Author: John Apice

  The Center of Nowhere – Documentary – Songs of an Unsung America – Springfield, MO This is an engaging documentary. A laid-back intro to what is obviously a well-kept secret. A Muscle Shoals, AL that’s hush-hush. A more down-home Austin & Nashville without the glitz & traffic. There’s stunning photography, colorful likable personalities, exceptional […]

Shannon LaBrie – Building It’s obvious Nebraska’s Shannon LaBrie has an effective vocal tone & easily straddles the fence ‘twixt pop & commercial country sensibilities. But she doesn’t possess a traditional country voice. Some critics rave particularly about her lyrics as “emotionally-charged.” But they fail to mention they’re loaded with clichés. Shannon is a good […]

  Little Richard – The Rill Thing and King of Rock & Roll  Some may argue how could Little Richard be Americana or a roots artist? It’s just pure early rock & roll. But that’s the point. Pure rock & roll, like blues, jazz & country is American roots music. Especially if performed by a […]

Jordan Tice – Motivational Speakeasy An LP that is a solo simply sustained by vocals & a well-worn Collings acoustic guitar (a guitar also played by Emmylou Harris, Pete Townsend, John Fogerty, Joni Mitchell & Keith Richards). Jordan Tice explores the spontaneity in music, the process of invention & creativity. Tice’s touchstones are all inventive […]

Bella White – Just Like Leaving I don’t often use words like “gorgeous” to describe an artist’s music, but Bella White may be a North American from Canada, but she is authentic, genuine & wholesome in the truest sense of the Americana genre. No reason not to believe it — since her family came from […]

Fort Worth’s melodically full-bodied Ryan Hamilton & The Harlequin Ghosts – Nowhere To Go But Everywhere (drops Sept 18 – Wicked Cool Records) opens their sophomore LP with the integrated pop gasoline of “Only a Dream,” that tilts back its head to a new wave era when singles were filled with catchy hooks & melodies […]

Trae Sheehan – Postcards From the Country This EP is a fine example of straight-forward unassuming songs. Fine craftsmanship with no showboating. There’s nothing cutting here like Neil Young, but West Virginia’s Trae Sheehan also doesn’t have a whiney voice like Neil. There are no political overtones like the late Phil Ochs — Trae has […]

Victoria Bailey – Jesus, Red Wine & Patsy Cline – Rock Ridge Music These kinds of CDs make me apprehensive because it’s a dangerous ledge to walk when you try to recapture a legendary era in country music. The George Jones’, Patsy Clines, Hank Snows, Ray Price’s, Loretta Lynn’s, Kitty Wells’, & Tammy Wynette’s, to […]