Canyon, Joshua Ray Walker (from the State Fair Records release Wish You Were Here) Talk about making a statement on your debut album. Walker’s moving acoustic ballad is both a highly personal reflection on his father’s battle with cancer and his own desire to be a better person. Simply stunning. Full Moon Goodbye, Michael McDermott […]
Mayer’s Picks – the Best of 2019 (So Far), the Albums
Orphans by Michael McDermott It speaks volumes about Michael McDermott’s songwriting prowess that the songs that make up Orphans were originally written for his last few albums but were left sitting on the shelf. In some ways this is fairly relaxed record by McDermott standards, but it still packs a powerful emotional punch. Key Tracks: […]
My Mind Must Be Back in Boston – A Special Playlist
Reckless Heart, Todd Thibaud (from the self-released Hill West) Singer-songwriter Todd Thibaud decamped to rural Vermont to craft his latest album. He returned to Boston with a collection of songs somber and introspective, no doubt reflective of the environment in which it was born. Stark but nuanced arrangements play into the pensive nature of the […]
Sweet Caroline – A Special Boston Playlist
By Degrees, Mark Erelli & Friends (from the benefit single By Degrees) Several of Mark Erelli’s longtime friends and collaborators join him for a special song written in response to the tragic gun violence in America. While the artists are an impressive group – Rosanne Cash, Sheryl Crow, Lori McKenna, Anais Mitchell, and Josh Ritter […]