REVIEW: The Mallett Brothers’ Band’s Vive L’Acadie!” is a Poutine Gumbo
The Mallett Brothers’ “Vive L’Acadie!” is a sort of poutine gumbo that’s spicy enough to melt your turntable.
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Category: Reviews
REVIEW: The Slocan Ramblers’ “Queen City Jubilee” is an Instant Bluegrass Classic
Toronto-based bluegrass quartet The Slocan Ramblers’ new release Queen City Jubilee (Slo Music) is a welcome addition to the bluegrass catalogue. Lead vocals by Frank Evans provide the traditional sounding, syncopated counterpart to his banjo playing; and with Adrian Gross on mandolin, Alastair Whitehead on bass and Darryl Poulson’s steady rhythm guitar to anchor the […]
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REVIEW: Gene Clark, Still Younger Than Yesterday: “Gene Clark Sings For You” & “The Rose Garden Collection”
Sometimes it feels like Gene Clark never really left us. The discovery and periodic releases of the former Byrd’s solo recordings have graced us over the past few decades. As time has passed, his inestimable multi-generational influence becomes more apparent spanning folk and country rock, rock stalwarts like Tom Petty and R.E.M., and a new […]
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REVIEW: Jesse Dayton’s “The Outsider” Mixes Rockabilly, Red Dirt Twang, Kick Ass Guitar
Jesse Dayton’s latest album in his ridiculously varied career, The Outsider (Blue Elan), engineered by Vance Powell (Sturgill Simpson, Jason Isbell), mixes rockabilly, red-dirt twang and kick-ass guitar work to give us one of 2018’s most potent releases.
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REVIEW: David Starr’s “South and West” is Beautiful, Poetic, Sad, Yet Powerful
These tracks are more than Americana, bigger than modern country, and too powerful to be categorized as country rock.
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REVIEW: Coco O’Connor’s New “This Ol’ War” Packs Emotional Wallop
The latest release from Coco O’Connor, This Ol’ War weighs in at a mere seven songs but packs an outsized emotional wallop. It’s full of classic country tunes and familiar topics told from less traditional perspectives. And with Sadler Vaden (Jason Isbell) on guitar, along with Mike Rinne and Rich Brinsfield trading off on bass, […]
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REVIEW: Romantica’s New Release, “Outlaws,” Shows Continued Perseverance
Unless you’re a Britpop icon (see Oasis’ The Masterplan) or a prolific singer/songwriter (see Ryan Adam’s Prisoner B-Sides, or any of the singles he releases between albums—more on him later), most B-side/outtake albums are viewed as filler, littered with throwaways amongst a gem or two. Fortunately, Romantica’s Outlaws gives a completely different perspective on an […]
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REVIEW: Gal Holiday’s “Lost & Found” is Level, Clear, Amazing
In a supersmash hit film, it takes a star, a cast of supporting characters and a film director who has a vision to make it work to instill the intangible qualities together as a team to make it great, and you can hear the audio equivalent here
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REVIEW: Buck Owens’ “The Complete Capitol Singles: 1967-1970” Capture the Trebly Hits of His Heyday
Omnivore Records is working with Buck Owens’ estate to release a series, and The Complete Capitol Singles: 1967–1970, is part of it; it’s a collection that includes 14 Top Ten hits, in addition to the A- and B-side to all 18 singles from that period: 36 total tracks. The project presents the songs in their […]
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REVIEW: Chuck Westmoreland’s “Long Winter Rodeo” is Tales by Indie-Meets-Alt-Country
Chuck Westmoreland’s second album, Long Winter Rodeo, is an LP full of country-wrought rockers penned by a tavern owner who’s heard a tale or two while working behind the bar. Romantic questions abound throughout. The first two songs – “Sharp Rocks” (“It’s a long way home if you wanna go”) and “Cryin’ Shame” (“See you […]
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