CD Reviews on projects by Americana Artists
Marshall Crenshaw Miracle of Science Shiny-tone Records The Detroit born Marshall Crenshaw released his self-titled debut in 1982. That first album included the Top 40 hit “Someday, Someway”. Crenshaw followed with 1983’s “Field Day” which contained the single “Whenever You’re On My Mind”; and his 1985 album “Downtown” containing the hit “Little Wild One”. His […]
Eric Brace & Last Train Home Daytime Highs & Overnight Lows Red Beet Records Eric Brace & Last Train Home release their eleventh collaboration Daytime Highs & Overnight Lows on Red Beet Records. These are traveling songs, perhaps traveling through time as they evoke a feeling from another era while being new at the same […]
Randall Bramblett The Meantime (10th Anniversary Edition) New West This marks the tenth anniversary of Randall Bramblett’s “piano trio” album, The Meantime, which New West is commemorating with remastered versions, two previously unreleased tracks, and a vinyl issue for the first time. The album is one that is rather criminally under-recognized in Bramblett’s catalog but […]
Vance Gilbert Good Good Man Vance Gilbert is superlative, and he has outdone himself on his latest album, Good Good Man. The songs on Good Good Man are soulfelt, funky, Jazz-infused, with a wall of sound quality and an impressive list of guests that include blues and singer/songwriter Chris Smither, Tommy Malone of the Subdudes […]
The Wood Brothers Kingdom In My Mind Oh the things we tell ourselves. Kingdom In My Mind is the latest album release by The Wood Brothers. This is the seventh studio release by the band, and it is marvelously experimental. As favorite on mine, a Wood Brothers’ live show is captivating. For the band to […]
Tom Breiding Love Commits Me Here AmeriSon Singer-songwriter Tom Breiding writes a specific kind of Americana song, ones devoted to laborers and union workers. Hailing from West Virginia, he has been doing so for his entire career due to his intense connections with union members and groups. Several on Love Commits Me Here highlight his […]
Warren Storm Taking The World By Storm APO Records Warren Storm was born Warren Schexnider in Abbeville, La. in 1937; not far from Lafayette. Storm learned to play both drums and guitar from his father, a Cajun musician. He befriended fellow Abbeville native Bobby Charles and they would visit New Orleans to listen and learn. […]
Making a Scene Presents Jim Hynes’ Picks for Top 20 Roots Releases for 2019! These are in no particular order.. Click on the Release image to purchase on Amazon – Use the artist name to go to the Review of the Release Benny Turner and Cash McCall Going Back Home Jason Ringenberg Stand Tall Adam […]
Dom Martin Spain to Italy Where do I start as it’s all been said before about this young man from Belfast, Northern Ireland. The right place at the right time springs to mind. My first time to meet Dom was on the 7th of March this year at renowned rock venue Whelan’s in Dublin. Dom […]
Whitney Tai Sleepwalking to the Moon Patrick O’Heffernan Sometimes Whitney Tai’s music is fragile, delicate, barely entering your ears. At other times it is fierce, dense, demanding of every one of your senses. But either way, it touches your heart with a power that is hard to define but instantly recognizable. “Sleepwalking to the Moon” […]
Villers and The Villains Music Confounds the Machines Firstly, special thanks must go to longtime friend and blues brother Barry Cassidy. Barry made me aware of this incredible band, led by Mr Tony Villers a man who’s ability to tell a story can make you smile or cry. I did both when listening to this […]
