A Double Shot From Stinky!

Here's a twofer from Stinky, with something old and something new: Heart Attack Alley (rockin' and reelin' all the way from Auckland New Zealand), and Minneapolitans The Jayhawks, who have a brand new album called XOXO.

Heart Attack Alley was a trio self-described as Hypno-Psychotic Blues Trash. Guitarist Kristal Gallagher started playing with harmonica player Karl Steven, and singer Caiomhe MacFehin (described as the "demon child of Polly Harvey and Screamin Jay Hawkins") soon joined. Between 2010 and 2012, they recorded two 7" and an album called Living In Hell. Stinky has assembled eight live tracks from this short-lived but well-loved group. 

The Jayhawks are led by founding singer-guitarist Gary Louris.  The band has a complex history.  Marc Perlman (bass) has been with The Jayhawks since the beginning; Karen Grotberg (keyboards) joined in 1992, and Tim O'Reagan (drums and guitar) signed on in 1995 (shortly before Mark Olson left), so they're no Jayhawks-come-latelies. Each of the members wrote, arranged and sang songs on the new album.

Four of the new songs were featured on The Jayhawks' recent Tiny Desk Concert. Stinky has paired those with four more from a live performance in St. Paul. A friend of mine says that XOXO is one of the Jayhawks' best albums yet, and the reviews are very positive.