We hope you survived Valentine’s Day and are ready for President’s Day weekend. Here in Missoula, the annual Big Sky Documentary Film Festival kicks off tomorrow, so that will be taking a lot of our time for the next 10 days. In the meantime, we have five more reviews for your today, so let’s get started.
Artist Name: Ruby Boots
Album Name: Don’t Talk About It
Label: Bloodshot Records
Genre: Country/Rock/Blues
Track Listing: 1. It’s so Cruel; 2. Believe in Heaven; 3. Don’t Talk About It; 4. Easy way Out; 5. Break my Heart Twice; 6. I’ll Make it Through; 7. Somebody Else; 8. I am a Woman; 9. Infatuation; 10. Don’t Give a Damn
Publicist: Bloodshot Records
Review: Donny & Marie used to joke about her being a little bit country and him being a little bit rock and roll. Even a casual listen to Ruby Boots, and you can say that she is definitely both, with a little blues thrown in for good measure. Like Keith Urban, she is Australian born and Nashville based, and appears to be ready to make her mark with this debut album. The Texas Gentlemen provide the musical backing, which perfect suits the vocal abilities of Boots, and allow her to expand outside of the traditional country sound. We really love the slow country goodness of the title track and “Don’t Give a Damn,” as well as “Easy Way Out,” “Break my Heart Twice,” “I’ll Make it Through,” and “Infatuation.”
Recommendation: If you like your country with a little bit of grit, rock and blues, then this is the perfect combination for you. We highly recommend you Get this one into your musical library.
Artist Name: Laurie Morvan
Album Name: Gravity
Label: Screaming Lizard Records
Genre: Blues
Track Listing: 1. My Moderation; 2. Twice the Trouble; 3. Stay With Me; 4. Money Talks; 5. The Extra Mile; 6. Gravity; 7. Dance in the Rain; 8. Gotta Dig Deep; 9. The Man who Left Me; 10. Shake Your Tailfeathers; 11. I Want Answers; 12. Too Dumb to Quit
Publicist: Blind Raccoon
Review: We first heard of Laurie Morvan quite a few years back when we caught her act at a little bar in Huntington Beach called Martini Blues. She has obviously spent the time between then and now refining her craft and becoming one of the premier blues bands in Southern California. Morvan brings the traditional blues to life with amazing vocals and well-crafted lyrics, set on a bed of rocking blues. All the songs are her original compositions. Listening to Morvan, it quickly becomes clear that the future of the blues is safe as long as artists like her continue to be a part of this great genre. Her songs would also fit comfortably on many radio stations, including NPR, as this is just great music. The keys, especially on the first two tracks, “My Moderation” and “Twice the Trouble,” are second to none, and set this music apart from many of her blues peers. There isn’t a bad track on the album, so just sit back and enjoy it from start to finish.
Recommendation: If you love the blues, then this album belongs at the top of your musical library. Get it now.
Artist Name: Reverend Raven & the Chain Smokin’ Altar Boys
Album Name: My Life
Label: Nevermore Records
Genre: Blues
Track Listing: 1. Handyman; 2. Bee Hive Baby; 3. Creature of Habit; 4. Bad Little Girls; 5. I Want to Love You; 6. Once the Women Start Talking; 7. My Life; 8. Here Comes my Baby; 9. Praying for a Princess; 10. Big Bee; 11. Looking for Love; 12. Slow Burn; 13. Someday When I’m Dead and Gone; 14. I can do you Right; 15. She’s Moving On; 16. I’m Your Honeyboy
Publicist: Blind Raccoon
Review: Milwaukee-based Reverend Raven and the Chain Smokin’ Altar Boys have been playing Chicago-style blues for the past 20 years, and their new album is a tribute to that career. It contains remixes of some of their greatest hits. With a mixture of blues, swing, rhumba, roadhouse, delta and jump blues, their sound is as unique as their line-up, featuring the smooth baritone voice of Reverend Raven as well as the musicianship of Cadillac Pete Rahn, Madison Slim, Benny Rickun, Big Al Groth, Mickey Larson, Danny Moore and Westside Andy. You can’t go wrong with this amazing collection of original songs. Like Morvan, simply put this album on and groove.
Recommendation: This amazing collection belongs in your library, regardless of your musical tastes. Get it before it’s gone.
Artist Name: Flood County
Album Name: We’ll be Fine
Label: Self-released
Genre: Country
Track Listing: 1. Tumbling Down; 2. Most of the Time; 3. Easter Monday; 4. Start Swinging; 5. World Come Undone; 6. That Old Famous Smile; 7. Easier That Way; 8. Kris & Rita; 9. We’ll be Fine; 10. The Road
Publicist: Self-promoted
Review: This dynamic duo create traditional country music with a Tejano edge, perfect harmonies and toe-tapping musical background. The fiddle and pedal steel are smoking, and those vocals will have you drooling in no time. Add to that the horns and guitar and you have the makings of some of the finest country music you have ever heard, perfect for two-stepping and waltzing around the dance floor. Our favorite tracks include “Tumbling Down,” Most of the Time,” “Start Swinging,” “That Old Famous Smile,” “Kris & Rita,” and “The Road.”
Recommendation: If you love your country traditional, then you simply must Get this one.
Artist Name: Pink Tea
Album Name: Pink Tea
Label: A&R Records
Genre: Alt/Indie Rock
Track Listing: 1. Smoko; 2. Atlantis (Sick City); 3. Old Vines Don’t Make the Best Wine; 4. Tea Party Nadine; 5. Social Graces & Melted Faces
Publicist: The A&R Department
Review: Indie rock comes in many forms, and this latest from Aussie Tom Murphy aka Pink Tea is some of the best we’ve heard. These songs should do very well on American radio, and deserve the attention of every college and major rock station. The album is all about growing up into a mature adult while realizing you little you still know. The album shares his personal story while presenting the problems along with the positive solutions he has discovered. We just wish there were more than five tracks, cause we could listen to his voice all day long, very reminiscent of Tom Petty.
Recommendation: Don’t miss out on the opportunity to add this artist to your musical collection. Get it today and spread the Aussie love.