Reviews

Ten artists to see this summer (wherever you may be)

on May 28, 2011 at 7:10 pm ×

1. Guy Clark I’ve been hearing rumors that Guy Clark isn’t in the best of health. True or not, he will be appearing in the Texas area, Louisiana, Montana and all the way up north […]

AMA Album of the year nominee – Elizabeth Cook: Welder

on May 28, 2011 at 12:17 pm ×

Though she appears regularly at the Grand Ole Opry, Florida native Elizabeth Cook is something of a Nashville outsider. Her last album, Balls, produced by Texas Outlaw Rodney Crowell was too daring for airplay. Though […]

Ryan Adams and the Cardinals: Class Mythology

on May 27, 2011 at 2:21 pm ×

This EP (which was released for Record Store day) is a collection of outtakes from 2008’s Cardinology. The EP starts out with two tracks that make it pretty obvious why they were outtakes. They should […]

Ryan Bingham and the Dead Horses: Junky Star

on May 22, 2011 at 10:01 pm ×

With the exception of Justin Townes Earle, it’s been awhile since I’ve gotten really excited about a new artist. I’m a big fan of Texas Country , primarily Townes Van Zandt, Guy Clark, Steve Earle, […]

Essential Albums — Van Dyke Parks: Song Cycle

on May 22, 2011 at 5:17 pm ×

I first heard Van Dyke Park’s Song Cycle at the age of sixteen. It was the first “Americana” album I ever listened to. Of course at the time, I had no idea what Americana was. […]

John Prine: In Person and On Stage

on May 22, 2011 at 2:13 pm ×

For those of you who live in LA, John Prine will be playing June 10 at the Orpheum Theatre. Tickets can be purchased here. His most recent release, In Person and On Stage is a […]

Nashville Country Jamboree

on May 22, 2011 at 12:18 pm ×

When I first came across this album, I figured it would be a cheesy novelty record. With a name Nashville Country Jamboree (touted as Nashville’s First Country-Rock Group) and one hell of a lame lookin’ […]

The Felice Brothers: Yonder is the Clock

on May 21, 2011 at 9:53 pm ×

The Felice Brothers are self-taught. From upstate New York, they moved to Brooklyn and began playing at the 42nd street subway station. They would eventually go on to play festivals all over the country and […]

The Low Anthem: Smart Flesh

on May 21, 2011 at 6:06 pm ×

Finally! Something different! The Low Anthem started out playing homemade instruments in a church basement. Smart Flesh is their first studio project. Yet, it was recorded in an abandoned factory. Go figure. This is a […]

The Punch Brothers: Antifogmatic

on May 21, 2011 at 9:35 am ×

Chris Tileman is one hell of a mandolin player. I’ll give him that. Produced by the amazingly talented, Jon Brion (I Heart Huckabees), the Punch Brother’s latest, Antifogmatic is Quasi-meets-bluegrass. It makes for an interesting […]

The Civil Wars: Barton Hollow

on May 20, 2011 at 4:41 pm ×

I like the sound of this band. I do. John Paul White and Joy Williams offer up pleasant folk harmonies, minimal production, acoustic guitar centered roots music. They’re on to something, they just haven’t gotten […]

Merle Haggard: I Am What I Am

on May 20, 2011 at 8:48 am ×

The Hagg tells it like it is with his latest album, I Am What I Am. Arguably the greatest country singer/songwriter of all time, there just ain’t no one like him. I am What I […]