Kevin Bowe And The Okemah Prophets

Half Past Never

Self-Released, 2023

10/10

Listen to Half Past Never

The Minneapolis native and resident Kevin Bowe has an excellent resume that includes working with the Replacements, Jonny Lang, Etta James, Joe Cocker and Communist Daughter, and here with his excellent band he creates a diverse and accomplished 10 tracks of indie-rock ideas.

The listen leads with the rootsy flavor of “California Sober”, where Bowe’s soft vocals are met with summery melodies and bright vocal harmonies, and “(Put Me Out Of Your) Misery” follows with dreamy folk-rock that’s as harmonic as it is warm.

The halfway point belongs to the rugged yet tuneful “Half Past Never”, where the fluid drums and Ian Anderson’s precise bass give the tune a hint of crunch, while “If I Was You” carries a bit of jangle amid the subtle punk nods of the album’s best.

“Hurt Me Beautiful” and “Another Word For God” exit the listen, where the former comes with some garage rock spirit that benefits from Tim "O’Reagan’s vocal harmonies, and the latter finishes in a intimate moment of soft guitar and poetic storytelling.

The rest of the Prophets include Peter Anderson and Noah Levy on drums, Gordy Johnson (upright bass), Paul Mayasich (slide guitar) and Jeff Victor (keys). Together with Bowe’s guitars, bass, harp, mandolin, keys, vocals, and other odds and ends, they make for a multifaceted version of modern rock that you’re not going to forget anytime soon.

Travels well with: The Lowest Pair- Horse Camp; Jesse Norell- Aorta Borealis

Petr Bakla

Late Night Show

Sub Rosa, 2023

8/10

Listen to Late Night Show

An artist well versed in orchestral, chamber and solo work, Petr Bakla brings us 3 very detailed pieces that employ Miroslav Beinhauer’s piano and many players from the Brno Contemporary Orchestra for a highly creative contemporary classical listen.

“Piano Concerto No. 2” opens the listen with warm keys and 8 instruments in attendance for the mesmerizing backdrop that pays close attention to mood. Further on, the track employs quick bursts of brass, as the keys anchor the setting with mystery.

In the middle the soothing strings of “Major Thirds” complement the elegant keys, where the cinematic qualities radiate mood and tonality with a meticulous energy, while “No. 4” exits with just the piano keeping our attention for 20 minutes of subtly dramatic, often restrained patterns of beauty.

A listen with a remarkable emphasis on tension and layers, Bakla’s vision is quite unique, and it makes for an accomplished chamber exploration.

Travels well with: Debra Kaye- Ikarus Among The Stars; Edward Hart- Under An Indigo Sky

This Twisted Wreckage

Billions

Self-Released, 2023

8/10

Listen to Billions

The duo of the vocalist, guitarist and lyricist Luke ‘Skyscraper’ James and the musician and arranger Ricky Humphrey, as This Twisted Wreckage the pair make a very distinct version of punk, alt-rock and even industrial like sounds via their very original song craft.

“Welcome” opens the listen with much attention to atmosphere, with a mesmerizing quality of droning, cautious alt-rock ideas, and “Nothing Is Nowhere” follows with buzzing guitars and punchy drums that fuel the driving post-punk ideas.

Halfway through, “IWishIKnew” swirls with a raw energy of throbbing bass and crisp drums amid the repetitive singing, while “Upgrade Me” is a bit blurry in an off kilter sort of way that emits a mysteriousness before segueing into a club friendly climate.

“Trailer Park” and “Billions” exit the listen, where the former, the best track, showcases gruff vocals and ‘90s focused, thick, grungy rock, and the title track exits with a furious pace of scrappy and ambient, charged songwriting.

James has a history fronting the British New Wave outfit Fàshiön and Humphrey has worked with Nature Kills and Rise. Together, they make for an artistic, gothic and often ominous version of modern alt-rock that’s highly memorable.

Travels well with: Teething Veils- Sea And Sun; Blackout Transmission- Sparse Illumination

Seamus

Music From Seamus, Vol. 32

New Focus, 2023

8/10

Listen to Music From Seamus, Vol. 32

The Society for Electro-Acoustic Music of the United States (SEAMUS) returns with more of their experimental, electronic prowess where 7 atypical pieces unfold with plenty of exploration.

