It's hard to sound nervous and soulful at the same time, but White Denim manage that remarkable accomplishment on their sixth album, 2016's Stiff. The edgy energy that's long been the band's trademark is present in abundance here, which is welcome news since Stiff debuts a new White Denim lineup. On Stiff, singer and guitarist James Petralli and bassist Steve Terebecki are joined by new guitarist Jonathan Horne and drummer Jeffrey Olson. The new combination has much of the same combustible bounce that's been White Denim's hallmark, but they're just as agile with the plentiful R&B grooves on this set.
Limited 14 disc (13 CDs + NTSC/Region 0 DVD) Includes all nine studio albums from 1991 to 2009 with eight bonus tracks and two bonus CDs - "Classics Re-Recorded" originally issued with the initial pressings of Killing Ground, and Lionheart - Rough Studio Mix originally issued on the 2006 limited edition…
The Adam Eckersley Band infuse harmony laden country rock with a southern rock feel in well crafted songs that put a balanced emphasis on riffs, soulful grooves and uplifting choruses. And it’s their willingness to stretch out musically and over genres that makes them interesting. Their songs always leave plenty of room to jam and groove, even if they don’t always take advantage of that. And if there’s a downside, it’s simply that their crossover style might struggle to get a hearing in a Nashville dominated music scene currently over populated by denim clad cowboys with heartland lyrics, big choruses and a power guitar solo.
Now on their second album since original vocalist Skye Edwards rejoined the band, trip-hop veterans Morcheeba stretch their wings on Head Up High, an album that follows its guest stars into outside genres and generally messes about with the group's patented sound. It's obviously an inspirational move, as "Face of Danger" with rapper Chali 2na is a instantly gripping 2013 neo-disco near-sequel to Grace Jones' declarative hit "Demolition Man," while the pride-injected "To Be" with U.K. hip-hop duo Rizzle Kicks gets that dirt off the shoulder in the coolest of styles.