The good thing about Americana is that it is a pretty all-encompassing term. It can range from country and bluegrass to jazz. Story of My Life by Kevin West is an album that embraces a lot of the various facets (including jazz in the last two songs) of Americana. The EP kicks off with “Best […]
“Now that the singer is gone…..where shall I go for the song?” The question was posed by lyricist Robert Hunter in the aftermath of the death of his writing partner and Grateful Dead guitarist Jerry Garcia. If history is any guide, the question was answered long ago. Just go on the road. For the past […]
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By Bill Bentley Matt Andersen, Halfway Home by Morning. When the soul starts flowing and the music starts going, there is no holding back an artist like Matt Andersen. Even though he’s a Canadian, it’s like he parked himself in the South spiritually at some point in his life and absorbed everything great about the […]
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Debra Lyn – Blue Sun Rises – Palette Records At first, I thought this was just another Celtic type traditional excursion of a singer-songwriter attempting to add her bluegrass-folk tuneful songs to a canon of traditional ones that have lasted for hundreds of years. I was wrong. This has a thread of originality, creativeness, and […]
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The Truehearts showcase their rock inspired versatility and flexibility on their new album, Songs for Spike, with a wide range of styles. The popular East Nashville duo Debra Buonaccorsi and Steve McWilliams were joined by producer Dave Coleman for this one, with Brian Hinchliffe on bass, Pete Pulkrabek on drums, and featuring cameos by Robert […]
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Chip & Tony Kinman’s Sounds Like Music (Omnivore Records) This 22-track of previously unissued songs of the Kinman Brothers’ bands was impressive. But you might’ve had to be a fan to fully appreciate it. Brothers Chip & the late Tony Kinman were notable for cowpunk, country-rock, alt-country that blended seamlessly. Their 3-LP 1981-7 Rank & File (Austin, Texas […]
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Dan Tedesco’s new album American Darkness takes a look inside Dan’s mindset over the past couple years. Welcoming a new baby, weighing what it means to be a parent in the current political climate, and the turmoil over the past couple years play into the overall vibe but doesn’t dominate the album’s overall theme. Dan […]
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What do you plan on doing when you are 86? Yeah, I don’t know either. I wonder if Willie Nelson thought he would still be playing and recording, much less at the level he has shown over his last several albums. Ride Me Back Home (Legacy Recordings) is Nelson’s 69thalbum, lucky number 13 with producer Buddy […]
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If you’re looking for the best album of the summer, look no farther than Shane Smith & The Saints third record, Hail Mary (Geronimo West Records). However, this isn’t an album filled with breezy road trip music. This album is intense, with stories from a band that’s been touring the last ten years and all […]
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As music fans, we listen to different albums for different reasons. Sometimes we listen for the beat. Sometimes we listen because it’s the soundtrack for a road trip. Sometimes we listen for the lyrics. Stratford by Austin Plaine is one that should be listened to for the lyrics. The best storytellers know how to create […]
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