STAFF PICKS•Yola - Stand for Myself
Relish in one of contemporary music’s most dynamic voices at the peak of her songwriting powers and soul saturated vocal intensity.
COUNTRY CLASSICS•Eric Church - Chief
Chief took you away from the world for three, four, five minutes and then dropped you back where you began - only now somehow changed, in touch with a feeling that you didn’t know you already had, in exactly the way that The Boss' own records do.
ALBUM REVIEW•Jackson Browne - Downhill From Everywhere
This late-in-life entry to a stunning near five-decade catalog is as warm, lyrically articulate and musically compelling as any Jackson Browne has recorded.
ALBUM REVIEW•Christone "Kingfish" Ingram - 662
662 is an outstanding collection of music from an outstanding talent. If you have any interest at all in what traditional electric blues can do in 2021, then you need to hear this.
STAFF PICKS•Ava Earl - The Roses
A breakthrough release for the 18-year-old prodigy, this is the kind of record that’s going to repay revisiting; a complete work to get lost in.
ALBUM REVIEW•Rodney Crowell - Triage
It takes a brave artist to admit “If I’d known what I know a long time ago /I might have made of my life something more”. When it comes to Rodney Crowell, many would disagree; the intimate and often hypnotic Triage shows that he still has lots more to give.
COUNTRY CLASSICS•Kris Kristofferson - The Silver Tongued Devil and I
While far greater stardom and albums with bigger hits were to come, The Silver Tongued Devil and I was widely received as even better than Kristofferson's greatest hits of a debut.
STAFF PICKS•John R. Miller - Depreciated
He’s got the tunes, the twang and the delivery. Call it what you want – poetic country rock, singer-songwriter folk, or muscular Americana – this first solo collection from John R. Miller feels like a genuine leap into the big leagues.
ALBUM REVIEW•Midland - The Last Resort EP
Sepia-tinged and harking back to the mythical good old days, yet still forward-facing and flashy, Midland’s image and musical style somehow manage to take the best of everything and mash it together.
ALBUM REVIEW•Chase Bryant - Upbringing
Kudos to Bryant for overcoming his psychological obstacles to craft his sturdy, if a little cliched, of Upbringing.
LIVE REVIEW•Windy City Smokeout 2021: The Review
This past weekend, the United Center in Chicago made a 360-degree turn, becoming 18 acres of space for more than 15,000 eager music lovers, who were ready to celebrate the return of live music at the Windy City Smokeout festival.
COUNTRY CLASSICS•LeAnn Rimes - Blue
We take a look back at the iconic album that shot a 13-year-old LeAnn Rimes to global fame.
ALBUM REVIEW•The Flatlanders - Treasure of Love
While it may not be The Flatlanders at the top of their game, any fan of pure Texas country will find lots to relish on this collection. The tunes are terrific and it remains a treat to hear these troupers clearly having fun working at this late stage in their lives.
ALBUM REVIEW•The Wallflowers - Exit Wounds
Since releasing two stripped-down solo efforts in 2008 and 2010, then returning to his band for 2012’s Glad All Over, it’s been radio silence in Jakob Dylan’s career. That puts this new Wallflowers set, arriving nearly a decade later, squarely into comeback territory.
ALBUM REVIEW•Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - Angel Dream
Even Petty fans hip to the initial soundtrack will want to add this refreshed take to their collections.
COUNTRY CLASSICS•The Allman Brothers Band - At Fillmore East
We reflect on this iconic album for its 50th anniversary, taking a look back at the story of the band's live recording at New York City's iconic Fillmore East.
ALBUM REVIEW•Flatland Cavalry - Welcome to Countryland
If you’re craving some sweet country authenticity, then this young Texan six-piece might be exactly what you’re looking for.
ALBUM REVIEW•Jennifer Nettles - Always Like New
This invigorating album encapsulates all the aspects of Nettles’ musical abilities. It is bound to capture the imagination of fans from both genres, whilst opening opportunities for her career to blossom even further than it already has.
STAFF PICKS•Hiss Golden Messenger - Quietly Blowing It
This release feels like the beginning of a confident new phase for M.C. Taylor - and might herald that for the music world in general too.
ALBUM REVIEW•Lady Nade - Willing
This feels like third time lucky for Lady Nade, as she flexes her considerable songwriting and performance skills on the very edges of Americana. It’s almost as if Austin, Texas had upped sticks and landed alongside the River Avon. Or perhaps even vice versa.
STAFF PICKS•Amythyst Kiah - Wary + Strange
For Staff Picks, we share with you our favourite new releases that you need to listen to. This week, it's Amythyst Kiah's Wary + Strange - a mesmerizing, frequently hypnotic and always challenging work.
ALBUM REVIEW•Joana Serrat - Hardcore from the Heart
It might be named after a book by sexologist and essayist Annie Sprinkles, but it is very much the Catalan’s creation, drenched in hugely summery vibes with folk-angled vocals, and instrumentation that swirls and chimes across her tremendous walls of sound.
ALBUM REVIEW•Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real - A Few Stars Apart
While the laid-back nature of it could use more of the energy exhibited on much of his other work, it demonstrates that slowing down to reevaluate your life, whether you planned to or not, is time well spent.
COUNTRY CLASSICS•Randy Travis - The Storms of Life
Travis’ debut would prove to have an indelible influence on those who quickly followed him and contemporary artists who fly their own flag today.
ALBUM REVIEW•Joy Oladokun - in defense of my own happiness
It’s an impressive introduction - a balancing act that keeps one foot in deep, dark impressions while the other stands within enough commerciality to attract newcomers to Oladokun's sound.
LIVE REVIEW•Katie Pruitt and S.G. Goodman Live At The Burl, KY
For many music lovers in Central Kentucky, the Burl is a home away from home, so to get to step foot back inside and lay eyes on the glowing stain glass behind the stage is nothing short of magical.
STAFF PICKS•Shannon McNally - The Waylon Sessions
It comes as little surprise that McNally has finally got around to honoring Jennings with a disc dedicated to highlights and a few obscurities from his catalog.
ALBUM REVIEW•Blackberry Smoke - You Hear Georgia
With You Hear Georgia, Blackberry Smoke’s tried and true approach feels as potent now as it did when they started down their long career path 20 years ago.
ALBUM REVIEW•John Hiatt with The Jerry Douglas Band - Leftover Feelings
It’s a classy, frequently moving, always provocative collaboration and one of Hiatt’s finest efforts which, considering his extensive catalog, is saying plenty.