The Fat Angel Sings

Ryan Adams has taken the lead and has released 5 new albums to start 2024: “Sword & Stone”  “Star Sign” “Prisoners (Live)” “heat wave” and “1985”. All of them, under their own record label, PAXAM, founded in 2004.

The albums have been available on digital platforms since January 1st, the date on which the North American singer songwriter decided to surprise his fans with a somewhat late, but unique Christmas gift. As a curiosity, the singer has revealed where the covers for each of his projects came from.

“Stephen is the guiding light and voice of PAXAM’s aesthetic. In this moment when my bizarre ideas and arbitrary photos mix like clouds or a lost rosary that I see when I go for a run he has been able to transform covers, t-shirts and any crazy thing we can think of into the most beautiful, classic, cool and easily recognizable thing in the world.”

“Heatwave” resonates with Ryan’s rock side. Those familiar with Ryan’s work know he’s a chameleon. Sometimes a crooner, sometimes a rocker, and sometimes crafting witty improvisation tunes about boogers like “Mr. Booger Man” from Life After Deaf (2012).

No matter the side Ryan shows, he wears his heart and frustrations on his sleeves. I think that’s why he is able to connect to so many through his music. The emotions, from hurt to happiness, possess a genuine feel and are not manufactured propaganda from a corporate machine..

“Heatwave” clocks in at around forty minutes with fourteen songs that capture Ryan’s signature rock-n-roll vibe. Among these, the closing track “5th Avenue” stands out as the quintessential Ryan rocker. The song is lush from beginning to end. Reverberating guitars and bass, time ticking away on the drums, and Ryan’s heartfelt vocals end “Heatwave” on a high.

The opening track, “Lies”. The song has the punk vibes of “1985” but less angst and it’s easy to see why it wasn’t on the album and it makes sense to kick off “Heatwave“. The bass in “Mercy”, “Heatwave”, “I’m Sorry”, “Too Late” are clutch. It brings such a beautiful element to each song that enhances the depth and soul of each melody.

Be still my bass loving heart, “Supernatural” is perfect. From vocals to lyrics to guitar, bass, and drums there is nothing wrong with this song. The addition of keys lends a nostalgic 70s aura where organs and pianos tethered an audience to an aural experience and they are absolute magic in “Supernatural”.

The disco funk of the guitars and the sliding bass are absolute stand out gems in “Walls”. They steal the spotlight and run away with it. It’s one of the best songs on “Heatwave“.

Meanwhile, “The Blue Canoe” flaunts a surfy 50s vibe, showcasing Ryan’s storytelling prowess with an intriguing narrative and infectious, fun melodies.

Fans of Ryan will understand that all I need to say about “I’m Insane (Again)” is that the harmonica wins. 

Ryan’s rock side has always been underrated. Not rock enough for rock radio and too much rock for alternative radio. He’s always been on the fringe of music and before his time, and “Heatwave” is proof that Ryan’s rock side is a perfect balance that allows him creative freedom without the constraints of genre norms.

If “1985” was a cathartic purge of negativity and inner turmoil, then “Heatwave” is an acknowledgement of the hurt, pain, and loss.

 My brother turned me on to records when I was a kid. His kid brother, weirdo I was with OCD and likely on the spectrum. So he made me compilation tapes of Ozzy and the Scorpions and just tons of cool music. He didn’t believe in having any allegiance to one genre so there would be amazing deep cuts from Christopher Cross, then AC/DC then some cool metal.

In a single day, Adams has released a total of 77 songs, among which are the live versions of their album “Prisoners” published in February 2017. The majority, however, are unreleased and navigate between the rock and roll of Bruce Springsteen and the punk rock (garage and somewhat dirty) of Ramones.

It should be noted that it is especially striking that several of the tracks “1985” They barely reach a minute in length, So we can venture to say that they are simple demos and unfinished songs in which Ryan has experimented with sound and specific themes. To recap, “1985” is punk angst, “Heatwave” is a rock revelation, and “Star Sign” is Ryan in his singer-songwriter glory.

For forty-one minutes and across ten songs, the listener finds Ryan at his most vulnerable. His heart and feelings are on his sleeve, baring his soul for anyone who listens. It’s a beautiful experience. It’s a heartbreaking experience. It’s an experience Ryan fans know and understand when it comes to his crooner side. Raw, real, and emotional, Ryan writes stunning prose that paints gorgeous pictures steeped in emotions that coloured in gold and red tones and at times blues and pinks.

