Great rock music still lives…
and blues too

The Shazam, Tomorrow The World, Not Lame Records

My power pop-loving friend and fellow musician Chris Breetveld told me about The Shazam, a no-nonsense rock band from Nashville, with the words, “They sound like The Move, The Who and The Beatles.” How could I not like them? It took a little doing to get a copy of their latest CD, Tomorrow The World, but it was worth the wait. The Shazam is one of the best, straightforward rock bands this writer has heard in, well, at least the last couple of months (keep in mind I get a lot of CDs to review). Their sound is packed with memorable melodies, crunchy guitars slamming power chords, expressive vocals and irrepressible energy that draw the listener in immediately. With a busy touring schedule and a steadily growing following, including the endorsement of musical luminaries like Steven Van Zandt and The Jam’s Paul Weller, The Shazam are poised for bigger things. If you’ve been longing for some quality rock ‘n roll music lately and you’re tired of the formulaic drivel major record labels force feed us, check out The Shazam’s new disc. www.notlame.com. My highest recommendation.

The Woosley Band, Marveling At The Rings, Gone Shabby Records

The Woosley Band from Columbus, Ohio tread the fence between alternative country, folk and slashing rock, with an accent strongly on the rock. Singer/songwriter/guitarist Sean Woosley wrote all the songs, with a stylistic nod towards REM, Uncle Tupelo, Neil Young, Buffalo Springfield and others. Tracks like “Airport,” “Considering Mars,” and the sensitive “Short Arm,” crackle with feeling. Guitarist Barry Hensley, formerly of the late, lamented Big Back Forty and still with The Hensley-Sturgis band, contributes hot licks and a pinch of pedal steel to the mix. The Woosley Band’s debut disc shows great promise and deserves your attention. www.woosleyband.com.

Ronnie Earl, I Feel Like Goin’ On, Stony Plain Records

Blues guitarist Ronnie Earl got his start playing with Roomful Of Blues and has been a consistent solo artist for years. Lately, his discs have spotlighted instrumentals, and as a result of my general dislike of purely instrumental efforts, I never paid much attention. This time, however, I checked out Earl’s music and am floored by the sheer amount of unabashed emotion Earl puts into his guitar playing. I haven’t heard anything this soulful since Stevie Ray Vaughan. Earl wrings every possible drop of soul out of his red Fender Stratocaster, without opening his mouth and the results are fiery blues, played with maximum soul. A diabetic, Earl keeps a low profile touring schedule, so explore his great new release, I Feel Like Goin’ On instead. www.stonyplainrecords.com.

Russell Crowe & Thirty Odd Foot Of Grunts, Other Ways Of Speaking, Artemis Records

No, this is not some joke. Academy Award winning actor Russell Crowe sings, plays guitar and writes some truly fine songs on this, the new album with his band, Thirty Odd Foot Of Grunts. There’s a regrettable history of Hollywood types who have tried their hand at music over the years, almost always with disastrous results (remember William Shatner’s horrendous album years ago?), but Crowe’s band is certainly an exception to the rule. The music is mature and tuneful, with traces of The Band, The Beatles and Dire Straits evident. Ballads and mid-tempo rockers dominate, and Crowe’s deep, manly baritone voice is the center of attention, with supple backing from his commendable musicians. All in all, I was pleasantly surprised by this new release by TOFOG, as they call themselves. You’ll like it too. www.artemisrecords.com. I love you, JB.