The HU's 'Wolf Totem' is the fresh yet nostalgic track I needed to kick off 2019!

Zxzzrumdum dumh dah and just like that the first new music to listen to of 2019 falls outta the sky! As soon as I heard Tuvan throat singing I knew it was going to be unique, on top of that The Hu use potent rhythm and the flavors of modern production to bring Mongolian music mainstream. Like Rammstein, Shakira and um... Future... you don't always need to understand the lyrics to feel the music. I need to give credit to my neighbor Shane, he shared this on Facebook and I stumbled upon it. I'm now rocking The HU on repeat, and Poppy approves too. Here's what I know...

The HU band is a new project by a Mongolian artist and producer. My understanding is that he is regionally/nationally famous. The only name I can find so far is Bayarmagnai Dashdondog. This track, 'Wolf Totem' was released on Nov. 22, 2018. Their Facebook page was created on Nov. 20, 2018. So, a pretty new artist/venture. The official link for 'Wolf Totem' and their other single 'Yuve Yuve Yu' is [HERE].

I say "nostalgic" because 20 years ago exactly, in 1999, I was first introduced to throat singing by way of NPR. My friends didn't know what to think of my sub'd out 1989 Chevy Caprice blasting 'Good Horses.' Their reactions, followed by weirded-enjoyment made it worthwhile. The album was 'Back Tuva Future: The Adventure Begins' by Ondar, a similarly experimental project featuring Tuvan throat singing. Here's an interesting narrative on the making of one of the other singles on it, 'Tuva Groove' [LINK].

My taste in music knows no bounds - this is definitely out of the ordinary, but if 'Wolf Totem' doesn't move a little something inside of you, well - it's time to check your pulse. I know I'll be burning a hole in these two singles, and with any luck we'll see a full album soon.

Even if destined for the hall of one-hit-wonders, I hope this track blows up in 2019.

If you want to learn more:
The HU Band on Instagram and on Facebook.

I check my dome, I straighten my tie
Whose that looking back at me looking so fly?
I'm like "Damn, oh, that's me in the mirror!"
I blow myself a kiss, it's getting hot up in here...

Forget what your friends will think of your taste in music. This album is a blast. If I had to pick a genre I guess it'd be rock, but their sound is all over the place. I'd never heard of Wilson until now, but I do know you can most definitely get your party on to 'Tasty Nasty.' Party. On.

I'd recommend a song to try first, but I couldn't pick just one. The album opens with a thumping track in 'Dumptruck' and it certainly sets expectations from the start. But, you'd be mistaken if you think you can sum up the album, or artist for that matter, from this first song. 'Money (Money Money Money)' is a solid track with a little funkier vibe. Listening to 'House of F#ckery' makes me laugh and rock out at the same time. My pick for an end of the summer jam though has to go to 'Like a Baller'. While the more sentimental among you might vote for 'Everyone Gets a Round on Me.'

The video for 'Like a Baller' is below... I'm pretty sure they made the video by themselves, with their phones maybe... Love for the production value!

There's a little something for everyone, but those who can get down with the no f#cks given attitude of 'Tasty Nasty' will have the most fun with it.

But of all of the demon's I've know - none could compare to you...

I haven't shared any new music in over a month, but I've been listening to a lot of it... including what has become, and will most certainly remain, one of my most played albums of 2018. I listened to this album 4 times through yesterday. If you need new music to finish your summer strong, this could be it.

Ghost's 'Prequelle' is an amazingly well crafted medievally-inspired musical journey. A rock opera that takes place during a modern day bubonic plague... Yes, that's right - from rats and rotting flesh, to corrupt politicians and "your friend death." 'Prequelle' sets a dark stage of disease and despair but there's also love, hope and defiance. Themes, more so than a story, are woven through lyrics and vocals perfectly tuned to evoke personas of heroes and villains within your imagination. The dark corners of your imagination.

For a sense of the theatrics and masterfully orchestrated instrumental work poured into this album imagine if you will Tim Burton and Trans Siberian Orchestra sitting in a seedy hotel room. The shades are drawn tight, a band member is passed out in the corner, another is scraping mold from pizza of unknown age and origin. Tim looks up from a table strewn with illicit drugs, scratching at a scab he says... "What would Andrew Lloyd Webber do?"

If you're looking for something completely unique, but as familiar as 70's stadium rock, something majestic and soaring but angry and defiant - this album is worth listening to. If you belt out power ballads in your car, have ever been heard singing with your headphones on, or if you've shredded an air guitar like a rock god - this album is most certainly for you.

-Luke

...when Apple Music served up 'Big Iron'... I was hooked. 