The most wonderful thing about “Star Sign” is that you can get lost in the album. Be it the words or the music, the album is one that you sit with and meditate on. It’s both a reflective and introspective album. One could listen to the album a multitude of times and find new meaning each time.

Fans of his slower side, ballads, and quieter works are going to be thrilled with “Star Sign“. The one upbeat tempo song, “Shinin’ Through the Dark” makes me think of Ryan in his Whiskeytown days. The accordion (it sounds like one to me, so if I’ve got the instrument wrong, please forgive me) brings a wonderful sway to the song that feels like you’re sitting on a front porch swing with your grandparents. It’s safe, comforting, and warm.

The stunning electric guitar work in “Be Wrong” coupled with the lyrics is sure to make this song a classic like “Come Pick Me Up”, “When the Stars Go Blue”, and “When Will You Come Back Home”. The harmonica in “Tomorrow Never Comes” made my heart ache. Combined with the electric guitar wails and cries, the song is gut wrenching. An even more gut wrenching song is “I Lost My Place”. The piano accompanying Ryan’s voice and lyrics is poetic and tear inducing.

The ticking clock and the mood of the melody in “Staying Alive” makes me feel as if this could be a song in a Disney or Pixar film where the main character has the epiphany that turns their life around to save the day. On a note of hope and love, it’s a lovely way to end “Star Sign“.

“Happy New Year. Happy 2024. I’m Ryan Adams, he of music, novels, art and questionable guitar solos. I just wanted to thank everyone who has pre-ordered an album and those who have made it possible be a great day of reproductions in streaming for me. “It’s incredible,” he thanked the reception through his social networks.

Despite being twenty-nine tracks, “1985” only clocks in at thirty-five minutes. For those who only know the crooner side of Ryan, “1985” could be a shock to the system as it is punk rock through and through.

But that’s the versatility of Ryan and his talent. One minute he could be belting out a heartfelt song and the next an in your face song of anger. Despite those attempts to pigeonhole him into a specific sound or genre, Ryan has defied those labels and chains again and again. Most, if not all of the songs are quick and filled with a sense of frustration and rage. It’s as if Ryan took all the negativity and hate he’s received be it from haters or internalisation of his own mind and channelled it through 1985 as a cathartic cleanse.

The down tempo song, “Down the Drain” is a literal moment of reprieve that clocks in at thirty seconds. Following it is “Bag of Trash” that is the familiar blend of rock that Ryan creates.

1985 is a visceral middle finger of defiance and a welcoming swift kick to the face.

Available as only vinyls, Ryan dropped the tetralogy of “1985“, “Heatwave“, “Star Sign“, “Sword & Stone“, and the live version of “Prisoners Live” at the start of the year.

The twelve track album sits at approximately thirty-six minutes on the clock and is a wonderful blend of Ryan at his best. While I appreciate and like Ryan’s versatility, my personal preference of Ryan’s style for an album is his more upbeat rockers mixed with the melancholy sadness of his slower songs.

Like “Star Sign“, it’s easy to get lost within “Sword & Stone“. Too focused on the music, one will miss the candid lyrics. Too focused on the lyrics, one will miss some of the best guitar, bass, and drum work across all of the four albums. “Sword & Stone” makes you hit repeat so you don’t miss anything and in a day and age where one hit wonders and singles reign supreme, being able to listen to an album on repeat is proof of heart. At least that’s my thought. I’m happy to spin albums on repeat for days if not months or years.

Some of the songs, especially “Nuclear War” have a Ryan Adams & the Cardinals vibe and I’m curious as to if they were originally written for that project or not.

“Sword & Stone” has wonderful music be it the soulful bass, the slide guitar, the brushstrokes on the drum, and nary a harmonica. I don’t think I missed hearing it as Ryan has a pretty distinct harmonica playing style. But not having the harmonica doesn’t break the album, if anything, it allows “Sword & Stone” to float between that alt rock and alt country sound that Ryan can sometimes fall between.

Live albums or live recordings in general can be great ways to connect to fans who haven’t seen an artist live or might not get to experience a live performance. It gives fans a taste of what it’s like to be standing in the crowd with others, but seeing a band live can also showcase a litany of flaws of an artist or band.

“Prisoners (Live)” though only showcases a litany of reasons why one must catch Ryan Adams live at least once in their life. “Prisoners (Live)” like all of Ryan’s live albums capture the raw talent the man possesses. It also allows for a nuanced experience that only a live show can provide.

Like the saxophone in “Prisoner”. Christ almighty. The saxophone combined with the harmonica on “Prisoner” is absolutely stunning. The instrument compliments his music and voice beautifully.

