Ryan Bingham's new album need your attention and other notes

Just some random, semi-connected thoughts and bits of news:

LEADER IN THE CLUBHOUSE: Every year in November and December I begin to compile newmusicforoldfolks' top albums of the year. It's a little early to declare a winner in 2019, but somebody's going to have to do something pretty special to overtake Ryan Bingham's new album, American Love Song.

Born in New Mexico and having spent time in Texas, Louisiana and California, Bingham has many influences and an eclectic style. But as the name of the album suggests, this is a thoroughly American album. It's certainly Americana with a fair amount of twang to it, but there are also elements of Blues as well. The word that best describes Ryan Bingham is gritty.

The lyrics are thoughtful and personal. At times brooding and other times hopeful. This is not country music you could write with an algorithm — trucks and whiskey and cheatin' hearts. "Nothin' Holds Me Down," "What Would I've Become" and "Hot House" are particular favorites.

Bingham's previous album, Fear and Saturday Night, is excellent as well. In fact, there's not a weak effort in the bunch going back to the debut, Mescolito. If you don't know Ryan Bingham already, you should. And if you want to own one of the best albums of 2019 (after all, new music is what we're about here), get a copy of American Love Song.

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​​SPEAKING OF NEW MUSIC: You should check out, Blues in My Blood, by Eric Johnson and Tiffany Pollack. The long-lost cousins (Pollack had been given up for adoption) have put together a first-rate collaboration. We know from his solo album, Burn it Down, that Johanson can write a first-rate Blues song and that is reinforced here. Johanson has long been a very good guitar player and now we know he's going to be known for much more.

If you get a chance to see Johanson open for Tab Benoit on his seemingly non-stop tour of the U.S., don't pass it up. As he did on Burn It Down, Benoit plays drum and lends bass player Cory Duplechin to the effort. It's great show, but it's going to soon be time for Johanson to step out of Benoit's shadow.

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MORE NEW MUSIC: Be on the lookout May 17 for Kingfish, the Alligator Records debut from Christone "Kingfish" Ingram. I caught the 20-year-old Ingram on the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise in February and, this word probably gets thrown around too much, he's a blues prodigy. There have obviously been teenage guitar players who can blow the roof off of any joint they play in (Quinn Sullivan comes to mind), but Ingram, from Blues-Mecca Clarksdale, Miss., is more than that. There must be something in the water, or maybe it's just tradition, but this is a Blues artist that's going to make long-term Blues news. He's on the road opening for Buddy Guy right now and will play with Vampire Weekend this summer.

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ART IS A PLACE FOR POLITICS: I was on the Amazon page reading some reviews for Bingham's American Love Song when I came across one that attempted to criticize the album for its political content. "Leave politics out of the music" was the sentiment. The reviewer whined that "half the album" was a "Trump bash." Truth is only two songs are overtly political, "Situation Station" and "America."

The reviewer claimed to not necessarily be a Trump supporter, but he or she (let's assume it's a he) said he listened to music to escape the politics he hears "24/7." I've hear this argument before about Jason Isbell, Drive-By Truckers and even Bruce Springsteen. This is ridiculous. Artists are best when the write what they feel. The art, and music at its best falls into that category, reflects the times in which it's produced. And, like it or not, these are the times we live in.

Besides, the other side is welcome to produce its own art. But Lee Greenwood is getting up there and Ted Nugent and Kid Rock are not drawing the crowds they used to. Maybe they're just having trouble coming up with something that rhymes with jingoism.

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IT WAS ONLY OK THE FIRST TIME: If I have to listen to one more twenty-something try to argue that REO Speedwagon was a great band I believe I'm going to do myself an injury. This particular young man was in the middle of telling me about Queen when he said "You know who else I like, REO Speedwagon." Huh?

Queen, I understand. The band produced music that was genuinely unique and will be enjoyed for generations. The movie, however historically inaccurate, has rekindled interest in the music and reminded us how many great songs the band produced beyond "Bohemian Rhapsody."

Journey, I kind of get. There's a little more there. But "Don't Stop Believing" is only about the 12th best Journey song. Please, stop playing it all the time. How about "Wheel in the Sky?"

But REO Speedwagon, really? This is not the first time I've heard somebody born after the band's last hit say he likes Speedwagon. I just don't get it. They weren't that good in 1983, why are we still talking about them today? If you're in your 50s, I kind of understand. It reminds you of your youth when you could run a half a mile and then party all night without feeling it for the next two weeks. But if you can party all night long and feel just fine the next day, what is it about Reo Speedwagon that appeals to you?