February 2012 playlist
Bruce
Springsteen – Wrecking Ball (2012) 2.5**
Business as usual; still nothing to match his early days. Not a bad album but nothing to really excite.
Heritage Blues Orchestra – And still I rise (2012) 3***
Covers everything from blues, soul, jazz, funk, gospel; all played with plenty of feeling.
http://heritagebluesorchestra.com
Jim White – Where it hits you (2012) 4****
http://www.jimwhite.net
John Lilly – Cold comfort (2011) 3***
http://pages.suddenlink.net/johnlillymusic
Boomswagglers – The bootleg beginnings from the shack out back (2011) 4****
Ramshackle and edgy ‘hillbilly’ music with a real intensity and at times hauntingly eerie atmosphere made more real by the lyrics and brilliant instrumentation! Probably not for the sensitive!
http://www.reverbnation.com/theboomswagglers
Bap Kennedy – The Sailors revenge (2012) 3.5***
Usual immaculate vocals and songwriting by a man who really should be better known!
http://www.bapkennedy.com
Amanda Shires – Carrying Lightning (2011) 3.5***
Gorgeous slightly alt. Countryish album that seems to sit somewhere between Dolly & Lucinda!
http://amandashires.net
Rosco Levee – Final approach to home (2012) 3***
Decent roots rock mixed with some very good country rock by a singer songwriter and his band from Kent!
http://www.myspace.com/roscolevee
Joseph Huber – Bury me where I fall (2010) 4****
Really good album of dark spooky, folksy acoustic music by this member of the late great ‘357 String Band’
http://www.reverbnation.com/josephhuber
Olds Sleeper – June (2010) 3.5***
Raw lo-fi album that ranges from sparse acoustic atmospheric ‘hillbilly’ to a ‘grungy’ electric music, all done in his own inimitable style! The best tracks are the ones without the treated vocals!
http://www.oldssleeper.blogspot.com
Jay Munly and the Lupercalians (2009) 3***
Not his best but some great banjo playing and, as usual, highly original eerie ‘Gothic Americana!’
http://www.munlymunly.com
Shurman – Inspiration (2012) 3***
Pretty good blend of classic country rock with a 21st century makeover and with added blues and soul!
http://shurmanville.com
Lincoln Durham – The shovel vs the howling bones (2012) 4****
Tremendous dark country/blues blend with sparse instrumentation and vocals between Don Henley and Rod Stewart!
http://lincolndurham.com
Ledfoot – Gothic blues volume 1 (2012) 3.5***
The title describes this excellent album of ‘dirty blues’
http://www.ledfoot-gothicblues.com
The Crooked Brothers – Deathbed Pillowtalk (2009) 4****
More great alt. country hillbilly music from a brilliant band!
http://www.crookedbrothers.com
Modern Day Moonshine – Refuge (2010) 3.5***
From acoustic country rock to a bluesy soulfulness; a really
good and diverse album
http://moderndaymoonshine.com
Hillfolk Noir – Skinny Mammy’s revenge (2010) 4.5****
Brilliant edgy punked up acoustic hillbilly blues!
(All being well there might even be a review soonish!)
http://www.petometz.com
June Star - Slow Dance (2012) 4****
Another tremendous alt. countryish album by this genre
defining band!
(A review will follow soon!)
http://www.junestar.com
The James Low Western Front - Whiskey Farmer (2012) 4****
Tremendously atmospheric album of modern country rock
(A review will follow soon!)
http://jameslowwesternfront.com
Lambchop – Mr. M (2012) 3***
On first few listens can’t help feeling the album is a little
overrated!
http://www.lambchop.net
Jay Farrar – Terroir blues: The Dogtown sessions (2012) 3.5***
Seems a bit of a pointless exercise, but on the other hand it is Jay Farrar!!!
http://www.jayfarrar.net
The Proposition – King snake devil shake (2012) 3.5***
Really good melange of roots music from folk to blues to country and by an English band!
(All being well there might be a review soonish!)
http://www.norwichfinecity.fsnet.co.uk/theproposition
Otis Gibbs – Harder than hammered hell (2012) 4****
Usual high quality folksy roots, this time with a fuller sound
http://otisgibbs.com
The Coloradas (2011) 3.5***
Really good, sparse and rough front porch music!
(A review will follow soon!)
http://www.thecoloradas.com
Pokey LaFarge and the South City Three – Middle of Everywhere
(2011) 3.5***
Excellent New Orleans roots album with elements of jazz, blues
and country!
http://www.pokeylafarge.net
Jack Harris – The Flame & the Pelican (2012) 2.5**
Reminiscent of a young James Taylor, if a little bland at
times. Quite sparse and some pretty good songs.
http://www.jackharrismusic.net
Business as usual; still nothing to match his early days. Not a bad album but nothing to really excite.
