It’s Turntable Tuesday because life is too short not to listen to great music! This week on Turntable Tuesday I am opening the brand new release from Mike Campbell and the Dirty Knob’s titled “External Combustion.” I just saw this band last Tuesday night in Alexandria, Virginia not far from the capitol city of Washington DC at the Birchmere Theater. WHAT A SHOW! Go read the review if you have a few minutes. In the meantime I am going to tell you all about the second album from one of the best rock and roll bands you can hear in 2022.
Life is short! Don’t waste a precious moment! Crank up your music device, enjoy vinyl, or get out there and support your favorite live band! What are YOU listening to right now?
If you would like to listen to my companion podcast you can listen here or subscribe for free on any of the streaming services you use. My podcast is easily searchable on any streaming service where you get your podcasts by searching “Andrew Talbert.” Look for the World Wide Music Media logo. I’ll talk to you on your mobile device!
Just a week or so ago I received my copy of the green vinyl pressing of the second album from Mike Campbell and the Dirty Knobs. Thanks to the US Postal Service the corner has a few crinkles even though it was packed pretty well. All that said I am enjoying the record after having to listen to the digital tracks that were dropped a little before the vinyl arrived a bit late from the backlog of the vinyl company which is not uncommon at all these days. In fact I feel fortunate that I got the vinyl within a week or two of the release date as I am still waiting on some artist shipments from 2020! Vinyl is very popular again and it seems that all the manufacturing is really having trouble keeping up but that story is for another day.
This second album from Mike Campbell and the Dirty Knobs comes roughly two years behind the debut album “Wreckless Abandon” which was an incredible collection of tracks. As I waited on this album to arrive I wondered just what the project would sound like after that initial recording start from this band. Well I will tell you more but I will sum up my thoughts to start. This album ROCKS. I am such a fanboy of this band and this music. From the stage last Tuesday Mike responded to a guy saying “We love you Mike.” He said “That’s great but I wish I would hear a female voice say that every once in a while” to which there was an immediate female response “We love you Mike” in the front row which brought a smile to Mike’s face. There is a lot of love that follows this band and there is a lot of talented love coming off that stage and this album.
There are 11 songs on two sides of this vinyl. The album starts off with “Wicked Mind” which the band started the show with last week. This is a rocker that is as usual has very well written lyrics by Mike Campbell.
The song goes: “I don’t think you understand, what kind of man I really am, I’m a sinner with a wicked mind and a heart of gold.” Mike tells the story from the vocal microphone as the band completely rocks this one. He and Jason Sinay aka “Ape” will remind you of the way Tom Petty and Mike Petty worked together. They just fluently weave rock riffs back and forth like they are connected at the hip. The rhythm is exceptional with bassist Lance Morrison, and drummer Matt Laug in tandem behind those rocking guitars. These guys are known to record a new song in three takes and they cannot be stumped on a live stage. Talent? Damn right they got it.
So the album proceeds with zero filler material. Mike has recently said in multiple interviews that he pulled some of these songs out of the “old song” pile that were almost overlooked through the years. About half the songs are new songs he has written and the other half he resurrected from the past. For this album Mike also brought in notable guest musicians Margo Price, Ian Hunter, and Campbell’s former Heartbreakers band mate keyboardist Benmont Tench. Margo shows up on the awesome track “State of Mind” which I really like. Margo said in an interview that she was guessing who the subject was but Mike goes on to say that the song was written a long time ago about another person. I will ask the listener interpret the song and you can make it what you want. It is a great one!
How many of you have heard of the band “Mott the Hoople?” This was a rock band that David Bowie gave the song “All the Young Dudes” and they had a smash hit with that track back in 1974. Ian Hunter was in that band and now he is featured on the track from this album called “Dirty Job.” What a rocker!
There are so many notable tracks on this record. If you want to hear about each track I encourage you to listen to my companion podcast as I talk through track by track with some of my personal listening notes and related stories.
I am going to finish where I started talking about this album. What do I think? I think this album is incredible. It gets better every time I listen to it. Honestly I wondered if the second album could even come close to the first from this band. Well the Dirty Knobs knocked it out of the park. Well paced, well sequenced, killer content with masterful song-writing and virtuoso performances from the four members of the band at Mike’s home studio called “Hocus Pocus Recorders.” Audiophile rating? I will just say two words: Chris Bellman. “Nuff said. What else can I say except I can’t wait for the next live show! YES I have tickets! I hope to see you out there. Go buy this album. Tell them I sent you with my recommendation. I don’t say that very often.
Until next time I’ll see you, down the road.