Janis Ian — The Light at the End of the Line The legendary songwriter Janis Ian never shied away from tough subjects in her songwriting and her latest album is no exception. But the beauty of her songwriting is in its simplicity and ability to deliver deep emotions, and here she delivers both. The aptly-named […]
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Lost Dog Street Band return with their newest batch of songs, Glory, via Anti-Corp Music this Friday January 21st. There’s still a handful of bands that pique my interest enough make me want to write about them, and Lost Dog Street Band is one of those, and well here we are. I thought this would […]
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When I hear the term “heartland rock,” one voice pops up in my head – John Mellencamp. Decades of guitar-based, everyman songs sung in a gritty voice, combined with tireless, real-life advocacy of American farmers and other Midwestern folks, make him the Head of the Heartland. Hell, “Pink Houses” alone would’ve been enough to earn […]
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Tammy Rogers and Thomm Jutz have a new album coming out January 21: Surely Will Be Singing (Mountain Fever Records). Surely Will Be Singing was produced and recorded by Tammy Rogers & Thomm Jutz; mixed by Brent Truitt and mastered by Alex McCollough. Album photos are by Anthony Scarlati, and cover artwork is courtesy of Julie Sola. […]
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We’ve all dealt with our share of mortality over the past two years, but musicians seem to have more ghosts than most. Their lives and songs are strewn with memories of family, friends, bandmates and exes who have passed on. Eleanor and Bonnie Whitmore have spent two lifetimes sharing stages and studio space with just […]
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Keb Mo – Good To Be (Rounder Records) For more than a decade now, Blues/Americana great Keb’ Mo’ has been living in Nashville, but his native Compton, California was always home. With his latest, Good To Be, Mo’ manages to connect the two seamlessly. Recorded in both cities – including setting up equipment in Mo’’s […]
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Bob Wolfman – Tribute to a Friend While some can interpret & mimic the music of a renowned musician, others will see an opportunistic grab by a musician interested in emulating a hero, reproducing what has been done before, & skating away on the thin ice of nostalgia. Not so much here, however. While others […]
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Eric Brace & Last Train Home – Everything Will Be With its origins in Washington, DC (1997) this alt-country-roots band has taken on varied musical shapes since its inception. It has slowly developed into an exceptional unit that dips its big toe into varied genres with expressive results. Roots, Tin Pan Alley, swing, bluegrass, folk, […]
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Jeff Tweedy – Chelsea Walls The 14-cuts on this soundtrack to Ethan Hawke’s 2001 film takes place in NYC’s landmark Chelsea Hotel (1884). The film starred Kris Kristofferson, Uma Thurman, Natasha Richardson & Vincent D’Onofrio. It chronicled the lives of 5 artists at the hotel. A fan of Wilco, Hawke approached Jeff Tweedy to score […]
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The Kernal — Listen to the Blood The Kernal (aka Joe Garner) has a new album out with the rollicking energy of a contemporary album by the Band. Put on your Southern Rock hat when you turn this one up. It’s out on Single Lock Records, and is called Listen to the Blood. Listen to […]
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