked on a journey to resurrect the ghost of a lost...
Rock N Roll Protests On Saint Patrick’s Day
This May 17th, as a way of marking Saint Patrick's Day, let's take a moment to revisit the Irish themed debut single by Wings, the band Paul McCartney formed after leaving The Beatles in 1970. Released on February 25th 1972, “Give Ireland Back To The Irish” was...
Album Of The Week – Nick Wheeldon & The Living Paintings “Waiting For The Piano To Fall”
Who: Nick Wheeldon & The Living Paintings What: Waiting For The Piano To Fall Where: Paris, France via Sheffield, England Why: Nick Wheeldon, the Parisian Englishman from Sheffield, England, recorded his third solo album, Waiting For The Piano To Fall live on a...
Album Of The Week – Zach Bryan “American Heartbreak”
Who: Zach Bryan What: American Heartbreak Where: Oologah, Oklahoma, USA via the United States Navy via Okinawa, Japan Why: Even with one of the most hyped origin stories in recent memory, it still takes stones to make your major label debut a triple album. With...
Record Of The Week – Ringo Starr “Rewind Forward”
Who: Ringo Starr What: Rewind Forward Where: Beverly Hills, California, USA via Monte Carlo (Monaco) on the French Riviera via Chelsea off King’s Road, London, via the village of Cranleigh southeast of Guildford, Surrey via Tittenhurst Park off London Road at Beggar's...
Album Of The Week – Temples “Exotico”
Who: Temples What: Exotico Where: Kettering, England Why: Sean Lennon has been off quietly padding his resume, producing Fat White Family side project Insecure Men, Lana Del Rey and Temples, one of England’s first wave of 21st century nouveau psych bands. Dad would be...
Album Of The Week – Gorillaz “Cracker Island”
Who: Gorillaz What: Cracker Island Where: Blur via Colchester, Essex, via Leytonstone, East London via Whitechapel, London, England Why: Damon Albarn, OBE (Order Of The British Empire) When: 2023 Editor’s Choice:
Album Of The Week – Enter Shikari “A Kiss For The Whole World”
Who: Enter Shikari What: A Kiss For The Whole World Where: St Albans, Hertfordshire, England Why: Ever wonder what EDM, Death Metal, Pop and cellos sound like in a song? When: 2023 Editor’s Choice:
Album Of The Week – For Your Amusement by Pearly Gates
Who: Pearly Gates What: For Your Amusement Where: Prince Edward Island, Canada Why: Prince Edward Island power pop superband comprised of members from East Coast Music Award winners Paper Lions, Racoon Bandit and North Lakes. From Canada’s smallest province;...
Album Of The Week – Dhani Harrison “Innerstanding”
Who: Dhani Harrison What: Innerstanding Where: Somewhere In England Why: Necessary addition to the continuing story of The Beatles post Beatles canon. When: 2023 https://youtu.be/k3u82IdtIbg?si=IghbqdHUufwJEzfT
2023 Top 20 Albums Of The Week
2023 Top 20 Albums Of The Week 1. Nina Hagen Unity 2. The Polyphonic Spree Together We’re Heavy 3. Plants And Animals La La Land 4. Steel Beans Apricado 5. James Hunter The Hard Way 6. Aldous Harding Warm Chris 7. Arooj Aftab Vulture Prince 8. Sticky Fingers Caress...
Album Of The Week – Various Artists “Holidays Rule Vol. 2”
Who: Various Artists What: Holidays Rule Vol. 2 Where: America Why: A fine contemporary addition to the Christmas canon in the spirit of previous seasonal compilations A Very Special Christmas 1-7 and Maybe This Christmas 1-3 When: 2017...
Album Of The Week – Cher “Christmas”
Who: Cher What: Christmas Where: Malibu, California via the greater Los Angeles area, California via Hawaii, via New York City via Aspen, Colorado via El Centro, California Why: Because Cher. That and because she has taken The Zombies This Will Be Our Year from their...
Album Of The Week – Tarja “Dark Christmas”
Who: Tarja What: Dark Christmas Where: Helsinki, Finland via Karlsruhe, Germany via Savonlinna via Kuopio via Puhos, Finland Why: Tarja Turunen (or simply Tarja) is a Finnish heavy metal singer, best known as the former lead vocalist of Finnish symphonic metal band...
Album Of The Week – The Polyphonic Spree “Holidaydream: Sounds of the Holidays, Vol. One”
Who: The Polyphonic Spree What: Holidaydream: Sounds of the Holidays, Vol. One Where: Dallas, Texas Why: The Polyphonic Spree is an American choral rock group from Dallas, Texas formed by Tim DeLaughter in the year 2000. DeLaughter's previous group, Tripping Daisy,...
Album Of The Week – The Superions “Destination…Christmas!”