Samantha Fish Kill or be Kind Rounder Records/Concord Music Group Samantha Fish got her introduction to the blues at Kansas City’s Knuckleheads Saloon. Influenced by Sheryl Crow, and Stevie Ray Vaughan she learned to play guitar. In 2011 she joined Dani Wilde and Cassie Taylor to become “Girls with Guitars” and tour Europe as that […]
Mike Osborn Unbroken Je Gagne Records Guitarist Mike Osborn grew up in Illinois but moved to the greater San Francisco area. Strongly influenced by Steve Ray Vaughan, Osborn released his debut album “Fire & Fury” in 2009. His follow-up band album was not until 2014 when he released “In The Dog House”. In 2018 he […]
Claudia Nygaard Lucky Girl Bet the Ranch Music Claudia Nygaard aims right for the bone in her 2019 self-released album, Lucky Girl. Claudia wrote all thirteen songs and the title track “Lucky Girl” is a winning song for the Tumbleweed Music Festival Songwriting Competition. This album doesn’t mince words, it’s not looking for shock value, […]
John Allee Bardfly Portuguese Knees Music There have been a couple of other Shakespeare related efforts to cross this writer, a former English major no less, desk’s recently, and for reasons of those albums being a bit esoteric or somehow unconvincing, we didn’t bring ink to these pages. So yes, John Allee, veteran stage and […]
John McAndrew Walkin’ Back Capitol Pianist/singer/songwriter John McAndrew finally let the music lead him back to the right place. For years he fought substance abuse and mental health issues that ruined his shows, caused blackout drives and masked his brilliant talents which are certainly evident as listening to Walkin’ Back for this writer leaves a […]
Randy Lewis Brown Red Crow Berkalin Randy Lewis Brown is another in the gifted group of Texas singer-songwriters full of poetic flair and engaging narratives. Red Crow is collection of 13 original songs, four of which are co-written. Brown sings in a clear, eminently listenable voice with great articulation and just the right amount of […]
Darrin Bradbury Talking Dogs & Atom Bombs Anti This is the witty Darrin Bradbury’s debut for Anti Records. His rhymes and keen observations may remind some of John Prine or Steve Goodman. Heck, at times even his voice sounds like Prine’s. Bradbury’ss collection of songs blend dark humor with observations that are so obvious when […]
Jacqui Brown Love, Love, Love Woodward Avenue At first this was puzzling. The brunette with the hat on the cover and inside jacket signaled country music but the label, Woodward Avenue, for this writer is associated with smooth jazz, real jazz, and soul. Woodward Avenue has a roster of great artists including Melba Moore. Readers […]
Bill Scorzari Now I’m Free There are poets, there are songwriters, there are painters of fine art, and there’s Bill Scorzari. The new album, Now I’m Free is a bold and delicate balance of each. To say it is a thing of beauty is an understatement. The album has played continuously these last few months […]
Alice Peacock Minnesota Self-released Alice Peacock had four highly acclaimed singer-songwriter albums beginning in 2000 and extending until her last studio album, 2009’s Love Remains. Much has changed since. She’s had three children, moved to Cincinnati, and obviously gotten 10 years older. To be exact, she did make a duo studio recording, Myrick/Peacock with Danny […]
Hiss Golden Messenger Terms of Surrender Merge Terms of Surrender is the eighth album for Hiss Golden Messenger (HGM) in their storied career, now over a decade long. HGM has long established their signature sound that fuses gospel, country, pop and rock in a way like no other band. They are hard to define and […]
Ward Hayden and The Outliers release their newest album Can’t Judge A Book on September 6, 2019.
