JEFFREY MORGAN’S MEDIA BLACKOUT #618.259!

Eisley – The Valley (Equal Vision) :: Wherein this uncanny valley dares to ask the following musical questions: 1. What if Kurt Cobain had written for The Beatles instead of John Lennon and Paul McCartney; 2. What if three women sang those songs instead of John, Paul, and George; and 3. What if Prince had produced them instead of George Martin? The answer is: 4. It’s about as good as you’d like to think that it is.

Rhino Bucket – Who’s Got Mine? (MVD Audio) :: What can you say about four  recidivist reprobates who have managed to stay sober long enough to spew out a suitably snotty sonic hellspew of a hard rock album that sounds like an alternate universe booze-based tribute to the bile and tribulations of Bon Scott? You *hic* shed it!

John Entwistle – “Whiskey Man” (Decca) :: Exactly!

Pete Townshend – “However Much I Booze” (MCA) :: Exactly!

Bob Wills And His Texas Playboys – The Tiffany Transcriptions (Collectors’ Choice) :: Although he’s not nearly as accomplished a songwriter by any stretch of the imagination, popular radio and silver screen bandleader Bob Wills was nevertheless, in his own unique way, the Duke Ellington of country music: a man who managed to transcend and transform the limitations of his genre to become the King Of Western Swing—and the timeless tunes heard herein cover the apex of his accomplishments during 1946 and 1947. That’s why this exciting ten disc box set is a rip-roarin’ rotatin’ roundup that only a city slickin’ tenderfoot dude would dare dismiss. However, just the very fact that these tracks were recorded some 65 years ago begs yet another musical question: Who gives a flying hoot about Bob Wills today?

SIZZLING PLATTER OF THE WEEK: Hot Club Of Cowtown – What Makes Bob Holler: A Tribute To Bob Wills And His Texas Playboys (Proper) :: They’ve been around for many a moon, but this is the first time that the Hot Clubbin’ trio of Elana James, Whit Smith, and Jake Erwin have documented their affection for the King Of Western Swing in such an overt manner—and it’s an accolade that’s well worth the wait because each one of these fourteen tracks will transport you back to the much simpler days when all manner of swing was king and country swing in particular ruled the roost.

Even better, I’m pleased to report that almost half of the album is dedicated to covering a number of classic Willis original compositions that span Bob’s entire career from 1935’s “Maiden’s Prayer” to 1950’s “Faded Love.” There are also a few song selection surprises along the way, most notably the inclusion of the Hot Club’s toe tappin’ take on Bob’s very first Vocalion single “Osage Stomp.”

Now if all that doesn’t make you want to toss your ten gallon hat high up in the air and holler a rip-snortin’ “Aw-haw!” then I plumb reckon that I don’t rightly know what will.

Be seeing you!