Brooklyn-based songwriter Zephaniah OHora is a master of classic country music and together with the 18 Wheelers he put together an extremely convincing country album called This Highway. I’ve had it on heavy rotation for a few months and I can’t seem to get enough of Zephaniah’s timeless country balladry. Somehow he can make heartache sound so beautiful, comfortable and truly enjoyable. If you have any interest towards real traditional country music, you’ll need to give this one a spin. It’s out on all digital platforms and there’s also at least a small amount of cd/vinyl available. This is the music video for the album outtake Take Your Love Out Of Town.

Zephaniah OHora Website

Oh how I feel the summer in my heart when I listen to the new The Parson Red Heads album Blurred Harmony. Ok, it helps that it actually is summer, but I would probably feel the same in the middle of a snow storm. This is a sweet one and totally the kind of music that I love. Beautiful pop jangle, sunny power pop vibes, folk rock and west coast americana, psychedelic pop, amazing harmonies. A bit of Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci over there and a small dose of The Beachwood Sparks here. Actually this song by Blades of Grass pretty much sums up my early feelings towards this album. Not that it’s really happy happy joy joy. Quite bittersweet and even sad at times, but even those moments are wrapped inside heart-melting warmness. It just feels good to listen to it. A perfect album for the summer.

Blurred Harmony is now out on Fluff and Gravy (US) and You Are The Cosmos (Europe).

The Parson Red Heads Website

I’m not sure does it make a whole lot sense to keep on buying music, if you don’t even have the time to listen to it. This was pretty much the story for me during the spring and early summer. So I’m catching up now that I’m on vacation and hey I was only kidding about that making sense part. Of course it makes sense to buy the music and support the artists that matter to you. Matthew Ryan matters and I picked up the download of his new album Hustle Up Starlings some weeks ago. This will be definitely be a big part of my vacation soundtrack, because it seems to be rather magnificent. Hustle Up Starlings was produced by Brian Fallon and came out on 12th of May. Here’s a couple of early favourites from this gorgeous album. The music video for album opener and single (I Just Died) Like an Aviator and Close Your Eyes.

Matthew Ryan Website

Speaking of pop legends. BMX Bandits also released a new single/video. It’s in Her Eyes is an outtake from their extremely highly recommended 2017 album BMX Bandits Forever and then there’s a couple of awesome b-sides and super lovely video for the lead song. There’s a little mistake in the press release though, because it says that You’re So Fine is a song by Alex Chilton that has never been released. This is not true, because Chariot already released that song on their 1998 album I am Ben Hur. I fell in love with it back then when I heard Ken Stringfellow singing it on that Chariot album. Not that I mind at all. It’s a great pop song and I’m so thrilled to hear BMX Bandits take on it, which is a lot different but equally magnificent. You’ll find them both below along with that lovely official video for the new BMX Bandits single It’s in Her Eyes.

BMX Bandits Website