Kristopher Bendrick’s “progressively smaller TVs” opens the listen with Molly Hodson’s talking and wordless singing, flute and piano alongside Bendrick’s electronics for a very unpredictable display of sound manipulation that’s constantly shifting in tone, and “Flowering Dandelion”, by Kyong Mee Choi, follows with Sarah Plum’s moody violin and Choi’s electronics creating a haunting, cinematic demeanor.

In the middle, Lisa Renée Coons’ “Chimera’s Garden” pairs Shanna Pranaitis’ alto flute with Coons’ glitchy electronics for the sci-fi friendly exploration, while Robert McClure’s “Bloom” utilizes Justin Snyder’s dense keys against McClure’s orthodox electronics for the thick and rich delivery.

The final track, “Where Water Meets Memory”, by Eli Stine, uses the sounds of water amid background voices for a very soothing, mesmerizing finish to a fascinating listen.

Another very original outing from a collective that’s been active since 1984, SEAMUS again blends organic versus synthetic ideas into an inimitable formula that you can’t help but admire.

Travels well with: Lee Weisert- Recesses; Olivia De Prato- Panorama

Denin Slage-Koch

It Comes In Waves

Slage-Koch, 2023

8/10

Listen to It Comes In Waves

The guitarist, composer and educator Denin Slage-Koch has done much in his esteemed career, and he’s continuing the creativity with these 9 songs that recruit artists from the Denver area.

The title track opens the listen with Shane Endsley’s soulful trumpet alongside Bobby Wiens’ frisky drums and Slage-Koch’s warm guitar lines, and “The Road Home” follows with Ryan Keberle’s thick trombone and Seth Lewis’ lively bass complementing the meticulous guitar playing.

In the middle, “The Cost Of Apathy” makes great use of Jared Cathey’s fluid clarinet via the busy versus calm textures, while “Continue” embraces plenty of swing fun into the animated and rhythmic album highlight.

“The Philosopher” lands near the end, which is dedicated to Wayne Shorter, and mixes the brass and guitars with a dreamy spirit, and “Quiet Year (12/31/2020)” exits with a shimmering quality that’s intimate and highly memorable.

A listen that explores the wide array of emotions that come with the human experience, Slage-Koch’s vision is as personal as it is rich, and the very colorful version of “Everybody Wants To Rule The World” alone is worth the price of admission.

Travels well with: Randy Bernsen- Heart Mind And Soul; Bob Mintzer- Soundscapes

Jon Menges

Spirit Of 3, Spirit Of 4

Menges, 2023

8/10

Listen to Spirit Of 3, Spirit Of 4

The trumpet and flugelhorn extraordinaire Jon Menges brings along Nathan Childers, Joe Fitzgerald, Pete McCann, Evan Gregor and Robert Weiss to these timeless standards, classics and originals in a trio and quartet setting.

“Anchor The Path” opens the listen with Menges’ soulful brass amid McCann’s warm, intricate guitar for the cozy, Latin climate, and “Stairs” follows with Gregor’s well timed bass complementing Menges’ playful horn manipulation of the adventurous track.

In the middle “Turning Point”, the last track as a trio, showcases the bright trumpet and dynamic interaction between the guitars in an Irish sort of way, while “Coqui” showcases Childers’ animated sax and Weiss’ agile drumming for the album’s best.

Approaching the end, “Mina Buta” offers an intimate and atmospheric display of reflective qualities, and “Somethin’” exits with a lively, rhythmic execution that will appeal to all fans of jazz.

A listen that can swing with charm just as it can reside in sublime balladry, Menges and company rarely stay in one place long, and it sure does make for an unpredictable, exciting listen.

Travels well with: Marc Ciprut- Blue Horse; Buzz Amato- Muse Cafe

Geoffrey Duce

Fantasies & Rhapsodies

Albany, 2023

8/10

Listen to Fantasies & Rhapsodies

The esteemed pianist Geoffrey Duce brings both fantasy and rhapsody to these 4 expressive pieces that span some revered composers.

“Fantasia In B-Flat Major” and “Fantasia In C Major’, by Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, begins the listen with profoundly detailed playing that possesses both firm and calm moments, and John McCabe’s “Fantasy On A Theme Of Liszt” follows with initially bare movements that erupts into dense and swift patterns of intrigue and mood.

On the back half, the warm and melodic “Fantasie In C Major” showcases Franz Schubert’s timeless vision with articulate and animated prowess, and Ernst Von Dohnanyi’s “Four Rhapsodies” exits with incredible attention to detail via the lively and meticulous key acrobatics.

