New songs for April 6th 2022

 here they are:


"Ain't Killed Me Yet" by Adia Victoria: As a contemporary R & B musician attempting to bring the "B" (blues) back into R & B, blues has always been a part of Adia Victoria's sound, but it's never come out quite as strong as it has on her latest track, "Ain't Killed Me Yet"! A slow-churning yet catchy track with a John Lee Hooker styled beat, "Ain't Killed Me Yet" is a punchy, unapologetic blues-rock song that was loosely inspired by "Won't You Celebrate With Me?" by poet Lucille Clifton. Clifton's themes of racial and sexual injustice in "Won't You Celebrate With Me?" spoke to Adia, who is both a racial and sexual minority herself, although Adia seems more to be taking that sense of angst and directing it towards today's harsh sociopolitical climate, finding solace only in the fact that such heinous acts and sentiments "ain't killed (her) yet"!

"Synchronize" by Milky Chance: German indie-pop duo, Milky Chance, continue to do what they do best on their latest song, "Synchronize," combining folk-y acoustic guitars with hip-hop beats and techno synths. This eclectic sound combination is nothing new for Milky Chance, although the song's lyrics seem to have more of an idealistic hippie vibe than their previous songs did. The title of the song comes from the "synchronicity" of all emotions and that, when it boils down to one's emotional essence, the only thing people really feel in the end is love. 

New songs for June 23rd, 2021

 here they are: 


"Colorado" by Milky Chance: German alt-pop duo, Milky Chance, are like the 21st century indie equivalent to Jimmy Buffett in some ways. Where Buffett was big on booze, Milky Chance prefer pot, but both bring tropical, breezy, summertime vibes to their respective drugs of choice. References to weed can be spotted in more than one Milky Chance song, perhaps most notably the "stoned in paradise" line from their first and biggest hit, "Stolen Dance." This time around, Milky Chance are "getting high like Colorado." What does that mean exactly?! Well, obviously, it means getting into a drug-induced state that (supposedly) mellows you out while impairing your sense of judgment...but why Colorado?! More than likely, they chose to sing about the state since it was one of the first states to legalize recreational use of marijuana. Sex, drugs, and not-quite-rock-and-roll strikes again, folks!

"Dustland" by The Killers (featuring Bruce Springsteen): Two years before I even did this blog on a regular basis is when the following song originally came out. However, this version is a new spin on what is now an old song, featuring a guest appearance from one of Brandon Flowers' biggest idols, Bruce Springsteen! Going a half-step lower than the original track, but maintaining its sense of urban melodrama a la Bruce, "Dustland" might not be everyone's taste, but it must have been a dream-come-true for Brandon Flowers! Bruce makes various appearances both on lead vocals and backing vocals during the song. It makes sense, then, that the original "A Dustland Fairytale," as it was known when it initially came out, was written during Brandon's "Bruce phase," which was most prominent on the Killers' second and third albums. Lines like "saw Cinderella in a party dress/she was looking for her nightgown," "straight to the Valley of the Great Divide," and "in the cadence of a young man's eyes" are just some of the many Springsteen-ian lines from the song. Other than Bruce's vocal appearances and the choice to play the song a half-step down from the original, there's really no difference between "Dustland" and "A Dustland Fairytale," but for anyone who enjoys bittersweet, earnest roots-rock with a slight U2-ish tinge to it, "Dustland" is still worth checking out!

"Hush" by The Marias: There is actually only ONE person named Maria (and only one woman out of the four members of group) in The Marias. Now that I've gotten that out of the way, "Hush," the breakthrough song for electro-pop quartet, The Marias, is an icy yet catchy song that basically serves as a "screw-you" to Maria's ex. Appropriately, the word "hush" is spoken in a hushed tone, but make no mistake. She's not saying that word to soothe anyone. Instead, it's basically a code word for, "Forget you!" Amidst grinding, slightly disquieting mechanical yet mellifluous instrumentation, Maria Zardoya seductively whisper-sings a tale of love gone wrong, attempting to lure the listener in right as she's about to tell them off!


