Album Review: "Gather Round" by Lee Rocker (9/10)

Upright Records (Orchard)

Producer: Lee Rocker

With his first album of primarily original material since 2007’s Black Cat Bone, the Stray Cat bassist-vocalist continues to forge new ground in the lexicon of rockabilly-tinged modern music. A case in point is “Pickin’ and Grinnin’,” with its vintage Memphis faНade and thinly veiled references to current political events. “Graceland Auction” is a spirited account of Rocker’s love for all things Presley. What’s amazing is each band member submitted their tracks remotely. Yet the collective energy Rocker and his quartet exude is undeniable.