Wow! Another Dutch band in recent rotation list joining “Vandenberg’s MoonKings!” I guess it’s obvious where some of the best new rock comes from!
This is Day 7 of my “New Rotations: Albums” list! These are albums that are still in my listening rotation beyond what I would consider to be a normal run on my music player. They are post influence forming, but are awesome nonetheless! They should have been deleted long ago to make room for other music, yet I like them so much, I break my own rules for this music.
When Birth of Joy released “Get Well” in February of 2016, I had already been a fan for a couple of years. I had picked their last album, “Prisoner” as the #11 Philby Award winning best album of 2014! I bonded with the hard rock grooves of the album as well as their trippy psychedelic adventures. That album stayed in my rotation list for several years, too!
Fast forward a couple of years to when “Get Well” came out. The album was a solid followup featuring many of the same approaches as “Prisoner.” My initial impression was that it was a very good album, but lacked the songs that could be used as “singles” like “Mad Men” and “Rock and Roll Show.”
However, since that time, just like classic albums from the 60s and 70s, it kept growing on me and still does to this day. It’s unsettling as to melodies that go up or down in unusual patterns—with harmonies(!), like on “Choose Sides.” “Numb” starts out with a ton of quiet atmosphere sounding like “Meddle” era Pink Floyd. But don’t worry. The rock isn’t far behind! Then it’s back to more mellow atmospherics. There’s plenty of great dynamics throughout the album!
“Midnight Cruise” and “You Got Me Howling” sound like “Fireball”/”Machine Head” era Deep Purple.
Birth of Joy are not just Classic Rock imitators. They refer to their style of music as “sixties on steroids.” That’s a pretty bold statement to live up to, but band members Kevin Stunnenberg (Vocals & Guitar), Bob Hogenelst (drums & backing vocals), and Gertjan Gutman (organ & bass) more than live up to it by using their own creative approaches. Here’s a line from their own biography:
“Influenced by psychedelica, blues and steaming rock&roll this trio takes you back to the old times of MC5, The Doors and even Pink Floyd!”
Any current band that references the MC5, as well as The Doors, and Pink Floyd has my attention!
I’m pretty sure “Get Well” will continue to be on my rotation list for the near future and beyond!
Here’s a sample from 2016 Philby award winner, “Get Well”: Philby award winner, “Meet Me at the Bottom”:
From 2014 Philby award winner, “Prisoner”: Philby award winner “Rock and Roll Show:
Just like with Dylan McDonald and The Avians albums, Birth of Joy’s albums are two of the best of the past 10 years, this century, this millennium…
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Check out my radio shows, “Theme Attic,” heard Wednesdays, 10A-12N ET, or “Prime Time Theme Attic,” heard Mondays, 8P-10P ET!
Listen live: https://whfr.fm/streamer/
The List so far:
Day 6: “Out From the Door” by Dylan McDonald and The Avians: https://philmaq.com/2018/05/day-6-of-new-rotation-albums-list-out-from-the-door-by-dylan-mcdonald-and-the-avians/
Day 5: “All Your Favorite Bands” by Dawes: https://philmaq.com/2018/05/day-5-of-new-rotations-list-all-your-favorite-bands-by-dawes/
Day 4: “Revolutions” by The Liquid Scene: https://philmaq.com/2018/05/day-4-of-new-rotations-list-revolutions-by-the-liquid-scene/
Day 3: “Vandenberg’s MoonKings” by Vandenberg’s MoonKings: https://philmaq.com/2018/05/day-3-vandenbergs-moonkings-by-vandenbergs-moonkings/
Day 2: “So Long, It’s Been Good to Know You” by Phil Lee: https://philmaq.com/2018/04/day-2-of-new-rotations-list-so-long-its-been-good-to-know-you-by-phil-lee/
Day 1: “Brill Bruisers” by The New Pornographers: https://philmaq.com/2018/04/day-1-of-new-rotations-list-brill-brusiers-by-the-new-pornographers/
New Rotation List Introduction: https://philmaq.com/2018/04/phils-maqs-ten-rotation-albums-new-introduction/
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