Ma, Devendra Banhart’s third release on Nonesuch Records, jettisons the artificial sounds that have driven his recent work in favor of a return to natural, “human-made,” sounds. Strings, woodwinds, brass, and keyboards build upon Banhart’s vocal and guitar to create an inviting collection examining the nature of motherhood. Banhart, “addresses the unconditional nature of maternal […]
Out on Mama Bird Recording Co. November 1st, Vetiver returns with Up On High, their first release since 2015’s Complete Strangers. Vetiver continues to mine familiar territory of dreamy California pop-tinged folk-rock to prime effect transporting the listener to a welcoming time and place beyond the daily strife of modern American life. Up On High […]
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Wet Tuna’s Water Weird finds Matt Valentine and Pat Gubler (PG Six) pushing the psychedelic edge of electrified country blues. Self-described, “brothers of the steel-string,” Matt and Pat dig deep into traditional folk-blues motifs to establish a solid foundation for their otherworldly excursions. In addition to the duo at the core of Wet Tuna, Water […]
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Tin Foil Stars from Horace Holloway is out October 4th on Dirtleg Records. Tin Foil Stars features contributions from of a group of folk indie rock’s top sidemen and women that includes Caitlin Cary (Whiskeytown), Catherine Popper (Jack White, Grace Potter, Ryan Adams and the Cardinals), Neil Flanz (Gram Parsons, Emmylou Harris), Scott Brackett (Okkervil […]
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Over 20 years after a chance encounter with Doc Watson on King Street in downtown Boone, NC landed them a Merlefest slot that launched their career, Old Crow Medicine Show still carries the torch of traditional barn-burning bluegrass into the 21st century while continuing to push boundaries and defy expectations along the way. Comprised of […]
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On Queen of the West, Bob Bradshaw’s fourth full-length release, Bradshaw present an interwoven series of songs that can be best described as cinematic in concept and delivery. Telling the story of Ruby Black – The Queen of the West – a gun-toting femme fatale, Bradshaw embraces heartache and humor in equal measure. Scoop McGuire, […]
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Pieta Brown, daughter of stalwart folk songwriter Greg Brown, returns with a new record out September 20 via Ani DiFranco’s Righteous Babe Records. Co-produced with Bon Iver drummer and solo artist S. Carey and recorded at Justin Vernon’s April Base Studio, Freeway finds Brown confronting the perennial difficulties we all have with change and transition. […]
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Recent Thunder by Big Best Friend finds artist and songwriter Morgan Motes contemplating the importance of nature and escape to that “real world” for a life well lived. There’s a shamanistic quality to Big Best Friend’s music that wouldn’t be out of place on late-60’s psychedelic acoustic project. There is also a darkness to this collection […]
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Andrew Combs’ Ideal Man, his debut release for New West Records, features a collection of heartfelt tunes. Combs’ cadres of collaborators include Sam Cohen (keys, guitar, bass, background voclas), Dominic Billet (drums, background voclas), and Jerry Bernhardt (keys, guitar, bass, background voclas), as well as co-writers John Henry, Dylan LeBlanc, Jeff Trott, Burton Collins, and Kenny […]
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Hiss Golden Messenger’s latest release, Terms of Surrender (Merge Records), finds M.C. Taylor contemplating both the existential and mundane challenges of day to day living. Produced by Taylor and Brad Cook, Terms of Surrender features guest appearances by Jenny Lewis, Josh Kaufman and Aaron Dessner of The National. The album was recorded at Dessner’s Long […]
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