[direwolf74]

Another excellent album. Picks up right where his 2014 self-titled record left off, touching on all of his various styles: Americana/country, acoustic singer-songwriter fare, and hooky arena rock with echoey, 80s-style guitars and big catchy choruses. The song "Shiver and Shake" is an obvious nod to Born in the USA-era Springsteen. It's a throwback sound that doesn't fit in at all with today's musical climate, and I love that.

Adams is so prolific that I usually find this stuff to be hit and miss. But he's really knocked it out of the park with his two most recent albums. (I even enjoyed his Taylor Swift covers album). Maybe it's because he's spending more time on them now and not rushing them out like he has in the past. Whatever it is, it's working.

[thebends]

My favourite of this new year so far. Here are a couple tracks.

Looking forward to new Austra later this month as well.

I hear a lot of Interpol in these tracks. Nurse video kinda creepy and intense. Thanks for the links.

[sean.bonner]

East Coast Blues

[direwolf74]

The 3rd solo album from Bad Religion frontman Greg Graffin just came out today, and it's awesome. Once again it's a full on country-rock/folk album. He's explored these genres before, but after only a few spins I'd say this is his best one yet. I love that he always seems to pick interesting musicians to collaborate with. On his last solo album, the underrated "Cold As the Clay", he used the Weakerthans as his backing band. On this one he enlisted the guys from Social Distortion. Great album!

Cool article on the making of the album here, for anyone who is interested:

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[sean.bonner]

Been listening to this all weekend:



Definitely more electronic production than prior Shins, but well worth the wait! Sick jams! Been tappin' my toes all weekend.

[direwolf74]

New Jason Isbell album "The Nashville Sound" coming out June 16th.

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[sherpahigh]

Pretty great news on that Isbell album. Sounds like it'll be more of a rocker than the last couple solo ones. Looking forward to it for sure.

Northern Passages is killer, as is Bill & Joel Plaskett's new one, Solidarity.

[sean.bonner]

Has anybody else been having some Hot Thoughts this past weekend?!?!

[lewismac91]

Loving spoon's hot thoughts. Do I have to talk you into it and tear it down are incredible. Great rock record.

[edgoffin]

Yeah, the new Spoon is amazing -- especially the first four tracks. A band that keeps evolving in a very subtle way.

[thebends]

Been listening to this all weekend:



Definitely more electronic production than prior Shins, but well worth the wait! Sick jams! Been tappin' my toes all weekend.

Picked this up last weekend - splendid offering!

[Daredevil71]

Spoon- HOt Thoughts
Craig Finn-We all want the same things
Notes of Blue- Son Volt

Great stuff.

[sean.bonner]

My guiltiest pleasure of 2017 so far...



This is not a recommendation.

It's awful.

I love it.

[emperor penguin]

Wooden Sky - Swimming in Strange Waters

This is my early front runner for album of the year. Deadhorse Creek is an incredible song. Kind of a departure for these guys, as it's a little heavier than their earlier material. Some of it has a real My Morning Jacket feel to it.

[potsie]

We are nearing the halfway point of 2017 so I thought I'd do a top 5 of the year so far. However, I had a hard time eliminating one album from my list so these are my top 6 of 2017:

1. Jason Isbell- The Nashville Sound
2. Spoon - Hot Thoughts
3. Dead Man Winter - Furnace
4. Strand of Oaks - Hard Love
5. Ryan Adams - Prisoner B-Sides Album
6. Sadies - Northern Passage