Heritage Blues Orchestra – And still I rise (2012) 3***
Covers everything from blues, soul, jazz, funk, gospel; all played with plenty of feeling.
http://heritagebluesorchestra.com
Jim White – Where it hits you (2012) 4****
http://www.jimwhite.net
John Lilly – Cold comfort (2011) 3***
http://pages.suddenlink.net/johnlillymusic
Boomswagglers – The bootleg beginnings from the shack out back (2011) 4****
Ramshackle and edgy ‘hillbilly’ music with a real intensity and at times hauntingly eerie atmosphere made more real by the lyrics and brilliant instrumentation! Probably not for the sensitive!
http://www.reverbnation.com/theboomswagglers
Bap Kennedy – The Sailors revenge (2012) 3.5***
Usual immaculate vocals and songwriting by a man who really should be better known!
http://www.bapkennedy.com
Amanda Shires – Carrying Lightning (2011) 3.5***
Gorgeous slightly alt. Countryish album that seems to sit somewhere between Dolly & Lucinda!
http://amandashires.net
Rosco Levee – Final approach to home (2012) 3***
Decent roots rock mixed with some very good country rock by a singer songwriter and his band from Kent!
http://www.myspace.com/roscolevee
Joseph Huber – Bury me where I fall (2010) 4****
Really good album of dark spooky, folksy acoustic music by this member of the late great ‘357 String Band’
http://www.reverbnation.com/josephhuber
Olds Sleeper – June (2010) 3.5***
Raw lo-fi album that ranges from sparse acoustic atmospheric ‘hillbilly’ to a ‘grungy’ electric music, all done in his own inimitable style! The best tracks are the ones without the treated vocals!
http://www.oldssleeper.blogspot.com
Jay Munly and the Lupercalians (2009) 3***
Not his best but some great banjo playing and, as usual, highly original eerie ‘Gothic Americana!’
http://www.munlymunly.com
Shurman – Inspiration (2012) 3***
Pretty good blend of classic country rock with a 21st century makeover and with added blues and soul!
http://shurmanville.com
Lincoln Durham – The shovel vs the howling bones (2012) 4****
Tremendous dark country/blues blend with sparse instrumentation and vocals between Don Henley and Rod Stewart!
http://lincolndurham.com
Ledfoot – Gothic blues volume 1 (2012) 3.5***
The title describes this excellent album of ‘dirty blues’
http://www.ledfoot-gothicblues.com
The Crooked Brothers – Deathbed Pillowtalk (2009) 4****
More great alt. country hillbilly music from a brilliant band!
http://www.crookedbrothers.com
Modern Day Moonshine – Refuge (2010) 3.5***
From acoustic country rock to a bluesy soulfulness; a really
good and diverse album
http://moderndaymoonshine.com
Hillfolk Noir – Skinny Mammy’s revenge (2010) 4.5****
Brilliant edgy punked up acoustic hillbilly blues!
(All being well there might even be a review soonish!)
http://www.petometz.com
June Star - Slow Dance (2012) 4****
Another tremendous alt. countryish album by this genre
defining band!
(A review will follow soon!)
http://www.junestar.com
The James Low Western Front - Whiskey Farmer (2012) 4****
Tremendously atmospheric album of modern country rock
(A review will follow soon!)
http://jameslowwesternfront.com
Lambchop – Mr. M (2012) 3***
On first few listens can’t help feeling the album is a little
overrated!
http://www.lambchop.net
Jay Farrar – Terroir blues: The Dogtown sessions (2012) 3.5***
Seems a bit of a pointless exercise, but on the other hand it is Jay Farrar!!!
http://www.jayfarrar.net
The Proposition – King snake devil shake (2012) 3.5***
Really good melange of roots music from folk to blues to country and by an English band!
(All being well there might be a review soonish!)
http://www.norwichfinecity.fsnet.co.uk/theproposition
Otis Gibbs – Harder than hammered hell (2012) 4****
Usual high quality folksy roots, this time with a fuller sound
http://otisgibbs.com
The Coloradas (2011) 3.5***
Really good, sparse and rough front porch music!
(A review will follow soon!)
http://www.thecoloradas.com
Pokey LaFarge and the South City Three – Middle of Everywhere
(2011) 3.5***
Excellent New Orleans roots album with elements of jazz, blues
and country!
http://www.pokeylafarge.net
Jack Harris – The Flame & the Pelican (2012) 2.5**
Reminiscent of a young James Taylor, if a little bland at
times. Quite sparse and some pretty good songs.
http://www.jackharrismusic.net