Two Re-issues from Omnivore Recordings Steve Goodman Santa Ana Winds/Unfinished Business Steve Goodman was born in Chicago in 1948. He attended the University of Illinois where he began his singing career as a member of a popular rock cover band. He left the University after one year to pursue his musical career in New York […]
David G Smith Who Cares Singer-Songwriter-Guitarist David G Smith releases his fourth studio album, Who Cares, on August 23, 2019. As a successful songwriter, David G Smith was losing his soul writing songs for other singers. On the advice of fellow songwriters Darrell Scott and Mary Gauthier, (who sings duet on “Shine”), he stopped chasing […]
Maryjo Mundy The Fourteenth Confession – Songs of Laura Nyro Bluejazz Sometimes it takes a tribute or interpretations from another artist for one to truly appreciate the beauty and power of the songs left behind by the original. Thus is the case for this live performance by Maryjo Mundy last year at the Gardenia in […]
Ben Winship Toolshed + Acorns (two complete and separate albums) Snake River Most musicians have their own kind of tool shed we suppose. Roots musician, recording engineer and in-demand sideman Ben Winship is perhaps titling one of these two albums about his backyard studio in Idaho that he calls The Henhouse. Like most studios, contrary […]
Chuck Mead Close To Home Plowboy Records In 1993 Kansas native Chuck Mead was one of the founding members and front men for the Alternative Country band BR549. Their self-titled 1996 album, the first of seven recordings, produced three charting singles, three Grammy nominations and a Country Music Association Award. The Americana roots music artist […]
Gary Nicholson/Whitey Johnson The Great Divide/More Days Like This Blue Corn Music Gary Nicholson and alter-ego Whitey Johnson share June 7 release date for Blue Corn Music albums ‘The Great Divide’ and ‘More Days Like This’. You know his name and you know his songs. You have milestones intertwined with his songs, he has his […]
Molly Thomas and The Rare Birds Honey’s Fury Kaigler’s Bottom Records From the first drop of the needle, Honey’s Fury is evident. There is an urgency to these songs. They enlighten, and empower. These are honest songs that capture the exact moment one decides the moment has come. A band that prides itself on authenticity, […]
RJ Cowdery What If This Is All There Is When you listen to an album that evokes Patty Griffin, Gretchen Peters, Kim Richey all rolled into one, you know you’ve picked high-cotton. What If This Is All There Is, is one of life’s grandest questions. It’s reflective and forward focused and allows for personal growth. […]
The South Austin Moonlighters Travel Light Station House Records The South Austin Moonlighters are a roots-rock band. A group of local music veterans got together in 2011 just to have a good time. Included were bassist/mandolinist Lonnie Trevino Jr. who had previously toured with Mike Zito, played with singer-songwriter Drew Womack, and was soon to […]
Rising Appalachia Ley Lines Blends cultures and harmonies into pure bliss Patrick O’Heffernan The word “ley lines” was coined in 1921 by the amateur English archaeologist Alfred Watkins, describing the apparent alignments among historical and geological spaces, hypothesizing that they had persisted over millennia to facilitate travel, trade and community. Later, others theorized that global ley lines […]
Mike Daly Renascence Self-released Mike Daly is a steel player, as in pedal steel, lap steel, baritone slide, slide mandolin, Weissenborn, Dobro and steel drum, all of which he plays here. You have all that, right? Daly is known most, perhaps as the regular pedal steel player in Hank Williams Jr.’s and Travis Tritt’s bands […]
Steve Katz The Juggle Independent At the age of fifteen Steve Katz was already studying guitar with Dave Van Ronk and Reverend Gary Davis. He met guitarist Stefan Grossman and together they spent time rediscovering bluesmen Mississippi John Hurt, Skip James and Son House. Living in Greenwich Village Katz and his friends, Grossman, Maria Muldaur, […]
The Felice Brothers Undress Yep Roc After making some changes in personnel, the upstate folk-rock band The Felice Brothers are back with their first album in three years. They sound different than the ragged, wild, raucous band that earned them a enviable reputation for their live shows, having now matured and focused into a strong, […]
