Like the bee that pollinates just about all the produce we eat, I love it when a musician works with a lot of different genres. Â The epitome of that may just be Ryan Koening, who does everything from roots rock as a sideman to Pokey LaFarge, to blues with the Rum Drum Ramblers, to old […]
Monday Morning Video – Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit
Any list of the artists playing at the top of their game is bound to include Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit. Here’s a studio session that, to these ears, includes the best of the bunch from the group’s latest release. Isbell’s entertaining between song banter is a special bonus.
Readers’ Pick: Hearts That Strain by Jake Bugg
You picked Hearts That Strain by Nottingham-based singer-songwriter, Jake Bugg, as your favorite new release for the week of September 1, 2017. Poll Results 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 2017 RAY WYLIE HUBBARD, […]
Three Diamonds In the Rough
A few weeks ago I wrote about a movie that explores the issues around how streaming has changed the economics of the music business.  The result of that plus nearly free compute power, is it’s now cheap enough to make a record that musicians can choose to make an album in support of other projects and priorities.  Here […]
Good Old War – Part of Me
Good Old War is a trio that sounds like a modern poppy take on Simon & Garfunkel. What their acoustic guitar and harmony driven tunes have are hooks. Perhaps their lyrics sometimes like the poetic vision of Paul Simon, but they trade it for an intimacy in lyrics. The title track of the EP, […]
Monday Morning Video – Let the Season Begin
It’s football time again. And what better way to celebrate than two epic Superbowl halftime performances, courtesy of Bruce Springsteen and Prince. And, seriously, “can you make it rain harder?”
Readers’ Pick: Trinity Lane by Lilly Hiatt
You picked Trinity Lane by Nashville-based singer-songwriter, Lilly Hiatt, as your favorite new release for the week of August 25, 2017. Poll Results 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 2017 RAY WYLIE HUBBARD, Tell […]
Well You Heard About The Boston… Playlist, Part 2
Climb the Ladder, The Rationales (from the self-released Upstream) I’m a sucker for great power pop and have long enjoyed The Rationales, who have consistently been among Boston’s finest practitioners. Their latest release not only continues that trend, it raises the bar a few notches higher. The band’s line-up has evolved over the past few […]
Well You Heard About The Boston… Playlist, Part 1
Ex-Girlfriends Cost Less Money Than Ex-Wives, Greg Klyma (from the self-released Never Knew Caroline) There are some artists who are tireless students of music, constantly exploring the historical corners of country, blues and folk to better understand the anatomy of song. Greg Klyma is one of them. In fact, for several years he has brought […]
Monday Morning Video – Terra Lightfoot
One of my favorite discoveries from SXSW last year was Canadian powerhouse Terra Lightfoot. She’s a triple threat – her voice, guitar and songs come together with a fiery intensity. Lightfoot has just announced a new album, entitled New Mistakes, due on 13 October. Given how much I enjoyed her previous Every Time My Mind […]