Country & Folk

New album: Mya Byrne || Rhinestone Tomboy

By / / Country & Folk, Glam Rock / Leave a Comment

Mya Byrne calls herself “a badass trans lady who will rock you” and that’s exactly what she’s doing here, albeit in a thoughtful and subtle way. For her full-length album Rhinestone Tomboy she recorded twelve Americana songs topped with a greasy glam rock sauce, excellently produced by Aaron Lee Tasjan. An atmospheric subcutaneous tension appears to go well together with powerful messages and a high-spirited sound. The more rock-oriented tracks on side A appeal to a greater extent to me personally, but if the tunes go more towards country on the flipside, they continue to fascinate. This makes not only the title but also the music a successful and contemporary sequel to Glen Campbell’s 1975 hit Rhinestone Cowboy.


Rhinestone Tomboy is out now digitally and on vinyl LP through Kill Rock Stars.

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || Discogs || Kill Rock Stars

New album: The Fyoogs || Ambedo

By / / Country & Folk, Psych / Leave a Comment

The Fyoogs are an Australian rock band inspired by the lonely deserts of South Australia’s wild and rugged west coast. Their new full-length album Ambedo has seven drawn-out tracks that effortlessly evoke the atmosphere and temperature that prevail there. It’s cinematic music with a 70s feel, laid-back, groovy and exciting at the same time, not least thanks to the gritty vocals. Expect a sweltering mix of blues, country, psych and surf – desert rock – in which an organ, saxophone or children’s choir can pop up just like that. For fans of JJ Cale and RF Shannon.


Ambedo, recorded/mixed/mastered/produced by Evan James, is out now digitally via 3889953 Records DK. Musicians: Simon Hartley (lyrics, vocals, guitar), Kevin Lewis (bass), Rodrigo Andres Gonzalez Bea (percussion), Micheal Filmer-Smith (keyboards), Takashiva Nanda (drums), Damien Hills (saxophone), Chris Parkinson (acoustic guitar), Jim Marshall (drums), Tasman Daish (keyboards), Robin Bushell (violin), and a choir featuring Olivia, Emma, Mia, Ivy, Leilana and Charli.

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

Dusted || The 10 Best Cover Songs Of April 2023

By / / Country & Folk, Garage Rock, Indie Pop, Power Pop, Punk / Leave a Comment

Not all new music is really new, as many artists cover songs. Sometimes these are songs by their favorite artists, eg as a tribute to such a musical hero for a special reason, or they simply feel that a song deserves to be dusted and polished to reacquaint fans with great songs from the past. Other times, bands cover songs as a parody. Regardless of intent, some of those cover versions are so good or so much fun, we’d like to put a spotlight on them. Chosen from a wide range, here are – in random order – ten of our favorite covers from last month – links to the pages where you can add them to your wantlist included.

In April, we listened to nice fresh cover releases by Taj Mahal (Savoy), Ryan Adams (Morning Glory), The Wanders (12 Big Ones), Fifi & Les FauxFauxs (Les Demonstrations), Erin Rae (Lagniappe Session), Acoustic Blues Drîfter (Blue & Green), Shannon Lay (Covers Vol. 1), Papa Surf (Mr Sinister), Rachel Bobbitt (Party Police), and various artists paying tribute to The Posies’ Frosting On The Beater (Positive Signs), but there was much more. The selection we made below is less noisy than usual – if you feel the need, you can check out new covers of Michael Sembello’s Maniac by The Dead Krazukies (punk rock) or by Omnium Gatherum (death metal), or of Black Sabbath’s War Pigs by Eva Under Fire (classic rock) or by Josiah Soren & The Colorblind Pilots (funk) – but definitely worth your attention.

Odio Los Lunes || Cover: Los Hermanos Dalton || Original: The Boomtown Rats
Andalusian punk pop group Los Hermanos Dalton offer a welcome return with the Dije Cara Y Eso Salió single, out digitally and on vinyl 7″ through Hurrah! Música. The title track is an amazing summer hit, the flipside contains a intense cover of The Boomtown Rats’ 1979 hit I Don’t Like Mondays, sung in Spanish.

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New album: Country Westerns || Forgive The City

By / / Country & Folk, Indie Rock, Punk / 1 Comment

Country Westerns’ debut LP was one of the finest LPs of 2020. It made #3 on my year-end list, where I dubbed the Nashville band’s sound as “Twangy rock for punk dads.” I think that description still holds for the follow-up Forgive The City which is out now through Fat Possum. The lines between punk rock, classic rock and americana on the LP again is razor thin while the songwriting remains razor sharp. The blue collar, honest gravel of Country Westerns singer Joseph Plunkett (of Gentlemen Jesse & His Men and The Weight fame) signals many lives lived. Plunkett gives the songs an emotional heft and is a perfect companion to the awesome instrumentation on the record. Country Westerns have acquired  new layers and depth.

Forgive The City is the kind of record that I can’t wait to experience live in a small venue. To just watch, take in the words, and admire the playing of instruments. With certain bands, there is no need for peacocking, for acting tough or theatre, the music speaks for itself. Country Westerns belong in that category. Or like they sing in their new theme song “Call it something or call it nothing. You know it’s always been Country Westerns for me.”

Forgive The City is a grower that already has me in its grasp.


Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || Discogs

New single: The Brakes || Dice God / Brand New Daddy

By / / Country & Folk, Garage Rock / Leave a Comment

Melbourne, Australia five-piece The Brakes say they play rock ‘n’ roll with one foot firmly on the gas. The sound of Sam Jeffrey (lead vocals, guitar, harmonica), Hannah Wales (keyboard, vocals), and brothers Gus Campbell (drums), Kyle Campbell (bass, guitar, vocals) and Rhys Campbell (guitar) is a kind of mix of laid-back garage rock and greasy Southern rock. Their debut single is a delicious introduction to this new band: both A-side Dice God and B-side Brand New Daddy are swampy but exciting, with breezy melodies and amazing harmonies – it makes for a great ten minute road trip to the next pub.

Dice God b/w Brand New Daddy is out now digitally and on vinyl 7″ through Legless Records. For fans of The Nude Party, Natural Child en The Murlocs.

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New album: Thad Requet || Hope for a Better Day

By / / Alternative Rock, Country & Folk / Leave a Comment

Thad Requet‘s music can be found in the Venn diagram where the circles of rock ‘n’ roll, country and blues overlap. Both the musical skills and the appealing lyrics of the 10 original songs on his new album Hope for a Better Day show that the Missourian singer/songwriter/guitarist isn’t a rookie. Listen to the name dropping in standout track If You Love To Rock-n-Roll (including a reference to John Mellencamp, to whom this sound is most closely related) and you’ll know what I mean right away. Scott Donegan makes a valuable contribution here (guitar, bass, drums, keys, banjo, washboard, tambourine, shakers, kazoo), but we really also have to mention Alle Crow’s amazingly powerful backup vocals. This is a wonderful 47-minute autobiography that is sure to make for a good day.



Hope for a Better Day is out now digitally (self-released). Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New album: Bottom Shelf || Pud Master Johnson

By / / Alternative Rock, Country & Folk / Leave a Comment

A collaboration between Natural Child and Strange Boys sounds like music to my ears, but that’s only a fantasy. However, I imagine it would sound something like Bottom Shelf. They are a Raleigh, North Carolina-based five-piece, featuring Mike Steward (guitar, vocals), Riley Methner (guitar, vocals), Sam Olson (keys), Steve Kinsey (bass), and Jamie Ranta (drums). Their sophomore full-length Pud Master Johnson hovers firmly in the authentic roots rock corner of the musical spectrum, but with garage and psych elements. The eleven heartfelt songs here are raw and fascinating, with awesome gritty vocals. Hopefully this one will be released on vinyl in due course, then it deserves a place at the front of the record rack.



Pud Master Johnson is out now digitally (self-released). Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New album: The Wand-ers || 12 Big Ones

By / / Country & Folk, Garage Rock, Punk / 1 Comment

Queens (NY) four-piece The Wand-ers are a punkrock’n’roll outfit that loves country and rockabilly. They particularly have a soft spot for Wanda Jackson, and who could blame them? As The Wand-ers they recreate classic Wanda Jackson songs, as well as other oldies but goodies into something faster and louder. 12 Big Ones showcases twelve such hits.

Fun will be had, and as much fun this record brings, the approach of The Wand-ers likely work even better on friday nights at sweaty venues.




Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New album: The Blue Highways || Out On The Line

By / / Alternative Rock, Country & Folk / Leave a Comment

The Lury brothers – Callum (vocals), Jack (lead guitar) and Theo (drums) – from alt-rock band The Blue Highways are back with their sophomore album, Out On The Line. It is intended as an ode to the enduring spirit of the individual, to not giving up however difficult that can seem. The lyrics tell stories about people who think they have failed when in fact they have been failed by things outside their control that have left them clinging on to the last strands of hope and resilience they can find, such as the quest for family, home, love and meaning. In eleven diverse songs (you could call them anthems), the North-London based trio combines strongly arranged and big sounding rock with Americana, roots and indie rock influences. Standout tracks are the intensely sung Rio Grande, the Springsteen-esque Running Out Of Time and the irrepressible Streetlights, but actually the entire guitar-driven 40 minutes manage to captivate.



Out On The Line is out now digitally, on CD and vinyl LP (self-released).

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

Dusted || The 10 Best Cover Songs Of March 2023

By / / Alternative Rock, Country & Folk, Funk & Soul, Indie Pop, Indie Rock, Jangle Pop, Power Pop, Psych, Punk / Leave a Comment

Not all new music is really new, as many artists cover songs. Sometimes these are songs by their favorite artists, eg as a tribute to such a musical hero for a special reason, or they simply feel that a song deserves to be dusted and polished to reacquaint fans with great songs from the past. Other times, bands cover songs as a parody. Regardless of intent, some of those cover versions are so good or so much fun, we’d like to put a spotlight on them. Chosen from a wide range, here are – in random order – ten of our favorite covers from last month – links to the pages where you can add them to your wantlist included.

March brought new tributes to Harlan Howard (by Willie Nelson), The Rolling Stones (various country artists), Sarah Records (Space Kelly) and Stevie Wonder (Family Company), cover albums from Van Morrison (Moving On Skiffle), Hether (Covered In Hether) and Jerry Leger (Latent Uncovers), and releases with some successful cover songs by Kim Ware, The Silversound, Bad Weed, Cold Expectations, The Naggs, Black Adidas, The Nude Party and The Black Crowes, but the next ten deserve the spotlight the most.

Cut Your Hair || Cover: Midtown || Original: Pavement
American pop-punk band Midtown disappeared from view after their 2004 Forget What You Know LP, as if they had taken its motto a little too seriously. Good news: they will return next month by releasing the covers EP We’re Too Old To Write New Songs So Here’s Some Old Songs We Didn’t Write (out May 26 via TAG Music). The title testifies to self-mockery, the song choices of youth sentiment, the sound of preserved skills. The first tastes in the form of Lagwagon’s Know It All and Pavement’s Cut Your Hair are very enjoyable, nice to be reminded of them.

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