A very colorful body of work that spans several centuries, Duce’s highly dexterous hands keep the listener enthralled from beginning to end.

Travels well with: Justin Hellman- Garden Of The Gods; Timothy Schwarz- The Living American

Dhaivat Jani PLUS

Sum//Parts

Self-Released, 2023

8/10

Listen to Sum//Parts

An outfit spearheaded by the Toronto drummer and tabla player Dhaivat Jani, these 8 tracks detail Jani’s journey from his early years in India to his migration to Canada, and all the turmoil, pain and joy that comes with a transition of that nature.

“Day 21” gets the listen off to a cultured start, where soft chanting and Joshua Stanberry’s hypnotic keys are met with Lucas Dubovik’s soulful sax, and “Pulwama” follows with Jani’s fluid drumming complemented by Eliana Parker’s soaring voice and Dean Veneruz’s cozy vibes.

At the halfway point, “Change Is The Only Constant” benefits much from the mesmerizing piano and Matt McCormack’s skilled bass, while “It Might Rain” is full of soft beauty that’s cinematic and intimate before bursting into booming brass and fluid drumming.

The last 2 tracks are among the best, where “Peshkaar” rumbles with a bit of mystery, and the dreamy yet dense “Unchain” spotlights Matt Greenwood’s skilled guitar in a more rock focused climate.

The diverse influences here include Chris Potter, Radiohead and Led Zeppelin, as Jani and company weave in and out of a very worldly and exciting listen.

Travels well with: Sébastian Parent- Project Seb Parent; The Artie Roth Quartet- Resonants

Louis Stewart & Noel Kelehan

Some Other Blues

Livia, 2023

9/10

Listen to Some Other Blues

It’s been a busy year for Louis Stewart releases, and this unearthed recording of his only recording with his mentor Noel Kelehan, from 1977, brings us 8 standards and an original from the pair.

“Yesterdays” opens the listen with Stewart’s glowing and meticulous guitar alongside Kelehan’s playful key manipulation, and “You Stepped Out Of A Dream” follows with no lack of melodic gestures from the swift guitar and cozy keys.

“I Only Have Time To Say I Love You”, the lone original, offers a heartfelt ballad from the pair’s cautious skills, while “I’ll Remember April” offers a quick, dynamic execution of animated and rich song craft.

“Some Time Ago” and “Singin’ In The Rain” land near the end, where the former emits stunning finger acrobatics from Stewart, and the latter spotlights Kelehan’s inimitable delivery of agile piano playing that we could never tire of.

It’s not hard to hear a Bill Evans influence in Kelehan’s playing, and Stewart’s delivery is, of course, unparalleled. Though they weren’t able to play together much, this document of their time together is packed with thriving solos, fast tempos, a pair of stirring ballads and chord fluctuation that will leave the listener captivated with each precise note.

Travels well with: Louis Stewart- Out On His Own; Dave Stryker- Prime

Kassi Valazza

Knows Nothing

Fluff & Gravy, 2023

8/10

Listen to Knows Nothing

The Portland, Oregon artist Kassi Valazza meshes her distinct brand of Americana meets folk meets country across these 10 very lyrically colorful tracks.

“Room In The City” gets the listen off to a classic country spirited climate, where Valazza’s warm voice is met with glowing pedal steel, and “Rapture” follows with mesmerizing guitar and a very poetic delivery of bare beauty.

“Song For A Season” occupies the middle spot, and welcomes Tyler Thompson’s brushed drumming in the dreamy demeanor, while “Canyon Lines” is strong on atmosphere and carries a hint of psychedelia amid the unique intimacy.

Closer to the end, “Welcome Song” emits a bit of mysteriousness alongside the rich textures, and “Wildageeses” exits with a hint of tension in the Michael Hurley cover that’s interpreted with a charming exploration.

Valazza has been crisscrossing the country with similar minds like Melissa Carper and Riddy Arman, and there’s no doubt she’s making fans everywhere she goes. This extremely thoughtful record will likely yield the same results.

Travels well with: Jim White- Misfit’s Jubilee; David Dondero- The Filter Bubble Blues

Katie Dahl

Seven Stones

Leaky Boat, 2023

9/10

Listen to Seven Stones

A very personal listen that surrounds queerness, body image, grief and joy, Katie Dahl pens substantial and diverse affair that welcomes backing vocals from Peter Mulvey, Claudia Russell and others.

