Newest releases by Steve Van Zandt, Black Crowes, Brian Jay Cline and Anders Osborne,
plus The Library

Little Steven, Born Again Savage, Renegade Nation Records

Little Steven, aka Miami Steve, aka Silvio Dante from “The Sopranos,” aka Steven Van Zandt’s latest disc, the appropriately named Born Again Savage is a tribute to the hard rock bands of the late 60’s that inspired guitarists: The Yardbirds, Cream, The Who, The Kinks, Jeff Beck Group and Led Zeppelin. The music is tough and heavy without being heavy-handed, and the lyrics and melodic elements, as well as the artwork adorning the accompanying booklet, are dark and foreboding with a decidedly apocalyptic slant. An element of eastern melody and mysticism runs throughout. One can’t help but notice the influence of The Yardbirds everywhere. Bassist Adam Clayton of U2 and drummer Jason Bonham provide backup, but I’m puzzled why Clayton’s bass is mixed so low. Van Zandt cranks out blazing power chords and taut solos and delivers lead vocals with a nasal, Dylanish twang. Let me make it clear: I bought this disc. And as I never, ever buy CD’s for review, that should tell you something. This is a great hard rock album, a veritable guitar orgy. Available only from Renegade Nation Records online at www.RenegadeNation.com.

The Black Crowes, Lions, V2 Records

The Black Crowes returned to their rootsy Stones-Humble Pie-Faces sound for their last album, and this time, they go backward and forward, emphasizing their harder rocking, noisy, neo-metallic elements. The accent is on heavy rock... very heavy rock, reminiscent of their Amorica period output, which was excessively angry and not too convincing. At this writing, after two listens, the jury is still out on this new Crowes disc. Let’s just say that hardline fans will probably like it, but this writer isn’t sure yet. Listen first and make your own decision.

Various Artists, Dealin’ With The Devil-Songs Of Robert Johnson, Cannonball Records, and Hellhound On My Trail-Songs Of Robert Johnson, Telarc Records

Hmm...Two Robert Johnson tribute discs released about the same time. Both listenable, both well thought out and put together... and both completely unnecessary. Haven’t we all had enough of these gratuitous tribute collections? Robert Johnson’s material has already been covered to death by just about everyone in the blues world, so why bother? Better yet, why not listen to Robert Johnson playing his own songs, his own way, in their original state? Wow, what a concept.

The Raging Teens, Rock ‘n Roll Party!, Rubric Records

If I never see or hear another ridiculous neo-rockabilly band dressed up in pseudo-50’s duds, playing old instruments and recording with old equipment in an old recording studio into an old slap echo, I’ll be a happy man. What The Raging Teens (from New Hampsha’) do is pleasant, but ditto the above. In other words, go out and buy a few 1950’s rockabilly compilation albums and listen to the real thing instead. Besides, some of these Raging Teens look way too old to be teenagers. Rubric Records, 12 W.37th St., 5th Floor, NYC, NY 10018.

Brian Jay Cline, Twisty Town, self-release

Brian Jay Cline plays snappy rockin’ folk country that owes an equal debt to Big Star’s power pop and Hank Williams’s hillbilly twang. The songs are almost all up tempo, with familiar choruses that might remind the listener of early Matchbox 20. Not terribly original, but nonetheless well executed. Lose that GI buzzcut though, Brian. Under The Temple Publishing, LLC, 8170 S. Eastern Ave., #4-434, Las Vegas, NV 89123.

Anders Osborne, Ash Wednesday Blues, Shanachie Records

Anders Osborne is a Swedish musician so enamored of New Orleans music, he packed up and moved to the Crescent City years ago. His last album was a winner, and this one isn’t far behind. It’s loaded with classic Nawlins’ grooves and plenty of slippery, swampy sounds. Check out “Stoned, Drunk & Naked.” How many times have YOU been there?

The Library: “Heavy Load-Free,” by David Clayton & Todd K. Smith. This is the exhaustive, well-written story of the British rock band Free, of “All Right Now” fame, produced by two rabid and devoted fans, one American, one English, that chronicles the band’s history from beginnings, to their ignominious demise in 1973. It’s hard to imagine anything or anyone even coming close to telling the story of this tragically underrated band in more detail than Clayton and Smith. Included are dozens and dozens of rare photos, interviews with all surviving band members, and others who worked with them. It isn’t cheap either—$58 with shipping—but if you love Free, this book will knock you out. Moonshine Publishing Ltd., 99 Graylands Road, Bilborough, Nottingham, NG8 4FF, UK.