Short Attention Span Record Reviews, June 2020 Vol. II

BLACKBERRY SMOKE –Live from Capricorn Sound Studios
Premier contemporary southern rock band doing stellar covers of a handful of classics from the Capricorn Records catalog including tracks by the Allman Brothers, Marshall Tucker Band and Wet Willie (whose frontman guests here). (8)

BOB DYLAN – Rough and Rowdy Ways
How can a 79-year old with a 6-decade career already behind him release an album so good? Seriously, this is probably the best Dylan record since 1975’s “Blood On The Tracks”. (9)

ERIC HILTON – Infinite Everywhere
1/2 of Thievery Corporation on very cool ambient solo effort. (8)

JAZZ SABBATH – Jazz Sabbath
Long-time incognito Black Sabbath keyboardist Adam Wakeman has some fun doing jazz versions of classics from his employer’s first four albums. (7)

JEHNNY BETH – To Love Is To Live
Savages frontwoman releases first solo album which moves a bit away from her band’s post-punk towards a darker electronic sound. (7)

LAMB OF GOD – Lamb Of God
Is it just me losing my heavy metalness, or is this less exciting than previous LoG albums? (7)

LARKIN POE – Self Made Man
Blues rock on steroids, this kicks some serious ass. (8)

MELVINS & MUDHONEY – White Lazy Boy
Great collaborative EP by an ad hoc group featuring the key members from both legendary grunge bands. Two new tracks plus Black Flag and Neil Young covers. (8)

MICHAEL FRANTI & SPEARHEAD – Work Hard And Be Nice
What is this happy hippy shit? Of course I wasn’t expecting the Beatnigs or the Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy, but even compared to recent Spearhead albums this is too lightweight. (5)

NORAH JONES – Pick Me Up Off The Floor
Haters might call her Snorah Jones but this album proves that even her leftovers are interesting – Jones revisits previously rejected songs from her demos and reinvents them for a new release which goes beyond the smooth jazz she’s known for, blending it with blues and country elements. (7)

PHOEBE BRIDGERS – Punisher
You’re gonna see this on many year-end Lists in December since Bridgers is the new Indie Rock Hipster Queen. Going beyond the hype, her sophomore album is a strong testament to her songwriting and storytelling talents. (8)

PROTEST THE HERO – Palimpsest
The third best (and by far the nerdiest) Canadian progressive metal band of all time is back with their best album since 2008’s “Fortress”. (8)

Short Attention Span Record Reviews, June 2020

ARCHIVES – Carry Me Home: A Reggae Tribute to Gil Scott-Heron and Brian Jackson
Reggae band from Washington D.C. doing covers of songs originally performed by Scott-Heron and his closest collaborator, Jackson, with some special guests and production help from the Thievery Corporation camp. A labor of love. (7)

ASHLEY McBRYDE – Never Will
Great sophomore effort by tough female country rocker, successfully bridging Lydia Loveless with John Mellencamp. (8)

BEHEMOTH – A Forest (EP)
Extreme metal cover of a song by The Cure, plus a couple of new tunes. The cover version makes a lot of sense. (8)

BRIGID DAWSON & THE MOTHERS NETWORK – Ballet Of Apes
Backing vocalist/keyboardist from Thee Oh Sees steps out on gently psychedelic solo effort. (7)

BRIGID MAE POWER – Head Above The Water
Irish folkie and UK music media darling adopts a fuller sound on new album, goes for a sort of Mazzy Star/Bob Dylan hybrid sound. Nice. (7)

CHANTAL KREVIAZUK – Get To You
Canadian singer/songwriter returns with a new collection of smart pop songs. (7)

JEFF ROSENSTOCK – No Dream
E-x-c-e-l-l-e-n-t hook-filled punk rock, covering the whole gamut from quirky power pop to urgent hardcore. (9)

KING WITCH – Body Of Light
Metal the way it’s supposed to be: Heavy but melodic, adventurous, over the top. And what a voice! (8)

NICOLE ATKINS – Italian Ice
Atkins calls her music “pop-noir” but to put it more simply this is like a 21st century version of Dusty Springfield. (8)

OHMME – Fantasize Your Ghost
A sound impossible to categorize, Ohmme’s second album brings together chaos and melody, angular rhythms and catchy hooks, dissonant chords and angelic harmonies. (8)

REVENGE – Strike.Smother.Dehumanize
A relentless, unforgiving maelstrom of noise and hatred. (8)

RUN THE JEWELS – RTJ4
The best hip-hop album of the year and, either by genius/design or by luck/coincidence or both, it sounds just like the apocalyptic soundtrack the times we live in deserve. (9)

STEVE EARLE & THE DUKES – Ghosts Of West Virginia
Alt-country elder statesman sounds angrier than ever on fantastic anti-capitalism manifesto. (8)

WHITE DENIM – World As A Waiting Room
The most classic rock of indie rock bands releases an album recorded in lockdown that sounds like a cross between Marc Bolan and Steve Miller Band. (7)