Retro Music Review | Oldies, Reissues and New Releases with a Retro Sound

Mitch Woods - Jukebox Drive (El Toro Rhythm & Blues; El Toro R&B 206)

Whether “Boppin’ The Boogie” or serving up burgers at a “Boogie Woogie Bar-B-Q,” piano man Mitch Woods is the epitome of cool. He rocks those eighty-eights like crazy as a “Saturday Night Boogie Man,” then stumbles in the next morning with a “Blues Hangover.” The latter track is a thrilling rhythm and blues masterpiece, thanks in no small part to Woods’ first class backing band, The Lazy Jumpers. Drummer Blas Picon not only drives the tune furiously, he also delivers a killer harmonica break… READ MORE

Slim Cessna’s Auto Club - Cipher (Alternative Tentacles; Virus 383)

Every Slim Cessna’s Auto Club album represents a new and haunting vision of the American landscape. This country as seen through the eyes of Slim is a strange place indeed. Revival meetings and mason jugs and bullfrogs and highways being hacked to ribbons are set against a constant and curious chant, the drumming voice of the ignored and the dispossessed… READ MORE

Sean Costello - We Can Get Together (Delta Groove Music; DGPCD120)

The blues had a baby and they named it Sean Costello. This amazing young guitarist has got what it takes. A winner of the Beale Street Blues Society new talent award when he was just 14, Costello more than fulfills the promise of that early recognition on We Can Get Together. His style is down to the ground intense, and his vocals are laced with raw, ragged truth… READ MORE

Legendary Rhythm And Blues Revue - Command Performance (Delta Groove; DGPCD121)

“For a good time, call The Legendary Rhythm And Blues Revue.” This slogan should be scrawled on walls from Terre Haute to Timbuktu. Command Performance is the rave-up, jump back, get down, spin-around party record of the decade. This electrifying live album generates enough pure power to light up the entire Western Hemisphere — with a little left over for the other hemisphere… READ MORE

Read Rockabilly Reviews:

Welcome to the Club - Early Female Rockabilly

Janis Martin and Elvis Presley - Janis and Elvis

Buddy Holly - Not Fade Away: The Complete 1957 Recordings

Hometown Gamblers - Dypsomania

Thom Rotella 4-Tet - Out Of The Blues (Four Bar Music)

Out Of The Blues comes brilliant jazz. Guitarist Thom Rotella takes a back to basics approach on this fabulous album, his first in 5 years. Planting both feet firmly in the blues, he creates jazz that is truly awe inspiring… READ MORE

Vintage footage of the one, the only, the Queen of Rockabilly, Wanda Jackson…

Read Rockabilly Reviews:

Welcome to the Club - Early Female Rockabilly

Janis Martin and Elvis Presley - Janis and Elvis

Buddy Holly - Not Fade Away: The Complete 1957 Recordings

Hometown Gamblers - Dypsomania

Ringo Starr - Ringo 5.1 - The Surround Sound Collection (2 Discs; Koch; KOC-CD-4496)

On this compilation of tracks from recent solo albums, Ringo Starr offers up a heapin’ helpin’ of The Big Jangle. And honestly, who better? As one quarter of the band that practically invented The Big Jangle, he’s entitled. Songs such as “Fading In And Fading Out” and “Choose Love” are bound to bring a wistful smile to the face of any Fab Four fan… READ MORE

Read Bobby Darin reviews:

Bobby Darin - Mack is Back DVD

Bobby Darin - Early Bobby Darin

Bobby Darin - Sings the Shadow of Your Smile / In A Broadway Bag

Tremblers - Twice Nightly (Cherry Red; CDM Red 343)

No question, The Tremblers do tremble. With a sound somewhere between The Cars and Lene Lovich, Peter Noone’s post-Herman’s Hermits New Wave pop outfit trembles, shakes, shimmies, and indeed, rocks. Formed in 1980 as a declaration of musical independence, this catchy quintet had all the charm of the Hermits, but without the creative restraints inherent in a pop music franchise… READ MORE