Another stand out track is “Outbound Train”, the song feels brighter, the bass is heavier, and Ryan’s vocals are more full emotion than the studio album. If one can’t get to see Ryan live, “Prisoners (Live) allows one to experience an intimate and emotional portrait of a man that wears his heart and emotions on his sleeves.

What I don’t believe in is wasting time. There’s my work and my faith. The rest is just noise and it has no place in my work or my life. It has no hope of surviving here in this beautiful machine I built inside me that feels the power and importance of every colour your eyes can absorb and every beautiful thing created from the moments we are allowed to have on Earth.

So here is it, my newest songs

DAIISTAR announce limited edition 7″ vinyl ‘Clear’ with B-Side Sonic Boom remix

The Austin, TX noise-pop upstarts DAIISTAR are today releasing this blissed-out new single ‘Clear’. The new track arrives off the back of their highly-praised 2023 debut album ‘Good Time’ – an 80s/90s-indebted blend of narcotic noise and melody produced by Alex Maas of The Black Angels and engineered by White Denim’s James Petralli. Backed by a Sonic Boom remix of ‘Good Time’ album track ‘Velvet Reality’ on the B-side, ‘Clear’ will be released on a limited neon-pink 7″ due out May 10th 2024. 

An unheard cut from the ‘Good Time’ sessions, DAIISTAR’s Alex Capistran (guitar/vocals) says that “the idea behind ‘Clear’ was to write the perfect song for a perfect day. A song that comes to mind on a warm and sunny afternoon; inspiring thoughts of attainable bliss and encouraging you to dream up something nice for your future self.”

Having spent 2023 touring North America with The Black Angels, The Brian Jonestown Massacre and The Dandy Warhols – including festival appearances at Levitation/Austin Psych Fest, Desert Daze, SXSW, Freak Out, Treefort and a recent KEXP session to boot – and with a seven-week European tour kicking off in April 2024, ‘Clear’ is the woozy, reverb-soaked sound of a band on the rise. 

The Austin, TX noise-pop upstarts Daiistar have released their blissed-out new single ‘Clear’ Backed by a Sonic Boom remix of ‘Good Time’ album track ‘Velvet Reality’ on the B-side, ‘Clear’ will be released on a limited neon-pink 7″ due out May 10th 2024.

An unheard cut from the ‘Good Time’ sessions, DAIISTAR’s Alex Capistran (guitar/vocals) says that “the idea behind ‘Clear’ was to write the perfect song for a perfect day. A song that comes to mind on a warm and sunny afternoon; inspiring thoughts of attainable bliss and encouraging you to dream up something nice for your future self.”

‘Clear’ is the woozy, reverb-soaked sound of a band on the rise

‘Clear’ is the new single from Austin noise-pop band DAIISTAR, out May 10th 2024

The Third Sound release second single, ‘Wasteland’, from upcoming album ‘Most Perfect Solitude’. Out April 26th on CD/Vinyl

The Berlin psych/post-punk band The Third Sound are today releasing the second single, ‘Wasteland’, from their upcoming studio the follow-up to 2022’s ‘First Light’ is also supported by newly-announced European tour-dates. Talking about the primal psych-rock drone ‘Wasteland’, surely a soon-to-be live favourite, front-man Hakon Adalsteinsson says: “‘Wasteland’ is one of the heavier songs of ‘Most Perfect Solitude’. Repetitive fuzz guitar and hypnotic drums are combined with a nightmarish vision of a city in ruins.” The single is accompanied by suitably distorted, monochromatic visuals courtesy of Methadrome Media / Alexander Schipper.

Talking about the album, Hakon Adalsteinsson adds: “After touring “First Light’ heavily and releasing our Fuzz Club Session LP last year – a career-spanning, retrospective document in a way – this album feels like starting with a clean slate. There is a certain warmth to some of the songs that has not been there before, but they still flicker between light and shadows, kind of like a slow motion audio version of Brion Gysin‘s Dreamachine.

The Berlin based psych/post-punk band The Third Sound have released the second single, ‘Wasteland’, Talking about the primal psych-rock drone ‘Wasteland’, surely a soon-to-be live favourite, front-man Hakon Adalsteinsson says: “‘Wasteland’ is one of the heavier songs of ‘Most Perfect Solitude’. Repetitive fuzz guitar and hypnotic drums are combined with a nightmarish vision of a city in ruins.” The single is accompanied by suitably distorted, monochromatic visuals courtesy of Methadrome Media / Alexander Schipper

In support of the release of ‘Most Perfect Solitude’, the band head out on a string of recently announced dates this year, with more tba, including a performance at Fuzz Club Eindhoven on May 3rd at The Effenaar, Eindhoven

Night Beats’ self-titled 2011 debut album re-issue, a vinyl reissue of Night Beats’ 2011 self-titled debut album. Long out of print, the album is back on wax at last and landing June 21st!.

