A Grammy-nominated artist, punk legends, and indie rock band that pushes the boundaries? Yes, please!
Album: Girl Talk
Artist: Kate McGarry
Genre: Jazz, Vocal
More concerned with the essence of a song than idiomatic limitations, Palmetto Records' vocalist and Grammy nominated Kate McGarry has managed to attract the attention of tomorrow's jazz fans. Beyond her obvious affinity for swing, an eclectic repertoire ranging from Irving Berlin to The Cars and her signature contralto convey a message with a a crystal clarity that precludes the need for gimmick or effect. All that's left is undeniably honest music that transcends the boundaries of age or genre. With five recordings including Grammy-nominated If Less Is More...Nothing Is Everything, she's established herself as one of contemporary jazz's most moving and enigmatic voices.
Album: Idle Threat
Artist: The Skabbs
Genre: Punk, Rock
Jackpot Records is proud to present Idle Threat, a collection of never before issued recordings from 1977-78 Lawndale, California punks, The Skabbs. In tandem with the birth of punk, these music obsessed nerds, became disenchanted with the increasingly plastic tendencies of modern music. The Skabbs concocted some truly outsider sounds, melding jagged Devo-esque rhythms with lightning-fast technical touches that predicted the Minutemen by a few years. Sadly, the band was cut short in 1979 when songwriter and frontman, Steven Joseph Salazar died at just 26 years old from a life-long heart condition. In their grief, The Skabbs choose to disband burying Salazar’s legacy of songs with their sorrow. In retrospect, The Skabbs steadily became a scene unto themselves, making a proto-punk sound guided by a mission to simply make music that sounded less gross than Foreigner. With the exception of being recorded by SST producing genius Spot, The Skabbs were considered too weird for the art crowd and just terrified the hippies.
Label: sonaBLAST! RecordsAlbum: Salt
Artist: Hoots & Hellmouth
Genre: Indie Rock, Americana
Hoots & Hellmouth are a busy bunch. Road warriors to the bitter end, they’ve somehow found time to enter the studio twice in the last year to produce two records showcasing their forward-thinking roots/soul music. Their latest offering, the full-length Salt, was recorded in their hometown of Philadelphia with friend/engineer Jon Low (Dr. Dog, Sharon Van Etten, Twin Sister). The result speaks volumes to the evolution of a band committed to pushing their boundaries and exploring new sonic horizons. Salt builds on the fresh ground broken on their previously released EP, Face First In The Dirt, continuing down a path of explosive creativity. “Why Would You Not Want To Go There?” kicks things off with a building intensity reflective of their passionate live performances, but tempered with well-placed flourishes of piano and electric guitar. H&H’s trademark soul vibe is thick on “Lay Low,” incorporating the stomp groove and call-and-response vocals familiar to established fans of the band. By the time the listener reaches the middle of the record, the dynamic and deep “Apple Like A Wrecking Ball” and “The Ache” drive home the point that these guys are not content to rest on their laurels. To round it all out, album closer “Being Borned Again” continues their tradition of massive group sing-alongs so vibrant the listener already feels the chills of the anticipated live rendition. Lyrically, Sean Hoots has always endeavored to keep a keen eye on the craft of songwriting, and Salt showcases the artist on top of his game. These new songs reveal a greater depth of vulnerability and personalization unheard on previous H&H offerings. This is the sound of a writer digging deep, planting seeds and harvesting a bumper crop of thought-provoking, soul-scraping tunes.