Whether browsing and discovering, hearing and shazaming, radio scanning or being suggested new music to listen to; it doesn't have to be current or popular it doesn't even need to be new, just good music - regardless of genre. With that in mind, Marty Robbins 'Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs' is awesome.

I was completely unfamiliar with Marty Robbins when Apple Music served up 'Big Iron'. I'm not sure if it was the guitar and rhythm, Marty's crooning cowboy voice or the story within the song, but I was hooked. I've since listened to the entire album more times than you heard Gangnam Style in 2012. I've shared songs with friends and family and even made someone grin ear-to-ear when they walked in and heard it playing... "Is that Marty Robbins?!" Taking them to a memory of riding shotgun with their father, cruising dirt roads in an old Chevy. While quite the opposite of new music I believe it's very much worth sharing, and listening to.

So, here I am recommending to you reader, an album that's nearing 60 years old as new music to listen to. Whether you're just getting ready to hit the trail or you're already on it, 'Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs' is pure midwestern Americana at it's best.

'Big Iron' is a great song, a hit song - #18 on the Country Music charts in 1960 to be precise, but for me 'The Master's Call' is where it's at.

-Luke

Songs of the Maine woods from the Mallett Brothers Band.

​Fun fact, I went to school with these guys. I've actually been listening to music from members of the Mallett family since I was single digits old. I can recall my dad pulling out a David Mallett cassette from a mega tape-tote going back to the mid 80s. Listening to the Mallett family's music has become somewhat of a tradition for our family. I keep a copy of 'Inches & Miles, 1977-1980' downloaded on my phone. When my children get antsy during a long car ride 'Garden Song' has a near instant pacifying effect. A feeling that is sustained as the album proceeds into one of my favorite songs 'Arthur'.

The Mallett Brothers Band is fronted by David Mallett's two sons. They were a year or so behind me in high school. Now, years later I look forward to catching a live performance whenever they're in town. The Mallett Brothers pick, pluck and strum their own path through what I guess would be most closely classified as country music. All I can say about their sound is that barn-party rock had a roll in the hay with the family muse of folky Americana. Personally, I think they're just having a fucking good time. With no boundaries or expectations creativity flows free. The most recent evidence to that point is 2017's 'Falling of the Pine'. This album is heirloom rock, literally, with many of the songs coming from an old book of logging music they stumbled upon in their family library. Songs and hymns from the lumberman who forested the wild woods of Maine of the 1900's.

-Luke

During the summer of 2017 I played the hell out of 'Black Rose' by Volbeat. A band that has really exploded over the past few years - and not to be that guy - but I told you to check out Volbeat back in 2007. Two minutes into 'The Human Instrument' I knew I'd be keeping an eye out for every future album release. But, I digress. Fast forward a decade - I'm burning down the highway belting out the lyrics to "Black Rose" and reaching for the volume knob at "...she's on a hunt cookin' cookin' cookin' misery!..." Having had many commutes worth of practice, this had become my favorite part. A few verses from a featured guest singer. "Who is Danko Jones?" I needed to hear more. A quick search turned up several albums. I took the latest release 'Wild Cat' for a test drive. It has since maintained a place in my library. Right from the start with 'I Gotta Rock' you're off on a raw bar-rock bender. This album is feel-good in the way that hesitantly paying a $10 cover at the door and finding out the band is decent feels good. After reading a few other reviews it sounds like this is the upper crust of their typical sound. So, if you like what you hear you may want to try another album or two.

Rock and roll purists looking for new music to listen to will enjoy 'Wild Cat'. The standout track for me is 'Do This Every Night'.

-Luke

Intrigued by the album art and a song title, completely unfamiliar with the artist Brian Fallon, I was seriously impressed by 'Sleepwalkers'. 

My first reaction "I hope this isn't Jimmy Fallon's brother or something..." My second reaction was to turn it up. That was 30 seconds in to 'My Name is the Night (Color Me Black)' - the first track I played. I quickly found the full album and played it from the beginning. After the first few beats of 'If Your Prayers Don't Get to Heaven' I knew I'd struck music-to-listen-to gold. After some light Wikipeding I learned 'Sleepwalkers' is Brian's second solo studio album. The first was 'Painkillers' in 2016. If his voice sounds familiar that's because Brian Fallon is also the lead singer for The Gaslight Anthem. 'Sleepwalkers' is an upbeat blend of modern rock, bluesy Americana and soul. Two standout tracks for me are 'Etta James' (a live performance from this past month below) and 'My Name is the Night (Color Me Black)' (audio-only below).

​-Luke