Parlor Mob - Can't Keep No Good Band Down

Parlor Mob rocks like it never went out of style. This is 70s arena rock filtered through the grunge of the early 90s. Their songs feature dueling acoustic guitars, scratchy blues-influenced hooks, and power vocals. Clearly there's a Led Zeppelin thing going on, but they also remind me of Blind Melon (remember the bee girl from the No Rain video?) and they have a little bit of a Queens of the Stone Age sound as well. These three tracks will definitely have you singing along in your highest registers.

Can't Keep No Good Boy Down - YouTube won't let me embed the video, but here's the link.

Everything You're Breathing For


When I Was An Orphan - Live from the Stone Pony in Asbury Park, NJ

Alexi Murdoch - Away We Go

Alexi Murdoch is one of these Nick Drake guys. If you like Nick Drake, you'll like Mr. Murdoch's pretty voice, just slightly tinged with regret and longing, and his lovely acoustic guitar work. He worked on the Away We Go soundtrack and released some new material for the movie. I'd recommend Breathe and All My Days. Orange Sky is old, but is one of his best songs. While I'm on the subject of his old songs, Dream About Flying is also worth a listen, but isn't available on this album.

Away We Go Original Motion Pic...

Blitzen Trapper - Black River Killer, Big Black Bird

Even though the alliteration of the band name and their logo totally smack of 80s metal band, Blitzen Trapper is a folk-rock band from Portland, Oregon. On their latest EP, Black River Killer, these two jumped out at me.

Black River Killer is the first track, and it starts with a short, smooth acoustic guitar intro and then goes right into the vocals. A synthesizer comes in to lend the song an eerie, modern feel as the song rambles along. The singing immediately made me think of Jerry Garcia. Even the lyrics, which seem to tell the story of a man damned to kill again and again, are reminiscent of some of the Dead's more morbid tracks. In particular, the song reminds me of Stagger Lee and Mexicali Blues.

Black River Killer - Blitzen T...

Big Black Bird opens with a muscular electric guitar lick and a harmonica. This song reminds me of Neil Young or the Band, but I guess (for my younger readers) the modern equivalents would be Wilco or My Morning Jacket. The chorus is upbeat and catchy, and Blitzen Trapper use harmonizing vocals to great effect.

Big Black Bird - Blitzen Trapp...