Who: The Superions What: Destination…Christmas! Where: Orlando, Florida Why: The Superions are an American synth pop band formed in Orlando, Florida in 2006 as a side project of The B-52s frontman Fred Schneider with Noah Brodie and Dan Marshall. The band, originally...
Album Of The Week – The Tenors “Christmas With The Tenors”
The Tenors (formerly known as The Canadian Tenors) are a vocal group consisting of Victor Micallef, Clifton Murray, Alberto Urso and Mark Masri. The group is the creation of Award winning Canadian composer, producer and talent impresario Jill Ann Siemens. Originally a...
Album Of The Week – Pentatonix “The Greatest Christmas Hits”
Who: Pentatonix What: The Greatest Christmas Hits Where: Arlington, Texas, USA Why: Pentatonix is an American a cappella group from Arlington, Texas, consisting of vocalists Scott Hoying, Mitch Grassi, Kirstin Maldonado, Matt Sallee, and Kevin Olusola. Formed in 2011,...
Album Of The Week – “Matangi” by M.I.A.
Who: M.I.A. What: Matangi Where: London, England via Acton, west London, via Phipps Bridge Estate, Mitcham, south London via Madras, India via Jaffna, northern Sri Lanka via Hounslow, West London, England Why: M. I. A. is a British rapper whose music combines elements...
Record Of The Week – The Beatles “Now And Then”
Who: The Beatles What: Now And Then/Love Me Do Where: The Dakota, Manhattan, New York City, USA, Friar Park, Henley-On-Thames, England, Capitol Studios, Hollywood, California, USA, Hogg Hill Mill, East Sussex, England, Roccabella West, Los Angeles, California, USA,...
Album Of The Week – The Bobby Lees – “Beauty Pageant”
Who: The Bobby Lees What: Beauty Pageant Where: Woodstock, New York, USA Why: Although hailing from the heartland of American bohemia which spawned both the Woodstock music festival and the American Arts & Crafts movement, The Bobby Lees’ aren’t your grandmother’s...
Album Of The Week – The Black Belles “The Black Belles”
Who: The Black Belles What: The Black Belles Where: Nashville, Tennessee via Detroit, Michigan, USA Why: In 2009 at the age of 19, gutsy Detroit schoolgirl Olivia Jean got herself down to the local live music venue hosting Nashville based The Dead Weather and managed...
Album Of The Week – Aldous Harding “Warm Chris”
Who: Aldous Harding What: Warm Chris Where: Cardiff, Wales via Lyttelton, New Zealand Why: Carole King. Cynthia Weil. Carol Kaye. Dolly Parton. Loretta Lynn. Buffy Sainte-Marie. Joni Mitchell. Laura Nyro. Ellen McIlwaine. Patti Smith. Wendy Carlos. Laurie Anderson....
Album Of The Week – Public Image Ltd “End Of World”
Who: Public Image Ltd What: End Of World Where: Venice, Los Angeles, California, via New York City, New York, USA via Holloway, north London, England Why: An at times divisive character, one time Sex Pistol John Lydon has sustained a music career spanning six decades...
Album Of The Week – James Hunter “The Hard Way”
Who: James Hunter What: The Hard Way Where: Colchester, Essex, England Why: The singers, songwriters, musicians, instruments, arrangers, engineers, producers, audio technicians, tape operators, audio equipment, amplifiers, microphones, rooms, buildings and individuals...
Album Of The Week – The Polyphonic Spree “Together We’re Heavy”
Who: The Polyphonic Spree What: Together We’re Heavy Where: Dallas, Texas Why: If you’re very lucky your favourite band will make at least one truly brilliant masterwork of an album. Not unlike Talk Talk’s Spirt Of Eden, The Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds, The Flaming Lips’...
Album Of The Week – Capital Cities “In A Tidal Wave Of Mystery”
Who: Capital Cities What: In A Tidal Wave Of Mystery Where: Los Angels, California Why: In an alternate universe Australian psych band Tame Impala reimagine themselves as an American chart topping success churning out catchy Top 40 EDM fused anthemic pop in the...
Album Of The Week – A. J. Croce “That’s Me In The Bar”
Who: A.J. Croce What: That’s Me In The Bar Where: San Diego, California via Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, USA Why: The exact whereabouts of New Orleans jazz, blues, R&B, funk musician, singer, songwriter Mac Rebennack nine months before the birth of American singer...
Album Of The Week – Madonna “Finally Enough Love! #1’s Remixed”
Who: Madonna What: Finally Enough Love! #1’s Remixed Where: Simultaneously in Lisbon, Portugal, London, England, Beverly Hills, California, and New York, New York via the suburbs of Detroit and Bay City, Michigan, USA Why: A remix is a piece of media which has been...
