I haven’t played golf in 20 years, and when I did play, I was terrible at it. But I gotta say that when I did play I was the master of one particular stroke – the “Mulligan.” That’s when your shot off the tee is so bad you either miss it all together or you send the ball dribbling and it doesn’t make it past the ladies’ tee, you get to take another shot.
In reviewing music, the same thing happens sometimes. Maybe you hear a piece of music, and you like it and plan on reviewing it but don’t get around to it, or it doesn’t make an impression right away but you find yourself coming back to it again and again later on, or you just miss it entirely. I like to try to review new stuff within a month or so on the outside, and if I don’t I consider it a little stale and move on to something else. And I’m not talking about missing a Joe Bonamassa release, or some other crossover superstar on a major label. I’m talking about missing the specialty label releases that are so at home here at Twangville.
Well, in the spirit of the season, I’ve decided to take some Merry Mulligans on music I didn’t review but should have.
2024
Swamp Dogg – Blackgrass: From West Virginia to 125th St. Released on John Prine’s old label Oh Boy Records, this gem is by a one-time producer who helped get Prine started in the biz. Oh, and the album is dedicated to Prine, so I’m an easy sell. I was going to review this one shortly after I reviewed the Alice Randall tribute album but never did. Well, here we are!
Kevin Burt & Big Medicine – Thank you Brother Bill. This unassuming album was released toward the beginning of the year, and it did for me pretty much what it was supposed to do – revive my interest in Bill Withers’ groundbreaking music back in the day.
Rory Block – Positively 4th Street. I’ve covered Rory Block’s homages to various blues icons in the past. Now she has given her interpretation to some of Bob Dylan’s most iconic songs for an interesting listen.
Zac Harmon – Floreada’s Boy. Zac Harmon is a consistently strong blues road warrior who doesn’t get enough attention. In Floreada’s Boy, Harmon pays tribute to his Jackson, Mississippi roots. It feels more personal than his previous albums and is better for it.
All Time Hall of Shame (on Me for Not Reviewing)
Adam Levy – Naubinway (2015). I didn’t know about Naubinway, by the frontman for the Minneapolis-based Honeydogs, until years after it was released. It’s a tribute to Levy’s son Daniel, who took his own life in 2012. But this album does now wallow in dismal sorrow. It’s a celebration of life and a remarkable work that did not get nearly enough attention. By the way, the cover art was drawn by Daniel.
Grant Dermody – Sun Might Shine on Me (2016). Grant Dermody (not to be confused with Dylan McDermott or Dermot Mulroney) is an excellent singer-songwriter and harmonica player originally from the Pacific Northwest now settled in Louisiana. Shawn sent me this one ages ago and I just didn’t get around to reviewing it back when it was new. It is a regular part of my rotation now.
On that note, Happy Holidays everyone!
About the author: Bill Wilcox is a roots music enthusiast recently relocated from the Washington, DC area to Philadelphia, PA and back again.