Vagabondage – Slow Room Bar (e.p)
I don’t usually spend much time with e.ps but to say this five song recording is different and well worth continuous playing is an understatement. They are a five piece band who are involved with a number of other bands, based in San Francisco and playing songs that involve booze, murder, the sea and general mayhem. Not unlistenable punk music but great structured, highly original story songs that take no prisoners and contain plenty of depth and darkness. Treat yourself to a hugely entertaining musical experience. This and their previous recordings are readily available on bandcamp and for very little expenditure!
http://www.vagabondageband.com/
Will get the full review treatment soon.
Lonesome Shack – More primitive
This album certainly has the feel of primitivism but is actually a beautifully recorded, atmospheric blues album that you could be forgiven for thinking is a young John Lee Hooker or even earlier, but is actually music made by a modern day white trio. Authenticity is always a difficult subject when dealing with such an old strain of music, so simply lay back and enjoy these sparse, blues and boogie, always excellent songs that often contain the eeriness that made the 1920s vintage bluesmen such compulsive listening.
http://lonesomeshack.com/
The Bloodroots Barter – Ch3oh (2010)
Beautifully played old timey/hillbilly/blues, poorly recorded (at least my copy is) and accompanied by some of the most raw vocals you are likely to hear. Slightly discordant harmonies that work beautifully on an album that is incredibly evocative of some of the ‘old timers.’ It certainly won’t be everyones cup of tea but if you like raw heartfelt ‘hillbilly’ music you will love this. I do!
http://www.reverbnation.com/thebloodrootsbarter
Added 4th August 2014
Mr Plow – Not the beginning, not the end
An incredible album of deep dark, often poetic, story songs, sung by a man whose vocals have a similar tone to the late Johnny Cash. Despite the constant darkness the album always manages to pull back from parody, instead maintaining it’s poetic power, strong melodicism and a little lightness from some beautiful guitar sounds.
http://www.mrplowsplace.co.uk/
Will get the full review treatment soon.
Fish & Bird – Something in the ether
This is an incredibly difficult album to describe in just a few words. There is a powerful driving folk rock sensibility but one that at times is quite mellow as well as including arrangements that on occasions seem to be approaching a free jazz atmosphere. The songwriting and vocals are excellent and some of the playing has the feel of virtuoso’s at work. Add all this together and you have a powerful, very unusual album that seems to reveal greater depth with each listening session. Prog folk maybe?
http://www.fishandbird.ca/
Barnyard Stompers – Highway Gospel
Dark eerie, but powerful ‘redneck’ country music from a ‘power duo’ that exercise more strength than most bands twice their size! Beautifully written songs, excellent male lead vocals, tuneful guitars and dynamic percussion. The sometimes ferocious rawness adds another dimension to a branch of country music that has strong Johnny Cash influences.
http://barnyardstompers.com/
Will get the full review treatment soon.
Ben Glover – Atlantic
Ben Glover is a new artist on me but that state of affairs will be rectified when I’ve explored the small but almost certainly perfectly formed back catalogue of this hugely talented Irish singer songwriter. His music flows between a modern folk to edgy country, even including a little bluesiness. The instrumentation is sparse but varied bringing diversity to the sound, with some excellent original songs and a warm appealing vocal style adding yet more variety to an excellent album. It is that earlier mentioned edginess that sets him apart from most of his peers and ensures this is, unlike many generically similar recordings, an album that repays repeated listening sessions.
http://www.benglover.co.uk/
Will get the full review treatment soon.
Added 7th August 2014
Marty O’ Reilly & the Old Soul Orchestra – Pray for rain
There are very few singer songwriters in roots music that possess such soulful vocal tubes as Marty O’ Reilly, a man at home with blues, country, hillbilly or soul, as is the rest of his band, in particular Chris Lynch’s extraordinary mastery of the violin and Jeff Kissell, a man with few peers on the upright bass. Add Marty’s mastery of resophonic guitar and his banjo playing and his so manipulative soulful vocals and it’s impossible to imagine them not succeeding! Twelve songs, eleven of which are excellent band originals, supplemented by an extraordinary version of Howlin’ Wolf’s ‘Smokestack Lightnin.’ They were also my favourite band at this years Maverick festival.
http://www.martyoreilly.com/
The Hot Seats – Grandad’s favorite
Old timey music has probably never been played better than it is by this tremendous band of virtuosic ‘hillbillies.’ On this new album they seamlessly mix a few of their own compositions with ‘public domain’ songs and a few by named writers, ending up with a ‘good time’ album of extreme quality that catches the fire and passion of their live sets! They were known a few years ago as ‘Special Ed and the Shortbus’ but with a few lineup changes they have settled on the Hot Seats. Great band and an excellent album as are its predecessors .
http://thehotseats.net/
May get the full review treatment!
