BLOOD CEREMONY – The Old Ways Remain
In retrospect it looks ridiculous that these guys were once grouped together with Ghost under the same “occult rock” umbrella, since they’re very different animals: Despite influences Ghost are very much a “today” band, whereas Blood Ceremony are firmly rooted in 1970 with a folk-rock streak that keeps getting stronger with each album and reaching its peak on this one. (8)
DANAVA – Nothing But Nothing
I remember being very impressed by an album from these guys maybe 15 years ago, then I lost track of them. But out of nowhere comes this gem, landing somewhere between early Riot and DiAnno-era Maiden and kicking all sorts of ass. (8)
DROPKICK MURPHYS – Okemah Rising
A sequel to last year’s “This Machine Kills Fascists”, recorded at the same time and without co-vocalist Al Barr due for family reasons: The Murphys mainly use unreleased Woody Guthrie lyrics and build rowdy acoustic songs around them, and they also do a new acoustic version of their biggest hit “I’m Shipping Up To Boston”, a Guthrie original. Another track features the Violent Femmes. Fun! (8)
ENFORCED – War Remains
Thrashy death metal from this bunch that does a great job of raiding Slayer’s cabinet of leftover riffs. It’ll make you headbang until your brain comes out of your ears. (7)
GRAVE PLEASURES – Plagueboys
A bit of Killing Joke, a bit of Joy Division, a bit of Sisters, a bit of Bunnymen. Nothing original here but if you miss (or missed) the post-punk/new wave 80’s you’ll have a great time. (8)
DAVE LOMBARDO – Rites Of Percussion
Slayer etc. legend releases his first pure drum/percussion album demonstrating his virtuosity in a myriad different genres and managing not to be as boring as a 35-minute-long drum solo. (7)
THE OTHER STUFF
RODNEY CROWELL – The Chicago Sessions
Another excellent album from this somewhat underrated Americana/country stalwart, produced by Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy and featuring a couple of deep dives into the 70’s – “You’re Supposed To Be Feeling Good”, a Crowell composition recorded by Emmylou Harris back in 1977, and a great cover of Townes Van Zandt’s “No Place To Fall”. (8)
OLIVIA JEAN – Raving Ghost
Just because she’s Jack White’s wife doesn’t mean you should discount “Raving Ghost” – it’s a fantastic garage/rockabilly/surf/power-pop record with a backing band featuring members of Jellyfish, My Morning Jacket etc. and, actually, it’s the closest you’re gonna get to White Stripes riffage in 2023. Oh, and her cover of Enya’s “Orinoco Flow” is a scream! (8)
RICKIE LEE JONES – Pieces of Treasure
She’s always been more jazz than pop or anything else, but this is the first time she dedicates an album to the Great American Songbook, reuniting with the guy who produced her first two albums in 1979-1981. You know these songs from Sinatra, Chet Baker, Nat King Cole, Ella and Louis, Sarah Vaughan and others and those are some very scary comparisons, but Jones is so good she gets away with it. (8)
THE LEMON TWIGS – Everything Harmony
They’ve been on the Geek’s radar for a while now, and their previous album almost made The List, but this time they fucking nail it – 1967 Beach Boys, 1972 Big Star, and 1993 Jellyfish seamlessly merge into something totally 2024. (8)
PARKER MILLSAP – Wilderness Within You
Another slight move away from his trademark bluesy Americana towards a more experimental sound with elements of pop, electronica, even krautrock thrown into the mix, it works more often than not. (7)
CIAN NUGENT – She Brings Me Back To The Land Of The Living
Irish guitar hero (think Steve Gunn/Ryley Walker, not Steve Vai/Yngwie Malmsteen) releases breezy, summery country-tinged album. Right on time. (8)
OTIS TAYLOR – Banjo
Taylor plays the blues like no other – his music is repetitive, trance-like almost, and his lyrics are political but often touched by the surreal or the cryptic. It’s not for everyone but I love it. (8)
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