It’s burning up on the east coast, so this week’s new music update is heading down to where they combat the heat with sweet tea and good songwriting.

The Tejas Brothers bill themselves as Country/Rock/Blues, but they’ve got an accordion that speaks to my polka soul. Going for adds this week is “Boogie Woogie Mamacita.” Let this and a couple cervesas be the backdrop to your summer!

If you’re interested in listening to a guaranteed hit, try Gretchen Wilson’s new single, “The Earrings Song”. Unfortunately, she hasn’t found a new melody since her debut album, but this will please the fans to no end anyway.

Charla Corn is putting together an album by democracy: on her website, fans can “buy into” the album, rate demos, and help choose which songs make the cut. Here’s a video of the making of her single “Break My Heart Tonight”.

It’s Tuesday, which means it’s time for new releases to hit the racks! (Except at Walmart, they’ll get to it when they get to it.)

Depeche Mode releases their 12th studio album, Sounds of the Universe.

Sounds of the Universe

If you like dark humor, bluegrass and country “murder ballads”, you might already know about The Handsome Family. Their new release is Honey Moon. You can hear “When You Whispered” at AV Club.

Cambridge, MA band Chester French releases Love The Future today. They’ve got a solid alt-pop sound that can be both fun and interesting.

Love the Future

Going for adds this week on Top40 radio is Cage the Elephant, with “No Rest For The Wicked”. This hard-touring band from Kentucky evokes the Black Rebel Motorcycle Club with this bass-heavy (seriously, listen with good speakers) single.

Aint No Rest For The Wicked – Cage The Elephant

In the “Blast from the Past” category, 60s Italian/country crooner Al Martino has released “Trying to Find My Way” to AC Radio. You can listen to a (very short) preview at CDBaby, and it’s supposed to be on iTunes soon as well.

Finally, released to College radio this week is Booker T’s “Potato Hole”, off the album of the same name (order by 4/21 and get an autographed copy). Booker is backed by the Drive-By Truckers and Neil Young. I couldn’t find a preview anywhere, but Amazon had an interesting video.

Minneapolis-based electro/industrial/gothic band Thought Thieves have a distinct sound that wouldn’t be out of place on Top 40 radio, with lyrics that are worth a listen for grown-ups. Vocalist Mike Johnson’s declaratory style is reminiscent of the B-52s’ Fred Schneider; John Brekken (guitar and keyboards), Ariane Kokes (keyboards), Ryan Deacon (drums) and Jason Fleming (bass) lay out driving, danceable (or mosh-able) beats. Click the link above to listen to their forthcoming EP; iTunes link will be added when it’s available.

Previously, I had reviewed Taylor Hicks’ album The Distance, but did not have the Walmart bonus track, “Hide Nor Hair”. I finally got it, so here are my thoughts.

This song represents exactly what the Soul Patrol wants to hear: a cover of a Ray Charles song, although most of the fans are sure to prefer the live, less-enunciated version, complete with dancing and twitching. (I say that fondly; I would prefer that version, too.) It’s a simple arrangement of organs, drums, funky bass and, right up front as on the rest of the album, Hicks’ vocals. In the middle, he throws in a guitar that straddles country twang and Dick Dale-esque surf rock. I would not be averse to the live version exploring a surf beat for a few minutes. (Hint, hint.)

For those who might wonder, I haven’t played The Distance in its entirety since finishing my review, but the songs do come up frequently on my iTunes randomizer. I keep thinking “Once Upon A Lover” is The Mavericks when it comes up, at least until the vocals kick in. Other than that, many of the songs are slowly growing on me, but I can’t take them all at once. Nothing wrong with that, though!