AMPED™ 2016 Issue 50 New Release Digital Magazine

New Releases From The Infamous Stringdusters Lee Hazlewood The Delfonics Greg Lake The Cramps

By | December 16th, 2016|New Release Digital Magazine|Comments Off on AMPED™ 2016 Issue 50 New Release Digital Magazine

COLIN HAY/Fierce Money: Available March 3, 2017!

December 15th, 2016 – Nashville, TN — FIERCE MERCY is an epic, cinematic step forward from singer-songwriter Colin Hay, most beloved for his intimate, confessional live shows but most widely known for being an influential and celebrated frontman. The range of artists who have chosen to cite him as a muse or who have found themselves on stage with him in the past year spans the genre landscape from heavy metal, to Americana, to Cuban rhythms and beyond. His inclusion as a playlist favorite from the likes of Metallica to The Lumineers reflects his continuing relevance and broad appeal. […]

By | December 15th, 2016|News|Comments Off on COLIN HAY/Fierce Money: Available March 3, 2017!

MENTAL AS ANYTHING: 40th Anniversary releases on Edsel Records

I honestly have no idea why Mental As Anything – the Australian Rock quintet – are not superstars. And if not superstars, they should at least be a huge cult band beloved by music fans around the world. Or, at the very least, adored by fans of classic Pop acts like Nick Lowe, Squeeze, Elvis Costello, etc. Now that the Mentals are just about to celebrate their 40th Anniversary in 2017, it’s about time that the world started paying a lot more attention to them. They are truly one of the finest bands to emerge from Down Under in the last… err… 40+ years! Their blend of rootsy Rock and melodic Pop places them firmly between Nick Lowe’s side of Rockpile and Squeeze circa ’79 to ’81. The Mentals’ quirky sense of humor also fits that same comparison. However, the band were/are their own ‘thing’ and comparing them to other artists is ultimately unfair. While their music is filled with liberal nods to Rock ‘n’ Roll’s past, they don’t sound like any other band, past or present. Sure, you can hear their influences but it is hard to pinpoint any particular artist that may have inspired them along the way. Mental As Anything are true originals. They evolved over the years, adding more elements into their sound but they have never deviated too far from the sound that put them on the Oz map. […]

By | December 14th, 2016|News|Comments Off on MENTAL AS ANYTHING: 40th Anniversary releases on Edsel Records

PLASTICLAND reissues on Wounded Bird Records!

Milwaukee’s Plasticland – founded by Glenn Rehse and John Frankovic (who has since left the band) – have remained unjustly overlooked for years… yet they have also been absolutely adored by critics off and on since they first formed some 36 years ago. The band has managed to stay on the fringe of the Alternative Rock scene but have never been fully treated like the Psych-Rock/Garage icons that they are. And I’m sure this review isn’t going to inspire a mass pilgrimage to the record store but if it piques the interest of a few of you, then we’re getting somewhere! Even though they signed to the esteemed Enigma Records in 1984, Plasticland couldn’t be bothered to cater to the mainstream. Their blend of Acid, Garage and Psych Rock wasn’t merely a tribute to the sounds that they loved – it was obvious that this music was part of their DNA. The band was capable of writing catchy songs with a built-in atmosphere that sounded both retro and modern at the same time. Perhaps that is why their recordings remain timeless today. Plasticland are to Psyche what The Fleshtones are to Frat/Garage Rock and The Cramps are to sweaty, swampy, primitive Rock ‘n’ Roll. They could have sold out in their early days and become ‘the new R.E.M.’ like a host of their contemporaries. Thankfully, they chose to stick to their guns and remain Plasticland. […]

By | December 14th, 2016|News|Comments Off on PLASTICLAND reissues on Wounded Bird Records!

PEGGY LEE/Let’s Love reissue reviewed!

Peggy Lee had been a successful jazz vocalist for 33 years before she went into the studio to cut LET’S LOVE for Atlantic Records in 1974. With a career dating back to 1941, Peggy was still a respected jazz vocalist even though her albums weren’t selling as well as they once had. When Capitol Records dropped her in 1972 after 15 years of continuous service (2-3 albums per year), some may have thought that Lee [...]

By | December 14th, 2016|News|Comments Off on PEGGY LEE/Let’s Love reissue reviewed!

AMPED™ 2016 Issue 49 New Release Digital Magazine

New Releases From Keith Harkin Gene Clark Jackson Taylor & the Sinners Jennifer Saran A-Trak

By | December 9th, 2016|New Release Digital Magazine|Comments Off on AMPED™ 2016 Issue 49 New Release Digital Magazine

AMPED™ 2016 Issue 48 New Release Digital Magazine

New Releases From Snaggletooth: A Tribute To Lemmy Crowded House Poco Sing (Original Soundtrack) Ash Borer

By | December 2nd, 2016|New Release Digital Magazine|Comments Off on AMPED™ 2016 Issue 48 New Release Digital Magazine