"The Angel of 8th Avenue" by Gang of Youths: Fitting to their name, Gang of Youths are a very youthful group! At least, that's the vibe I get from listening to their latest song, "The Angel of 8th Avenue." The song sounds a bit like New Order's "Age of Consent" if it had more acoustic guitars as backing instruments, though its topic is nowhere near as controversial. Quite the opposite of New Order's icy cold, starkness, actually, and is instead about the simpler yet warmer theme of falling in love and moving to another city. GOY's lead singer David Le'aupepe also has a lot more energy and passion in his voice than the more monotone, deadpan vocals of New Order's Bernard Sumner. 

"What You Say" by Cold War Kids: Musically, this song is nothing new for Cold War Kids. It's an upbeat indie-pop song that relies mostly on electronic instrumentation with electric guitar as its main backing instrument. What makes this song stand out from other CWK songs is its message. The song is about the desire some of us have to be accepted just as we are. CWK have covered a lot of topics in their material, but I don't recall that being one of their subjects. Anyway, everyone wants someone who loves them, flaws and all, and this is the perfect song for that, as far as songs from 2021 are concerned so far!

New songs for May 6th 2020

May the 4th be with us, as I churn out a blog that contains more songs than there have been Star Wars sequels (11 songs, to be precise)! Let's begin, shall we?!


"Alphabetland" by X: Interesting that a band whose name consists of only one letter of the alphabet (and one of the rarest, at that) has put out a song about the entire alphabet...well, kind of. "Alphabetland" is just a catchy and quirky song title from the Los Angeles punk quartet, X, who have not released an album with all four original members in 35 years! As the members of the band rotated during the late '80s and early '90s, X went for more of a plaintive folk-rock influenced sound. With "Alphabetland", that sound is gone, and in its place is the original fiery yet melodic punk sound that X started with. "Alphabetland" could be best described as The White Stripes trying to cover "I Wanna Be Sedated" by The Ramones. It's a bit hard to tell upon first listen what the song is actually about, but fans of X will not be let down by this surprising new release in their catalog. A title like "Alphabetland" would not be out of place on Sesame Street...speaking of which, no one has ever told us how to get there. Perhaps Exene, John, DJ, and Billy could tell us how to get, how to get to Alphabetland?!


"Blank Slate" by Chicano Batman: Chicano Batman just keep getting funkier and funkier with each song they release. Their latest song, "Blank Slate", seems like a Talking Heads-ish dance track mixing techno beats and funk guitars. Lyrically, the song's excitement is conveyed in its lyrics about newfound desire for love. "I just wanna love you" seems to be the central line in the song. Chicano Batman, we already loved you!


"Don't Let Me Down" by Milky Chance (featuring Jack Johnson): Not to be confused with the Beatles song of the same name, "Don't Let Me Down"'s chill brand of funk-rock is nothing new for German indie-pop duo, Milky Chance. For Jack Johnson, however, it's a whole new world. Jack Johnson has been kind of like the millennial answer to the '70s Jimmy Buffett, combining acoustic guitar soft rock with blissed out tropical island vibes. Jack briefly flirted with electric guitar music in the early 2010's, but he's never gone guitar-LESS...until now, that is. Milky Chance's songs could also be described as having super blissful vibes, so in that sense, they fit well with Jack Johnson. Between this song and the last one I reviewed for this week, this year's early summer is shaping up to be a pretty chill one so far!


"Hold Me" by The Teskey Brothers: The Teskey Brothers mid-summer adult alt radio smash, "So Caught Up", had a strong Motown/'60s soul influence. "Hold Me" reaches even further back into the history of R & B music, sounding almost like a gospel song in comparison. There is no noticeable instrumentation until midway through the song. Until that point, "Hold Me" is defined mostly by handclaps, in a similar manner to a great number of gospel and early blues tunes. The title, "Hold Me", is not merely a desire to be in a relationship, but one of brotherhood, both in the literal and spiritual sense of the term. It's almost like this song is trying to be a 21st century update of "Lean On Me". Nice try, if that's the case...but it'll never hold up to that song!


"Hometown Heroes" by Moon Taxi: We've had quite a few blissed out summer songs on this week's blog so far. Moon Taxi are normally experts on this sort of song, but "Hometown Heroes" is a different flavor than most of their material. It is a bittersweet folk-rock song, in contrast to the blend of reggae, funk, and indie-pop that defines most of Moon Taxi's material. Sooo...why the change in sound?! Well, part of the reason for that is likely because of what the song is about. Moon Taxi wanted to give their fans hope during our current pandemic. A song that conjured up images of summertime and partying would not get their message across seriously, so instead they opted for a light indie-folk sound to thank all of the heroes who have helped out during this unexpected world crisis. As they say, not all heroes wear capes!


