Radio Moscow

There have always been, and probably always will be, legions of young, white stoners trying to play the blues, but since Jack White made it cool again the latest wave seems endless. Of course, that’s not a bad thing for those who still have a soft spot for early Grand Funk, and Radio Moscow definitely fit that mould. Although a duo, Parker Griggs takes care of everything except bass in solid, if unspectacular, fashion. Thankfully, producer Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys knows exactly what to get out of him, resulting in a no-frills, tight-but-greasy sound direct from 1970. The album generates the most excitement when Griggs approaches Duane Allman-esque heights during his solos on "Lickskillet” and "Mistreating Queen,” although, in truth, Radio Moscow don’t sound much different than any other bunch of puds you can hear at your local bar’s weekly jam session. Still, the boogie must be kept alive (ZZ Top, sadly, can’t last forever), so if Radio Moscow are the answer, we who care about such things must accept that reality.