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

Graham Parker - The Parkerilla (Lemon; CD LEM 103)

Arguably one of the finest rock and roll acts of all time, Graham Parker and The Rumour stormed the British charts in the late 1970s, with a unique blend of soul and cynicism. Parker’s sometimes acidic, sometimes romantic lyrics were a perfect match for the note twisting antics of veteran pub rock guitarist Brinsley Schwarz. Keyboardist Bob Andrews, bassist Andrew Bodnar, drummer Steve Goulding, and rhythm guitarist Martin Belmont rounded out a combo that could tear your playhouse down with just a look…READ MORE

Read the review of Judy Garland - Garland At The Grove.

Gas House Gorillas - Five Gorillas Walk Into A Bar (DM11608)

Remember those hoodlum friends you had when you were a teenager? Remember the way they used to hang out down by the drugstore in their zoot suits, snapping their fingers and acting too cool for school? Well, they grew up to be the Gas House Gorillas.

This primo jump blues band has it all: an amazing rhythm section, awesome sax playing, fabulous guitar, a killer frontman, and fantastic songs. And more than all that, these guys have the ability to cross over from jump blues to swing to rock and back again, often within the same track… READ MORE

Hometown Gamblers - Dypsomania (El Toro; ETCD7031)

When it comes to gin-swillin’, tobacco-chewin’, honky-tonkin’ rock and roll, the Hometown Gamblers are a sure bet. Hailing from the backwoods of Belgium, this twangin’ quartet plays good old fashioned rockabilly and country, with a heapin’ helpin’ of down home hospitality… READ MORE