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Sarah MooreReviews
Elvis Perkins in Dearland: The Doomsday EPThe folk-rock EP features two takes on the same "dirge". [17 November 2009] 
Clare and the Reasons: ArrowsClare Manchon's spritely vocals and chamber pop offer the right amount of effervescence. [13 November 2009] 
Jim Byrnes: My Walking StickThe American-born Canadian actor/blues musician's songs are as textured as his vocals. [5 November 2009] 
Tim Posgate Hornband featuring Howard Johnson: Banjo HockeyThis meeting of jazz and bluegrass has hits and misses. [14 October 2009] 
Willie Nelson: American ClassicWillie Nelson's supposed followup to Stardust falls a little flat. [13 October 2009] 
The Corduroy Road: Love is a WarThe Corduroy Road offers a fresh take at bluegrass and old-time Southern rock. [7 October 2009] 
The Giving Tree Band: Great PossessionsThe Giving Tree Band offsets the production of its album with solar and wind energy production, recycled liner notes, and planting trees for shipping. [4 October 2009] 
Vandaveer: Divide and ConquerThe follow-up to its 2007 debut, Grace and Speed, avoids the sophomore slump by miles and miles. [1 October 2009] 
Spindrift: The Legend of God’s GunSpindrift takes Morricone's spaghetti western a step further to psychedelia. [30 September 2009] 
The Defibulators: Corn MoneyThe debut album from this Brooklyn septet stops some hearts with wrenching country ballads and raucous hellbilly. [25 August 2009] 
The Devil Makes Three: Do Wrong RightA junk-band blues trio provides the perfect soundtrack to your next down-home dance party. [20 August 2009] 
Americans in France: PretzelvaniaThe punk trio from Chapel Hill, NC attempts ambitious song structure perhaps a little too much. [13 August 2009] 
Gigantic Hand: Permanent SkinBrooklyn pop quintet Gigantic Hand fuses Americana, new wave and shoegaze on its debut album. [4 August 2009] Willie Nelson: 2 June 2009 - Richmond, VAI hate to say it, but it seemed like he was just going through the motions. But for many people, that’s just fine. [8 July 2009] 
Satchmo: The Wonderful World and Art of Louis Armstrong: Steven BrowerSatchmo provides a more personal look at the man and his talent for rethinking spaces, both audio and visual. [23 June 2009] 
Chriss Sutherland and Brown Bird: Worried LoveSongs in both Spanish and English wax psychedelic. [17 June 2009] 
The Red Stick Ramblers: My Suitcase Is Always PackedThe Baton Rouge Quintet release their most focused album to date, covering the mixture of traditional Louisiana sounds with a forward approach. [11 June 2009] 
The Kingsbury Manx: Ascenseur Ouvert!The Kingsbury Manx return to its debut recording studio for its tenth-anniversary release. [4 June 2009] 
The Lovetones: DimensionsThe Lovetones return with another original take on psychedelic pop. [19 May 2009] 
The Daredevil Christopher Wright: In Deference to a Broken BackBon Iver engineers this Wisconsin trio's debut album of grave subjects and jaunty pop rock. [14 May 2009] 
The Boxmasters: ModbillyW.R. "Bud" Thornton's rockabilly band releases its third album of honky tonk and rock 'n' roll. 
Stacy Lloyd Brown & Goodbye Generation: The Automatic/Mosquito Bite EPBrown explores the relationship of organic and synthetic sounds amidst a selection of psych folk tunes. [22 March 2009] 
Autumn Boukadakis: Velvet SkyAustin-based Autumn offers soulful country pop ballads on her sophomore release. [18 March 2009] 
Claire Holley: HushClaire Holley sings songs with a down home essence and sweet vocal tones. [17 March 2009] 
El Goodo: CoyoteThe Welsh five-piece releases an album filled with summery psychedelic harmonies and spaghetti Western rhythms: a match made in vintage heaven. [4 March 2009] 
Lafayette Gilchrist: Soul Progressin’The pianist who has garnered comparisons to Sun Ra and Thelonious Monk pays homage to soul music. [27 February 2009] 
Eric Corne: Kid Dynamite and the Common ManToronto's Eric Corne assembles the best names from the LA rock scene for an authentic-sounding Americana album. [18 February 2009] 
Spindrift: The WestA love affair with the lonesome West leads Spindrift on an uncharted excursion. [17 February 2009] 
Ari Hoenig: Bert’s PlaygroundAri Hoenig's Punk Bop album showcases the drummer's lighthearted side with an array of impressive guests. [10 February 2009] 
Jonathan Vassar: The Hours and the DaysRichmond's Jonathan Vassar becomes yet another Triple Stamp success. [2 February 2009] 
The Summer Wardrobe: Cajun Prairie FireAustin's The Summer Wardrobe have crafted a delightfully complicated country-psych-pop record. [1 February 2009] 
Bar Band Americanus: The Best of Charlie Pickett And…Charlie Pickett owned the night during the '80s, although you may not have heard of him yet. [26 January 2009] 
Pillars and Tongues: ProtectionA slow-building psychedelic disc made using "spontaneous composition". [11 January 2009] 
Don Chambers and Goat: ZebulonProduced by Patterson Hood of the Drive-By Truckers, this album tells old Southern stories along lonely dirt roads. [5 January 2009] 
Higgins: ZsMining classic rock sounds, Higgins offers sounds ranging from The Beatles to Led Zeppelin. [15 December 2008] 