The intimate “Both Doors Open” starts the listen with warm acoustic guitar and plenty of atmosphere amid Dahl’s soft, poetic singing, and “Since I Was Eight” follows with a timeless folk appeal that emits eloquent storytelling amid much beauty and heartbreak.

Halfway through, “Jericho” brings gentle drumming to the stirring Americana meets blues that spotlights Dahl’s stunning voice, while “Two Old Birds” uses charming keys and agile drumming that complements the soaring singing of the upbeat album highlight.

“Silhouette” and “Mon Beau Galet” exit the listen, where the former carries much melody in the cautious, bluegrass friendly nods, and the latter, a hymn-esque offering, finishes with a distinct dreaminess that’s as soothing as it is memorable.

A very well thought out and superbly eclectic body of work, Dahl’s vision is one of a forthright and soulful presence, and her raw, wise and unique approach to folk sounds is very appreciated.

Travels well with: Annie Capps- How Can I Say This?; Helen Townsend- Love Lies ‘N’ Leaving

Naïssam Jalal

Healing Rituals

Self-Released, 2023

8/10

Listen to Healing Rituals

The French flutist and composer Naïssam Jalal brings along Clément Petit, Claude Tchamitchian, and Zaza Desiderio for these 9 very cultured, jazz spirited songs.

“Rituel du vent” opens the listen with Jalal’s mysterious flute alongside Tchamitchian’s moody bass in the mesmerizing climate, and “Rituel du soleil” follows with playfully plucked bass and Petit’s agile cello making an indelible impression.

In the middle, “Rituel de la riviére”, the album’s best, is a dreamy, intimate display of reflective flute, while the fuller “Rituel de la terre” is quite melodic, and showcases Desiderio’s soft drumming that’s quite soothing.

“Rituel de la lune” and “Rituel de la brume” exit the listen, where the former a bare initially, and emits plucked strings, poetic flute and some very expressive singing, and the latter finishes with a gentle, rich delivery.

A passionate body of work that’s exploratory in cautious ways, Jalal pens a very worldly listen that will appeal to fans of jazz, improvisation and meditative sounds.

Travels well with: Eileen Ivers- Scatter The Light; Moken- Missing Chapters

Lowell Liebermann

Works For Violin And Orchestra

Blue Griffin, 2023

8/10

Listen to Violin Concerto, Op. 74

Undoubtedly one of the most revered composers from this generation, the pianist Lowell Liebermann brings us 4 world premiere recordings, where Aiman Mussakhajayeva and the Kazakh State Symphony Orchestra accompany him.

The title track opens the listen with much attention to atmosphere, as the cinematic strings make for an emotive and stirring presence, where, by the 3rd chapter, the setting is quite animated and very much benefitting from Mussakhajayeva’s violin.

The middle tracks belong to the mesmerizing and flowing “Chamber Concerto No. 1 Op. 28a”, which carries a sublime dreaminess, while “Chamber Concerto No. 2, Op. 98a” uses violin and string orchestra for an acutely moving and rich display of tense versus calm moments.

The final piece, “Air, Op. 118”, is the album’s best, and radiates a timeless beauty from the agile and expressive strings.

A body of work that covers 30 years of Liebermann’s songwriting, the technical aspect of these compositions is just as admirable as the flawless delivery.

Travels well with: Duo Shu- Duo Shu; Wenting Kang- Mosaic

William Lee Ellis

Ghost Hymns

Yellow Dog, 2023

8/10

Listen to Ghost Hymns

The Americana/roots guitarist William Lee Ellis brings his blues, folk, bluegrass and world music flavor to these 12 authentic tracks that welcome a variety of guests.

“Cony Catch The Sun” starts the listen with Ellis’ distinct guitar playing and smooth, soulful singing, and “Flood Tale” follows with plenty of rhythm and warm harmonica in the quicker delivery.

Further on, “Earth And Winding Sheet” is quite intimate, where a dreamy atmosphere is quite stirring and welcomes strings from Brooke Quiggins (violin), Ben Lively (violin), Matt LaRocca (viola) and John Dunlop (cello), while the raw “Lost Heaven” segues into Ellis’ very pretty yuequin and guitar playing.

