This NYC trio is something else. They rock hard with their credo 'Rock Your Faces, Mix The Races' and a style that lies somewhere between early Zep, a summer's day in New Orleans and the onstage live pic in Santana's Abraxas LP. Sahweet!
One of the fattest releases of 2009 is MWVL's Narcotica From Golgotha. This Dutch rockband is not easy to describe, but let's say this one is not for the faint hearted. These kick-ass riffs, thunderous drums and Robbie Hooker's vicious, strong voice will not dissapoint you. Cyco's only!
Hailed as the new Super Group, Them Crooked Vultures has to live up to high expectations. Luckily, Josh Homme, John Paul Jones and Dave Grohl rock hard on this one. Just take a listen and see for yourself.
Finally, here's Dewolff's debut album. These three youngsters (all in their teens!) present a nice psychedelic, rocking, totally '60s vibe. Think early Pink Floyd, The Doors, The Flow. The dwnld includes the first Dewolff EP as well.
This dirty, Austin-based, Canadian trio has its' own sound, sometimes described as Motörhead backing up Hank Williams. Nice one! Think ZZ Top on a ton of acid and this is what you might get. Play this sucker loud, folks.
Super 400's latest album is a Major Effort from this sympathetic trio. Give this one some time to grow on you, it's definitely worth it. Your's truly's totally in love with this band. Hot damn!!!
Costello's early work is famous for its' energy, smart lyrics and some interesting compositions. On his studio albums he doesn't always really get there IMHO, but on these '78 live recordings the sweat is dripping from the ceiling. Tracks like Radio, Radio, Pump It Up and Waiting For The End Of The World are also included.
Here's a nasty & rare one for the summer. I saw Thee Andrews Surfers a couple of years ago and they blew me away with their energetic, punky surf. Imagine Dick Dale backed up by The Ramones. Go!
Portugal. The Man grabbed me with their eccentric rock on Church Mouth. On this album they sound a bit more relaxed and balanced. Tracks like People Say, The Woods, Everyone Is Golden, Do You, Mornings... Wow.
The Loved Ones never had big success, but they sure had the songs for it. Better Do Right is filled with a tasty blend of blues, rock & soul in a mod-ish outfit. Gotta love it!
The Atomic Bitchwax is a cool, heavy boogie trio from New Jersey. These guys mix ZZ Top, Pink Floyd and Black Sabbath in their very own way. Give this one more than one spin, it's a grower.
This '69 album by the greatest female singer of all time is everything you'd want it to be. It's got all the soul you can imagine, a lot of funky grooves and those blue notes that hit the spot.
Candybar Planet was - if I recall correctly - a nineties stoner band from Eindhoven, The Netherlands. Saw them live a couple of times back then (a.o. Dynamo Open Air) and they definitely had a Kyuss vibe. On 32 Bitch there's a lot of cool & fuzzy riffin'.
Clutch newest album is a Killer once again. It proves to integrate more blues licks, lame grooves and balls-to-the-wall drums. Saw Clutch on their current tour and they played some of these live. Smokin'!
Paper's a nice solo effort by Black Crow Rich Robinson. A lot of thick tone, slow beats (me likey) and cunning songs. His vocals aren't as strong as his riffs, but Rich certainly presents Paper with joy-le-vive. ;)
High On Fire is one of the most intense riffing rock trio's I have ever come across. Ungodly loud, tough as nails and blablabla. Just listen to this album and bow for these guys.
Doyle had been playing quite some years (a.o. in The Fabulous Thunderbirds) before recording this album. He shows he can do more than playing the most beautiful blueslicks on this solo debut. Together with Wendy & Lisa he travels thru soul, funk, rock and more.
More acid blues rock from San Francisco, this time from a band that still exists. Dzjenghis Khan jams loud and proud on this one, recorded at Guy Tavares' (Orange Sunshine) studio. Smokin'.
Those who dig rough, psychedelic rock from the late '60s and the early '70s really should pick up this one. Shiver was a power trio that played Hell's Angels' parties and Hippie street fairs as well. A musical representation of Acid. No overdubs.
This is one funky-ass record. Gets even a bunch of librarians to a houseparty. Junior Parker also covers three tracks by The Beatles - all you samplers out there, listen closely to Taxman. Brilliant stuff. Comes from vinyl.
You just might recognize a couple of beats from this album. Baby Huey is one of the most sampled artists within the hip hop industry. Back in the '60s, the man himself poured out one soulfull song after another. Dig.
Chuck Prophet's latest album is a "mesmerizing blend of warmth and chill" according to Philadelphia Inquirer. I couldn't possibly describe the vibe of Soap and Water any better than that. Sweet.
