Ann Savoy – Another Heart This is an impressive CD with a 50-page stitched insert of liner notes, color images & lyrics. It’s like the good old days. That said, the set starts with a raw guitar blend that slides into sprightly fiddles, Cajun French & descriptive English lyrics & a full-tilt stab performance on […]
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Lizz Wright – Shadow Though Lizz straddles the expansive spirit of easy listening & world music with her dark alto vocal she’ll remind dedicated fans of Joan Armatrading of her equally persuasive early music. But Ms. Wright is exceptional. Her voice is primarily a tool of emotion, ambiance & sensitivity before it approaches any showboating […]
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Lynn Drury – High Tide Veteran New Orleans artist Lynn Drury has unveiled her 10th album produced by Papa Mali & it’s recorded with lots of presence & sonics. Right from the upbeat opener “Blue,” the country inflections are meticulous. Some tracks sound dated in a 50s balladry style but don’t be deterred (“I Waited […]
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Moonsville Collective – A Hundred Highways This Southern California folk-Americana band returns after 6 years with a renewed & recalibrated vibrant roots/old-time musical showcase. This CD takes a deep dive into Appalachian traditions (far from California) & these boys are quite accomplished. The songs on their 4th full-length album dip generous fingers into themes of […]
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Robby Hecht – Not A Number While at first listen, the tunes arrive with a subtle & sublime James Taylor-type mainstream folky gentleness the songs also have Kenny Rankin-David Gray touches. Mr. Hecht does project a sincere tonality with his showcase. He doesn’t seem to use his songwriting as entertainment but as a way of […]
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Tipps and Obermiller – MacGuffin This is a brightly recorded album with some folky pop elements ala Lowen & Navarro. The songs have a balanced contrast between gender vocals keeping it interesting throughout. But what I found most attractive is Hilary Tipps’s lead vocal with its clarity & depth like the best female folk singers […]
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Nick Gravenites with Pete Sears – Rogue Blues I’m pleased yet filled with wonder & pleased to hear legendary South Side of Chicago blues artist Nick Gravenites with an all-star cast of musicians. I’m filled with wonder as to why it clocks in at a mere 27 minutes. This is the first recorded work of […]
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Misner & Smith – All Is Song This is music from the fine Northern California duo who spent years piecing together the wonderful tunes on this transformative collection. They put these songs together with lots of patience & gave birth to these songs like you would children. But before they allowed these offspring (songs) to […]
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Alex Miller – My Daddy’s Dad Alex Miller continues to be a clever songwriter who knows how to mess with conventional country song characteristics just shy of cliches. Yet, his serious though simple lyrics applied to riveting melodies work admirably. With the aid of his distinctive voice (in a Randy Travis, Kenny Chesney style) just […]
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Victoria Liedtke & Jason Ringenberg – More Than Words Can Tell I’ve been critical of Jason’s solo work because I enjoyed Jason & the Scorchers more. I don’t know why. However, the music here is of a different scripture. This collection sparkles. Influence may have had something to do with it. Victoria Liedtke as a […]
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