One of the most criminally overlooked, even by the clichéd standards, the band Big Star truly defined the tragic indie band’s aura. After three albums (the first two of which Bell was a driving force behind), Bell disappears and winds up passing away tragically in a car accident after grappling with depression. Bell’s influence can [...] more »

by Jeff McMahon

When I think of a live show, bluegrass can really take it to another level: the tenacious rhythm, the fiddle, high harmony and that relentless bass. Although I’ve never seen bluegrass back in the day, I imagine the hootenanny to feel something like an Old Crow concert. Songs about drug addiction, infidelity and them good [...] more »

by Jeff McMahon

Elliot Randall, along with his band The Deadmen, has released his sophomore album Caffeine and Gasoline. It is a decidedly more Country affair than his previous effort. What hasn’t changed is the depth of the songwriting. A full band, The Deadmen, have a lot to do with the diversity of styles. However, the main influence [...] more »

by Chip Frazier

When did Gillian last do an album, 2003?  Sure, David Rawlings had a great release last year, but it was a Dave Rawlings album that Gillian sang on, not a Gillian album.  Well, if you have a hankering for something new in that vein, I suggest you check out the latest release from The Honey [...] more »

by Shawn Underwood

Nowhere Nights is one of those records for me.  It came out of the blue, out of that nether world of independent music (aka the life blood of rock and roll).  I was searching for information on the new Chip Robinson record and learned that he had been signed to Red River Records, a label [...] more »

by Eli Petersen

Musical fads are a double-edged sword…or are they a blessing and a curse? Either way, with each new “movement”, whether it be Texas/Red Dirt or Freak-Folk or whatever, we see an influx of artists that, thanks to the artists who initially drew the attention of the masses to a certain trendy style, get to [...] more »

by Kelly Dearmore

I don’t think I’ve ever reviewed a movie before and this certainly isn’t a ‘movie’ site, but Crazy Heart warrants exception.  For those who haven’t heard about Crazy Heart, it stars Jeff Bridges as an aging Texas songwriter plagued by alcohol problems and a flagging career (plenty of inspiration there).  I’ll do my best not [...] more »

by Eli Petersen

Following up their brilliant effort Aim Low, The Beautiful Loser Society delivers a somewhat lighter effort. Don’t get me wrong the album is haunted by a similar cast of characters as the previous release. They even take you on a highway ride with Lucifer. That’s right ol’ scratch himself is on “Highway 666 South.” Also [...] more »

by Chip Frazier

If you listen hard enough, you may hear some “en vogue” or trendy nature in bringing back Hank Williams’ country style. I mean hell JT Earle’s is in GQ’s next issue with top as one of the top 25 most stylish in the world! While the giants begin with a straight out of the opry [...] more »

by Jeff McMahon

The late 1990’s may have been the golden era of alt. country. We had Son Volt’s Trace and Lucinda Williams’ Car Wheels on a Gravel Road. Steve Earle was having a post prison career renaissance, the Old 97’s were signing with a major label, and Wilco was teaming up with Billy Bragg on [...] more »

by Eli Petersen

Imagine if Graham Parsons had hooked up with Grace Slick instead of Emmylou, and one of their offspring had moved out to Joshua Tree for a decade or so, then formed a band with a couple of his friends.  The real story of how I See Hawks In L.A. came into being is less, well, [...] more »

by Shawn Underwood

Hard Times was released on January 1, 2010 by Texas singer-songwriters Adam Carroll and Michael O’Connor. I’m pretty well acquainted with the former as the laconic, yet sharp witted songwriter who writes the funniest folk songs this side of Todd Snider. And while I haven’t heard of O’Connor before, his contributions to this [...] more »

by Eli Petersen

Paul Masson – Paul Masson EP Judging by the cover of his record, Masson seems to be proud of his individuality. The cover shows Masson’s name in a rather generic looking backyard. The rest of the artwork shows Masson, a guitar and a dog in the same nameless field. Although Masson’s music certainly is individual, the [...] more »

by Jeff McMahon

For a guy from Dallas, I will admit to feeling pretty lucky about the great music I have available to me throughout the Dallas, Ft. Worth and Denton area, no doubt. I will also admit that I sometimes get twinges of jealousy of the music lovers in my state’s capitol. Austin is obviously home to [...] more »

by Kelly Dearmore

I came across a few tracks from Quiet Life (Myspace) a while back. I really enjoyed them and looked forward to hearing more sometime. Well, that time has come with the release of their newest EP, California Vacation. As with the last batch of songs I listened to, the tracks here are a fun and loose [...] more »

by Kelly Dearmore