A modern garage-rock classic in the Texan thirteenth-floor tradition, Danny Lee Blackwell’s R&B-inspired Western Psychedelic sound on this 12-track set is a reckoning, a shoot-out at dawn, the ear-splitting peel-out that leaves nothing but a cloud of red dust in its wake. There’s a splatter vinyl LP available on the Fuzz Club store with a fold-out poster, Levitation have an exclusive sunburst LP and the purple LP can be found in all record good stores.

Following early releases in the shape of the ‘H-Bomb’ 45 and a split 10″ with UFO Club (a collaborative project between Blackwell and The Black Angels’ Christian Bland), the ‘Night Beats’ LP was the first full-length introduction to the band and propelled them to the forefront of burgeoning contemporary psych scene in a blaze of scuzzy rock’n’roll release.

releases June 21st, 2024

Prolific singer-songwriter Kathryn Williams and recently re-invigorated troubadour Dan Willson (aka Withered Hand) are to release a collaboration album tiltled, “Willson Williams”.

“Willson Williams” witnesses the meeting of two likeminded musicians who’ve built their successful, independent careers on inventive folk instrumentation, reflective and sincere lyricism, and not a small amount of self-deprecation. Their modest confessionals, written poetically and over nostalgic and atmospheric melodies, are as relatable as ever, and together they find new ways to unpack their feelings.

One overarching theme on the album is that of grief, when the writing process saw them both, tragically, in mourning for separate loved ones; Dan for his brother Karl and his friend Scott Hutchinson of Frightened Rabbit, and Kathryn for her friend, comedian and BBC Radio 4 presenter Jeremy Hardy. They explain that “the initial premise and starting point for us was discussions and open conversations on bereavement.

We’d both recently lost friends who were also in the public eye, and we talked about the strange place between personal loss and the communal grieving of a public figure”. Contrastingly, the music on “Willson Williams” is warm, heartfelt and even cheerful, an opposing nature that is completely in keeping with both their humour and candidness.

Taken from upcoming album “Willson Williams” out 26th April

As an archive of outtakes, alternate versions, rediscovered recordings and abandoned track listings emerges, the new issue of Uncut explores the secret history of David Bowie’s sartorially outrageous, extra-terrestrial rock star, “Ziggy Stardust”.

To accompany these fresh revelations, the issue comes in a printed presentation bag with a special Collectors’ Cover and a double-sided fanzine documenting Bowie’s essential Ziggy-era singles that folds out to a beautiful A1 poster on the reverse.

The new Uncut is on sale from Friday, March 29. As well as our glittering Ziggy celebrations, the issue also features new interviews with The Black Keys and Beck, St Vincent, Richard Thompson, Kamasi Washington, Brett Anderson, Roseanne Cash, Vini Reilly, Iron & Wine, Neil Finn, Pete Wylie and Myriam Gendron.

Plus the essential album, film and book reviews for the month ahead – including new releases from Jessica Pratt, Vampire Weekend, Alice Coltrane and Broadcast – as well as a free, 15-track CD showcasing the best of the month’s new music.

Black Sabbath will revisit their oft-overlooked Tony Martin era with the upcoming “Anno Domini 1989-1995″ box set. Martin served two stints in Black Sabbath: first from 1987 to 1991 and later from 1993 to 1997. Despite fronting the band during its commercial nadir, he remains their second-longest-serving frontman behind Ozzy Osbourne.

Martin’s recording career with Sabbath concluded with “Forbidden”, their last album until 2013’s Osbourne-fronted “13”. Iommi has long sought to improve the sound of “Forbidden”, originally produced by Body Count guitarist Ernie C. (Ice-T also guests on “The Illusion of Power.”)

“I was never happy with the guitar sound, and Cozy [Powell] was definitely never happy with the drum sound … so, I thought it would be nice to do it for him in a way,” Iommi said in a statement. “I just felt that, without changing any of the songs, there was an opportunity to go back and bring out some of the sounds and make it more what people would expect Sabbath to sound like.”

The collection arrives on May 31st in four-LP and four-CD configurations. It will feature newly remastered versions of 1989’s “Headless Cross“, 1990’s “Tyr” and 1994’s “Cross Purposes“, plus a new version of 1995’s “Forbidden” that guitarist Tony Iommi remixed specially for the collection.

