Tony Joe White Starts From ‘The Beginning’ Again
Swamp rock king Tony Joe White chewed and growled his bluesy lyrics more than sung them and played his guitar as if he was chopping down a tree.
alternative country
S.G. Goodman Leaves ‘Teeth Marks’ in the Heart
Americana artist S.G. Goodman addresses all the complications of romantic love alongside critiques of our economic system in her heartfelt new LP, Teeth Marks.
Angel Olsen Creates Her Most Accessible Album with ‘Big Time’
With Big Time, Angel Olsen draws inspiration from some of popular music’s most perennial templates, revamping them and reinventing herself.
Neko Case Creates a Retrospective with ‘Wild Creatures’
Neko Case’s career retrospective Wild Creatures includes a new song, “Oh, Shadowless”, which adroitly blends the pretty with the abrasive.
Wilco’s Wisdom in ‘Sky Blue Sky’ Resonates 15 Years After Release
Is there such a thing as middle-aged rock? If so, it would sound like Wilco’s Sky Blue Sky with its measured simplicity and reflective intensity.
Faye Webster Reimagines the Past with an Orchestra on ‘Car Therapy Sessions’
The most surprising thing about Faye Webster’s new record, Car Therapy Sessions, is its lush production. The orchestra purposely aims for the beautiful.
Ezra Cohen Delivers Pop-Rock and Alt-Country Hooks on ‘The Sweet Million’
Relying equally on the country sound of Lucinda Williams and the hard rock melodies of Johnny Rzeznik, Ezra Cohen’s The Sweet Million is brimful with poppy hooks.
Ray Wylie Hubbard Co-Stars on His Own Record for the Second Time
Co-Starring Too is Ray Wylie Hubbard’s second recent LP in which every new song features a guest artist or two, paying homage to his distinctive Texas style.
Shovels & Rope Go into Battle With ‘Manticore’
Messiness is a large part of the charm of Shovels & Rope’s latest album, Manticore. The unpolished veneer suggests the authenticity of the material.
Sarah Shook & The Disarmers Illuminate the Darkness on ‘Nightroamer’
On Nightroamer, Sarah Shook and the Disarmers capture that nocturnal vibe where darkness illuminates the unknown more than hides what should be seen.
Pinegrove Affirm Their Worth on the Verdant ’11:11′
Pinegrove’s 11:11 is the extolled group’s most sober collection of songs—a literate latticing of personal sorrow and environmental collapse.
Aoife O’Donovan Looks for Connection in an ‘Age of Apathy’
Aoife O’Donovan’s Age of Apathy is lushly layered and sophisticated. Its connections to contemporary jazz and even classical music are clearly evident.
