New Release Round-Up: Pokey LaFarge, The Waterboys, London Souls, and American Wrestlers!

Pokey LaFarge - Something In The Water (Rounder)
Sure, he's barely 22 years old, but from the first moment you hear Pokey LaFarge breathe new life into traditional roots music with his soulful brand of rust belt jazz and white-boy blues.  Raised for a time in Normal, Illinois, where his love of blues was born, LaFarge followed the muse to St. Louis before hitchhiking around the country.  This, his sixth studio album (and first for Rounder) comes off a very well-received self-titled effort for Jack White's Third Man Records in 2013.

The Waterboys - Modern Blues (Kobalt)

The Waterboys return to active duty with their first studio effort in four years, Modern Blues, and a US tour that brings the esteemed Irish band to Chicago's House of Blues on May 6.  Recorded in Nashville with legendary producer Bob Clearmountain, Modern Blues sees Scott's musical vision completely rekindled and the energetic band performances driving the material skyward, making for Scott's best work in decades.

The London Souls - Here Come The Girls (Feel)

NYC's classic rock-influenced duo London Souls return with their long-awaited second full-length effort, Here Come The Girls, which was completed in 2013 but delayed for two years after the hit-and-run accident that left Tash Neal seriously injured.

While there are a lot of guitar-drum duos making the rounds these days, the duo of Neal and drummer Chris St. Hilaire bring an unhinged ferocity to rival any other rock twosome on the planet.  Of course, on this album, they are joined by bassist/producer Eric Krasno (Soulive), which provides a more muscular foundation for Tash Neal's guitar pyrotechnics to reach new heights.

American Wrestlers (Fat Possum)

Gary McClure (formerly of Manchester band Working For A Nuclear Free City) recorded these tunes on an analog eight-track machine in his apartment.  The home-studio feel is evident throughout, giving the whole thing the vibe of a long-lost cassette discovered between the seat cushions of an AMC Gremlin.  Those who love the work of Mitch Easter will find a lot to love here as well as McClure's double-tracked vocals recall Easter's Let's Active at times