Nicole Atkins Welcomes the Pain and the Pop Grandeur on ‘Drama’
Six years after her last LP, noir pop singer-songwriter Nicole Atkins returns with a resplendent record that turns isolation into theater.
Steve Horowitz
Steven Horowitz has a Ph.D. in American Studies from the University of Iowa, where he continues to teach a three-credit online course on "Rock and Roll in America". He has written for many different popular and academic publications including American Music, Paste and the Icon. Horowitz is a firm believer in Paul Goodman's neofunctional perspective on culture and that Sam Cooke was right, a change is gonna come.
AmericanaFest 2026: The Sound of the Margins Goes Mainstream
With more than 200 artists and 300 events across Nashville, AmericanaFest showcases a genre expanding its reach while holding fast to its outsider identity.
Dallas Burrow Shows He’s From Texas in Hard-Earned Truths
Like Dallas Burrow, Townes Van Zandt was a proud Texan, and one presumes he would be pleased to see his music celebrated as part of this brilliant Lone Star fest.
Getdown Services Dance Through the Class War on ‘Massive Champion’
Bristol duo Getdown Services turn everyday humiliations into cathartic, body‑moving anthems. Move to the beat and pay attention.
Mitch Woods Offers Big Easy Magic on ‘A Night in New Orleans’
Something sexy and sleazy is at work, even when Mitch Woods sings the blues, like the heat of a good Creole sauce can make even a crawfish feel like an epicurean pleasure.
Ruthie Foster Embraces Joy and Life on ‘Just Say Yes’
Ruthie Foster’s new LP succeeds because its optimism is carried by a voice that remains one of the most expressive instruments in contemporary roots music today.
Ghost Hounds Bring Blues Rock Back to the Present
Ghost Hounds’ rocking new LP, Justified, should please Rolling Stones fans. It even includes a blistering cover of their classic “Gimme Shelter”.
Laura Veirs’ Short, Poetic New LP Embraces Beautiful Imperfections
Recorded in her tiny backyard studio, Laura Veirs celebrates the personal for a public audience with Temple Songs.
The Past Is Prologue for the Family on ‘Delusions of Grandeur’
The Family’s Delusions of Grandeur is a portrait of the COVID era, from its beginning to the present, showing the future has already passed.
Dan Deacon’s Music for the ‘Little Brother’ in Your Head
You don’t need to watch the Netflix comedy Little Brother to appreciate the rich strangeness of Dan Deacon’s soundtrack.
Corb Lund’s ‘Dark Horses’ Is a Fan’s Dream
These new acoustic renditions on Dark Horses illuminate the solitude, humor, and moral weight that have shaped Corb Lund’s Western storytelling
Margaret Glaspy Highlights Beautiful Dualities on New Album
Indie folk artist Margaret Glaspy’s latest album, I Am Both, is a low-key masterwork of observational wisdom, lilting melodies, and sharp wit.