Added 11th August 2014
Scratch River Telegraph Company – Good evening friends and strangers (2013)
There can be few trio’s that can attain as full a melodic sound as this three piece from Virginia. A great ‘alt. country’ vocalist and songs that not so much blend rock, blues, country, hillbilly as show their influences in those areas producing a pretty much unique sound. It consists of hard driving, well played good songs that are both melodic and quite addictive with everything from fiery rock guitar to chugging banjo leads to relatively mellow acoustic guitars all underpinned by a solid foundation, excellent arrangements and atmospheric lead vocals.
http://scratchrivertelegraphcompany.com/
Edward David Anderson – Lies and wishes
A former member of Backyard Tire Fire, this is Anderson’s first solo album and generally works well on his songs of life, with often slightly unusual arrangements that give his music quite an original feel. The songs range from something close to pop/rock but with a nice rootsy feel that often approaches country, in other words, a quite diverse album. Of course it is not harmed by his always melodic, warm, expressive vocals that are able to conjure up a whole range of emotions. A fascinating recording that promises much for his future solo career.
http://edwarddavidanderson.com/
Zoe Muth – World of strangers
For sheer musical class this lady should be bracketed with artists such as Emmylou and Nanci and in all probability, if she continues making edgy country albums of this and it’s predecessors quality, that will be the case before very long. When I saw her live several years ago I left the gig knowing that I had seen someone a little bit special. This album confirms that, containing more of Zoe’s beautifully written story songs with a superb band empathizing with every word. Her vocals are as usual quite beautiful with her almost lazy, hugely appealing, drawl and in some ways are reminiscent of a young Nanci Griffith. Tremendous album by a hugely talented young lady.
http://zoemuth.com/
Full review to follow
Added 14th August 2014
Travis Egnor – Pretty Bird
Just six songs on this mini album, but what songs they are! They range from mellow folksy country to country rock and on to an almost indefinable experimental electric rock a la Neil Young. Very good songs written by a hugely talented and expressive vocalist in a trio that is chock full of original ideas. The only downside is the fact that this is just a six song mini album, when surely with talent such as this on show a whole album is more than justified, unless of course the record companies are suffering from talent blindness! (As if!!!) A tremendous recording that holds huge promise for the future.
http://travisegnor.com/
Jeff Bell – Songs from no one in particular (2013)
This is a really good album of roots music that has folk, blues, rock and even a little dark country as influences, from a talented songwriter, multi instrumentalist and possessor of a raw, incredibly expressive vocal style. Believable stories taken from real life that range from powerful driving rock to almost mellow ballads. Nothing is ever smoothed off or bland from this talented performer who probably has Tom Waits as one of his influences but really is totally at home with his own original style that ranges from hard and in your face to reflective haunting as well as sinister haunting! An album of great individuality and no little originality by a talented leftfield performer.
http://jeffbellmusic.com/
The Locust Honey String Band – Never let me cross your mind
Stunning album of ‘old timey’ music that is so authentic it’s difficult to tell the traditional songs from their own originals. Beautiful vocals, harmonies and playing but an edginess that few but the old timers can or have matched for feeling. Their music actually has a depth of originality that really can’t be defined other than by listening to them and feeling your way instinctively through this brilliant album.
http://www.locusthoney.com/
Full review to follow
Added 17th August 2014
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers – Hypnotic eye
A return to the ‘good old days,’ with some tremendous rockers and a few others with varied tempos but all written, played, arranged and sung with subtlety and great skill as befits the most consistent performers in ‘rock’ music. Working from memory I would say this is their best album for several decades, but ultimately any album that includes the name ‘Tom Petty’ on the label can be safely purchased!
