Columns
Tuesday, April 24 2012
Black Country Communion: Darius Rucker and Lionel Richie
Despite country's southern roots, there remains a dearth of black artists. Darius Rucker dipped his toes in those muddy waters in the past, but alas, Lionel Richie's new country album doesn't wade in much deeper.
Thursday, February 23 2012
Americana May Be Country, But Country Is Rarely Americana
Like punk rock and heavy metal, country music has a formula and violating that formula is a kind of betrayal, a heresy for which one may not be forgiven. In Americana, such betrayals and unexpected turns are often welcomed.
Monday, January 9 2012
Queer Country: Chely Wright’s Coming Out
The upcoming documentary, Wish Me Away, centered on country singer Chely Wright chronicles the pains of coming out in Nashville and raises questions about why more country musicians haven’t come out.
Monday, October 17 2011
Old Country Comfort: How the British Might Save American Music (Again)
The British saved rock 'n' roll, reignited the blues, and may just make country music more American.
Reviews
Friday, May 25 2012
T.S. Bonniwell: Close
The garage rocker who went in for strings and faded into obscurity.
Thursday, May 24 2012
Cheers Elephant: Like Wind Blows Fire
Philadelphia quartet fans flames of success on new release.
Wednesday, May 23 2012
Margaret Mitchell: American Rebel
Gone With The Wind is one of the most popular books ever published. More than 75 years after its publication, neither it nor its author are above controversy.
Wednesday, May 23 2012
'Grateful Dead: Dawn of the Dead' Could Use More Life
Want to know the early history of the Grateful Dead? You may have to look no further than this review.
Monday, May 21 2012
'George Harrison: Living In the Material World': The Definitive Statement on Harrison
This is a powerfully intimate portrait of a private man who led a very public life.
Bears: Greater Lakes [9.May.12]
Loquat: We Could Be Arsonists [4.May.12]
Rumer: Seasons of My Soul [1.May.12]
Brass Tax: Brass Tax Album [25.Apr.12]
Katrin: Frail to Fearless [24.Apr.12]
Butterfly Boucher: Butterfly Boucher [17.Apr.12]
Steve Gates: A Bee in Her Mouth [16.Apr.12]
Susan Greenbaum: This Life [12.Apr.12]
Los Nombres: Los Nombres [11.Apr.12]
Katya Chorover: Big Big Love [11.Apr.12]
Drew Nelson: Tilt-A Whirl [9.Apr.12]
Ernest Gonzales: Natural Traits [9.Apr.12]
Graig Markel: Graig Markel [6.Apr.12]
Dallas Don Burnet: Cancel My Disappointment [5.Apr.12]
Lux: We Are Not the Same [4.Apr.12]
The Saw Doctors: The Further Adventures Of [4.Apr.12]
Tumbledown House: Fables and Falsehoods [3.Apr.12]
Bushman's Revenge: A Little Bit of Big Bonanza [29.Mar.12]
Mombi: The Wounded Beat [29.Mar.12]
Dam Brino: Dam Brino [28.Mar.12]
Total Control: Henge Beat [28.Mar.12]
San Cisco: Awkward [27.Mar.12]
Joy Askew: Drunk on You [26.Mar.12]
Pat Mastelotto: Recidivate [21.Mar.12]
'Roadie' Is a Surprising Little Gem [20.Mar.12]
Jon DeRosa: Anchored [20.Mar.12]
Simon Spire: No Solid Ground [19.Mar.12]
J.R. Plankton: Neon [16.Mar.12]
The Life: Alone [14.Mar.12]
Dana Falconberry: Though I Didn’t Call It Came [13.Mar.12]
Lightning Love: Girls Who Look Like Me [12.Mar.12]
PT Walkley: Thriller [9.Mar.12]
Siinai: Olympic Games [7.Mar.12]
Hellsongs: Long Live Lounge [2.Mar.12]
Lars Leonhard: 1549 [2.Mar.12]
Low Duo: The EP of Truth & Regret [27.Feb.12]
Ramon and Jessica: Fly South [23.Feb.12]
City of Satellites: Remixed [16.Feb.12]
Lianne La Havas: Lost and Found [15.Feb.12]
Gary Numan: Dead Son Rising [15.Feb.12]
sami.the.great: sami.the.great [14.Feb.12]