“Anno Domini” marks the vinyl debut of several of these albums, while the CD version contains three exclusive bonus tracks: the B-side “Cloak & Dagger” and the Japan-only songs “What’s the Use” and “Loser Gets It All.” The box set also includes a booklet of photos, artwork and liner notes, as well as a Headless Cross poster and replica concert book from the Headless Cross Tour.

Deep Purple’s 1972 album “Machine Head” will be reissued as a 3CD+Blu-ray+LP super deluxe edition next month.

The English rock band’s sixth studio album was famously due to be recorded at Montreux Casino before it burnt to the ground. The band ended up setting up the Rolling Stones Mobile Studio in the nearby Grand Hotel which was closed for the Winter, Overlook-style. These events were depicted in the classic track “Machine Head” has been reissued many times, so what new content does this super deluxe edition offer? Well, Dweezil Zappa has remixed the record in stereo and in Dolby Atmos. The new stereo mix features on the coloured vinyl LP (“opaque white with hints of purple”) which is included in this super deluxe and on the first CD in the five-disc set, which is also home to a 2024 remaster (two versions of the album on one CD). The new stereo and Atmos remixes also include ‘Never Before’ B-side, ‘When A Blind Man Cries’., which starts side two of the vinyl version of this album.

The two CDs both include live performances. The first, recorded on 9th March 1972, at the Paris Theatre in London, captures the group on their “Machine Head” Tour. The second is previously unreleased; it was recorded in April 1971 at the Montreux Casino in Switzerland (yes, the same one that burned down eight months later). This is an “audience recording” which covers songs the band recorded prior to “Machine Head“, including ‘Child In Time’ (from 1969’s Concerto for Group and Orchestra), ‘Speed King’ (from 1970’s “Deep Purple in Rock”), and ‘Strange Kind Of Woman’ (from 1971’s “Fireball” ).

The blu-ray audio features the new Atmos Mix, and the original 1974 US Quad Mix and three tracks in 5.1 Surround Sound. The new stereo mix is not listed amongst the content (go figure) and why the whole album, rather than just three tracks, isn’t included in 5.1 (from the old DVD-Audio) is a mystery.

The super deluxe edition includes a 60-page book with new sleeve notes and the usual archive and rare photos.

A huge new box set from Parlophone Records will chronicle David Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust era from the origins of the character in 1971 through the recording of 1972’s “The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust” and the numerous promotional appearances and live performances that followed.

The 5-CD, 1-Blu-Ray collection “Rock ‘n’ Roll Star!” is set to feature 29 unreleased tracks spanning early demos, outtakes, alternate versions, and live recordings.

Highlights include a alternate version of “Lady Stardust,” a previously unheard version of the deep-cut rarity “Shadow Man,” and an uptempo rendition of the Who’s “I Can’t Explain,” which Bowie later covered on his 1973 album “Pin Ups”.

The audio-only Blu-Ray disc contains the 2012 remaster of the original album alongside “Waiting in the Sky (Before the Starman Came to Earth)”, an album of recordings from the famous 1971 Trident Studios sessions that will also be released as a limited-edition vinyl LP for Record Store Day on April 20th.

There are two books included in the set, a 112-page collection of liner noters, photographs, and interviews and a 36-page reproduction of Bowie’s personal notebooks from the era.

David Bowie’s “Rock ‘n’ Roll Star!” is a 5CD and 1 Blu-Ray Audio set that explores David Bowie’s journey from February 1971 through the creation of the Ziggy Stardust character, the recording of the iconic “The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars” album, and captures the international mania that surrounded the Ziggy phenomenon in the form of UK radio sessions and TV performances, as well as live tracks from Ziggy and the Spiders’ 1st October 1972 show at the Boston Music Hall.

“Rock ‘n’ Roll Star!” contains 29 unreleased tracks, covers early song writing demos, recordings from David’s band, The Arnold Corns, rehearsals at Bowie’s then-home, Haddon Hall, BBC sessions, singles, live performances, plus outtakes and alternative versions from the original album recording sessions, which have been newly mixed by original album producer, Ken Scott.

“Rock ‘n’ Roll Star!” also contains two books. The first is an extensive 112-page book with detailed liner notes, memorabilia, contemporary reviews and articles, rare photographs from Barrie Wentzel, Michael Putland, Mick Rock, Sukita and Alec Byrne, as well as brand-new notes and interviews with Ken Scott, Mark Carr Pritchett and David’s plugger from the time, Anya Wilson. Accompanying the main book is a 36-page compiled reproduction of David’s personal Ziggy Stardust era notebooks.