Adam Gaffney & The Balladeers – Product of Another Sad Song All the pop country releases that chart lately are by talented & fine musicians, but the question still is…is it Country? Some is passable. Others are a bit far afield of the true tradition. Its spirit. Country & Western itself is not as popular […]
Scott Sean White – Days Are Long A bit religious on some tunes, but lots of these Christian-oriented rock standouts are remarkable. I’ve listened to artists like Steve Taylor & Jars of Clay. Scott doesn’t pour it on, though he does have a spiritual lineage in his bright tunes. “She’d Be the Bible,” & “Here […]
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The Name Droppers – Let’s Live Together A no frills collection by veteran New England blues, R&B, soul & purist rock ‘n’ roll purveyors. Operating since the 1980s, this is their 6th album, powered by horns, rollicking piano & enduringly styled arrangements. The 10 sides cut for Let’s Live Together (Dropped June 12/Horizon Music Group/37:43) […]
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The Claudettes Garage Glamour Well, if this doesn’t have the thrust of elaborate music out of the ‘70s with rock dipped generously in a cauldron of the Mael Brothers of Sparks (“This Town Ain’t Big Enough For the Both of Us”). The Claudettes “(You Are My) Whole World” is stitched with easy-listening populist appeal yet […]
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Samantha Fish – Paper Doll Live This is a live performance that gets off to a fiery start with the classic MC5 rocker “Kick Out the Jams.” It’s a typical rock ‘n’ roll fest with all the trimmings, but Samantha (electric guitar) has appeal along with tight leather duds & gutsy guitar playing. She has […]
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Sam Morrow – Southern Boogie With some swampy gravitas of J.J. Cale & Tony Joe White, the Texas-rooted Mr. Morrow unleashes mud on your boots, sweat dirt lines of your neck authenticity with “Cruisin’” & manages to keep the momentum brawny. His voice has authority. At first listen, it sounds like country music; it has […]
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Fruit Bats – The Landfill I admit, after listening to countless singers through the years, what grabs my ear the tightest is a distinctive voice. Eric D. Johnson (guitars/piano/synth/lap steel) has a thin, finely rendered voice, but his delivery is early Dylan on “The Saddest Part of the Song” without the gruffness & harshness. Just […]
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Bandits On the Run Rough Magic I must be listening to a different group from other writers because I don’t hear Fleetwood Mac or the Mamas & Papas in this pensive collection. Instead, I hear slices of The Refugees, Indigo Girls, Burning Bridgett Cleary & maybe even a tinge of The Roches. This is the […]
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Grainne Duffy What Am I Supposed To Do? Well, this is different in an exciting way. Take 25% of Bonnie Tyler, another 25% of Kim Carnes, with 50% of the rocking exuberance of Melissa Etheridge & you would have the enthusiasm of the raw-voiced Irish singer Grainne Duffy (guitar), who spills her soulful, bluesy rock […]
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Rag And Bone – Strain This set gets off to a serious, melodic pop-oriented quality with “The World Is Coming Down,” with slight reminders of the late Karl Wallinger’s World Party. Rag And Bone are fine-tuned with their disparate rock voices, guitar riffs & arrangements that cut their own path. Even “The Serf,” while not […]
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