Sam Mickens: Slay & Slake [13.Feb.12]
Alyssa Graham: Lock, Stock & Soul [13.Feb.12]
On the Fierce Persistence of Mass Delusion: 'It Was a Long Time Ago, and It Never Happened Anyway' [10.Feb.12]
Doug Jerebine: Is Jesse Harper [8.Feb.12]
Various Artists: The Total Groovy [6.Feb.12]
All Cannibals: Black Shark Shake-A-Lake [6.Feb.12]
Big Deal: Chair EP [3.Feb.12]
Mariah McManus: Nice to Meet You [2.Feb.12]
Carsie Blanton: Idiot Heart [1.Feb.12]
So Percussion: It Is Time [1.Feb.12]
'The Love We Make' Is One for the Vaults [31.Jan.12]
Alert New London: Youth [31.Jan.12]
'Texas Killing Fields' Is Murder! [31.Jan.12]
Lincoln Durham: The Shovel Vs.the Howling Bones [30.Jan.12]
Big Daddy Love: Let It Grow [30.Jan.12]
Kid Savant: Drop It on the Stereo [27.Jan.12]
The Weather Station: All of It Was Mine [27.Jan.12]
Like a Stuntman: YOY [25.Jan.12]
Paul McCartney: The Family Way (Soundtrack) [25.Jan.12]
Holmes: Covers [24.Jan.12]
Gregg Suriano: Peace of the Rock [24.Jan.12]
Salli Lunn: A Frame of Reference [23.Jan.12]
Carolann Ames: Laurel Canyon Road [20.Jan.12]
Me and Cassity: Appearances [19.Jan.12]
Walter Rose: Cast Your Stone [18.Jan.12]
Tracker: How I Became An Alien [16.Jan.12]
Dreamers of the Ghetto: Enemy/Lover [16.Jan.12]
Hubble: Hubble Drums [12.Jan.12]
Mats/Morgan Band: Live [12.Jan.12]
Dean McPhee: Son of the Black Peace [11.Jan.12]
Red Wanting Blue: From the Vanishing Point [10.Jan.12]
Nathan Salsburg: Affirmed [9.Jan.12]
HotChaCha/Summer People: Do It [5.Jan.12]
The Express: The Express [4.Jan.12]
The Deep Dark Woods: The Place I Left Behind [3.Jan.12]
Bethesda: Dreamtiger & Other Tails [3.Jan.12]
Jeff Black: Plow Through the Mystic [15.Dec.11]
TW Walsh: Songs of Pain and Leisure [14.Dec.11]
Frank Alpine: Frank Alpine [12.Dec.11]
Golden Bear: Alive [6.Dec.11]
Superhuman Happiness: The Physical EP [5.Dec.11]
Living the Fug Life: 'Fug You' by Ed Sanders [5.Dec.11]
200 Years: 200 Years [1.Dec.11]
Shelby Earl: Burn the Boats [1.Dec.11]
Low Cut Connie: Get Out The Lotion [1.Dec.11]
Hermit Thrushes: Mystery Ocean [30.Nov.11]
In 'Power Ballads', Will Boast Writes with Ease & Intelligence ala Tobias Wolff & Richard Ford [29.Nov.11]
Joe Deninzon Trio: Exuberance [28.Nov.11]
Young Antiques: A Man, Not a Biography [23.Nov.11]
My Glorious: Minefield [23.Nov.11]
Vanish Valley: Get Good [22.Nov.11]
Francis Plagne: Tenth Volume of Maps [22.Nov.11]
Cloud Control: Bliss Release [21.Nov.11]
Husband: Husband [18.Nov.11]
Quilt: Quilt [17.Nov.11]
Meet the New Blood, Not the Same as the Old Blood: 'Peter Gabriel: New Blood: Live In London' [16.Nov.11]
Poor Boy’s Soul: Burn Down [15.Nov.11]
'Rush: Time Machine 2011: Live In Cleveland' Rush Is Still Thriving After All These Years [15.Nov.11]
Silver Tongues: Black Kite [14.Nov.11]
'The Ballad of Mott The Hoople' Is for Those Who Love Mott the Hoople With All Their Might [14.Nov.11]
Soma High: Secrets That Didn’t Happen [11.Nov.11]
Built Like Alaska: In Troubled Times [10.Nov.11]
Cheyenne Marie Mize: We Don't Need [9.Nov.11]
Emperor X: Western Teleport [8.Nov.11]
Sigourney Reverb: Bees in Your Bed [8.Nov.11]
The Moor: The Moor [7.Nov.11]
Damian Valles: Skeleton Taxa [4.Nov.11]
Library Voices: Summer of Lust [3.Nov.11]
'The Street: Complete Collection': As Touching, Real and Thought-Provoking as the Best Literature [2.Nov.11]
Savaging Spires: Savaging Spires [1.Nov.11]
Tattie Toes: Turnip Famine [31.Oct.11]
Thomas Dolby: A Map of the Floating City [28.Oct.11]
Sam Llanas: 4 A.M. [28.Oct.11]
Boots Electric: Honkey Kong [27.Oct.11]
Vanish Valley: Get Good [27.Oct.11]
Danny Long: She’s Here at Last [25.Oct.11]
