Review: American blues rock's other famous double zed, ZZ Ward doubles down on her blues instincts with her fourth studio album, going to the logical ends of her newfound motherhood and creative independence. Produced with longtime collaborator Ryan Spraker, the record folds four tracks from her recent EP 'Mother' into a broader canvas of originals and carefully chosen covers. In the midst of early parenthood, the songs confront exhaustion, strength, and clarity with grit and grace. "It just took me a long time to get here," she reflects, describing the album as a way of reclaiming her place in the genre, as lead single 'Love Alive' lights the way to a blues-traditional, real-life sound and upcoming tour, Dirty Sun. Messy, honest, and unmistakably hers.
Letter From An Unknown Girlfriend (feat Fiona Apple)
Rock Bottom
I Don't Know How I Made It (feat Taylor Goldsmith)
Frank (Let's F*ck)
Katherine (feat Anana Kaye)
Everybody Loves Dennis Hopper
Golf, They Say
Venice. California (Victoria) / The Passing Of Hopper
Aftermath
Review: Brit folk rock troubadours The Waterboys have put together an evocative exploration of life's complexities with this, their 16th album, all while being inspired by actor Dennis Hopper's defiant spirit. The album blends folk-rock, Americana and poetic lyrics into an introspective look at mortality, legacy and transformation. With Mike Scott's distinctive voice and emotive songwriting, the tracks balance philosophical musings with gritty realism and so embody Hopper's famously raw and rebellious energy, the sort that made him such a star of the silver screen and movies like Easy Rider. The album's atmospheric instrumentation includes sweeping strings and soaring guitars that enhance its reflective nature. Life Death & Dennis Hopper is an ambitious record but one that resonates with depth.
Letter From An Unknown Girlfriend (feat Fiona Apple) (2:05)
Rock Bottom (1:15)
Don't Know How I Made It (feat Taylor Goldsmith) (2:31)
Frank (Let's F**k) (2:02)
Katherine (feat Anana Kaye) (1:28)
Everybody Loves Dennis Hopper (3:09)
Golf, They Say (3:21)
Venice California (Victoria)/The Passing Of Hopper (4:00)
Aftermath (2:42)
Review: Scottish rock veterans return with an ambitious concept album that chronicles a life marked by rebellion, excess and reinvention. Crafted with cinematic scope, the album pieces together the journey of an individual navigating shifting cultural landscapes, embracing chaos, and emerging on the other side transformed. Spanning 25 tracks, the music unfolds like a series of vignettes, moving from youthful idealism to reckless abandon and eventual redemption. There's a raw energy pulsing through the arrangements, from raucous, blues-drenched rockers to more introspective, soul-baring ballads. 'Hopper's On Top' barrels forward with driving rhythms and swaggering vocals, channeling a period of artistic ambition and Hollywood turmoil. Elsewhere, moments of reflection soften the edges, drawing the listener deeper into the story. Produced by Scott alongside James Hallawell and Brother Paul Brown, the record's sonic palette is rich, blending folk-rock roots with cinematic flourishes. Guest appearances from Bruce Springsteen and Fiona Apple add weight to the narrative, their contributions enhancing the album's dynamic range. Packaged on "burnt" vinyl 2xLP, this release is both a tribute and an exploration of resilience, art and survival. It's a bold addition to their storied career.
Review: Toronto-to-LA starlet Elyse Weinberg's debut Elyse achieved only moderate success, reaching number 31 on the ole Billboard. Her second album, now reissued via Trading Places, was never officially released due to the collapse of Tetragrammaton Records, clinching the anticlimactic career of a genius (may we add that the highest heights worth climbing aren't the most visible). This lost album, arguably the most cohesive of her entire catalogue, sported a stellar lineup, with JD Souther on drums, Kenny Edwards on bass, and Nils Lofgren on guitar. Neil Young made a precious appearance on the standout track 'Houses', perhaps helping award the song its later covering by a seemingly never-ending daisy chain of contemporary folk-psych greats: Dinosaur Jr, Vetiver, Courtney Barnett. Weinberg's delivery is cuetsy, garrulous and gallant, touting herself a "good-time girl" in chirpy spirit spilt across ten ready-steady grooves.
Review: US coutntry rockers The Wreckers - or Michelle Branch and Jessica Harp - were only around for three years, but in that time they did manage to chalk up a couple of massive singles, 'Leave The Pieces' and 'My, Oh My', as well as this album, which went on to sell in excess of 850,000 copies after it emerged in May 2006. Harp has gone on to have success as a solo artist, but the updated country sound and close harmony simplicity of this album, now reissued, is yet to be eclipsed by either.
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