Album Of The Week – Instant Karma (The Complete Recordings) Various Artists
Who: Various Artists What: Instant Karma (The Complete Recordings) Where: Globally, from every corner of planet Earth Currently available as a download only Why: The complete 61 sides recorded for Amnesty International’s awareness raising campaign and fundraiser for...
Album Of The Week – Franz Ferdinand “Always Ascending”
Who: Franz Ferdinand What: Always Ascending Where: Glasgow, Scotland Why: Transport yourself back to 1978. Television have set their sights on guitar driven disco and recorded Parallel Lines When: 2018 https://youtu.be/PNsUgvkjviY
Album Of The Week – Kacey Musgraves “Star-Crossed”
Who: Kacey Musgraves What: Star-Crossed Where: East Texas via Austin, Nashville, Mineola and Golden, Texas, USA Why: Has Kacey Musgraves created a new sub genre of Country Music with her latest album? Urban Millennial Countrypolitan? Listen to decide for yourself....
Album Of The Week – Arooj Aftab “Vulture Prince”
Who: Arooj Aftab What: Vulture Prince Where: New York City via Boston Berklee College of Music via Lahore, Pakistan via Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Why: With airy atmospheric backing tracks reminiscent of David Sylvian, Eno’s contributions to Bowie’s “Low” and brush strokes...
Album Of The Week – Meaghan Smith “The Cricket’s Orchestra”
Who: Meaghan Smith What: The Cricket's Orchestra Where: Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada via London, Ontario, Canada Why: Smith’s music has been dubbed modern vintage, an eclectic blend of early 20th century jazz, country folk swing with a contemporary electro club vibe...
Album Of The Week – Danny Michel “Black Birds Are Dancing Over Me”
Who: Danny Michel What: Black Birds Are Dancing Over Me Where: Grey County, Ontario, Canada close to the Bruce Trail via his 1978 GMC G15 Vandura Star Trek van via Belize, Central America via Ottawa, Ontario, Canada via Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario, Canada Why:...
Album Of The Week – Tim Arnold “Super Connected”
Who: Tim Arnold What: Super Connected Where: London, England via Hertfordshire, England, UK, France & Spain Why: Initially Apple iTunes banned Tim Arnold’s latest critically acclaimed album, but after a carefully constructed love infused social media campaign and...
Album Of The Week – Dylan Menzie “Adolescent Nature”
Who: Dylan Menzie What: Adolescent Nature Where: Belle River, Prince Edward Island, Canada Why: One of the most talented songwriters to emerge out of Prince Edward Island in ages. If Joel Plaskett and Jackson Brown had a baby. When: 2016...
Album Of The Week – Fontaines D.C. “Skinty Fia”
Who: Fontaines D.C. What: Skinty Fia Where: Dublin, Ireland Why: Post-punk is a self explanatory term, music from England in the late 1970s that emerged after punk. The term is time and place specific. Fast forward 45 years and now post-punk refers to music sounding...
Album Of The Week – Ben Caplan “Birds With Broken Wings”
Who: Ben Caplan What: Birds With Broken Wings Where: Halifax, Nova Scotia via Hamilton, Ontario, Canada Why: Rabbinical rock ‘n’ roll gypsy theatre. When: 2015 https://youtu.be/kfzy08FSdS4
Album Of The Week – Patricia O’Callaghan “Matador: The Songs Of Leonard Cohen”
Who: Patricia O’Callaghan What: Matador: The Songs of Leonard Cohen Where: Toronto via Banff via Timmins via Iroquois Falls via Dryden, Ontario, Canada Why: Possibly Canada's most gifted jazz-cabaret hybrid, O’Callaghan brings her distinctive brand of cabaret to a...
Album Of The Week – Red Hot Chili Peppers “Return Of The Dream Canteen”
Who: Red Hot Chili Peppers What: Return Of The Dream Canteen Where: Los Angeles, California, USA Why: After a decade long absence the classic lineup of the Red Hot Chili Peppers returns with the inclusion of guitarist extraordinaire John Frusciante. One of the finest...
Album Of The Week – Kinley “Letters Never Sent”
Who: Kinley What: Letters Never Sent Where: Charlottetown, PEI, Canada Why: Delicate ethereal synth pop realized by Kinley Dowling’s exquisite vocals and producer Colin Buchanan’s studio wizardry. When: 2016 https://youtu.be/fHpriNqW60Q
Album Of The Week – Future Islands “The Far Field”
Who: Future Islands What: The Far Field Where: Baltimore, Maryland, USA Why: Earthy organic stylized vocals juxtaposed against a backdrop of 21st century synthetic pop reminiscent of early New Order When: 2017 https://youtu.be/5PFZnKYnL1s
Album Of The Week – Fortunate Ones “Hold Fast”
Who: Fortunate Ones What: Hold Fast Where: St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada Why: Anthemic new millennium pop mixed with powerful intimate ballads from coupled duo Andrew James O'Brien and Catherine Allan singing lead vocals in unison. When: 2018...
