Ben Harper, ‘Lifeline’ (Full CD) Part of me wants to call this a return to form. But I know better. Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals are always on fire. Lifeline, their latest, appears to highlight what I love best about this band, a brilliant blend of folk rock, twang and soul. Upon my first […]
Readers’ Pick: Lori McKenna, “Unglamorousâ€
With 36% of the votes, you chose the Lori McKenna‘s Unglamorous as your favorite new album in a recent Twangville poll. To celebrate, here are some Lori McKenna videos. Enjoy! Don’t forget to vote in this week’s poll!
Josh Ritter + More, Album Previews
Josh Ritter, ‘The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter’ (Partial CD [source: JoshRitter.com]) “Wise beyond years” is a phrase that comes to mind when listening to Josh Ritter. He seems to have incredible insight into humanity all the while being tremendously adept at making great music. The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter, his fourth studio recording, […]
Lori McKenna + More, Album Previews
Lori McKenna, ‘Unglamorous’ (Full CD) Here we go again. The ladies keep on making a statement this year. This time around its Lori McKenna with her Warner Bros. debut titled Unglamorous. When she’s not making babies (she recently had her fifth), she’s writing songs. She’s so good at songwriting that Faith Hill decided to repurpose […]
Josh Rouse + More, Album Previews
Josh Rouse, Country Mouse, City House (Full CD) Josh Rouse has been a Twangville favorite for some time now. Of course, we’re partial to his Nashville release, but there’s not much to dislike about any of his many songs to date. Like Ryan Adams, Rouse keeps making music and never looks back. The songs and […]
Richard Shindell – South of Delia
(My humble vote for “Best yet in ’07”) You’ve heard of the “Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon?” I prefer the “Six Degrees of Richard Thompson.” As a nascent Folk-Rock fan, I took a gamble on a little album called Shoot Out the Lights, and the floodgates opened. From producer Joe Boyd, I followed a breadcrumb […]
Mayer’s Playlist for May 2007
THE ALBUM OF THE MONTH: The Stax 50th Anniversary Celebration The Stax sound is one of American music’s greatest legacies. one of the greatest legacy’s in American music. With Booker T & the MGs — a house-band so good that they could score a #1 song on their own (with the instrumental “Green Onions”) as […]
Rocky Votolato + More, Album Previews
Rocky Votolato, The Brag & Cuss (Full CD) The fifth album from Seattle based Rocky Votolato. Many of the songs were conceived while on the road touring with Lucero and William Elliott Whitmore. This is a solid record though I’d love to see Votolato rock a little harder. I get the sense he’s got it […]
Justin Trawick, On the Radar
This past Friday night I caught Last Train Home performing at IOTA (Arlington, VA) for my fourth time live. I was a little bummed that the opening act The Commons had been moved to Saturday night having heard great things about them. To my surprise and delight, a local cat named Justin Trawick stepped in […]
Reader’s Pick: Richard Thompson’s, “Sweet Warrior”
With 75% of the votes, Twangville readers chose Richard Thompson‘s Sweet Warrior as their favorite new album in last week’s poll. Here’s some Richard Thompson videos both new and old. Enjoy!