ALBUMS OF THE MONTH Women & Work, by Lucero Lucero jumped on the major label train for their last release, 2009’s stellar 1372 Overton Park. Things didn’t go quite as planned but Lucero are a band that just won’t give up. Good thing, too, as the band are in peak form with a sound that [...] more »

by Mayer Danzig

ALBUMS OF THE MONTH Go Fly a Kite, by Ben Kweller Kweller’s last outing was a more moody affair, however that comment can’t be made of his latest release.While there are some acoustic moments, Kweller has brought the rock. And damn it sounds good. “Time Will Save the Day” is the song Weezer’s Rivers Cuomo [...] more »

by Mayer Danzig

ALBUMS OF THE MONTH: Inspiration, by Shurman One of the things that I have always appreciated about Shurman is the ragged edge of their music. And man do they serve it up by the bucket on their latest release. Album opener and title track “Inspiration” starts things out on a positive note, both musically and [...] more »

by Mayer Danzig

A few years back I put together a series of special playlists featuring my favorite kiss off songs. Despite what my family may think, I’m really not that cynical. Rather, I just appreciate how some songwriters can tackle the topic with humor and bite. Over the past year I’ve come across a few more to [...] more »

by Mayer Danzig

ALBUMS OF THE MONTH: Live At Lincoln Hall, by Joe Pug Since arriving on the singer-songwriter scene in 2008, it didn’t take long for Joe Pug to establish himself as a rising star. This live album, recorded in Chicago last spring and comprising songs from his one full-length album and two eps, is a spectacular [...] more »

by Mayer Danzig

I love a good rock & roll band. Marah are a sweaty, raw, energetic rock band and I’ve been lucky enough to see them play live many times (my favorite time was at “The Tree House”, a residential living room in Tacoma Park, MD). The core of the group is Dave Bielanko, Serge Bielanko, and [...] more »

by Suzanne McMahon

I posted a best songs list for the first half of 2011 back in July (here). Rather than replicate that list for my full year review, consider this the addendum — the best songs from the second half of the year. When My Time Comes, Barnstar! (from the self-released C’Mon!) I somehow missed this song [...] more »

by Mayer Danzig

The Decemberists hit hard in January with The King Is Dead and maintained their number one status with me for the entire year. Butch Walker‘s The Spade was the best I’ve heard yet from the Master of Hooks. Let’s hope his work with The Black Widows will continue. In at #21 was Telekinesis the highest [...] more »

by Tom Osborne

ALBUMS OF THE MONTH: Too Drunk to Truck, by Roy Sludge This album was tailor-made for Twangville. Old school in all the best ways, it might as well be a collection of lost classics from the Sun Studios archive. The title track kicks off the album with a strong indication of what will follow. Yup, [...] more »

by Mayer Danzig

This is the third and final post of my three-part series on Ryan Adams’ catalog. You can check out part 1 here and pat 2 here. I am a huge Ryan Adams fan and have been enjoying his albums for many years. Now I will select my favorite songs from the rest of Ryan’s albums, [...] more »

by Suzanne McMahon

ALBUMS OF THE MONTH: Long Live All of Us, by Glossary Glossary have always had a reputation as a scrappy rock band from Murfreesboro, TN. While their latest doesn’t abandon the past, the band has injected a healthy dose of southern soul into the mix. And, man, does it sound good. Opener “Trouble Won’t Always [...] more »

by Mayer Danzig

ALBUMS OF THE MONTH: Beauty, Wit & Speed, by Nathan Hamilton “Give me the mad ones, the sad ones, the ones who’ve got nothing to lose,” sings Hamilton in “Through Ether and Time” from his latest release. It is a telling comment and a great introduction to an album that deftly explores the search for [...] more »

by Mayer Danzig

Hope you were able to check out the first part of my Ryan Adams playlist.  I am choosing my favorite songs from each of Ryan’s released albums to help new fans know where to start and to remind old fans of Ryan’s extensive catalog and great songs. I last left off with the album Gold, [...] more »

by Suzanne McMahon

Let me start out by saying that I’m a HUGE Ryan Adams Fan: 8 shows, 5 t-shirts, 1,255 songs in iTunes when I type in his name. There’s no way to classify Ryan’s music; rock, folk, punk, country- he does it all. I can find songs that are perfect for every mood that I’m ever [...] more »

by Suzanne McMahon

Here’s the latest installment of my playlist series highlighting the latest and greatest in New England music. FEATURED ALBUM C’Mon by Barnstar! There’s a lot to be said for just getting in the studio for a few days and just having fun. Now while I can’t confirm that this was the case with Barnstar, it [...] more »

by Mayer Danzig