http://www.tompetty.com/
Fire Mountain – All dies down
Excellent album of rootsy, indie, folk rock! On occasions there is even a nod to country music on this recording of beautifully written songs, highly skilled arrangements and playing; and dominated by some tremendous lead and harmony vocals. This is their full album debut and as such promises much more for the future thanks to some very good ideas that set them apart from many of their peers working in a similar generic field.
http://www.firemountainband.com/
Vena Portae
An excellent debut by this trio that includes as its focal point highly rated Antipodean chamber folkist Emily Barker. She has previously recorded two albums with The Low Country before striking out on her own with four solo albums. Now teamed with Dom Coyote and Ruben Engzell they have released this album that blends thoughtful modern folk music with ‘old timey’ to produce some, at times, sublime songs that just flow by leaving an impression that this is a trio that is really something special. Even the (slightly) lesser songs would grace most albums in this genre.
http://www.emily-barker.com/2011/03/vena-portae.html
Added 21-08-14
The Oldtime Stringband – Chicken crows for day
One American woman and five Dutchmen believe it or not equals a tremendous album that blends traditional folk, old timey and much more with a huge dash of not only high skills but as importantly a just as large a dash of authenticity. The vocals are all excellent particularly Shelly O’ Days and the playing of banjo, fiddle, accordion, bass and guitar is as good and as atmospheric as this music gets. Most of the songs are traditional but there are several band members who have the ability to write songs that fit seamlessly; even included is a Neil Young cover!
http://www.theoldtimestringband.nl/
Red Bird Sky – The Unravelling
This talented roots band is British, with a core of Bernie Maguire on lead vocals and Mike Seal on guitars and double bass with both of them writing the songs. The excellent album is heavily weighted on the side of folk music with a nice driving blend of rock, Americana and even a little blues flavouring. Bernies vocals have a depth and maturity that is absolutely essential to their often thought provoking songs and Mike is an exceptional and inventive guitarist. It would be easy to say it’s all been done before, but rarely with as much character sense of drama and invention as this band supply.
http://www.redbirdsky.com/
Kris Delmhorst – Blood Test
This is roots artist Kris Delmhorsts seventh album since her debut ‘Five Stories’ in 2001 and maintains the high quality that has been a constant throughout her career. On this latest offering which as usual is almost impossible to pin a label to, other than ‘roots,’ she is more than ably assisted by multi instrumentalist and hugely talented singer songwriter Anders Parker. Kris’s stylisic blend includes country, folk, blues, jazz and most unhelpfully to those who like neat pigeon holes, fits into none of them, instead sometimes just striking the listener that a particular song has the feeling of one of those genres, but always being a feeling rather than a snug fit. The arrangements are excellent and Kris’s beautiful, mature, expressive vocals, along with her songwriting are what underpins this lovely album.
http://krisdelmhorst.com/
Added 22nd August 2014
Jordie Lane – Not built to last (e.p)
Half a dozen or so albums into a successful career in his homeland of Australia Jordie is all set to break in America with a tour and this nicely varied five song e.p. Of the songs on this recording two are solely written by Jordie, two are co writes with other people and one is written by Brendan Welch. His vocal style has a smoothness and an appealing warmth to it that should help him and the recording shows a strong country influence as does the instrumentation. There are some gorgeous melodies that give the recording a nice lift, particularly on his own Maybe Someday. The only slight concern is that he may be too alt. for the mainstream and too mainstream for alt. country fans, although it is probably unfair to judge on the strength of just five songs, but his albums are readily available and he has a live recording that was released recently. Certainly one to investigate.
http://jordielane.com/
Red Molly – The Red Album
A stunning album full of beautiful lead and harmony vocals but with much more besides. Two thirds of the songs are band originals that tell some dramatic tales and when you add some quite unusual arrangements, courtesy of Ken Coomer, you basically have an album that has a lovely edginess that few can match particularly amidst such beauty.
http://www.redmolly.com/
Albino – The great unwashed (e.p)
Just four songs on this e.p that is a blend of folk and country that ends up being neither, which is no bad thing. This excellent north London band fairly obviously don’t take themselves too seriously as evidenced by their beautifully written lyrics that approach a few real issues with a large comedic element, but is is just as obvious that they have a real and original talent, with an excellent lead vocalist and some highly skilled playing and arrangements. Shame it’s only four songs but hopefully this c.d will give them the finances to record a full album, something I relish!
http://www.albinomusic.com/
I don’t usually spend much time with e.ps but to say this five song recording is different and well worth continuous playing is an understatement. They are a five piece band who are involved with a number of other bands, based in San Francisco and playing songs that involve booze, murder, the sea and general mayhem. Not unlistenable punk music but great structured, highly original story songs that take no prisoners and contain plenty of depth and darkness. Treat yourself to a hugely entertaining musical experience. This and their previous recordings are readily available on bandcamp and for very little expenditure!
http://www.vagabondageband.com/
Will get the full review treatment soon.