Sheryl Crow: Home for ChristmasSheryl Crow takes her turn as Hallmark's holiday album star. [11 December 2008] 
Creaky Boards: Brooklyn is LoveCreaky Boards made headlines when a video surfaced accusing Coldplay of plagiarizing one of their songs. [10 December 2008] 
No Depression #76 by Grant Alden and Peter BlackstockThe bookazine’s quality, both in its outward appearance and its sophisticated writing style, continues the tradition of bringing exposure to non-commercial grade Americana music. [24 November 2008] 
Bark Hide and Horn: National RoadThe Portland "four-man orchestra" known as Bark Hide and Horn tell a tale involving a complex storyline that interweaves various tableaux. [19 November 2008] 
Proud Simon: Night of CriminalsThe five-piece Proud Simon hover around the genres of Americana, orchestral pop, and prog rock. [13 November 2008] 
The Minor White: Old TheatricsScranton's The Minor White showcase yet again why their town is becoming the new Brooklyn, Portland, or Toronto. [7 November 2008] 
Charlie Louvin: Steps to HeavenThe Country Hall of Fame inductee releases his first of two 2008 albums with a stripped-down gospel setting. [29 October 2008] 
Aviary Ghost: Memory is a HallwayLush pop orchestrations compose an album built around the concept of memories and the impact they have on the present and the person. [24 October 2008] 
Cara Luft: The Light FantasticCara Luft is one of the best female country musicians to come out of Canada since Neko Case. Just add a few shredding electric guitars. [22 October 2008] 
Catfish Haven: DevastatorCatfish Haven combine the best of '70s AM gold and yacht rock for a vintage-sounding blues rock album. [13 October 2008] 
Bel Air: Pole to PolePole to Pole features twangy and intimate arrangements for what some call "dream country." [6 October 2008] 
And the Moneynotes: New CornucopiaAnd the Moneynotes bring a little of everything to the hootenanny table. [26 September 2008] 
The Great Bloomers: The Great BloomersThis Canadian quartet take cues from Sonic Youth and Wilco for a successful debut EP. [22 September 2008] 
Benji Hughes: A Love ExtremeHughes crafts songs that reflect the many feelings caused by love, while spanning several genres. [18 September 2008] 
Brown Bird: The Bottom of the SeaDavid Lamb's latest full-length is his last with husband-wife multi-instrumentalists the Robinsons. [15 September 2008] 
Setting Sun: Children of the WildSetting Sun's ability to harness the sounds of San Francisco, New York, and Los Angeles comes in the form of pleasant, atmospheric pop songs. [9 September 2008] 
Drew Emmitt: Long RoadThe mandolin and voice behind jam band Leftover Salmon releases his third solo album, a dedication to the road. [29 August 2008] 
The Dreadful Yawns: Take ShapeThe Dreadful Yawns, despite their name, keep the listener intrigued with country tinged psych-folk. [27 August 2008] 
William F. Gibbs: My Fellow SophisticatesOne mustn't be too sophisticated to enjoy this singer/songwriter's debut. [7 August 2008] 
Half Light: Sleep More, Take More Drugs, Do Whatever We WantTurn on, tune in, and drop out to these hallucinogenic layers of sound. 
A Night in the Box: Write a LetterThe Minneapolis-based band releases their second album of rock and roll blues infused with old-time. [5 August 2008] 
Frank Bango: The Sweet Songs of DecayAfter 14 years in the business, Bango releases his fourth full-length of sweet pop melodies with dark undertones. [28 July 2008] 
Mad Tea Party: Found a ReasonThis Party of two creates uke-abilly for the new generation. [15 July 2008] 
The Spook of the Thirteenth Lock: The Spook of the Thirteenth LockThese Dubliners bring psychedelia and prog rock to traditional Irish leanings. [8 July 2008] 
Bess Rogers: Decisions Based on InformationGuitarist for Jenny Owen Youngs steps away from her supporting role for her hodgepodge solo debut. 
Jenny Scheinman: Jenny ScheinmanViolinist and vocalist Jenny Scheinman offers two different glimpses at Americana with her two simultaneous releases. [26 June 2008] 
Iglomat: IglomatThe self-titled release involves instrumental electronic post-rock alongside spoken-word samples. [25 June 2008] 
Peggy Lee: All Aglow Again!Celebrating 50 years of "Fever!", these four albums commemorate the catalog of Peggy Lee, from the most popular to previously unreleased songs. [24 June 2008] 
Magnetic Morning: Magnetic Morning EPFive-song EP from the duo of Interpol's drummer and Swervedriver's singer/guitarist takes you someplace dark. [17 June 2008] 
The Stairwell Sisters: Get Off Your MoneyThe Stairwell Sisters show that old-time music is still relevant in today's world with their third release. [12 June 2008] 
The Weepies: HideawayThe husband and wife duo go a little darker with their brand of impish pop. [6 June 2008] 
Amy Amy Amy by Nick JohnstoneThe interviews contain much hearsay, and several interviewees had very brief contact with Amy Winehouse. 
Scotland Barr and the Slow Drags: All the Great Aviators AgreeA quaintly grand feast of roots-rock instrumentation. [2 June 2008] |
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