Reviews

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’ […]

The Felice Brothers: Yonder is the Clock

The Felice Brothers: Yonder is the Clock

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

The Low Anthem: Smart Flesh

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

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

The Civil Wars: Barton Hollow

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 […]