"I Contain Multitudes" by Bob Dylan: Unlike Moon Taxi, Bob Dylan (of course) is no stranger to bittersweetness. This is the mood that Dylan chose for his latest song, "I Contain Multitudes". Mr. Dylan most certainly DOES contain multitudes, being one of the most enigmatic musicians out there! It's amazing he's still alive today, and that in itself seems to be part of the musical rumination of "I Contain Multitudes". Dylan himself seems to be amazed he is still surviving with the stark mode of this song and its complex lyrics, during which he name drops many celebrities and characters, including Anne Frank, Indiana Jones, and The Rolling Stones, and referencing David Bowie without actually mentioning him. Dylan compares himself to many during the course of this song, but in the end, Bob Dylan is Bob Dylan. There can be no other!


"Light of Love" by Florence and The Machine: Florence Welch and co are the next of many who have shared songs that are relevant to the outbreak of COVID-19. Although her latest song, "Light of Love", is not actually about that, she probably chose to release it now because of how people have been impacted the sudden societal separation that the coronavirus' impact has resulted in for us. "In every one of us shines the light of love", Florence sweetly sings over a sorrowful yet tuneful bed of string instruments. In a similar theme to one of FATM's biggest hits, "Shake It Out", "Light of Love" seems to be about the regret that can be experienced from partying too much on a previous night. Of course, Florence, like all of us, realizes there will be no party for quite awhile now, but the regret we've been feeling inside is no different. If a coronavirus victim's last song happens to be this one, it could serve a strong purpose as a bittersweet lullaby for them to sail away from the shackles of mortal life and into the realm of a sparkling orchestra of eternity!


"Private Lives" by Low Cut Connie: Wow...I must admit, the last three songs have really made me cry on the inside! So let's lighten the mood, shall we? Enter Philadelphia blues-rock outfit, Low Cut Connie, to chase away your sadness! Utilizing a Black Crowes-ish groove over a "Please, Mr. Postman" styled melody, "Private Lives" exposes the bizarre, screwed up side of human nature. Sex addicts, drug addicts, nudists...all are mentioned or referred to in this song, which emphasizes the message of how "deviant" behavior is just the way some of us live, and that we should just continue to live our lives normally instead of dwelling on our wrongdoings or being afraid that people will judge us for the "weird" or "bad" things we do.


"Real Long Time" by White Reaper: Like The Cars before them, White Reaper saddle hard rock guitar riffs and rope them into a synth-studded new wave atmosphere. White Reaper's breakthrough summer hit, "Might Be Right", set them on the right track with this unique sound. "Real Long Time" continues in this direction, amping up the classic rock influences even more so than they did on their previous single. 1970's rock groups ranging from Kiss, Cheap Trick, Queen, Sweet, and Thin Lizzy can all be heard as influences in White Reaper's "Real Long Time". It is an irresistibly cheesy yet anthemic rock and roll tune that stands in the corner between glam rock and punk rock. Songs like this one sound like they were made for "That '70s Show", a show centered around nostalgia that has now become nostalgia itself. Someday, White Reaper will end up that way too, but while they're still hot, give 'em a listen! You won't be sorry!


"The Good Life" by Devon Gilfillian: Like our previous entry, Devon Gilfillian's "The Good Life" seems like it traveled to us on a time machine built in the 1970's. This time, though, the focus is on early '70s R & B, as opposed to mid '70s rock. "The Good Life" seems like it could fit easily on a Marvin Gaye album from that era. In addition to its nostalgic sound, "The Good Life"'s subject matter could also be interpreted as nostalgic. The song opens with the lyrics, "I remember yesterday, troubles seemed so far away, making castles in the sand", setting the tone for the rest of the song, which is basically just Devon reminiscing about better times during his life. A deeper meaning of the song might be construed as a plea for all of us to get along with one another, echoing the theme of Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On?" in a lighter but still powerful shade of soul!