Lonesome Shack – More primitive
This album certainly has the feel of primitivism but is actually a beautifully recorded, atmospheric blues album that you could be forgiven for thinking is a young John Lee Hooker or even earlier, but is actually music made by a modern day white trio. Authenticity is always a difficult subject when dealing with such an old strain of music, so simply lay back and enjoy these sparse, blues and boogie, always excellent songs that often contain the eeriness that made the 1920s vintage bluesmen such compulsive listening.
http://lonesomeshack.com/
The Bloodroots Barter – Ch3oh (2010)
Beautifully played old timey/hillbilly/blues, poorly recorded (at least my copy is) and accompanied by some of the most raw vocals you are likely to hear. Slightly discordant harmonies that work beautifully on an album that is incredibly evocative of some of the ‘old timers.’ It certainly won’t be everyones cup of tea but if you like raw heartfelt ‘hillbilly’ music you will love this. I do!
http://www.reverbnation.com/thebloodrootsbarter
Added 4th August 2014
Mr Plow – Not the beginning, not the end
An incredible album of deep dark, often poetic, story songs, sung by a man whose vocals have a similar tone to the late Johnny Cash. Despite the constant darkness the album always manages to pull back from parody, instead maintaining it’s poetic power, strong melodicism and a little lightness from some beautiful guitar sounds.
http://www.mrplowsplace.co.uk/
Will get the full review treatment soon.
Fish & Bird – Something in the ether
This is an incredibly difficult album to describe in just a few words. There is a powerful driving folk rock sensibility but one that at times is quite mellow as well as including arrangements that on occasions seem to be approaching a free jazz atmosphere. The songwriting and vocals are excellent and some of the playing has the feel of virtuoso’s at work. Add all this together and you have a powerful, very unusual album that seems to reveal greater depth with each listening session. Prog folk maybe?
http://www.fishandbird.ca/
Barnyard Stompers – Highway Gospel
Dark eerie, but powerful ‘redneck’ country music from a ‘power duo’ that exercise more strength than most bands twice their size! Beautifully written songs, excellent male lead vocals, tuneful guitars and dynamic percussion. The sometimes ferocious rawness adds another dimension to a branch of country music that has strong Johnny Cash influences.
http://barnyardstompers.com/
Will get the full review treatment soon.
Ben Glover – Atlantic
Ben Glover is a new artist on me but that state of affairs will be rectified when I’ve explored the small but almost certainly perfectly formed back catalogue of this hugely talented Irish singer songwriter. His music flows between a modern folk to edgy country, even including a little bluesiness. The instrumentation is sparse but varied bringing diversity to the sound, with some excellent original songs and a warm appealing vocal style adding yet more variety to an excellent album. It is that earlier mentioned edginess that sets him apart from most of his peers and ensures this is, unlike many generically similar recordings, an album that repays repeated listening sessions.
http://www.benglover.co.uk/
Will get the full review treatment soon.
Added 7th August 2014
Marty O’ Reilly & the Old Soul Orchestra – Pray for rain
There are very few singer songwriters in roots music that possess such soulful vocal tubes as Marty O’ Reilly, a man at home with blues, country, hillbilly or soul, as is the rest of his band, in particular Chris Lynch’s extraordinary mastery of the violin and Jeff Kissell, a man with few peers on the upright bass. Add Marty’s mastery of resophonic guitar and his banjo playing and his so manipulative soulful vocals and it’s impossible to imagine them not succeeding! Twelve songs, eleven of which are excellent band originals, supplemented by an extraordinary version of Howlin’ Wolf’s ‘Smokestack Lightnin.’ They were also my favourite band at this years Maverick festival.
http://www.martyoreilly.com/
The Hot Seats – Grandad’s favorite
Old timey music has probably never been played better than it is by this tremendous band of virtuosic ‘hillbillies.’ On this new album they seamlessly mix a few of their own compositions with ‘public domain’ songs and a few by named writers, ending up with a ‘good time’ album of extreme quality that catches the fire and passion of their live sets! They were known a few years ago as ‘Special Ed and the Shortbus’ but with a few lineup changes they have settled on the Hot Seats. Great band and an excellent album as are its predecessors .
http://thehotseats.net/
May get the full review treatment!