Album Of The Week – Good Lovelies “Good Lovelies”
Who: Good Lovelies What: Good Lovelies (self titled album) Where: Ontario, Canada (Caroline Brooks from Whitby, Kerri Ough from Port Hope and Sue Passmore from Cobourg) Why: Swinging hard like the house band for A Prairie Home Companion, these three women channel the...
Album Of The Week – Villages “Villages”
Who: Villages What: Villages (self titled album) Where: Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, Canada Why: In the tradition of Donovan’s “Open Road” album, Celtic Rock at its finest. For fans of Fairport Convention, Richard Thompson, the British folk music renaissance of...
Album Of The Week – Rose Cousins “We Have Made A Spark”
Who: Rose Cousins What: We Have Made A Spark Where: Halifax, Nova Scotia via Prince Edward Island, Canada Why: At once both pithy and ethereal with nary an earnest acoustic guitar in sight. When: 2012 https://youtu.be/sEclFc0K1l0
Album Of The Week – Meaghan Blanchard “She’s Gonna Fly”
Who: Meaghan Blanchard What: She’s Gonna Fly Where: O’Leary via Hunter River, Prince Edward Island, Canada Why: Like acoustic based roots music but not that corporate new country crap they peddle as Country music today? Look no further than multiple Music PEI and ECMA...
Album Of The Week – The Heartbreakers “L.A.M.F.”
Who: The Heartbreakers What: L.A.M.F. Where: London, England via Queens, New York When: 1977 Why: Two words. Johnny Thunders. If Iggy Pop is the granddaddy of punk, Thunders (1952-1991) is the granddaddy of punk rock guitar. As a founding member of the New York Dolls,...
Album Of The Week – Miley Cyrus “Endless Summer Vacation”
Who: Miley Cyrus What: Endless Summer Vacation Where: Malibu via Los Angeles via Tennessee Why: Past her mind altering dalliance with the Flaming Lips and the subsequent Dead Petz album, Cyrus continues to shed styles as often as costumes but what remains the same is...
Album Of The Week – Lights “Siberia Acoustic”
Who: Lights What: Siberia Acoustic Where: Toronto via Timmins, Ontario Canada Why: While evoking the vocal stylings of Jill Sobule and Lisa Loeb, Canadian electro pop artist Lights reimagines her 2011 Top 10 gold selling sophomore album in a stripped down unplugged...
Album Of The Week – Serena Ryder “Harmony”
Who: Serena Ryder What: Harmony Where: Peterborough, Ontario, Canada Why: Perhaps it’s not just a coincidence that some of the biggest selling music of all time was made by Canadian women, Alanis Morissette, Shania Twain and Celine Dion to name a few, not to mention...
Album Of The Week – Sticky Fingers “Caress Your Soul”
Who: Sticky Fingers What: Caress Your Soul Where: Sydney, Australia Why: Chart topping Australian indie reggae rock band Sticky Fingers celebrate the 10th anniversary of their 2013 debut album When: 2013...
Album Of The Week – Jobriath “Jobriath”
Who: Jobriath (aka Bruce Wayne Campbell, Jobriath Boone, Cole Berlin) What: Jobriath Where: New York’s Chelsea Hotel pyramid-topped rooftop apartment via Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, California via King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, USA Why: The self anointed “true...
Album Of The Week – Nina Hagen “Unity”
Who: Nina Hagen What: Unity Where: Los Angeles via East Berlin, East Germany Why: Simply put, Hagen has one of the most elastically challenging vocal instruments of the last century. Of any century. When: 2022...
Album Of The Week – John Tartaglia “Tartaglian Theorem”
Who: John Tartaglian aka John Andrews aka John Andrews Tartaglian aka Tartaglian What: Tartaglian Theorem Where: USA Why: John Tartaglia was an American composer, arranger and musician, sometimes credited as John Andrews on earlier releases. His unique take on 60s...
Album Of The Week – Van Duren “Are You Serious?”
Who: Van Duren What: Are You Serious? Where: Memphis, Tennessee USA Why: Van Duren is synonymous with the 1970's Memphis Power Pop scene, playing with the likes of Chris Bell and Jody Stephens and at one point auditioning as the 2nd guitar player for Big Star just...
Album Of The Week – Spindrift “Ghost Of The West”
Who: Spindrift What: Ghost Of The West Where: Los Angeles, California Why: Because the world needs Kirpatrick Thomas’ LA based psychedelic spaghetti-western rock band When: 2013 https://youtube.com/watch?v=MhTlBBcTl8w&feature=shares