Welcome to another Friday New Releases. We have a handful today, not as many as in week’s past, but they all can’t be fully loaded. This week I have a must have and it is on order but actually won’t arrive until May so streaming it will be. If you follow the site, you know I am a huge Needtobreathe fan and I love the vocal talents of lead singer Bear Rinehart. Bear has a side project / solo career with his project called Wilder Woods. This is their second album and I am looking forward to what he may have in store for me. I am sure I’ll check out Fall Out Boy and my kids might play that Luke Combs record so I’ll probably hear that one too. Let me know what you want to hear this week and what we may have missed. Thanks for stopping by and I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!!
Wilder Woods – Fever / Sky – (Dualtone Music Group)
Fall Out Boy – So Much (For) Stardust – (Fall Out Boy)
The year is almost over so it is time to look back at what was awesome in music during the year. I have already looked back at the Top Rock Albums of 2019 (click to read). This list will cover all other genres that I listened to over the year including Pop, Country, Christian and whatever other genre you want classify these albums. Rock is my favorite genre and that is why it gets it’s own list, but that doesn’t take away from any of these choices as I think they are great on their own.
I feel I didn’t get to as many as I would have liked as the year seem to get away from me. I did spend a lot of time on a few series such as finishing The Billy Idol Series, The Kiss Bootleg Series, the Kiss Box Set 6 Part Series and starting the David Coverdale Series. These consumed a lot of my time. What I am trying to say is I missed a lot.
Note: These albums were my favorites and not necessarily the most played on the radio (which I hate the radio) or even the biggest sellers. There aren’t the trendy indie bands on everyone else’s top albums list (okay, there might be one or two). These are just what I came across during the year and connected with me in some way and some thanks to my kids. So, we might as well get started…
#10 – The Highwomen – ‘The Highwomen’
A Country Super-Group consisting of Brandi Carlile, Natalie Hemby, Maren Morris and Amanda Shires. I have not been digging Country lately, but the women on country rock. I found this to be enjoyable and was really digging the songs “The Highwomen”, a rework of the the Jimmy Webb classic “The Highwayman” as well as “Redesigning Women” and “Crowded Table”. Check them out.
Since we started the Needtobreathe series with the next 10 songs on My Sunday Song posts, why not celebrate the band in a collection of memes. Needtobreathe is one of my all time favorite bands, right up there with Kiss and Def Leppard so yes, they need a Meme collection. I hadn’t done one before because I didn’t think they would have many since they aren’t that popular like the other bands mentioned…I was wrong. I hope you enjoy even though you might not get them all which is okay.
Bear Rinehart is lead singer of the band Needtobreathe and if you follow my site at all you know I am a huge fan of that band. When I heard Bear was doing a solo project I was excited to see what different direction he might take. His first solo project definitely explores a different sound and style then his main job.
The name he chose is Wilder Woods which happens to be the names of his two kids, Wilder and Woods Rinehart. I think it is interesting he didn’t even use his own name on the project as he seems to want to keep it completely separate from Needtobreathe.
The album is a pure R&B and Soul album which is far from the Americana, Folk, souther rock sound of his other band. The opening track, “Light Shine In”, might the one song that sounds most like Needtobreathe with a little more of a rock edge and the track “What Gives You The Right” might have fit nicely on their album ‘Hard Love’ with its energy and alt-pop sound.
“Sure Ain’t” is classic R&B and one of the best songs on the album. He poors his heart and soul in to the vocals and there is this magical groove to pull you in. This is followed by ballad “Someday Soon” sees Bear go soulful and gives us his most heartfelt vocals.
Another R&B track is “Supply & Demand” where Bear is trying to woo his woman into a little more horizontal part of the relationship. It has a throwback sound and it is enjoyment for your ears.
“Electric Woman” might be the best song on the album with a catchy ass groove and its sultry vocal approach and seems to be another love song to his wife. And the cool thing is she is in the video with him.
Speaking of his wife, it takes balls to tell your wife that she is wrong and he does just that with “Mary, You’re Wrong” to start off Side 2. If she thinks he is going to leave her, she is mistaken as he has no desire and that is there for the long haul. “Feel” is straight out of the 70’s R&B era with the female backing vocals and the total sonics of the song.
