Rockin' Rich Lynch Presents His Week In Review

• WEEK IN REVIEW ARCHIVE

Rockin' Rich Lynch's "Week In Review" - September 27, 2024

Nashville's Rockin' Rich Lynch (www.RockinRichLynch.com) is a journalist, concert reporter and rock photographer with decades of experience in the music business. He receives dozens of new releases every week that all vie for his unique review style and personalized perspective. If you would like to see this column prosper - or if you would like to bolster RRL's ongoing muscial efforts - the best thing that you can do is BUY His Debut Album in order to support his ongoing creative journey.

• Emerson, Lake & Powell: The Complete Collection - In 1984, when prog rock legend Carl Palmer was seated behind the drum stool for his hit making group Asia - his former bandmates chose a curious time to reconvene as they would need to replace him in order to move forward. Lucky for them, the beast known as Cozy Powell was available and a new ELP (Emerson, Lake & Powell) was born hoping to tap into the MTV craze that was crowning many of their contemporaries as kings of this new musical medium. "When Cozy came in, he really dazzled us. We didn't intend to put the group back together but he was such a good technical drummer and such a good performer, we thought it might be a good idea to go back out with a new version of the band," Greg Lake told the LA Times back in 1986. The new band got to work recording their debut which would turn out to be their first and last album. Why that was is hard to decipher. They evoked a sense of fun and whimsy as heard on their cover of "The Loco-Motion" - and, this version of ELP put others like YES and Asia on notice that they certainly could out-commercial them as the dramatic single "Touch And Go" was unmatched in power and potential for the era. Maybe the strength of that track made the rest of the record pale in comparison becasue come one tour later ELP would disband once again. This 3 CD box set includes the bands one and only studio release: Emerson, Lake & Powell, featuring 3 bonus tracks. Also included is their live album, Live In Concert and a CD of rehearsals, The Sprocket Sessions, which has previously only been released as a bootleg. Emerson, Lake & Powell The Complete Collection documents the sometimes glorious swift rise and fast fall of musical legends who were trying to redefine themselves for a new generation of fans in the 80's. Was this attempt a success or failure overall depends on your perspective. The music is mostly pretty damn good so maybe the chemistry was just not quite right in this configuration. One can only wonder what if it was Palmer on drums instead of Powell? At this point we'll never know. (More at > Emerson, Lake And Powell - The Complete Collection)

• Dan Tyminski: Live From The Ryman - Dan Tyminski is an American bluegrass singer-songwriter, musician, composer, vocalist, instrumentalist and longtime member of Alison Krauss's band Union Station. On his latest - Live From The Ryman - Tyminski returns to the Mother Church and delivers an electric and energetic set that proves the ongoing vitality of the genre that is said to have been birthed inside the walls of this hallowed venue in the middle of the last century. This record really has it all and the collection of originals, cover songs and unreleased material really pop with the support of Dan's talented young band who are more than up to the task in the weighty Ryman spotlight. As a modern bluegrass specialist Tyminski performs the canon with a nod to the traditional past while being unafraid to move the sound down more progressive paths - not unlike fellow troubadour Billy Strings whose considerable efforts have worked to turn the form into an arena draw these days. If there is any doubt as to why bluegrass music has come so far so fast in recent years - one listen to Live From The Ryman will help you find the answer - it's infectious and will no doubt continue to spread on the strength of this release by the very talented Tyminski. TRACKS - "This Sad Song", "Let Me Fall", "Modern Day Jezebel", "Cumberland Gap", "Ode to Jimmy", "God Fearing Heathen", "The Boy Who Wouldn't Hoe Corn", "I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow", "Silence in the Brandy", "Say Wont You Be Mine", "GOAT", "Whiskey Drinking Man", "Old Home Place". (More at > www.dantyminski.com)

• Jack McKeon: Talking to Strangers - If Jackson Browne had been born in Appalachia he might have turned out to be an artist more akin to Jack McKeon. But, even McKeon is mostly a stranger to that particular geography having originally hailed from the Hudson Valley region of upstate New York before moving to Nashville to hone his craft and plant his flag in the burgeoning world of contemporary bluegrass while equipped with loads of talent and strong singer-songwriter sensibilities. Still, you wouldn't really know that with one spin of his just released debut Talking to Strangers. On his debut, McKeon digs in to that backwoods sound and does his talking with a banjo-heavy, Americana-themed band backing him throughout the album's 11 demonstrative tracks that were recorded over three days of live tracking at The Tractor Shed in Goodlettsville, Tennessee. The resulting effort reveals a warm and organic sound that could be labelled contemporary Appalachian soul while it infuses folk rock with an easy-going bluegrass sway all seamlessly carried by McKeon's notable knack for telling a story. "Willow Lane" opens the set and opens the door on a slightly sad tale of reminiscing that contemplates the temporary nature of life and love. "Paler Shade of Blue" continues the restless ruminating on the fact that we are all on borrowed time punctuated by banjo, slide guitar and mournful violin that points to the singer's ultimate destination - a six foot box of pine. A depression era work song "Highway 29" follows to hammer home the fact that Talking to Strangers isn't necessarily good time, party music - but it is wrought with expression and is oh so real while it resonates with many satisfying reflections in a smart and intelligent fashion. On record and in the live setting. McKeon comes across as an easy-going, likable guy in much the same way as his major influences Tom T. Hall, Guy Clark, James Taylor and the aforementioned Jackson Browne do. On the strength of Talking to Strangers and its accompanying wide emotional spectrum - it's probably just a matter of time before music fans and critics are talking about Jack in the same breath as all the other classic and current artists that are equal to him in quality and caliber. Now, we can't wait to see what Jack McKeon has to say next. (More at > jackmckeonmusic.com)

