In the interest of social distancing and musical survival, The Neato Mosquito proudly presents a compilation of recent releases to get you through the next few weeks. We will add new updates for new music as this crisis rolls on…
THE MARSHALL TUCKER BAND – New Year’s in New Orleans: Roll Up ’78 and Light Up ’79
The Warehouse in New Orleans hosted an incredible array of musicians during its heyday, and no less than the Marshall Tucker Band ushered in the last year of the 1970s in that very venue. Sourced from the original 24 track tapes, original producer Paul Hornsby — who also played keys, piano and organ on their early records — was enlisted to mix the new release. The double live album set also includes original photos of the band at The Warehouse by the venue’s official photographer, Sidney Smith. This is definitely one for the beanbag-and-chunky-headphones crowd, those folks who only use the word “party” as a verb. It’s a hoot and a holler — definitely listen to it on vinyl.
CASH MONEY – The Instrumentals
One of the weirdest releases kick off 2020, is Cash Money Records’s official collection of its most recognizable instrumental tracks entitled Cash Money: The Instrumentals, available on April 3, 2020 via UMe in multiple formats including digital, 2LP 180-gram vinyl and as a special limited-edition 2LP 180-gram colored vinyl. Opening up the Cash Money Records vault, this marks the first time in years that many of these tracks have been made available for streaming or on vinyl. Hearing Juvenile’s “Back That Azz Up” & “Stuntin’ Like My Daddy” by Birdman & Lil Wayne without the words lets you throw in your own growls, but vocal-less cuts by B.G., Mannie Fresh, Cash Money Millionaires and Hot Boys might just get you through your Amazon Fresh never showing up.
DAMON JOHNSON – Memoirs of an Uprising
Longing to return to that Brother Cane fix you had? Lead singer Damon Johnson, who moved on to stints with Alice Cooper and Thin Lizzy, breaks out the blowtorch guitars for a wild ride on this solo album (I personally saw him tearing up the stage on Alice Cooper’s Dirty Diamonds tour and it was something to behold). Fans of everyone from Black Country Communion to Noel Gallagher should take note of this aural locomotive.
RAY GEHRING – The Bryan Nebula (Bandcamp download album)
As a jazz guitarist, Ray Gehring holds his own on past releases with his band Commonwealth and his solo outings, but this EP is a bright streak of delicious 80s synthpop for that eventual freakout when you run out of dishwashing liquid and half & half (At least that’s what it was to me). And on his dance-club heart-rate surger “Constellation JLG,” Gehring sticks the landing.
LIGHTNING BUG – The Only Ones (Bandcamp download single)
Floating on dreampop feedback, this sweet ear candy evokes the late Dolores O’Riordan. A throwback 90’s shoegazer treat that feels like it occupies the entire stratosphere and your Flintstones lunchbox simultaneously. Soaring on lo-fi wings, “The Only Ones” is a buzzy confection worth the calories.
Stay tuned for more!
