Reviews

Larabee: A Slice of  Alt-Country Pop Goodness

Larabee: A Slice of Alt-Country Pop Goodness

A Slice of Alt-Country Pop Goodness By John G. Larson Contributing Writer Imagine Whiskeytown with some pop or Big Star with a bit more twang and the result would be a little band by the […]

This City Will Never Drown: A review of Ben de la Cour’s “To The River Rise”

This City Will Never Drown: A review of Ben de la Cour’s “To The River Rise”

This City Will Never Drown by John G. Larson With his second album, “To The River Rise,” singer/songwriter Ben de la Cour proves that New Orleans was and always will be a refuge for the musically […]

Steve Earle “I’ll Never Get Out Of This World Alive”

Steve Earle “I’ll Never Get Out Of This World Alive”

Steve Earle: I’ll Never Get Out of This World Alive (New West Records) Steve Earle is a badass.  And he’s getting better with age. Produced by T-Bone Burnett, I’ll Never Get Out of This World […]

AMA Album of the year nominee – Justin Townes Earle “Harlem River Blues”

AMA Album of the year nominee – Justin Townes Earle “Harlem River Blues”

Justin Townes Earle Harlem River Blues (Bloodshot) A few months back I saw Justin Townes Earle perform at the Autry museum in Los Angeles and it was by far the best show I’ve seen this […]

AMA Album of the year nominee – Robert Plant: Band of Joy

AMA Album of the year nominee – Robert Plant: Band of Joy

AMA Album of the year nominee – Robert Plant: Band of Joy  By Courtney Sudbrink I really wonder why this album was nominated for the AMA Album of the Year. Then I remind myself – […]

Hayes Carll: KMAG YOYO

Hayes Carll: KMAG YOYO

Hayes Carll: KMAG YOYO With his last album, 2008’s Trouble in Mind, Hayes Carll proved to be a real Texas songwriter.  His latest effort, KMAG YOYO (in military terms: Kiss my ass, you’re on your […]

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

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

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 […]

Ryan Adams and the Cardinals: Class Mythology

Ryan Adams and the Cardinals: Class Mythology

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

Ryan Bingham and the Dead Horses: Junky Star

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

Essential Albums — Van Dyke Parks: Song Cycle

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

John Prine: In Person and On Stage

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

Nashville Country Jamboree

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’ […]