Hot Tomato
The first studio album of new original music from the sixth lineup of Little Feat, “Strike Up the Band” emits not so much of a good-time vibe as an introspective one — and understandably so, as the band is now 56 years old and down to its last original member.
self-released
Mick Martin, elder statesman of the Sacramento blues scene, steps out of his big-band and blues-rock comfort zones for an impressive “solo” turn at traditional blues.
Woodward Avenue
Nashville/Los Angeles-based quartet Brothers Brown continue to refine their amalgamation of blues, country, jam-band, jazz and rock on the group’s stunningly wide-ranging sophomore outing.
Transmit Sound
First there was “Songs of Sahm,” a tribute by the Bottle Rockets recorded in 2001, a few years after Doug Sahm’s passing at age 58. Then there was “Keep Your Soul,” a 2009 various-artist tribute corralling such peers as Los Lobos, Dave Alvin, Delbert McClinton and Jimmy Vaughan. One could even make a case for including Dr. Eugene Chadbourne’s pair of “Texas Sessions” (2000 and 2002), with the caveat that they weren’t exclusively devoted to Sahm songs.
Regional
Yes, that really is a pedal steel guitar conveying sadness over the “Death of a Clown.” Even more amazing is Andrew and David Williams’ blood-harmony presentation of said song, Dave Davies’ 1967 solo debut single. But the real kicker is that this magnificent “new” album was recorded in 1995, taking more than 27 years to see the light of day.