Added 11th August 2014
Scratch River Telegraph Company – Good evening friends and strangers (2013)
There can be few trio’s that can attain as full a melodic sound as this three piece from Virginia. A great ‘alt. country’ vocalist and songs that not so much blend rock, blues, country, hillbilly as show their influences in those areas producing a pretty much unique sound. It consists of hard driving, well played good songs that are both melodic and quite addictive with everything from fiery rock guitar to chugging banjo leads to relatively mellow acoustic guitars all underpinned by a solid foundation, excellent arrangements and atmospheric lead vocals.
http://scratchrivertelegraphcompany.com/
Edward David Anderson – Lies and wishes
A former member of Backyard Tire Fire, this is Anderson’s first solo album and generally works well on his songs of life, with often slightly unusual arrangements that give his music quite an original feel. The songs range from something close to pop/rock but with a nice rootsy feel that often approaches country, in other words, a quite diverse album. Of course it is not harmed by his always melodic, warm, expressive vocals that are able to conjure up a whole range of emotions. A fascinating recording that promises much for his future solo career.
http://edwarddavidanderson.com/
Zoe Muth – World of strangers
For sheer musical class this lady should be bracketed with artists such as Emmylou and Nanci and in all probability, if she continues making edgy country albums of this and it’s predecessors quality, that will be the case before very long. When I saw her live several years ago I left the gig knowing that I had seen someone a little bit special. This album confirms that, containing more of Zoe’s beautifully written story songs with a superb band empathizing with every word. Her vocals are as usual quite beautiful with her almost lazy, hugely appealing, drawl and in some ways are reminiscent of a young Nanci Griffith. Tremendous album by a hugely talented young lady.
http://zoemuth.com/
Full review to follow
Added 14th August 2014
Travis Egnor – Pretty Bird
Just six songs on this mini album, but what songs they are! They range from mellow folksy country to country rock and on to an almost indefinable experimental electric rock a la Neil Young. Very good songs written by a hugely talented and expressive vocalist in a trio that is chock full of original ideas. The only downside is the fact that this is just a six song mini album, when surely with talent such as this on show a whole album is more than justified, unless of course the record companies are suffering from talent blindness! (As if!!!) A tremendous recording that holds huge promise for the future.
http://travisegnor.com/
Jeff Bell – Songs from no one in particular (2013)
This is a really good album of roots music that has folk, blues, rock and even a little dark country as influences, from a talented songwriter, multi instrumentalist and possessor of a raw, incredibly expressive vocal style. Believable stories taken from real life that range from powerful driving rock to almost mellow ballads. Nothing is ever smoothed off or bland from this talented performer who probably has Tom Waits as one of his influences but really is totally at home with his own original style that ranges from hard and in your face to reflective haunting as well as sinister haunting! An album of great individuality and no little originality by a talented leftfield performer.
http://jeffbellmusic.com/
The Locust Honey String Band – Never let me cross your mind
Stunning album of ‘old timey’ music that is so authentic it’s difficult to tell the traditional songs from their own originals. Beautiful vocals, harmonies and playing but an edginess that few but the old timers can or have matched for feeling. Their music actually has a depth of originality that really can’t be defined other than by listening to them and feeling your way instinctively through this brilliant album.
http://www.locusthoney.com/
Full review to follow
Added 17th August 2014
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers – Hypnotic eye
A return to the ‘good old days,’ with some tremendous rockers and a few others with varied tempos but all written, played, arranged and sung with subtlety and great skill as befits the most consistent performers in ‘rock’ music. Working from memory I would say this is their best album for several decades, but ultimately any album that includes the name ‘Tom Petty’ on the label can be safely purchased!
