Trash Mavericks, Off The Tracks, Lizard Skin Records

The Trash Mavericks' music, a mixture of roots rock 'n roll, Stonesy swagger, sixties punk raunch and alternative country, made such an impression on this writer when I saw them open for The Who in July at PNC Arts Center in Holmdel, New Jersey. I requested a copy of the band's latest disc, Off The Tracks and happily took delivery two weeks ago. The Mavericks have been working the central Jersey club circuit for nearly 13 years, playing originals and a few well-chosen cover tunes, and have been building a steady fan following. If you crave stripped-down, two guitars/vocals/bass and drums rock 'n roll, and feel there's a genuine lack of this kind of music out there, look no further and fear not. The Trash Mavericks, with uptempo ravers like "Catitude," "Blood From A Stone," "This Too Shall Pass," their version of Steve Earle's "I Ain't Ever Satisfied," and "Closing Down The Warehouse" will reaffirm your need for raucous rock 'n roll. You may think rock is dead, but don't tell The Trash Mavericks or me either, for that matter. My highest recommendation. One of the year's best recordings. Get your copy by calling their manager, J. Keith Christian at 732/542-0727, or by visiting the band's website, www.trashmavericks.iuma.com.

The Mertons, Girandole, Black Dog Records

I don't know much about The Mertons, but I've seen their name bandied about in the pages of No Depression magazine as alternative country rockers from the deep south. Girandole is a bold, rocking disc, full of lyrical irony and Neil Young-inspired guitar crunch. They never lose sight of the melody however, and when the disc takes a mellower turn toward the end, The Mertons prove their songwriting mettle with some lovely acoustic ballads. Recommended. Black Dog Records, Rt. 1, Box 163-A, Monticello, MS 39654.

North Mississippi All Stars, Shake Hands With Shorty, Tone-Cool Records

Mississippi is the birthplace of the blues and northern Mississippi is a hotbed of blues activity these days. The three young men who are the North Mississippi All Stars have the region's drone-blues sound down, mixed with a little rock 'n funk as well. A frequent complaint from older bluesmen is that younger players, both black and white, don't want to play blues, thereby threatening the music's very existence. I don't think they have much cause for worry now.

King Memphis, Action! Action! Action!, Broken White Records

The state of New Hampshire has never been the rockabilly capitol of the world, but that doesn't stop King Memphis from recreating the sound that shook the world circa 1955-56. With a serious nod to the Sun Records sound of Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, Billy Lee Riley and many others, King Memphis tears through 16 medium and uptempo rockers, honky tonk twang and the occasional country weeper. Broken White Records, PO Box 1155, Portsmouth, NH 03802.

Mott The Hoople, Rock 'n Roll Circus-Live, Angel Air Records

Britain's Angel Air Records specializes in archival recordings, some of which are re-releases and some, like this, are lost recordings made available for the first time. Although there's a disclaimer from the band's former drummer Dale Griffin as to the disc's positively dreadful sound quality (it was recorded on a cassette deck in 1972 at a live concert at Wolverhampton Civic Hall in England, right before MTH broke big time), the music generally comes through despite poor sonic reality. Audiophiles will certainly wince, as I did at first listening, but after a couple of spins, it becomes clear that Mott The Hoople was one of the great British rock bands of the seventies.

Angel Air Records, PO Box 14, Stowmarket, Suffolk, IP14 4UD, England.

The Love Dogs, New Tricks, Tone-Cool Records

The Love Dogs mix blues and R&B on their third and perhaps best, CD release. The music jumps with a mixture of West Coast, Kansas City and New Orleans styles, plus slinky seventies funk. The horn arrangements enhance the proceedings, the guitar work stings, the rhythm section cooks and vocals smolder. Unfortunately, my advance copy contained no band member info, but what's important is the music, and there's no mystery here; The Love Dogs are a very fine band.

Ass Ponys, Some Stupid With A Flair Gun, Checkered Past Records

The Ass Ponys' latest offering sticks with the band's formula of skewering life's trials and tribulations in a hard, yet melodic rock style. The title is a lyrical snippet of Deep Purple's "Smoke On The Water," and there's a strong sense of dark humor that accompanies just about all The Ass Ponys' material. Not exactly everyday listening, but compelling nonetheless. Checkered Past Records, 855 W. Rose St., Chicago, IL 60657.

The Library: I really enjoyed "We Gotta Go Now" by Dennis Blackledge, a loving and inspired recollection of The Mojo Hands from Warren, Rhode Island, who were, according to the author, the best mid-sixties garage band that ever roamed the New England streets. Blackledge traces The Mojo Hands' story from humble beginnings to local fame as a big club draw and opening act for The Lovin' Spoonful and Young Rascals, to their eventual breakup and mid-90's reunion. Blackledge's capitalization and punctuation eccentricities are a little puzzling, but the book is ultimately well-written and very interesting, a funky mid-sixties time capsule that effectively sums up the tenor of the times. Get your copy by writing to Windholme Press, PO Box 236, Alexandria, VA 22313. Price is $19.95 plus $5 shipping.