"You And Your Folks, Me And My Folks" by Brittany Howard: Our final entry of the week is not actually a Brittany Howard song. It was originally by the eclectic soul-rock fusion group, Funkadelic, and it also marks the second time I've blogged about a song originally by Funkadelic, the first being Mavis Staples' cover of "Can You Get to That?" from 2013. Howard manages to add a blues-y flavor to "You And Your Folks..." that the original version only had a subtle hint of. The song originally came out in 1971. Coincidentally, this was the same year Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On?" came out, and both songs aimed for a similar purpose of trying to instill a sense of unity amongst a divided world. With the massive amount of civil unrest we have experienced in the past few years, Brittany Howard's saucy, powerful take on the Funkadelic classic has arrived just in time!

New songs for September 25th 2019

here they are:


"Everyone Hides" by Wilco: Did you think that Imogen Heap was the only indie musician who enjoyed playing "hide and seek"?! Well, think again! Wilco enjoy it just as much, and not in the romantic way that Imogen did in her song. The video for "Everyone Hides" is quite literally a fun, harmless game of hide and seek between the band members! It can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2Gbbd6pVMg Jeff Tweedy and co are quite the clever punsters in this song and video! The title of the song itself, when used in combination with the video, could be taken as one, using the word "hide" in the sense of both concealing one's inner emotions in the song and literally finding a place to hide in the video. Visual puns that reference Wilco albums like "Being There" (depicted here as a movie starring Peter Sellers) and "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot" (the tower on the album cover is one place they hide) can be found throughout the video. Happy hunting!


"Missing Home" by Flora Cash: The third song so far to become a hit in the catalog of Swedish indie-folk duo, Flora Cash, "Missing Home" recalls many of the elements that made their first and biggest hit (so far), "You're Somebody Else", so successful on alt and adult alt radio stations. For one, acoustic guitar makes a return to Flora Cash's music (guitar was largely absent on "They Own This Town"). Flora Cash also turn back from the bitter vibes of "They Own This Town" and go back to bittersweet, which suits them better, on "Missing Home". The title alone indicates a sense of yearning, and the moody yet longing vibe of the song and its lovelorn lyrics confirm this. Midway through, the song uses the old adage that "home is where the heart is", but it doesn't feel corny or forced here. Instead, it feels like it plucks at the ol' heartstrings. Here's hoping this song will become one of the smash hits for the final season of both 2019 and the 2010's!


"The Game" by Milky Chance: Often written off as a "one-hit wonder" for the sensually funky alt-folk song, "Stolen Dance", Milky Chance have had a few more songs that their fanbase knows them for, most notably "Flashed Junk Mind" and "Cocoon". Joining the ranks of those songs is the German indie-folk trio's latest tune, "The Game". Once again mixing folk guitars with world music rhythms, "The Game", which has a reggae rhythm that recalls Magic!, another mid 2010's one-hit wonder for their song, "Rude". The lyrics are basically about a relationship gone wrong, where lead singer Clemens Rehbein claims that he doesn't care about what rumors have been spread about him and that he just wants to learn "the rules of the game". The game, of course, is the game of love. I hate to burst anyone's bubble here, but no, it is not about that silly meme that claims, "You just lost the game"!


"The Runner" by Foals: Foals are one of the few indie/alt bands left that can shift between typical indie-pop and the alt-rock music in days of yore that had more guitars. They boasted some mighty fine guitar playing skills on their 2015 hit, "Mountain At My Gates". On their latest song, "The Runner", their guitar skills are once again evident! Where their song "Exits" from earlier this year seemed to evoke feelings of despair and hopelessness, "The Runner" seems to be all about determination! Nothing can get in the way of Foals' success after such a tumultuous, unpredictable decade. Hopefully they'll soldier on into the next one unscathed!

New songs for November 23rd, 2016

here they are:


"Cocoon" by Milky Chance: Yes, this is the same German folk-funk-rock duo who brought you the 2014 smash hit, "Stolen Dance". "Stolen Dance" was a great song, but knowing how Milky Chance's second big hit, "Flashed Junk Mind", was basically a copy of that song, I wasn't sure how Milky Chance would fare with a third big song in their repertoire. Thankfully, "Cocoon" is a good song. It employs the same combo of acoustic guitar strumming and hip-hop beats as their others, but it's not in the same key, making it distinct from "Stolen Dance" and "Flashed Junk Mind". The use of an electric guitar riff as a backing instrumental sound during the chorus (and even a brief electric guitar solo in the middle) also gives "Cocoon" a fresh enough flavor for Milky Chance's fans to fall in love with their music all over again.


