J-Smiff - Black Magic (2021)

I don't know much about J-Smiff, but seems Black Magic isn't his first release. Basically it's blues with a machinedrum for the beats, or a kind of blues/hip/hop crossover, with vocals and guitars from the blues and hip-hop for the beats. Not very far away from what Everlast is doing. On Black Magic this mix is really producing excellent results, and the good songs and vocals are doing the rest, making it a really enjoyable album. Time to do another one!

Brother Dege - Aurora (2024)

The news of the death of Dege Legg known as a musician as Brother Dege really came as a shock to me. Not only because I liked his music (and I loved his music! Still do). I spent a large part of last year translating from English to French his book, Cablog (released in French as Cabdriver) and Dege music was something like the soundtrack of my life at that time. I admired him as a man and as an author as much as I admired him as a musician. I was looking forward to at last meet him at last during his European tour scheduled after the release of Aurora, his new album. He will really be missed. Now, is Aurora living up to the expectancy? Yes, definitely, his garage/blues/psych/southern rock got more personal and emotional, and it's as good and maybe even more memorable than the previous excellent albums. At least Dege left on a very high note. Thank you for that and for all the rest, brother...

The Bandcamp page.

 

The website. 

 

Shannon Rowley - The King Departs (2022)

You can always count on Svart Records for delivering something unusual, and of quality. The first album from Shannon Rowley, released in 2022 and called The King Departs could be described as an unusual take on dark americana, but it's also rocking, there's a haunted intensity and epicness that evokes heavy metal (there's a Hallowed Be Thy Name something in the first track, Says The Dead Sailor). I suppose Son House covering Birthday Party and Iron Maiden would have produced a similar vibe.  Yes, it's that good. 

The BC page.

 

All Them Witches - Baker's Dozen (2023)

When reviewed All Them Witches first album twelve years ago (already on Blasting Days, yes!), I wrote that they were : "A promising new band that could craft a very good magic if they find how to add more of their own voodoo to their already good music". Well, I'm happy to say the promise has been kept, and they did a good job in finding their own voodoo and make it flourish. Their sixth album Baker's Dozen is proving it once again, with enjoyable doses of their usual garage/heavy blues rock sound, but we also get to hear them at their most psychedelic in some songs, and at their most traditional blues in some others. At the same time deep-rooted in American music traditions and experimenting. Good stuff! I hope I'll review them again in another twelve years!

Their website.

 

The Delta Bombers - Neon Sounds (2023)

The Delta Bombers is a band from Las Vegas, Neon sounds is their fifth album and a nice addition to their already cool discography. Their music is old-school and raw rockabilly, with a garage blues feel and bits of country. In my opinion, they are among the best current bands playing that style. Recommended!

Their website.

 

 

Nobody aka Willis Earl Beal - Nobody Knows (2012)

Nobody Knows, released in 2012 is not the most recent album from Nobody aka Willis Earl Beal, but I think it's still his masterpiece (the rest is good as well). He's crafting his on mix of every Afro-Amercian music from the chain-gang worksongs to hip-hop through blues and soul, for a result that sound at the same time familiar and unique. Both he songwriting and the singing are excellent and special and this album should be considered a classic.

The Bandcamp page.

Willie Farmer - The Man From the Hill (2019)

The Man From the Hill is the first album from Willie Farmer. It's a first album, but Farmer not new in the blue scene, he's a more than 60 years old musician (but used to work as a mechanic). Farmer, and no doubt you can feel it in his music, comes from Mississippi, near the Delta. But he plays electric/Chicago blues, with also bits of rock'n'roll. High quality traditional blues.

Album webpage

 

Bror Gunnar Jansson - Faceless Evil, Nameless Fear (2021)

On the previous Bror Gunnar Jansson album the boogie garage-blues was different mostly thanks to the inclusion of some Earth inspired "drone rock" elements. On the new album  Faceless Evil, Nameless fear there's still an Earth flavour but mostly in one long song. This time the mood is more on the heavy blues side, starting with the first song with its riff that reminds a lot Pentagram. Maybe the album is a bit less surprising, but it's also more cohesive and it's nicely rocking. Again among the best and memorable rock albums of the year. 

BGJ website

 

GA-20 - Try It…You Might Like It! GA-20 Does Hound Dog Taylor (2021)

In this second album, Try It…You Might Like It! , the Bostonian trio (two guitars and drums) GA-20 cover one of their main influences, the Chicago blues legend Hound Dog Taylor. I preferred their awesome first album (reviewed HERE), but this one's also very enjoyable, the songs are very good, the band is very good, so if you're into vintage electric/Chicago blues and/or into modern garage blues there's no reason you wouldn't like it...

The Bandcamp page.

 

Scott. H. Biram - Fever Dreams (2020)

OK, cover art may not be exactly a success, but Fever Dreams, is as good as any Scott. H. Biram album, which means it's excellent, a unique mix of one man band (with a few additional musicians on some songs in this one) blues, country and garage rock, sometimes really rocking, sometimes quiet, but most of the time more raw than garage blues usually is. Include a few covers like songs by Townes Van Zandt and David Allan Coe. Scott. H. Biram consistently release enjoyable albums and this one's no exception. He's the best at doing what he does.

The BC page.