Bio Ritmo: La Verdad [24.Oct.11]
CAVE: Neverendless [20.Oct.11]
Jon Regen: Revolution [18.Oct.11]
Coliseum/Burning Love: Live at the Atlantic [17.Oct.11]
John Illsley: Streets of Heaven [17.Oct.11]
Meredith Bragg: Nest [14.Oct.11]
The Island of Misfit Toys: Bear Hair [13.Oct.11]
The Wombats: iTunes Festival London 2011 [11.Oct.11]
Average White Band: Live at Montreux 1977 [10.Oct.11]
400 Blows: Sickness and Health [7.Oct.11]
The Janks: Hands of Time [3.Oct.11]
Rachel Taylor Brown: World So Sweet [30.Sep.11]
Ben Sollee: Inclusions [29.Sep.11]
P.G. Six: Starry Mind [28.Sep.11]
Mr. Lewis and the Funeral 5: Delirium Tremendous [27.Sep.11]
Grateful Dead: Europe ’72 Volume 2 [21.Sep.11]
Get Set Go: Fury of Your Lonely Heart [20.Sep.11]
Aidan Baker: Still Life [20.Sep.11]
Lavalier: Lavalier [20.Sep.11]
Fellaheen: Death and Frolic [14.Sep.11]
Matt Nathanson: Modern Love [13.Sep.11]
Melissa Ferrick: Still Right Here [12.Sep.11]
Bobby: Bobby [6.Sep.11]
Moonlight Towers: Day Is the New Night [6.Sep.11]
Carlos Forster: Family Trees [1.Sep.11]
Kris Delmhorst: Cars [31.Aug.11]
Dog Is Blue: Tortoise [30.Aug.11]
Moreland and Arbuckle: Just a Dream [24.Aug.11]
Dave Stewart: The Blackbird Diaries [23.Aug.11]
Trevor Hall: Everything Everytime Everywhere [22.Aug.11]
Golden Bloom: March to the Drums [19.Aug.11]
Guy Clark: Songs and Stories [18.Aug.11]
Botany: Feeling Today [18.Aug.11]
Mike Keneally Band: bakin' @ the potato! [15.Aug.11]
Paul Brady: Hooba Dooba [11.Aug.11]
The Nighty Nite: Dimples [9.Aug.11]
The Appleseed Cast: Middle States [4.Aug.11]
Vitas Guerulaïtis: Vitas Guerulaïtis [2.Aug.11]
Soft Science: Highs and Lows [29.Jul.11]
The UV Race: Homo [28.Jul.11]
Hungrytown: Any Forgotten Thing [27.Jul.11]
Ursa Minor: Showface [25.Jul.11]
NRBQ: Keep This Love Goin’ [22.Jul.11]
Jean Caffeine: Geckos in the Elevator [21.Jul.11]
David Serby: Poor Man’s Poem [20.Jul.11]
Tomorrows Tulips: Eternally Teenage [19.Jul.11]
Eliza Gilkyson: Roses at the End of Time [18.Jul.11]
Ugly Stick: Pick Up the Hatchet [15.Jul.11]
Black Country Communion: 2 [15.Jul.11]
Chris Difford: Cashmere If You Can [13.Jul.11]
Grey Reverend: Of the Days [12.Jul.11]
Mike Batt: The Hunting of the Snark [11.Jul.11]
Wendy James: I Came Here to Blow Minds [11.Jul.11]
Joe Ely: Satisfied at Last [7.Jul.11]
Priscilla Ahn: When You Grow Up [1.Jul.11]
Anti-Social Music: Is The Future of Everything [28.Jun.11]
Harry Manx and Kevin Breit: Strictly Whatever [24.Jun.11]
Gomez: Whatever’s on Your Mind [23.Jun.11]
Younger Brother: Vaccine [23.Jun.11]
Greys: Ultra Sorta [22.Jun.11]
31 Knots: Trump Harm [21.Jun.11]
Paleo: Fruit of the Spirit [20.Jun.11]
World’s End Girlfriend: Seven Idiots [20.Jun.11]
John Oates: Mississippi Mile [15.Jun.11]
Dark Mean: Dark Mean [14.Jun.11]
Allie Moss: Late Bloomer [14.Jun.11]
Peter Bradley Adams: Between Us [10.Jun.11]
Brute Heart: Lonely Hunter [8.Jun.11]
Across Tundras: Sage [7.Jun.11]
Elvin Bishop: Raisin’ Hell Revue [31.May.11]
Blogs
Tuesday, November 1 2011
Doomtree Releases New Single "The Grand Experiment"
Music to quiet the anxieties of a post-Wugazi world.
Thursday, October 20 2011
John Wesley Harding: Video-making Man
John Wesley Harding teams up with Eugene Mirman for new video, "Sing Your Own Song", which spoofs a Paul Simon classic.
Tuesday, October 11 2011
Ólafur Arnalds Opens Up Living Room For Fans
Icelandic music master creates new album in one hot week.
Monday, October 10 2011
Him & Her: Nicole Atkins and Mick Fleetwood
So what if it's an extended tequila commercial? The pairing is unexpected and cool.