“Hillside House” is a really slow song that seems real personal to him and I think it is another love letter to his wife who seems to be his muse for most of this album…which is really cool to see that she still pulls those feelings out of him after so many years of marriage.
The last track, “Religion”, is very church-like in its approach and you can hear his Christian upbringing in the church flow through even though it is a song that is talking about his struggles with religion. It is a little sad and the acoustic feel to the song keeps the voice as the highlight and lets you focus on the words.
It ain’t Needtobreathe and thankfully so as a solo album should be different. His first solo effort is a strong statement that he has a lot more to offer. There is a swagger and confidence in the style and his vocal delivery. I love the 70’s R&B vibes, the grooves and the soul that his heart is pouring out in his music and his lyrics. He made a modern R&B album that plays well today probably as well as it would have played in the 70’s. He has captured a sound that will hopefully resonate with everyone, young and old. My only complaint is the 2nd Side is a little weaker than the first, outside of that there are no other complaints. I would rate the album a 4.0 out of 5.0 Stars.
Give it a try and let me know what you think. Thanks for stopping by.
I realized I have been making a lot of purchases and yet not everything makes its way on to the site. I figured I would do a wrap up each month of all my purchasing I have made even if they made it on the site during the month or even might make it on to the site down the road.
I like to buy vinyl, but I will also pick up CDs as well because sometimes those albums are not on vinyl and sometimes the CD package gives me a little more than the vinyl would like having a DVD included. One such release was done for that very reason.
The first being The Traveling Wilburys. I couldn’t believe I didn’t have these albums on vinyl and I could probably get them; however, I was at the record store and in the used section was The Traveling Wilburys Collection which included both albums and a DVD with a brief documentary and some music videos and all for a price well cheaper than getting these on vinyl with no DVD. I grabbed it!!
Next up was one I have been wanting to grab as well on vinyl, but when I saw this on CD and at the price, I grabbed it. I got it for less than $8 and considering the album is over $80 now (at least on Amazon), I thought who needs a vinyl. The album is Jimmy Page & the Black Crowes Live at the Greek. I had heard a lot of good things about it, so why not.
Happy Friday!! Another work week behind us and new music weekend ahead of us. Does it get any better than that? Nope! This Friday, however, there are not a ton of releases (at least not that I am interested in. There is one I am anxious to hear and the rest…neh. There is one I will hear whether I want to or not thanks to my daughter and another I might listen to as I am not sure I get this band and see if this one changes my mind at all. MY choices are in Blue. Let me know what tickles your fancy or if I missed anything. Thanks and have a great Weekend!!
Wilder Woods – Wilder Woods – (Atlantic Records): This is the only release I am excited about and have ordered the vinyl which hopefully will there when I get home from work!! Bear Rinehart, lead singer for one of all time favorite bands, Needtobreathe, has a side project called Wilder Woods. The music is different from Needtobreathe, but that voice is the same. It is another opportunity to explore something different and spread his wings of creativity. It is a little lighter at times and yet darker as well as he explores different sides of himself than what you would normally get. I can’t wait to explore this one.
Slipknot – We Are Not Your Kind – (Roadrunner Records): Okay, here is a band I have never really listened to. A little heavier than I like or maybe a little stranger than I like. The mask, yeah whatever, the music, eeeh, but I might give it a listen to see what the hubbub is about. Don’t expect I will like this any more (or any less) then their other stuff.
Wilder Woods – Fever / Sky – (Dualtone Music Group)
Fall Out Boy – So Much (For) Stardust – (Fall Out Boy)
A Country Super-Group consisting of Brandi Carlile, Natalie Hemby, Maren Morris and Amanda Shires. I have not been digging Country lately, but the women on country rock. I found this to be enjoyable and was really digging the songs “The Highwomen”, a rework of the the Jimmy Webb classic “The Highwayman” as well as “Redesigning Women” and “Crowded Table”. Check them out.
2 Loud 2 Old Music 