http://www.tompetty.com/
Fire Mountain – All dies down
Excellent album of rootsy, indie, folk rock! On occasions there is even a nod to country music on this recording of beautifully written songs, highly skilled arrangements and playing; and dominated by some tremendous lead and harmony vocals. This is their full album debut and as such promises much more for the future thanks to some very good ideas that set them apart from many of their peers working in a similar generic field.
http://www.firemountainband.com/
Vena Portae
An excellent debut by this trio that includes as its focal point highly rated Antipodean chamber folkist Emily Barker. She has previously recorded two albums with The Low Country before striking out on her own with four solo albums. Now teamed with Dom Coyote and Ruben Engzell they have released this album that blends thoughtful modern folk music with ‘old timey’ to produce some, at times, sublime songs that just flow by leaving an impression that this is a trio that is really something special. Even the (slightly) lesser songs would grace most albums in this genre.
http://www.emily-barker.com/2011/03/vena-portae.html
Added 21-08-14
The Oldtime Stringband – Chicken crows for day
One American woman and five Dutchmen believe it or not equals a tremendous album that blends traditional folk, old timey and much more with a huge dash of not only high skills but as importantly a just as large a dash of authenticity. The vocals are all excellent particularly Shelly O’ Days and the playing of banjo, fiddle, accordion, bass and guitar is as good and as atmospheric as this music gets. Most of the songs are traditional but there are several band members who have the ability to write songs that fit seamlessly; even included is a Neil Young cover!
http://www.theoldtimestringband.nl/
Red Bird Sky – The Unravelling
This talented roots band is British, with a core of Bernie Maguire on lead vocals and Mike Seal on guitars and double bass with both of them writing the songs. The excellent album is heavily weighted on the side of folk music with a nice driving blend of rock, Americana and even a little blues flavouring. Bernies vocals have a depth and maturity that is absolutely essential to their often thought provoking songs and Mike is an exceptional and inventive guitarist. It would be easy to say it’s all been done before, but rarely with as much character sense of drama and invention as this band supply.
http://www.redbirdsky.com/
Kris Delmhorst – Blood Test
This is roots artist Kris Delmhorsts seventh album since her debut ‘Five Stories’ in 2001 and maintains the high quality that has been a constant throughout her career. On this latest offering which as usual is almost impossible to pin a label to, other than ‘roots,’ she is more than ably assisted by multi instrumentalist and hugely talented singer songwriter Anders Parker. Kris’s stylisic blend includes country, folk, blues, jazz and most unhelpfully to those who like neat pigeon holes, fits into none of them, instead sometimes just striking the listener that a particular song has the feeling of one of those genres, but always being a feeling rather than a snug fit. The arrangements are excellent and Kris’s beautiful, mature, expressive vocals, along with her songwriting are what underpins this lovely album.
http://krisdelmhorst.com/
Added 22nd August 2014
Jordie Lane – Not built to last (e.p)
Half a dozen or so albums into a successful career in his homeland of Australia Jordie is all set to break in America with a tour and this nicely varied five song e.p. Of the songs on this recording two are solely written by Jordie, two are co writes with other people and one is written by Brendan Welch. His vocal style has a smoothness and an appealing warmth to it that should help him and the recording shows a strong country influence as does the instrumentation. There are some gorgeous melodies that give the recording a nice lift, particularly on his own Maybe Someday. The only slight concern is that he may be too alt. for the mainstream and too mainstream for alt. country fans, although it is probably unfair to judge on the strength of just five songs, but his albums are readily available and he has a live recording that was released recently. Certainly one to investigate.
http://jordielane.com/
Red Molly – The Red Album
A stunning album full of beautiful lead and harmony vocals but with much more besides. Two thirds of the songs are band originals that tell some dramatic tales and when you add some quite unusual arrangements, courtesy of Ken Coomer, you basically have an album that has a lovely edginess that few can match particularly amidst such beauty.
http://www.redmolly.com/
Albino – The great unwashed (e.p)
Just four songs on this e.p that is a blend of folk and country that ends up being neither, which is no bad thing. This excellent north London band fairly obviously don’t take themselves too seriously as evidenced by their beautifully written lyrics that approach a few real issues with a large comedic element, but is is just as obvious that they have a real and original talent, with an excellent lead vocalist and some highly skilled playing and arrangements. Shame it’s only four songs but hopefully this c.d will give them the finances to record a full album, something I relish!
http://www.albinomusic.com/