Back in 1970, Harry Nilsson helped introduce the world to Randy Newman by recording an entire album of Newman compositions, the appropriately titled Nilsson Sings Newman. In the nearly 50 years that have followed, Newman has become one of our greatest songwriters. Set aside the film scores that have garnered him 20 Academy Award nominations, […]
Readers’ Pick: Sturgill Simpson – Sound & Fury
You picked Sturgill Simpson – Sound & Fury as your favorite new release for the week of September 27, 2019. New Releases Did we miss something? If you feel a new release is missing from our current poll, please let us know in the comments. Readers’ Tops Summer & Fall 2019 Ben Davis Jr. and […]
Jason James on Charles Bukowski, Waffle House, and Comic Book Theme Songs
Texas country singer Jason James recalls a house party gone bad (except for the $50 payout), his abbreviated career in food service, and not trying.
Monica Rizzio on The Business Side of Music and a Mini-Van Named “Blue Bell”
Monica Rizzio talks about singing the national anthem at a Long Island Rangers game and Harry, a 90-pound yellow lab who provides harmony vocals when she rehearses in her home studio.
Monday Morning Video – Those Pretty Wrongs
Those Pretty Wrongs – aka Jody Stephens and Luther Russell – just returned with Zed for Zulu, their long-awaited sophomore album. Like their self-titled debut, it is full of wistful power pop. While the album arrangements elegantly surround Russell’s acoustic guitar with standard guitar/bass/drum accompaniment – not to mention the occasional strings, keyboards and even […]
Readers’ Pick: Samantha Fish – Kill or Be Kind
You picked Samantha Fish – Kill or Be Kind as your favorite new release for the week of September 20, 2019. New Releases Did we miss something? If you feel a new release is missing from our current poll, please let us know in the comments. Readers’ Tops Summer & Fall 2019 Ben Davis Jr. […]
Americana 2019 – Chip’s Picks
Americanafest brings a plethora of artist and showcases together in Nashville each September to celebrate the year that was; and give a preview of the year to come. Here is my attempt to highlight but a few artists that caught my attention this year, although there are too many special performances to recount. The Vandoliers […]
Americana 2019: Shawn’s Picks
Every fall, The Americana Music Association gathers members, artists and music fans together in Nashville for its annual conference. Starting with the annual Americana Music Awards and continuing through several days of showcases and panel discussions, it is a tremendous celebration of Americana music. Here are but a few of my favorite performers and performances […]
Americana Music Awards, 2019 Edition
In what’s beginning to resemble a miniature SXSW, with over 50,000 attendees, the Americana music industry and fans gathered in Nashville recently for AmericanaFest. Although the vast majority of the event was about live music, with some business-related panels during the day, the apex of the nearly week-long musical bacchanal is still the awards show […]
Dori Freeman on Why She Doesn’t Set Many Concrete Goals and How She Writes Songs
Singer-songwriter Dori Freeman talks about early gigs playing with her father and why he gives her a hard time.