In my mind there are some cases when a band suddenly changed radically its style. For example when hc/punk Beastie Boys changed to hip-hop in 1983. When new wave synth pop Ministry became an industrial metal act around 87. When Metallica lost himself in 90. When one of the most thrilling thrash metal bands Voivod made a psychedelic rock album Angel Rat in same year. When industrial band Laibach became a successful cover band first, and then became a synth-pop band during the years gradually. And now here is the long awaited new Lantern album Black Highways and Green Garden Roads. And as if it were made by an other band.

After their sensational wild rock’n’roll album they have released an easy, almost distortion free, sometimes dark psychedelic folk rock album, „taking ideas from the work of Hieronymus Bosch, Carl Sagan, and Mikhail Bulgakov”. „It’s an exploration of the natural world and the cosmos, and a celebration of the wonderful, the serious, and the absurd.” They also said that it’s a result of many oversteeped pots of black tea.

It was recorded at The Bottle Garden, a home studio in Montreal filled with vintage gear and an array of instruments during 22 non-sequential days over a year and a half in 2013/14. More so than previous recordings, it is a collaborative effort born of studio improvising and collective exploration. They used new, unfamiliar instruments, such as organ and kalimba, and they experimented with tape loops and group harmonies.

Really fine songs – except for the cover version of Solomon Burke’s Cry To Me from 1962. It’s a mistake, just like the Rolling Stones’ version. (Listen to the original one.) The songs come Roy Orbison, 60s Rolling Stones, psychedelic era Voivod, and Illés (Hungarian beat legend) to my mind. And there is the bass theme of Dead Kennedys’ Holiday in Cambodia in the song We Are Here:

But the album is too long. And unfortunately badly edited, so it is hard to listen from first to last. It would have been better if there an LP with 10 songs and an EP with 4 (He Is A Pinball; Wait, Wait; Cry To Me; We Are Here Again) had been released.

Cassette by Fixture Records (Can) & LP by Sophomore Lounge (US)

Listen to it here

There is a fuckin good rock’n’roll band in Philadelphia. So ultra fuckin good that Goodbye Boozy also released them three years before. And at long last here is the new, the second LANTERN album! Black Highways and Green Garden Roads.

This has written about it by their labels: „Taking ideas from the work of Hieronymus Bosch, Carl Sagan, and Mikhail Bulgakov, the new album is an exploration of the natural world and the cosmos, and a celebration of the wonderful, the serious, and the absurd. More so than previous recordings, it is a collaborative effort born of studio improvisation and collective experimentation. The resulting collection is a diverse and sophisticated 14-song program that balances concise pop and lush psychedelic rock with weirder, headier jams.”  And it „is an ambitious and distinctly ’60s-inspired rock ‘n’ roll record, rich with surf, soul, and hard rock textures.”

cassette and digital by Fixture, vinyl by Sophomore Lounge Records

And here is the brilliant first album Rock’n’Roll Rorschach

Here is an excellent Stooges album by Lantern. It is one of the best albums of 2013.

Buy 8 USD or Free Download

or vinyl LP by Sophomore Lounge (USA) or Cardinal Fuzz (UK)

The Lantern’s Rock’n’Roll Rorschach is
one of the best rock’n’roll albums of late.

It will be released by Cardinal Fuzz in Europe.
Pre-order from Sept 2.

Psychedelic as a slow motion Cramps

The RNR666 favourite Lantern’s video

Their frenzied new album and a 7″

They come from Philadelphia we hope to Europe too soon…

„I’m a fucking furniture removalist from Adelaide. I write down-and-out pop songs. I write songs about every job that I do.” Songs about blue collar’s weekdays by Scott & Charlene’s Wedding:

Lesbian Wife + Fakin’ NYC + Gammy Leg from Any Port In A Storm LP by Fire Records

The SACW is the solo project of the Australian musician, Craig Dermody. I have been following with attention to his works since his Para Vista Social Club LP (2011).  Not long ago he moved to New York.

Beside the fantastic LP here is a Lantern 7″ too

You get it; put it and some moments hence you get the bang! Such is a perfect start for a rock and roll record. And the Rock’n’Roll Rorschach starts exactly in this way. But in this case there are the recognition and the surprise too in the bang of first track. Hey! Where did I hear this rhythm? Where? Where? Got it! The Evil Eye rhymes with Iggy Pop’s Lust for Life and not only with its title. And Iggy and The Stooges stay with us throughout. Moreover they whip out a saxophone too. But the Lantern has got mood to the sax from the Rolling Stones’ Exile in Main Street album. They listened to it around the recording time luckily for us. Their music is hard rhythm’n’blues & raw rock’n’roll, sometimes such like a little slow-motion Cramps. Yes, the Philly trio has made such a great album that their every ideal could proud of it.

By the way
„Any dream bands you’d love to tour with in the future?
Zach: ZZ Top!
Emily: Tom Petty.”

The Canadian Lantern plays proto punk blues rock’n’roll under the early folk, blues, early rock n roll and 60-70’s american punk influences.

Out Of Our Heads from Rock’N’Roll Rorschach LP by Sophomore Lounge

One of my favorite country band is the Cat Meat. They are coming from the big Londoner praire. Their name keeps the memory of an Montenegrin vacation. Free EP on June 24.

Lungfish

Their 1st album is free!

I don’t know why, they ask votes to Cat Meat here. Just a like on the right side.

RNR666 LOVES THE COUNTRY