Rebecca Loebe Give Up Your Ghosts Blue Corn Music Give Up Your Ghosts is exactly that. Written within a creative span of a few months, these are songs that Rebecca Loebe needed to hear, they are songs about empowerment. The eleven songs, written by Rebecca, are poppy and current and appeal to young and old […]
Bianca De Leon Dangerous Endeavor Lonesome Highway Music South Texas native Bianca De Leon is an Austin, TX-based singer/songwriter and author dubbed “Queen of the border ballad” by Nova Lomax and “A voice from Texas that does it right” by Guy Clark. Outside of Texas, she’s better known in Europe where she’s been touring since […]
Josh Hyde Into the Soul JHR Records. There is a vintage vibe to this album. The tone is warm, comfortable, and evokes the music of artists like JJ Cale, Tom Petty, Delbert McClinton, and Lyle Lovett. Growing up and stomping around Louisiana, it’s easy to hear that swampy blues, jazz, and zydeco influence. The eleven […]
Phil Madeira Crickets Mercyland Records Multi-Instrumentalist award-winning Americana singer-songwriter and producer Phil Madeira is releasing an instrumental jazz album Crickets on April 26th. The audible pin drop notwithstanding, noodling at jazz and blues is how Phil Madeira relaxes when he’s not in the spotlight. It’s an energy born of passion and content. The songs are […]
Russ Tolman Goodbye El Dorado Lost As one who has spent considerable time in LA, I find sustenance in this, Russ Tolman’s love letter to LA, Tolman’s eighth solo album. It’s the lyrics that keep me returning for listens. The titles read like an La travelogue: “North Hollywood Dream,” “405,” “Yuba City,” Pacific Rain” and […]
Anna Tivel – The Question Fluff & Gravy Portland-based guitarist/violinist, singer-songwriter Anna Tivel releases her fourth album, The Question, as she continues her provocative look into flawed characters, overlooked aspects of ordinary life, shared experience, and some political commentary. Her music is often deceptively quiet, concealing the pain and heartache that she writes about, whether […]
Will Kimbrough I Like It Down Here Will Kimbrough’s I Like It Down Here hits the record stores on April 19 on Soundly Music. Special guests include Shemekia Copeland, Brigitte DeMeyer, and Sugarcane Jane. It’s his best album to date. There! I’ve said it. Touted as one of the industry’s top session players, Will is […]
Elles Bailey Road I Call Home Independent Elles Bailey is a British singer who, in 2017 released her debut album, Wildfire. It met with success and therefore she hit the road touring in support of it. That touring inspired this second album Road I Call Home, although love and matters of the heart figure greatly […]
Adam Carroll I Walked in Them Shoes This is an exciting time for Adam Carroll fans. The Texas troubadour is releasing a new album on April 12, 2019. They don’t come around often so it’s time for a humble celebration. I Walked In Them Shoes is the ninth release for the artist and follows an […]
Molly Tuttle When You’re Ready Compass It’s rare when an artist can win Americana Instrumentalist of the Year without having released a full length album, but such is the case with flat-picking guitar phenom and singer-songwriter Molly Tuttle who now debuts with When You’re Ready. Blessed with a crystalline, honest voice and boundless instrumental talent, […]
Jimbo Mathus Incinerator JImbo Mathus has a new album, out April 5, that, like everything he does, is surprising in the best sort of way. It is called Incinerator and except for the overdubs it was recorded in 2 days at Dial Back studio in Water Valley, Mississippi. In order to fully concentrate on the […]
Bill Toms and Hard Rain LIVE (featuring The Soulville Horns) Bill Tom’s “writes songs that stir emotion, challenge the mind, and move the tail feather”, and that ladies and gentlemen defines rock ‘n’ roll. Bill Toms is a working man. Being a Pittsburgh Pennsylvania guy that ethic is forged into you. He works at being […]
M. Lockwood Porter Communion in the Ashes Black Mesa Communion in the Ashes is flat-out rock n’ roll, a rallying cry, a series of anthemic songs by M. Lockwood Porter and his five-piece band designed to build hope amongst the surrounding doom. Yes, this about community and moving forward rather than wallowing in despair. It’s […]
Madison Violet Everything’s Shifting Big Lake/Passenger Sounds Madison Violet is Brenley MacEachern and Lisa MacIssac. The duo first met in Toronto in 1999 only to discover that their fathers were high school classmates. They are genre crossing instrumentalists with flawless harmonies. Hailing from small Scottish towns, in close proximity to Nova Scotia, their sound has […]
