Billy F Gibbons- The Big Bad Blues (2018)

Posted by KB on 10/16/2018 to Reviews In Brief
Though the title is trite, it's hard not like this blues romp from one of the ZZ's. It's heavy, traditional and fun. There is an unforgiving honesty in Gibbons' delivery. He's not trying to create a new blues/rock but instead embracing what he's been doing for over 40 years and saying take it or leave it. Personally, I'll take it since every song is party and none of them overstay their welcome with bloated solos. They instead leave you imagining how they could be extended. He blends KC, Chicago, Memphis styles to prove his chops and throws in a little calypso-like, 50s doo wop for good measure. "The Big Bad Blues" is big, it's bad and it's definitely blues. Good ol' smoky bar blues.

Favorite Songs: Just drop the needle anywhere.

Big Bad Blues





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Billy F Gibbons- The Big Bad Blues

Muncie Girls- Fixed Ideals (2018)

Posted by KB on 10/10/2018 to Reviews In Brief
Some the best indie pop bands are drifting our way from the UK, including the power-punk-pop Muncie Girls. The Muncie Girls are another solid female (Lande Hekt) fronted band with a big power chord sound. Don't let their poppiness fool you on "Fixed Ideals", it only masks that they rock about being angry over getting F'd over, scared about their present situation and desperate about what is to come. Oh, then they throw in Laugh Again to show they do wish for happiness for some. 13 songs and while they don't blaze new paths they don't feel trite. Its great to hear a no strings attached, straightforward rock album in this age of EDM and rap. So I hope this UK breeze keeps blowing bands like this our direction.

Favorite Songs: Jeremy, Picture of Health, Bubble Bath, Fig Tree, In Between Bands, Laugh Again

fixed ideals





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Muncie Girls- Fixed Ideals

Sauna Youth- Deaths (2018)

Posted by KB on 10/5/2018 to Reviews In Brief
Snotty, attitudinal, raucous, thrashing punk is evidently alive and well in London. Sauna Youth call to mind the Buzzcocks and Wire primarily on SY's power strumming, minor chord changes, minimalist riffs and barking vocals with a splash of avant garde artiness and flailing guitar solos. There is a little repetitiveness, possibly by design, but not enough to label this a mono-stylistic effort. SY implore you to listen to their gripes, personal issues and abasements and it's hard not to abide.

Favorite Songs: Distracted, Unreal City, No Personal Space, Leisure Time

deaths





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Sauna Youth- Deaths

Devil Makes Three- Chains Are Broken (2018)

Posted by KB on 10/2/2018 to Reviews In Brief
Devil Makes Three are a hillbilly alt-country-folk-rock band that sing about living on the edge of the straight and narrow and the abyss of hell. Or at least they think about it a lot. This follow up to "Redemption & Ruin" isn't as obvious about this tightrope but you can hear it in their smooth twangy tunes on calling someone out or making a bad decision. DMT excels when they are grittier and falling toward the aforementioned abyss trying to justified something maybe not so justifiable. "Chains Are Broken" is three quarters a great varied American roots album that has a couple of songs, that are well constructed, but get lost in MOR sentiment.

Favorite Songs: Chains Are Broken, Need To Lose, Deep Down, Pray For Rain

chains are broken





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Devil Makes Three- Chains Are Broken
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