Libby Koch & Michael O’Connor – Gulf Coast Duets This duet-oriented LP is folky but since it originates from the Gulf Coast of Texas, it’s a debut set that’s interesting, if not different. Oh, it’s still folk music, but it isn’t urban folk music. There’s no Phil Ochs, Joan Baez, or Tom Paxton, radical regularities. […]
Becky Shaw – Cast Off the Lines This album is recorded pristinely with a nod to vintage female pop-country singers, more Brenda Lee, Robin Ward, Merilee Rush & folk singer Ferron than Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn or Tammy Wynette. From the first cut “Makin’ Me Smile,” to “Simon’s Thunder Shirt,” Georgia’s Ms. Shaw has bright […]
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Domenic Cicala – Duet Again From the starting gate this effort hits with authority & Muscle Shoals/Stax horn funk muscle. Good charts on some old jewels & originals with Dominic’s duet partner Charlie Faye & the Fayettes pouring on the groove with expertise & plenty of soul. “You Mean So Much To Me Baby” would’ve […]
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Levi Foster – Appalachian Funk Tree This showcase features fiery banjos, fiddles, harmonica, thundering drumbeats & bellowing bass smoking in the musical engine that’s Levi Foster’s forte. Rollicking isn’t a strong enough word for the opening title track that isn’t threaded with mainstream wire but far more traditional stitches. Foster’s voice isn’t a contemporary country […]
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Texas Headhunters – Rise and Shine This gets off to a rollicking start in the tradition of ZZ Top, the Jayhawks & Texas Tornadoes. Nice musical applications evident on the opener “Cut n’ Run” a solid piece with everything a gool ole boy would want in his music. Whiskey’s strong, the cigars stink & the […]
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Deborah Holland – Unadorned This is a spare set of songs featuring either a piano, or guitar with the spirited voice of singer-songwriter Deborah Holland. Despite the folky overtones the New Jersey native has a commanding tone, & each track has a strong sense of freshness. There are no commercial elements bogging down these compositions […]
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Wonderlick Loves You – Self-Titled Despite the duo’s band name, the music is a cross between alternative country, bluegrass spiked with punk brandy & ‘70s new wave vocal relevance. A nice, surprising mix unfailingly melodious. The fiddles, banjos & slight touch of Irish jig in “Come Get On My Cloud” (a follow up dig at […]
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Max Hightower – The Blues Chooses You This set is primarily the focus of the Chicago blues work of lead guitarist Joe Moss & harmonica ace & blues singer Max Hightower. Together they bring the smoky ambience of barrooms & juke joints right into your listening room…so light up some blunts (the White Owl type), […]
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Left Arm Tan – When Tigers Smoked The majority of this, their 7th album, was bravely conceived by guitarist Daniel Hines (also keys/harmonies) while recovering from several surgeries — one side effect was becoming prolific with his songwriting. Together with singer Brian Lee they designed When Tigers Smoked (Dropped Oct 9/Independent) a line that refers […]
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Steve Howell, Dan Sumner & Jason Weinheimer – I Don’t Mind You have to admire how a trio can recapture a vintage sound, mood & atmosphere using modern equipment & not being 100 years old for themselves. This showcase was recorded in a wonderfully relaxed, laid-back finger-picking guitar feel soaked in a ‘50s groove. Cocktails, […]
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