Jon Strider is a very experienced musician and has worked with artists like Van Morrison, Boz Skaggs, Mink DeVille, Chuck Berry, John Lee Hooker to mention a few. As a solo artist he has released 5 albums, and recently I have been listening to the album “White Wings” which was released two years ago.

Jon Strider calls his music Rhythm N’ Folk, which feels rather appropriate. It’s quite pleasant to listen to the album, bringing a positive soft rock with influences from americana, blues and country. I can hear a little of Jackson Browne, some Eagles, Cat Stevens and a lot of vibes from the american early seventies. It’s a really good album with a lot of variation.

If you want to read and listen more you should visit Jon Strider’s site.

Here’s a couple of songs from “White Wings”:

At the Way Station
Coming Alive

Slowman, aka Svante Törngren, released his debut solo album last autumn. The title is “The Best of Slowman”, which is an interesting title. And after listening and some afterthought I find it a rather fitting name. This could very well be an album from someone that has released a number of records during the years. Also, it feels like an album from someone that has created music for many years and that has rounded up quite a lot of music, and is now presenting some of the best parts to us.

For those that like blues rock and to some extent country rock, this is a fiesta. 15 really good tracks, with wonderful guitars and a front man that stands steady and has a great expression. And considering all the giants in this genre, it really takes someone who is able to fill out his clothes to be able to go all the way here, and I really feel that Slowman is that someone.

Listen and read more at Slowman’s site and on his Myspace page.

Slowman – “If I Ever”:

Taking the Long Way Home
Take It Down

A pleasant new acqaintance, new at least for me, is Lo Kivikas. Last year she released her debut EP “Master of Your Mind”, produced by Jair-Rohm Parker Wells, and you can listen to a couple of tracks from the EP here below.

It’s a nice mix of country, blues and rock, rather peaceful and intimate. Lo has a special voice, maybe like a bluesier Marianne Faithfull, and her voice fits perfectly in these nice arrangements, backed by these skilled musicians. Hammond, harmonica, lap-steel, violins colour the music and brings the best out of each song.

If you’d like to listen more, you should visit Lo Kivikas’ Myspace page.

Lay Down
One More Little Lifetime

I have a cold, and it feels like my head is full of cotton and everything goes slower. Well, it’s time then to listen to  The Carnivales. They have enough energy to share to keep you going and more than that. And that they named the band The Carnivales is no mistake, because this is party, rock party. I can’t see any bad faces as they rock on with intensity and joy of playing.

The recordings have very much a live feeling, like an ordered chaos, and if that’s any indication, I’m sure that it’s hard not to let go at a concert with these guys. You can download and listen to a couple of tracks here from their EP “Five of a Kind”.

If you want to see them live , you’ll have the opportunity tomorrow at Teater Accent in Stockholm.

Visit also The Carnivales’ site and their Myspace page.

Lola
Killer Kid

The 30th of March The 80/20 Rule release their new album “Northeast” (Dither). The band started in 2007 and in the autumn the same year they released the EP “Solve the Problem”. It was followed by a tour around Sweden where they, among others, fronted Miss Li and Oh Laura.

But the band has very little in common with these artists. Here it’s about a grand alternative rock, melodic and intense. Their sound is created with the help of massive guitars and echoing guitar licks together with an hard working and driven drummer. Jimmy Jönsson’s vocals have an interesting depth and expression that emphasizes a mellow feeling in the music.

The 7th of March they will have a release party for the album “Northeast”, at Klubb Tupelo in Gävle, where they will play live and are also accompanied by the band Mother and Sun. They welcome everyone to come and listen, and if you can’t make you have another chance on the 19th of March in Stockholm. Read more about this and listen to more tracks from the album on The 80/20 Rule’s Myspace page.

Here is a track from “Northeast”:

Song For a Future Car Commercial