Landing near the end, “River Of Need” has Ellis playing six and 12 string guitars, Ebows and aslatua for the very calming album highlight, and “Bury Me In The Sky” exits with a very rich appeal that spotlights KeruBo’s gorgeous voice, Hannah Assefa’s fiddle and Larry Nager’s bass.

Ellis was named after his godfather, the bluegrass legend Bill Monroe, and his father was the revered banjo composer Tony Ellis. He brings that background and a lifetime of skill to a very wise, soothing and old time demeanor that will resonate for decades to come.

Travels well with: Taj Mahal- Savoy; The Duke Robillard Band- They Called It Rhythm & Blues

Annie Bartholomew

Sisters Of White Chapel

Self-Released, 2023

8/10

Listen to Sisters Of White Chapel

A historic songwriting venture that’s spearheaded by the Alaskan artist Annie Bartholomew, these 9 songs surround the stories of women who came north during the Klondike Gold Rush and hosts Marian Call, Andrew Heist, Erin Heist, Kat Moore and Justin Smith.

The title track opens the listen with Moore’s playful upright bass and Heist’s warm mandolin complementing Bartholomew’s rich voice, and “All For The Klondike’s Gold” follows with harmony vocals from Call and Heist’s thick fiddle for the rugged yet pretty display.

In the middle, the mesmerizing “The Cuckoo” uses meticulous string interaction for the flowing and melodic demeanor, while “Feel My Sin” is quite soulful, and recruits a nearly gospel presence of expressive singing.

“Mountain Dove Song” and “Last Confession” exit the listen, where the former showcases Bartholomew’s powerful voice amid cozy guitar strumming and a bit of breeziness, and the latter unfolds with a retro-folk appeal that discusses life after sex work for the women from this time.

Bartholomew also plays banjo on the record, and Erin Heist and Smith play guitar. Together, they make for a very descriptive and multi-faceted version of folk that exposes the emotional truth of the women from the gold rush, and how they risked everything.

Travels well with: Christine Sweeney- Heart In A Hurry; Nora Brown- Long Time To Be Gone

Owen Walsh

On My Way

Wrong Road, 2023

8/10

Listen to On My Way

The debut album from the multi-instrumentalist Owen Walsh, the blurring of fiction and reality and his bright wordplay makes for a colorful listen that welcomes several guest players.

“Kings & Pharaohs” opens the listen with Ted Weckbacher’s warm piano and Joey Aikens’ bass guitar in the soulful, dreamy climate, and “Well Well, Hey Hey, Bye Bye” follows with Walsh’s spirited harmonica and distinct voice that fuels the bluegrass nods.

Further along, Nate Zaur’s moody organ helps cultivate plenty of grooves in the upbeat album highlight, while “Bad Dream” utilizes Bob Wilson’s playfully plucked bass and much atmosphere for the richly layered landscape.

The fuller “Wrong Road” arrives near the end, and showcases Mason Carmody’s fluid drumming alongside Walsh’s warm guitar and vivid storytelling, and “Time To Go” exits with more a country influenced finish that welcomes a punchy rhythm section and plenty of string interaction.

An excellent first album, Walsh handles vocals, guitar, strings and harmonica, and his top notch help birth a very memorable sort of Americana.

Travels well with: Open Road- Skylark; Karan Casey- Nine Apples Of Gold

Randy Bernsen

Heart Mind And Soul

Jericho James, 2023

9/10

Listen to Heart Mind And Soul

A fusion guitarist from South Florida, Randy Bernsen’s 11th studio album makes for 6 very involved songs that welcome some excellent players to a very creative, distinct listen.

“With You Always” starts the listen with David Nizri’s fluid drumming and Jimmy Haslip’s warm bass complementing Bernsen’s cozy guitar playing in the graceful climate, and “Prodigal Son” follows with Bob Franceschini’s soulful sax and Derek Sims’ colorful trumpet adding a timeless jazz spirit to the rich delivery.

The middle tracks belong to the intimate and dreamy “Shepherd’s Heart”, where Bernsen’s stirring guitar is met with George Whitty’s atmosphere, while “Billy Gate Blues” is a bright and booming big band moment of thumping drums and animated trumpet from Dan Davis amid Bernsen’s bluesy guitar.

The final 2 tracks, “Abba Father” and “Chant 881”, don’t disappoint either, where the former is strong on mood via the twinkling keys and reflective guitar, and the latter finds plenty of haze before more firm avenues thanks to the dynamic rhythm section and muscular guitar chops.

