Sisters Rebecca and Megan Lovell take no prisoners on this sonic rock and blues explosion. Self Made Man is a brilliant combination of fierce guitars, impassioned vocals, and rousing anthems.
Key Tracks: She’s a Self Made Man, Holy Ghost Fire, Keep Diggin’, Back Down South, Tears of Blue to Gold, Every Bird That Flies, Ex-Con
Featured Twangville coverage of Larkin Poe: Mayer’s Playlist for Spring 2020, Part 4, Readers’ Pick: Larkin Poe – Self Made Man, Monday Morning Video – Larkin Poe, Mayer’s Playlist for Fall 2018, Part 2, and Larkin Poe Talk About Playing Guitar with a Heavy Hand and Why Change Is Nothing To Fear
In This Town You’re Owned by Robert Vincent
Who would have guessed that one of the year’s best Americana albums would come from Liverpool, England. Vincent offers up an album with lyrics deep with reflection and meaning set to intoxicating musical arrangements.
Key Tracks: This Town, My Neighbour’s Ghost, The Ending, Conundrum, I Was Hurt Today But I’m Alright Now, If I Were You, Cuckoo
Featured Twangville coverage of Robert Vincent: Mayer’s Playlist for Spring 2020, Part 2, Readers’ Pick: Robert Vincent – In This Town You’re Owned, and Robert Vincent on Bad Day Jobs and Selling His Songs on the Road
Oft dark and always imaginative tales from a masterful storyteller. Shadow Land combines a bit of acoustic folk and a bit of rowdy rock into a whole lot of musical goodness.
Key tracks: God’s Only Son, The Last Chance Farm, In God We Trust… All Others Pay Cash, Amazing Grace (Slight Return), Basin Lounge, From Now On, Anderson’s Small Ritual
Featured Twangville coverage of Ben de la Cour: Mayer’s Playlist for Spring 2020, Part 4, Ben de la Cour on the Beauty of Surprises and Playing CBGBs, and …All Others Pay Cash – a Premiere from Ben de la Cour
Best of Luck by Christopher Paul Stelling
Best of Luck is filled with ruminations both hopeful and melancholy, delivered with the exhilarating intensity that is Stelling’s musical signature.
Key Tracks: Have to Do For Now, Lucky Stars, Trouble Don’t Follow Me, Made Up Your Mind, Something In Return, Hear Me Calling
Featured Twangville coverage of Christopher Paul Stelling: Mayer’s Playlist for Spring 2020, Part 1, Christopher Paul Stelling on Gas Station Coffee and Things Better Off Forgotten, Monday Morning Video – Christopher Paul Stelling, and Twangville Premiere: Christopher Paul Stelling on “The Cost of Doing Businessâ€
Sprezzatura by Aloud
This would be a glorious rock album even if it wasn’t awash with horns, strings and organ. The fact that those instruments are a key part of the musical mix is just the icing on this power pop cake.
Key Tracks: Loving U’s a Beautiful Thing, Waiting (Scenes from a Lonely Planet), Hungry Land, Twenty-Third Fresh Start,
Featured Twangville coverage of Aloud: Mayer’s Playlist for Spring 2020, Part 4 and More Than a Feeling: A Special Boston Playlist*
What in the World… by Michael McDermott
Yet another gem from a gifted songwriter who pairs thoughtful – and often thought-provoking – lyrics with enchanting melodies.
Key Tracks: What in the World…, New York Texas, Blue Eyed Barmaid, The Things You Want, Contender, No Matter What, Until I Found You
Featured Twangville coverage of Michael McDermott: Mayer’s Playlist for Spring 2020, Part 4, Michael McDermott On the Spinal Tap Stonehenge Set and a Career’s Worth of Tour Vehicles, Mayer’s Playlist for January/February 2019, Part 1, and Michael McDermott Comes Out From Under (Album Premiere)
There is a wonderful classicism to Mark Erelli’s Blindsided, a collection of songs that are brilliantly crafted from both a songwriting and performance perspective.
Key Tracks: Blindsided, Can’t Stand Myself, A Little Kindness, Her Town Now, Stranger’s Eyes, The River Always Wins, Rose-Colored Rearview, Careless
Featured Twangville coverage of Mark Erelli: The Dunes of the Cape – A Special Boston Playlist, Mark Erelli on a Big Annual Expense and Why He Missed His First Gig, Sweet Caroline – A Special Boston Playlist, and The Berkshires Seemed Dreamlike – A Special Boston Playlist (Part 1)
What’s not to like about an album – and band – that draws a thread from Big Star to Petty and turns it into some freewheeling, feel good rock and roll?
Key Tracks: Little Bit of Love, Pretty Reckless, Bonnie Lee, City Witchy Baby, No Good Reason
Featured Twangville coverage of Texicana: Texicana Share a “Little Bit of Love”– A Twangville Premiere, Broke Down South of Dallas – A Special Playlist, and Dallas After Midnight – A Special Twangville Playlist
About the author: Mild-mannered corporate executive by day, excitable Twangville denizen by night.