LA based Jason Heath and the Greedy Souls release their new album Packed for Exile on July third. It is an impressive release with a blend of Americana roots and 70′s Album Rock. Interestingly, the band’s keyboardist is Jason Federici, who is the son of the late E Street Band member Danny Federici. The band may be from [...] more »

by Chip Frazier

For those who remember the DB’s from the early 80‘s, especially if you saw any of the shows they performed as openers for REM, the band conjures up memories of good times in college. They no doubt were good times, but in retrospect the DB’s were seminal innovators paving the road for the Alt-Country / [...] more »

by Chip Frazier

The Wrinkle Neck Mules are back again, but this time with a little bit of help from a celebrity Gecko. (Down South we think that is just a fancy name for a Lizard, but I digress.) The song “Central Daylight Time” is straightforward Honky Tonk and apparently the folks at Geico liked it so much [...] more »

by Chip Frazier

Craig Finn has always had a reputation as an accomplished lyricist. In fact, he is as much of a poet as he is a Rock and Roll musician. His lyrics invoke an emotional connection that is evident as the crowd sings along at Hold Steady gigs. After all, this is the man who weaved the [...] more »

by Chip Frazier

Instead of focusing on a best of list, I wanted to highlight 10 albums released in 2011, by artists that aren’t household names. There are so many hard working and passionate artists who deserve to be noticed. The current landscape of the music industry makes it difficult for artist from local and regional scenes to [...] more »

by Chip Frazier

Just under the wire for 2011, Michael Donner introduces himself on his first solo album.No Better Time. What an introduction! Donner is certainly going to take listeners by surprise when they discover this collection of well crafted songs. This is not only one of the best under the radar releases of the year, it is [...] more »

by Chip Frazier

The Barr Brothers are causing a buzz in the Indie world. Their self-titled debut release is a mostly acoustic journey into the duality of human emotion. They explore the context of our true feelings, and the complex emotions that make us betray them. The Barr brothers are not new on the scene, they are the [...] more »

by Chip Frazier

It is time for another collaborative review here at Twangville. So here are a few perspectives on the Jayhawks new release Mockingbird Time: Eli – I am surprised by how much I like Mockingbird Time. Now you may be asking yourself “surprised? really? what’s wrong with this sap—it’s the Jayhawks—the original line-up with Louris and [...] more »

by Chip Frazier

Listening to Mark W. Lennon’s new release Home of the Wheel, I felt as if I was transported back to depression era America without leaving 2011. At times it is the music that takes you there, and other times it is the lyrics. Lennon draws the parallels between the Modern and the past with a [...] more »

by Chip Frazier

It wasn’t that long ago when someone asked me “Why doesn’t anyone make Rock n’ Roll” anymore?” Like many folks, he quit looking for new music after he graduated college, and was now trying to search the radio for new Rock n’ Roll. If he asked that today, I would give him a copy of [...] more »

by Chip Frazier

It does not seem long ago that the Greencards burst onto the New Grass scene. Almost immediately they captured audiences with music that blended influences from their Australian, European and American heritages. With the release of their fifth studio album, The Brick Album, The Greencards are now one of the most respected bands around. Their musicianship is admired [...] more »

by Chip Frazier

“Cosmic American Music” is what Gram Parsons called his own music. I think the term also fits Sundrunk Angels, the new release by Old Californio. The length of the songs puts them in Jam Band territory. In fact, it is a bit odd that the Jam Band crowd hasn’t widely discovered these guys yet. “Jewels [...] more »

by Chip Frazier

When we last saw Tara Nevins, do her own thing, outside of the Donna the Buffalo ”herd”, it was an award winning Bluegrass album, but it has been over 10 years since Mule to Ride. On her new release, Wood and Stone,  she showcases a broader stroke of the Americana landscape. On the surface it invokes a similar territory travelled by Donna, [...] more »

by Chip Frazier

I almost didn’t make it past the first song. “Alabama Pines”. Usually that would have bad conotations, but in this case the song was absolutely mesmerizing. It is a song centered around the area of Alabama where I grew up. It is not the first Isbell penned song to have such an impact. “Dress Blues”, [...] more »

by Chip Frazier

Exene Cervenka’s musical career is a spectrum bending profile. As the female vocalist of the seminal Punk band X, she laid the foundation on which many female Alt-Country / Americana artists have built their careers. Neko Case and The Be Good Tanyas are perfect examples of artists that have Exene in their family tree. X [...] more »

by Chip Frazier