Viagra Boys - Welfare Jazz (2021)

Viagra Boys already were more than just another post-punk band (and not just because of the smart use of the saxophone), but with their second album Welfare Jazz they're making one step further in creating a style of their own. At the same time more unique and more universal and rooted in traditions since they're getting more bluesy / soulful. Their post-punk is now clearly more Gun Club than Joy Division, reminding also Nick Cave's Abattoir Blues or Mark Lanegan or Tom Waits music, but why not also David Bowie on one hand, and Brainbombs on the other? The album start with "Ain't Nice" that reminds the best of what they did before, but the rest is more like a further exploration of what they first tried with "Just like you" in the first album. But anyway so far they succeed brilliantly whatever direction they take... Welfare Jazz is a flawless album filled with very enjoyable, memorable and interesting songs. I already guarantee we'll see this one pop up in many "best of 2021" lists in the end of the year, and totally deservedly. Warmly recommended!

 

Their website.

 

GA-20 - Lonely Soul (2019) & Live vol.1 (EP 2020)

GA-20 is a garage blues trio from Boston formed in 2018, they released last year an impressive first album, Lonely Soul, and now are back with an equally good live four tracks, simply called Live vol. 1. Their music is rooted in the blues, Delta blues, Chicago electric blues, etc. but also reminds the Black Keys, and could also evoke The Rolling Stones Exile on Main Street. It's really well done and I really enjoy those two releases. They're my favourite recent garage blues band.

The BC page.

 

Kan Mikami - Barking Practice / White Lines (2007)

Barking Practice / White Lines is one of the Kan Mikami albums released on the famous PSF label, a Japanese label specialized in experimental/free music (Keiji Haino, Fushitsua, etc.). On this one Kan Mikami is at it most minimalist/raw bluesy and at the same time there's also an abstract/free vibe, his guitar playing and his singing are very special, very simple but wild and emotional. Among the few albums I know from Kan Mikami this one is my favourite. Highly recommended!

Lonnie Holley - National Freedom (2020)

I discovered Lonnie Holley two years ago with his previous album MITH that I really liked, and this new one called National Freedom is also excellent. It is some raw and weird blues, maybe we could say "free blues", at the same time sounding primitive and authentic but without following the strict formulas of traditional blues. Good melodies played on guitar and on piano, often with a somewhat repetitive ceremonial vibe, and the singing is very special.

The Bandcamp page.

 

Bror Gunnar Jansson - They Found My Body In A Bag (2019)

On They Found My Body In A Bag, Bror Gunnar Jansson is no more a one-man band but a trio, but it still really sound like a one man band actually. We could say it's blues/rock/garage somewhere between RL Burnside and The Black Keys but with also elements reminding Tom Waits and Earth that make it sounding different from the others garage blues-rock stuff, some rock/blues/boogie songs but also some more psychedelic drone/rock instrumentals. It's a good try and an enjoyable album.

The Bandcamp page.

Jackson firebird - Cock rocking (2014)

Cock rocking is a really cool debut album from this australian garage rock duo called Jackson firebird! they play a good mix of garage rock, hard rock and raw blues, reminding AC / DC, Jon Spencer blues explosion and R.L burnside. This mix providing a good diversity in the album while staying cohesive from the raw blues to the more hard rocking songs. nothing ground breaking here but the songs are really good, with plenty of good riffs, cool vocals, and very good drumming (home made percussion more precisely, but excellent rhythms anyway). Very enjoyable stuff!

their website

Zodiac - A hiding place (2013)

Zodiac, from Germany, get some well deserved attention with a demo in 2012. their first album released in the end of 2013 is a clear confirmation of their quality. they play a tastefull blues infused hard rock, with an excellenty sense of melody and a wide range in the pentatonic fields. the album starts with an excellent song called "downtown" in a grooving  AC / DC style, but in the album you'll also find some smooth blues rock, some hard rock ballads (looks like they learned well from their fellows germans Scorpion!), and some Canned heat style boogie. well, the whole wide range of hard blues music.  lot of diversity for different kind of sonic enjoyment. an highly recommended listen! (fits well in my best heavy stuff of 2013 list, see HERE).

to start with you can stream their demo on Bandcamp.

and looks like you can stream the album there.

The heavy eyes-Maera (2013)

The heavy eyes from Memphis entered the heavy rock scene by the main door with their first self titled LP released in 2011. Their new one Maera is a confirmation of their great talent since its at least as good as the first one. their hard blues / stoner is filled with excellent blues and sabbath inspired riffing, grooves and good vocal melodies. And their clever songwriting allows them have more diversity in their album than most bands and each of their songs have something catchy and memorable.
we need more bands like this!

check it on Bandcamp

All Them Witches - Our mother electricity (2012)

All them witches-Our mother electricity (2012-first and remastered release)

Fancy some blues based garage psychedelia?  Then All them witches from Nashville, Tennessee, got something for you. Their Our mother electricity record combines nicely blues, psychedelic garage rock and desert rock. The desert rock elements adding smoothly a modern touch to their 60' / 70' inspired blues based rock. They may need to add a more personal touch to their music, but that's very forgivable for a first record. A promising new band that could craft a very good magic if they find how to add more of their own voodoo to their already good music.

their bandcamp

Scott.H.Biram-Bad ingredients

Holidays soon over and Bad ingredients, latest record by Scott.H.Biram is welcome to prepare for the daily grind...the ingredients may be bad (or maybe because they are!) but the result is really good. I really dig Scott.H.Biram because his one man garage-blues/americana feels so sincere and is such a cool soundtrack and companion for the ups and downs of daily life. Bad ingredients from 2011 is maybe not my favourite SHB records but its still far from a disapointment and I really enjoy it.

check the official http://www.scottbiram.com/