Raunchy rockabilly from '56. Clay didn't make it big, but he was an inspiration to a.o. Gene Vincent, The Paladins and Brian Setzer. No lame ballads on this one.
More NYHC for y'all. This is my #1 Hardcore album of all time. Harley Flanagan hunts you down and crushes you. The Riffs!
Fierce New York Hardcore with slow Sabbath-esque rhythms. On this E.P. they're Keepin It Real for sure. My personal favorite from these guys.
Moloch's self titled 1970 album features bluesy acid rock with a funky feel. Not a well-known band (and not every song is spot-on), but these guys know how to deliver.
Check out the instrumental riff-rock by this diabolic trio. Karma To Burn's best album shows an ability to groove hard, but with dynamics and atmosphere. These boys will be making their onstage comeback this summer.
This one is quite rare (350 copies). Hi-Dramatic combined tasty '50ies Rock 'N' Roll with A"monster"dam surf riffs in their own way. Put in a bit of desert rock and some psychedelics. This sure is an album to bring to a houseparty.
The subtitle "Dilla's Productions For Various Artists" says it all. Tracks by a.o. De La Soul, The Roots, Slum Village, Common, The Pharcyde and Amp Fiddler. Chillemundos.
In a perfect world everybody would have a couple of good funk compilations lying around. Just in case. And if so, Chains & Black Exhaust is one of the compilations that you couldn't miss out on. Ghetto phunkin', hypnotizin' and definitively ass shakin'.
Cuban Heels, one of Holland's best blues outfits, plays their blues lowdown, gritty and heartfelt on their third album. More dynamics than the first two albums. Especially vocalist Jan Hidding shines on Gutbucket Music.
Dopesmoker, the legend... Their label wouldn't release this record, which is a 63-minute (!), psychedelic, drone-doom track. It was released thru Tee Pee Records in 2003, 5 years after the band broke up. What a trip Dopesmoker is.
This Austin-based Canadian trio (no joke) is one of my favorites. Frontman Gordie Johnson sounds like the perfect mix of Billy Gibbons, Billy Gibbons and Billy Gibbons. Ferocious slide guitars. And he's LOUD.
Laid back desert music with (on this album) John Convertino and Joey Burns of Calexico. Something to get the summer coming your way.
Come, Reap is The Devil's Blood's answer to -say- Roky Erickson, Coven and Black Sabbath. Occult rock in an old school way. No grunts or heavily distorted guitars. Just excellent songwriting. Grows every time you spin it.
Philip Sayce follows the path of Jimi and SRV with this 2005 album. Sayce's stratocaster sounds huge. Worth a listen for those who dig powerfull bluesy rock with catchy riffs.
Earthless is a psychedelic, mostly instrumental rocktrio that willingly loses itself in 20-minute-plus jams. If you're not totally consumed by the world of Zap, take some time and share the ride with Earthless on this cosmic trip.
These recordings were made before the avant-garde escapades of Beefheart. It's more of a straight forward bluesrock thing, which I like better. In my opinion these sessions surely deserve the title 'legendary'.
Dreamer (1974) is one of the best albums Bobby 'Blue' Bland ever recorded. Moody, laid back and soulfull. The 'Lion of the Blues' hits the right note.
Mountain (the band) frontman Leslie West does the trick on his own as well. On Mountain (the 1969 album) you'll find some cool Cream-ish asskickers. This rocks so damn hard. They don't call Leslie 'Mountain' (the nickname) for nuthin'!
The Muggs play their rockin' blues real down & dirty. Certainly has a white trash feel to it, just listen to (my fav track) Monster. No wonder they're from Detroit.
DBII's 2003 Welcome is the summum of Soul Rock. Gets even better every time you spin it. To me it has the same status as any record by Led Zeppelin. Need I say more?
With a line-up of Doyle Bramhall II, Charlie Sexton and the Double Trouble rhythm section, this sure is a can't-fail combo. DBII really shines on this 1992 Soul Rock album.
Too bad American Minor's debut from 2005 turned out to be their only record. If you like Southern Rock with some Stones licks, don't let this one pass you by. Could've been the next Black Crowes.
This is one of the better hip hop albums I've heard in a long time (thanx, Mitch!). Flowin' rhymes, sick beats and - most of all - ferocious lyrics. Be conscious.
Hydra's self titled debut could be described as an early blend of Lynyrd Skynyrd and Thin Lizzy. They rock hard but don't forget to make room for some soul. Quite astonishing these guys didn't make it big back then.
Jackie Mittoo is the King of instrumental organ-driven reggae. There definitely is some funk in here - check out the Booker T. original Hip Hug. Anyway, this 1968 album is bound to get the party started.
Sugarman 3 is one of the most funky groovin' combos to ever come out of NYC. To all old school ghetto funk junks: play this one ungodly loud and get to steppin'.
