This week’s Stronger Than Dirt (Saturday, December 18, 8-10pm) will be my
annual “Best Of” show, and will feature some of my favorite tunes released in
2021, including songs by local Austin area bands, Exercise, Living Pins, Mal
Thursday Quintet, and Attic Ted.
PICTURE SLEEVE OF THE WEEK: Leopardo are a contemporary Swiss
(Fribourg) alt rock band who incorporate elements of pop and psychedelia into
their music. “Malcantone,” their third album, was released in June of this year,
and featured cover art by Gustave Didelot and grahics by Federica Camerini and
Filippo Colombo. It came out in Europe on the SDZ and Le Pop Club labels on
black vinyl and an edition of 400. In the States, it came out on the Feel It label on
red vinyl and an edition of 100. Both versions came with a gatefold jacket and
included an insert with lyrics. Click on images to enlarge.
LAST WEEK’S DUSTY DIAMOND (a forgotten gem from the STD vaults): The
Detroit Cobras are a garage rock band from, well, you know, Detroit. They have
been active since 1994, and have released a single as recently as 2020. While
they have recorded a few originals, they are mainly known for their covers of
popular tunes from the 60s, and featuring the soulful vocals of Rachel Nagy.
“Cha Cha Twist” is an updated, beefier version of the Hank Ballard penned tune
originally recorded by Brice Coefield in 1960. It appeared in 1998 on the “Mink
Rat or Rabbit album on Sympathy for the Record Industry. Listen to it here:
Promo graphic by Scott Gardner.