Blues Behind Bars

BB King

Live in Cook County Jail

1971, MCA

produced by Bill Szymczyk

BB King - Lucille, vocals

Wilbert Freeman - bass

Sonny Freeman - drums

John Browning - trumpet

Louis Hubert - tenor sax

Booker Walker - alto sax

Ron Levy - piano

Apparently known as "the Chairman of the Board of Blues Guitarists", BB King kills it in this performance at Cook County Jail in Chicago. Another fine live album recorded with the incarcerated (Live from Folsom Prison and at San Quentin both by Johnny Cash), BB King rolls out a few classic tracks, and even "goes back a little further".

I read a review that Jon Landau wrote in 1971 on this album. And I've come to the conclusion that Landau is an idiot. His least favorite part of the album is the best part (Someday Baby) and pretty much highlights how much Landau doesn't understand the blues.

Chicks Can Rock

Dead Sara

Dead Sara

2012, DIY

Emily Armstrong - vocals, guitars

Siouxsie Medley - guitars, vocals

Sean Friday - drums

Chris Null - bass

singles -

• Weatherman
• We are What you Say

I love this album. I would go as far as to say it is the best hard rock album of the year. Not only is it good, but the band is also not signed to a label. This band, fronted by two women (guitars and vocals) and backed up by an all male rhythm section (bass and drums) rocks the roof off with tracks like the Weatherman, Lemon Scent, and We are What you Say. I discovered them right after a DJ for my favorite radio station discovered them and started playing their single.  

The sound is a blend of hard rock and punk, much like Paramour and Garbage. On top of this, the band has been endorsed by the legendary Grace Slick, who stated that Emily Armstrong was the female singer whom she admired most. Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters (and Nirvana too) said this band should be the next biggest band in the world. Those are some pretty big endorsements, but this band certainly lives up to them.