New releases are finally starting to roll out in earnest in 2022 and a few have been stuck in my personal rotation since they arrived. I'm also including a couple from last year that are seeing frequent playtime because I just recently discovered them.
The Whitmore Sisters, Ghost Stories (1/21/22) – People who don’t like country music are going to think this sounds like country music. The sisters are from the south, so there’s some older, regional country influence, some folk music, too. But there’s classic-era sounding rock and pop mixed in that makes the whole thing play like a great jukebox in a roadhouse somewhere south of the Mason-Dixon line. The sisters rely almost exclusively on singing in tandem, not backing up or weaving around each other, and their golden genetic harmony blend is in full force from beginning to end. I’ve listened to this one more than anything else on this list, hands down.
EARWORM: "Ghost Stories" - The title song is an modern sounding old-time folk ballad. It really shows off the magic of harmonizing family members.
The Chills, Scatterbrain (5/14/21)– I never know whether or not to recommend the Chills. They're something of an acquired taste. Their leader and primary creative force Martin Phillipps has been making records as the Chills with whatever lineup of musicians he's had handy since 1987. Handy down in New Zealand, that is, since that’s where he’s lived and worked his whole life. For being HQ’d in such a remote locale, the Chills have had a pretty decent level of success globally because Martin’s so great at writing catchy, flowing, effervescent pop/rock songs. Scatterbrain is no different, the man seems to just exhale sharp hooks and melodies. What his records also tend to be is something of a downer lyrically and Scatterbrain is no different. Your tolerance for a rock band led by Eeyore will determine how much you like this one. Tricky to recommend, but I have no problem overlooking the gray mood and enjoying the beautifully crafted songs.
EARWORM: "Monolith" - The opener, catchy and propulsive as usual for them. Not sure what "honor the monolith" means in the chorus but it makes for an earworm that sure sticks in your head.
Eels, Extreme Witchcraft (1/28/22)– Mark Everett lives and works in Los Angeles and has been making fine records with a shifting group of musicians under the Eels name since the early 90s. He releases solo records as E in between band albums, which tend to be more experimental. I prefer Eels to E music myself. Extreme Witchcraft is another of the Eels’ sharp, hooky, slightly oddball, power pop gems. To my ears, they sound the Talking Heads with a warmer, friendlier songwriter and front man.
EARWORM: "Strawberries and Popcorn" - An ode to the joys of living alone and being able to eat whatever you want for dinner. Charming and catchy, a little less spiky than the rest of the album.
What Strange Beasts, The Maestro's Tale (5/28/21) – Progressive rock still exists in the 2020s, but it's been mostly usurped by heavier metal bands who play it a lot louder and more aggressively than bands you remember like Yes and Genesis. This one is an excellent throwback to the older, more classic-rock version. You still get your shifts of tempo and extended instrumental passages, but What Strange Beasts' approach is more melodic and jammy (the guitarist is especially great) than the current practitioners. They keep the songs mostly under six minutes, so no long Yes-like epics, but there's a lovely album-long flow that's more like the classic version of prog I greatly prefer. Put it on and strap in for an enjoyable journey.
EARWORM: "Up in the Air" - Complex, but hooky and melodic and, unlike most current prog albums, big fun. It's followed by the 47-second "Sublimation" that allows them to just make proggy noises as a brief interlude before the next full song. All the pieces of this record work together in a way I'm really digging.
John Lodge, The Royal Affair and After (1/14/22) – John Lodge kept the Moody Blues’ spirit alive with his 10,000 Light Years Band by joining The Royal Affair package tour in 2019. This is his live album from the shows. If the Moody Blues were still a going concern (too many key members have passed, sadly) as a group of rich, elderly musicians, I imagine John’s band is damn close to what they would sound like. Lush, orchestral, and softer sounding than you remember. I’d file it under pleasantly nostalgic, which is always a good thing for listeners of a certain age.
EARWORM: "I'm Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band)" - Still my favorite Moody Blues song in a big, driving version.
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