It’s not hard to recognize influences like Hendrix and Clapton here, and Bernsen is no stranger to working with legends like Wayne Shorter or Herbie Hancock, though his esteemed solo work certainly resides in a category all its own, as evidenced by this impressive outing.

Travels well with: Bob Mintzer- Soundscapes; Jimmy Haslip- New Dreams

Dan Flanagan

The Bow & The Brush

MSR, 2023

8/10

Listen to The Bow & The Brush

The exceptional violinist Dan Flanagan fleshes out 14 solo pieces inspired by painting and sculptures, where the works of Cindy Cox, Trevor Weston and Linda Marcel, plus many others, are present.

Nathaniel Stookey’s “Shadow Breaking” begins the listen with stirring string gestures, where Flanagan’s precise playing emits much emotion, and “Cadenza II”, by Jose Gonzalez Granero, follows with strong attention to mood, where the complicated playing is quite touching.

Halfway through, Evan Price’s “Blue Swan” finds itself in mesmerizing areas of melodic gestures, while “The Only Way Through Is Slow” spends 8 minutes enthralling us with strategic repetition and chilling minimalism that populates the Libby Larsen original.

Residing near the end, Peter Josheff’s “Same Old Sadness” flows with sublimely intimate playing that’s heart felt, and the original, “An Animated Street In Autumn”, exits with higher registers of intricate and moving violin prowess that few could replicate.

An extremely meticulous display of unaccompanied violin, each track is paired with a painting, and the in depth booklet completes a very accomplished body of work from one of today’s most luminous violin players.

Travels well with: Jenny Q Chai- Songs Of Love; Dave Flynn- Irish Minimalism

Ben Noble

Bitter Work

Self-Released, 2023

8/10

Listen to Bitter Work

The Minneapolis resident Ben Noble knows his way around a diverse song that can be both bare and busy, where folk and pop ideas present themselves in very exciting and memorable ways.

“When The Mountains Fall” opens the listen with much atmosphere, where a uniquely calming approach unfolds with a dreamy climate of synth and beats, and “Predator” follows with a more upbeat demeanor of light buzzing and glitchy ideas that builds into a thicker display of indie-rock.

In the middle, the intimate “Gamora” is quite poetic and flows with a gentle quality, as does the sublime beauty of “Caving In”, where gorgeous singing populates a stirring ambience.

Approaching the end, “Breaking Ranks” emits a creative, synth fueled landscape of chilling, meditative sounds, and the title track exits with glowing keys and expressive vocals that escalates into a fuller, electro-pop display.

Noble is also well versed in producing, and that’s clearly evident as he illuminates his vision of serene versus experimental moments of really intriguing song craft.

Travels well with: Turn Turn Turn- New Rays From An Old Sun; Sarah Morris- Here’s To You

The Hollywood Stars

Sound City

Burger, 2019

8/10

Listen to Sound City

Prior to making The Runaways a household name, Kim Fowley had assembled The Hollywood Stars. Though they didn’t last long, a well received album in 1977 and some impressive gigs secured The Hollywood Stars a cult following, however, they fizzled out right as they were gaining steam.

Sound City, which was recorded in 1976, is just out now, but coincides with some reunion shows, most notably at Whisky A Go Go in July of 2019.

“Sunrise And Sunset” starts the listen with retro rock sounds and glam rock influences amid the melodic and blues tinted setting, and “I Can’t Help It” follows with a ‘70s boogie spirit that writhes with style and grit.

Further along, “Too Hot To Handle” jangles with a folksy approach that’s full of classic rock influences, while “All The Kids On The Street” brings a power-pop edge amid plenty of tuneful rock. One of the album’s best, “Make It To The Party”, shows up late in the listen, and indeed could soundtrack a party with its primitive energy and head bobbin’, toe tappin’ fun.

Deeper cuts include “Shotgun”, which is a more cautious approach with guitar solos, and “Houdini Of Rock And Roll” exits the listen with raw punk rock nods.

Reportedly created as the California version of New York Dolls, there’s certainly comparisons in the proto-punk moments, though the hard rock nods from The Hollywood Stars even had legends like Alice Cooper and Kiss reworking their songs. Sadly, not all members of the band are still alive today, but this lost album documents their fleeting existence well with an unpolished delivery and honest glimpse into the Los Angeles undergound scene of the late ‘70s.

Travels well with: New York Dolls- Too Much Too Soon; Cheap Trick- In Color