JENNY LEWIS, JOY'ALL

A showbiz kid and life-long musician and performer, Jenny Lewis has led the kind of life that at first glance seems a little fantastical and definitely not the norm. But like the rest of us, Lewis has had her share of ups and downs, wins and losses, happy moments and sad ones. And through it all, she has kept her wits about her. Now, as she hits middle age, Lewis is on a quest to find the kind of joy and happiness that has escaped her. And it is her wit...and witty lyrics on her fifth and latest album, Joy'All, that shine as she waxes poetically about it all. Shining too are the catchy sing-along melodies and choruses and the warm glow of 1970's FM yacht rock, folk rock, and country that cloak the whole album. Lewis has never sounded better and everything here combines to make Joy'All irresistible and one of the stand out albums of the year so far.  

CLOTH, SECRET MEASURE

Twin siblings, Rachael and Paul Swinton, have been making restrained and minimalistic synth dream pop music for a number of years now. On their latest album, Secret Measure, the Glasgow duo take a major step forward, refining every aspect of what it is that they do best. With Rachael's breathy vocals, delicately floating over elegantly constructed, symmetrical, and restrained music, Cloth envelops its listener and carries them off to a celestial-like space where themes explore the idea of reassurance. That 'things will be OK when things are tough in life.' And one can work towards being a bit more self-sufficient. It's a wonderful way to spend almost 45 minutes and I suspect that many will not want to come back down to earth so soon.

ROSE CITY BAND, GARDEN PARTY

Ripley Johnson is a guitarist and musician that I has been making his own blend of psychedelic and experimental rock with his band Wooden Shjips and musical project Moon Duo for many years. While I have been a big fan of Johnson's, I will confess that some of his music has been a bit too experimental for my taste. So I was very excited in 2020 when he stepped out with his third and most approachable band/project Rose City Band. In the studio, Rose City has been more or less a solo project for Johnson. It's one that has him leaning heavily into a fantastic blend of country and psychedelic rock. On his latest album, Garden Party, Johnson pays a bit of homage to the Grateful Dead and prepares us for summer with a set of songs that will keep you movin' and groovin' and put a big smile on your face.

TERRI WALKER, MY LOVE STORY

Terri Walker may not be familiar to many here in the states, but she's been gracing the folks in Britain for twenty years now with her impeccable fusion of R&B, jazz, funk, soul, and a bit of reggae. On her Latest LP, MY Love Story, Walker takes a few steps back from the boundary pushing that she's done with these various musical genres over her last few albums. Of the album, Walker has said that it's one she made for herself. It's an album where she didn't worry that it didn't meet her or other people's expectations.

I certainly had no expectations as I sat down to listen to My Love Story. So it was a pleasant surprise for the album to hit such a great groove right from the beginning with Finally Over You. With only seven songs clocking in at just 23 minutes, I will say that this album does feel brief and one of unfinished business. But I walked away with a new appreciation for Walker and her music and definitely wanting more. 

SMOKEY MIRROR, SMOKEY MIRROR

Ferocious, fearless, and soulful noise. Texas rocker's Smokey Mirror have said that they have dedicated themselves to spreading a gospel of scorched-earth riff worship and wild, psychedelic abandon. Check and check. They have said that their musical masterplan is to write songs that blend energetic heavy blues rock with elements of progressive and freeform styles of music. Check and check. And ultimately, they want listeners of their debut album to walk away in a sweaty, euphoric heap. And....check.

Recorded using all vintage analog equipment, the band's sound and soul is a throwback to a time when hard rock was still coming into its own and there seemed to be no rules or boundaries to what was right or wrong. Smokey Mirror is a breath of sweaty, dirty, and not very fresh air to take in. Which is just right. So sit down and strap yourself in for one of the hardest rockin' albums that you will hear this year. 

How Do These Bands Not Age?

Two of my favorite bands are back with new music for the first time in years. In the case of Depeche Mode, it's been six years. But I will say that this is the best album by band in a few decades. As for Everything But The Girl, it's been 24 years since Temperamental. And how amazing they sound. It's as if no time has passed. 

Depeche Mode, Memento Mori

Everything But The Girl, Fuse