The Bandoliers
Prove Yourself
Self-Released

The Bandoliers are from Nashville, Tennessee and play American rock n’ roll. Well, of course they do. Since there’s not much innovation in that statement, I’m gonna go ahead and garnish it, shake it out of its cushy tin can, and tell you what you really ought to know. And that’s this: The Bandoliers’ debut album, Prove Yourself, is a ‘stache attack of stray cat struts and fever dog howls, all fuzzy vox, stomp n’ groove, and Sunday morning hard rock blues. They go whole hog with this first impression by bringing in everything from vibroslap to cowbell to Wurlitzer to trumpet to fill out their dynamite Southern sound, but it’s the heavy-riffed bare business – that’s feet and chest, boy — that drives this one up your lane. Of course, no stars n’ stripes jam is complete without that great missing Black Crowes ballad (“Give Me Shelter”), ivory and slide staple (“The Devil is a Friend of Mine”), and singalong crowd pleaser (title track), so it seems these here Bandoliers have put it all together just right, making Prove Yourself a drunken sunny day hit.

Listen to Prove Yourself by The Bandoliers! Oh, and you can get it for free too, so do it.

Imperial State Electric
Pop War
Psychout Records

Imperial State Electric, Nicke Andersson’s post-Hellacopters get-up machine, started the year off by releasing the 7″ single Sheltered in the Sand and have followed that up with the band’s second full-length studio album, Pop War, bringing their total number of releases in the last two years to…well, it’s more than you can count on one hand, that much I know. While that’s a major erection for Andersson fans and record collectors (’cause most of them are limited), it’s also proof that the garage rock well from which Mr. Royale draws his addictive ditties is always full. While there are some obvious stand-outs, like “Uh Huh,” “Back On Main,” “Sheltered in the Sand,” “Monarchy Madness,” and “Enough to Break Your Heart” (with its surprisingly gallant orchestration), Pop War is standard Andersson fare, and not nearly as heroic as the cover art might suggest. But even as such, it’s still hot wired for fun and loaded with flicked-switch soul, so bring your best hand claps and hip shakes because this is the side you want to be on when the cannons starting going off.

Listen to “Back On Main” from Pop War!

Los Disidentes Del Sucio Motel/Flashfalcon
East Side Story
Deadlight Entertainment

France might not be known for its blistering stoner rock scene, but here we got a couple of slick rivals splittin’ duties and skulls on this dirty street fight of an LP, which showcases some mighty fine sleazy and green rock n’ roll. Featuring four songs from each club, East Side Story is a crime spree of hammer blows and cunning hooks, and both LDDSM and Flashfalcon prove themselves masters of the streetwalkin’ shakedown. Sonically speaking, there’s not much that separates LDDSM and Flashfalcon, so you get a heavy dose of what Kyuss would sound like if they sprung out of the Stockholm dive bar scene from both of ‘em, and they deliver their three originals (one of which was specifically written about the other band) and one cross-cover with mean spirited, mass appeal. You know, I never really expect much from splits, but this rumble was over the top, and all them black eyes and bloody lips feel really fucking good.

Listen to Flashfalcon’s “Riding With the Mavericks” and Los Disidentes Del Sucio Motel’s “The Ones” from East Side Story!