"Come" by Jain: Jain is a French singer/songwriter whose name is probably pronounced like "John", but with a sound like the "-sio" part of the word "television" at the beginning instead of the "J" sound. Her breakthrough song, "Come", is like a fusion of different genres coming together into a single piece of music. It utilizes elements of electronica, folk music, jazz, and various types of world music. Its chorus, consisting of the words, "come and I'll show you the world", seems to be a wide-eyed idealistic romp inviting the soul of the listener to explore his/her surroundings in a playful yet all-knowing manner. If you thought music was running out of originality, you might wanna take a listen to this song!


"On Hold" by The xx: For those unfamiliar with the following indie-pop group, their name is not pronounced "the twenty" (XX is Roman numerals for 20), and nor is it some strange pronunciation like "the chk chk" or "the double asterisk". It is pronounced "the ex ex", exactly how it looks. Much like fellow indie-pop group, Warpaint, did earlier this fall, The xx are an already beloved indie group whose latest song is a bit more electro-pop than their fans are used to. That song, "On Hold", filters Andy Summers-esque guitar riffs through an artificially processed electro-pop beat. The switching between male and female lead vocals gives this song an interesting touch that is often more associated with folk-rock than it is with electro-pop. There is a rather dreamy, hypnotic ambiance about this song that most electro-pop groups don't have, with the notable exception of Ben Gibbard's side project, The Postal Service.


"You And I" by Colony House: Colony House are an indie-pop quartet whose sound is similar to what Imagine Dragons or American Authors might sound like if U2's The Edge was their guitarist. The song doesn't bring a whole lot of originality to the table, although it does get interesting in the middle of the song when its beat becomes a bit more slowed down and unsteady. Perhaps unsteadiness was the vibe they were trying to give off in this song, though, as it is a song about trying to cope with a fragile and volatile world. During the chorus, they place the blame on themselves ("Maybe the world isn't crazy. Maybe it's you and I") instead of the rest of the world. If only that was somehow true.

New songs for February 25th, 2015

here they are:


"Archie, Marry Me" by Alvvays: The first thing I wondered about this song, when I heard its title, was whether any of the members of the band were named "Betty" or "Veronica". As it turns out, they are not. The lead singer of Alvvays is named Molly Rankin. Anyway, this song does have ONE thing in common with "Archie" comics, aside from its title, and that's the sunshiny, bubblegum chewing, summery fun vibe the song gives off! The "alternative surf" sound of the song brings to mind groups like Best Coast, though the subject matter here is more blissful than the typical Best Coast song.


"Flashed Junk Mind" by Milky Chance: The second hit song from German duo, Milky Chance, sounds...well...kinda like their first one! To me, that's a little disappointing, because I pretty much fell in love with "Stolen Dance" from the moment I first heard it, because of its unique blend of Latin, folk, rock, and soul. "Flashed Junk Mind" is basically more of the same where that came from, and it's even written in the same key as "Stolen Dance" (B major). It's still a catchy song, but I kinda think they can do better than this, personally.


"Midnight" by Tor Miller: TIME FOR GO TO BED!! Oh wait, that's Tor JOHNSON, from the B-movie, "The Unearthly", the only other "Tor" I have ever heard of. Anyway, Tor Miller is entertaining, too, but in a vastly different way from Tor Johnson. Right away you pretty much know how good it is, since the opening lines mention the late Jeff Buckley's album, "Grace". The song itself is more Tom Waits than Jeff Buckley, for its urban folk-jazz-rock piano blend, but with vocals that sound far more melodic than Waits' gravelly growl. "Midnight" takes place in New York City, but probably in a cafe somewhere in NYC, as opposed to one of the louder, more active places in the city.


"Silent Movies" by Madisen Ward and The Mama Bear: Madisen Ward and The Mama Bear are a rarity! It's not because they are black folk musicians. After all, people like Tracy Chapman, Leadbelly, and Richie Havens have all had successful careers in the music world. It's because the "Mama Bear" here is, in fact, a mama, and Madisen Ward is her son. Unlike Chapman, Havens, etc., Madisen Ward and The Mama Bear have rather upbeat music that depends more on making silly rhymes than on statements about politics and civil rights. Madisen Ward and The Mama Bear are a family affair like no other!!