• Dex Green: Imaginary War - The first drop of the metaphorical needle on the new album from Nashville-based artist, multi-instrumentalist and producer Dex Green had us imagining a mash-up where the Bee Gees meet the Flaming Lips as the eerie soundtrack for an episode of sleep paralysis. Yes, "Just Like Dreaming" felt dreamy but also a tad alarming. So, it's no wonder that the following track would be titled "It's Only the End of the World" complete with its own ominous soundscapes. Clearly, the opening two numbers on Imaginary War present a strategy to get the listener's attention with a full barrage of futuristic synths combined with an infectious dose of southern funk. This is not your standard Nashville fare and the artist describes his latest effort as, "light poetry against a heavy musical backdrop. There's a lot of room for interpretation. I hope it means a little something different to everybody." Green himself means a lot to a lot of his own colleagues with a resume that boasts collaborations with Elvis Costello, Margo Price, Nicole Atkins, Collective Soul, Aaron Lee Tasjan and more — including a Grammy nom for his work mixing and engineering Shemekia Copeland's 2022 album Done Come Too Far. Imaginary War is a solo effort in just about every sense of the word – he wrote every song, plays every instrument, and sings lead – but it's about as far from a "singer-songwriter" album as it gets. Many of the songs came together as instrumental tracks first, piecing the puzzle together layer by layer, often getting as far as choosing a song title before ultimately penning lyrics and a melody that fit with the music vision he had set forth for the project. Sonically, the album blends Green's array of influences from synth-driven psychedelic pop and jazz to ‘70s rhythm and blues and more, woven together with his inviting atmospheric production. Later songs like "Unbelievable" take on a less ethereal and more solid form proving Green to be quite capable in writing for many different styles of music. With several spins of Imaginary War under our belt we're left to believe just one conclusion - that is the talented Dex is on the verge of declaring victory by winning many news fans with this release. For real! (More at > Imaginary War)

• Avery Anna: Mood Swings - Just in time for the Fourth of July comes Avery Anna who we were only recently turned onto at the Music Biz Convention in Nashville when her reps were handing out copies of her Warner Nashville debut Mood Swings. Now, we just learned that her much anticipated follow-up is due out in just a few weeks. The 19-year old Arizona native is no stranger to a day in the sun and as Independence Day approaches it appears that she is on the verge of blowing up Martina McBride style. On Mood Swings we love the crisp tracks and emotive delivery coupled with Anna's youthful energy and insightful observations especially on the pop song therapy contained in "Narcissist" followed by the rockin' remedy that comes via a dose of teenage revenge on "Lovesick". Hit play on your streaming service or player of choice and you might find that this album packs a powerful punch with an ever-cresting adrenaline rush. With only seven tracks that common adage that "big things come in small packages" most certainly applies here. After repeated listens we can confidently report that this is the type of mood music we can get behind. (More at > www.averyannamusic.com)

• Tausha Hanna: As I Ever Was - Wow! Big props to 26-year-old Canadian artist Tausha Hanna for making the battle against anxiety and depression sound so good on her latest single "As I Ever Was" recently released in recognition of World Mental Health Day. "I think depression is something people can be uncomfortable to speak about and they have difficulty talking about their deep feelings," Tausha says. "I think songs can create a conversation. During a crisis, music can be one of the only things that reaches you." Hanna had plenty of help to guide her on the superbly produced track that gets her explicit message across with no shame or apologies - only bright and uplifting powerful power pop coming to the forefront. Tausha recruited Billy Bob Thornton in the song that confides her own personal struggle with anxiety and depression because those are issues he also shares. Thornton generously opened up his Pepper Tree Hill Studio so he and his Boxmasters bandmate J.D. Andrew could produce, engineer, and play on the song. Check out "As I Ever Was" today now out on Future Youth Records - a nonprofit record label that helps youth use the power of music to advocate for change and make a positive social impact. (More at > Tausha Hanna Music)

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WEEK IN REVIEW: Expertly reviewing the latest music releases that you need to know about!