"Take You Home" by Scars on 45: You could say that Scars on 45 are essentially a folk-rock band, but their folk-y-ness has never been as evident as it has on their latest song, "Take You Home". The fingerpicked strumming in the opening sounds a bit like the songs in the "Into the Wild" soundtrack. While "Take You Home" is lyrically a love song, like a lot of Scars' material is, the song is noticeably less pop-y than their other material. It is a very sweet and sentimental song, but in the most honest way possible!

New songs for May 28th, 2014

here they are:


"Just One Drink" by Jack White: Just listening to the beginning of this song, I can already tell it's good! It has the chugging beat of The Velvet Underground's "I'm Waiting For the Man" coupled with scathingly funny lyrics about opposites (for instance, "You drink water, I drink gasoline", and "I watch TV, you watch the ceiling"). Much like Jack did on the title track to "Lazaretto", "Just One Drink" also combines rock 'n' roll guitars with bluegrass fiddles. Just ONE drink, eh?! I don't need a single one for me to enjoy a song like this one!


"Step" by Vampire Weekend: Of the three songs that have been released as singles so far from VW's latest album, "Modern Vampires of the City", "Step" seems to be the mellowest one so far. It has a soothing sound that is influenced by the bright shiny organs of 1960's baroque-pop songs. VW tend to be going for a '60s vibe for many of their latest songs, actually, including the oddball rockabilly sound of "Diane Young" and the jaunty, Monkees-esque piano-pop of "Unbelievers". Ezra Koenig delivers lyrics in "Step" that are as cheeky and clever as ever, rattling off a list of mostly American cities in the first verse, showing off knowledge of obscure idioms (i.e. "rich as Croesus", meaning extremely rich), and even referencing another indie-pop group ("such a modest mouse" in the chorus - Isaac Brock, are you paying attention to this?!)


"Stolen Dance" by Milky Chance: "Stolen DANCE" by Milky CHANCE?! Well, let's take off our pants, make romance, and watch out for ants as we water the plants! Not every day you come across a song whose name rhymes with its performer(s)!! Its sound is quite unique, coming off as an unlikely (but still quite catchy) cross between Mexican folk music and indie-pop. Using only an acoustic guitar, smooth, hushed vocals, and hand claps for a percussion section, "Stolen Dance" could be described as "The Gipsy Kings from outer space" in terms of how it sounds. The words "stolen dance" do not make an appearance anywhere in the song, but the song's refrain of being "stoned in paradise" is a rather apt description of it. The song goes nowhere, but maintains a blissful mood all the while, as though it is dangling down, perpetually suspended in mid-air, from somewhere in the night sky.


"Tennis Court" by Lorde: Lorde knows (pun intended) that high school is not an easy thing to go through! As a high schooler herself, Lorde seems to have a rather cynical point of view about her peers in her latest song, "Tennis Court". Here, she takes the high school stereotypes of "class clown" and "beauty queen" (casting herself as the latter, in a manner that is probably tongue-in-cheek), and viciously deconstructs them to the point in which they engage in a battle of trash talk. Ironic that someone whose songs present a rather sour point of view towards teen pop culture is getting revered by the teen pop crowd (and beyond)! Perhaps we'll wait and see what she has in store for us once she reaches her 20's!!


"Waiting All Night" by Phish: As a jam band who followed directly in the footsteps of The Grateful Dead from the moment they debuted, Phish are typically a very blissful band to listen to. However, none of their songs so far have had a vibe quite as blissed out as their latest song, "Waiting All Night". Those expecting the guitar noodling that Phish usually have will probably be disappointed, but it is still a song worth listening to nonetheless. "Waiting All Night" is pretty much what you'd get if you tried imagining what an extremely mellow version of Pink Floyd might be like. The lyrics are a bit repetitive, but Phish are usually more about sound than they are about lyrics, and the sound of "Waiting All Night", fittingly, is perfect for gazing into the night sky.


"You Can't Judge A Book By Its Cover" by Kenny Wayne Shepherd: In which two generations of rock 'n' roll music meet up!! "You Can't Judge A Book By Its Cover" is a cover of a song by rock pioneer Bo Diddley, as performed by '90s blues-rock extraordinaire Kenny Wayne Shepherd. It's hard to measure up to a legend like Bo, but Kenny comes very close in his rendition of "You Can't Judge A Book...", retaining all the chugging beats and relentless, high spirited energy of the original!