Cary Hudson – Mississippi Moon (2012) 4****
Blues and alt. country blended together to make an album that evokes the Mississippi delta
http://www.bluemountainband.net
(Full review to follow)
Holly Golightly featuring The Brokeoffs – Long Distance
(2012) 3.5***
Never one to rest on her laurels, Holly covers a wide area of roots music from blues to alt. country to edgy hillbilly all accompanied by her nasally vocals and the brokeoffs tremendous slide guitar and banjo playing
http://www.hollygolightly.com
(Full review to follow)
Six Mile Grove – Secret life in a quiet town (2012) 3***
Pleasant country rock, decent songs, well sung and played. Big ballads and some easy going mid tempo songs that have similarities to the Jayhawks but without the ‘busy’ over production. Nothing hugely original but if you like your country rock of the mellow variety this could be for you.
http://sixmilegrove.com
Bob Wooton & Six Mile Grove – Guaranteed cash (2011) 3***
Decent respectful versions of the Cash originals by the man who played lead guitar for him for three decades.
http://sixmilegrove.com/bob-wootton
(Full review to follow)
Screen Door Porch – The fate and the fruit (2012) 3.5***
A blend of front porch country and bluesiness into a highly palatable stew!
http://screendoorporch.com
(Full review to follow)
Rachel Harrington and the Knockouts (2012) 4****
A departure from previous albums but a hugely successful one that includes honky tonk, a duet with Mark Erelli, beautiful country ballads and much more!
http://www.rachelharrington.net
(Full review to follow)
The Steel Wheels – Lay down, lay low (2012) 4****
Tremendously versatile band that plays various strands of modern Appalachian ‘folk’ music
http://www.thesteelwheels.com
(Full review to follow)
Stacey Earle and Mark Stuart – Dedication (2012) 3***
They really know how to write sad songs but unfortunately some are almost too sad on this, what is for them, patchy album.
http://www.staceyandmark.com
Karen Collins & the Backroads band – No yodeling on the radio
(2012) 3.5***
Country music from the rural backwoods played as it should be, sweet but not sugary!
http://users.rcn.com/fredfeinstein/karen/index.html
Otis Gibbs – Harder than hammered hell (2012) 4****
A fuller band sound, more reflective than recent albums but still high quality
http://otisgibbs.com
(Full review to follow)
Two Dollar Bash – New Adventures (2011) 4****
An excellent throwback to early country rock but with quite a lot of
originality
http://www.twodollarbash.net
(Full review to follow)
Hillfolk Noir – Radio Hour (2012) 4****
A diverse bunch of excellent ‘hillbilly’ and blues all interlinked with made up commercials to make it sound like an old time radio programme................ and it works!
http://www.hillfolknoir.com
(Full review to follow)
The Cactus Blossoms (2011) 4****
Classic ‘country and western’ with terrific brother harmonies and with an edginess that many lack. Terrific album!
http://thecactusblossoms.com
(Full review to follow)
Dennis Crommett – In the Buffalo surround (2011) 3.5***
Music ranges from mellow folk to country rock with some excellent lyrics and vocals that just seem to float away with the songs
http://www.denniscrommett.com
The Crooked Brothers – Deathbed pillowtalk (2010) 4****
From Tom Waitsian style vocals to what can almost be termed ‘straight country,’ on into folk, alternative country, country rock and blues! Not quite as good as their 2011 album but still very very good.
http://crookedbrothers.com
Nathan Bell – Black Crow Blue (2011) 3.5***
Sparse instrumentation and stories from the underiviledged side of life. Mellow sounding but deep in content!.Improves with each listen!
http://www.myspace.com/nathanbellmusic
(Full review might follow!)
Brock Zeman – Me then you (2011) 3.5***
Terrific country rock/folk album with highly literate lyrics and a lot of diversity
http://www.brockzeman.com
(Full review to follow)
Woody Pines – You gotta roll (6 track e.p) (2012) 3.5***
Tremendous versions of some old time blues and hillbilly all done in Woody’s inimitable style
http://woodypines.com
(Full review to follow)
Maria Doyle Kennedy & Kieran Kennedy –The storms are on the ocean (2011) 4****
Gorgeously atmospheric versions of some classic ‘old timey’ songs.
http://mariadk.com
(Full review soon!)
Lyle Lovett – Release me (2012) 2.5**
He’s never made a bad album but this one is a long way from his best. Diversity doesn’t always work!
http://lylelovett.com
Blues and alt. country blended together to make an album that evokes the Mississippi delta
http://www.bluemountainband.net
(Full review to follow)
Holly Golightly featuring The Brokeoffs – Long Distance
(2012) 3.5***
Never one to rest on her laurels, Holly covers a wide area of roots music from blues to alt. country to edgy hillbilly all accompanied by her nasally vocals and the brokeoffs tremendous slide guitar and banjo playing
http://www.hollygolightly.com
(Full review to follow)
Six Mile Grove – Secret life in a quiet town (2012) 3***
Pleasant country rock, decent songs, well sung and played. Big ballads and some easy going mid tempo songs that have similarities to the Jayhawks but without the ‘busy’ over production. Nothing hugely original but if you like your country rock of the mellow variety this could be for you.
http://sixmilegrove.com
Bob Wooton & Six Mile Grove – Guaranteed cash (2011) 3***
Decent respectful versions of the Cash originals by the man who played lead guitar for him for three decades.
http://sixmilegrove.com/bob-wootton
(Full review to follow)
Screen Door Porch – The fate and the fruit (2012) 3.5***
A blend of front porch country and bluesiness into a highly palatable stew!
http://screendoorporch.com
(Full review to follow)
Rachel Harrington and the Knockouts (2012) 4****
A departure from previous albums but a hugely successful one that includes honky tonk, a duet with Mark Erelli, beautiful country ballads and much more!
http://www.rachelharrington.net
(Full review to follow)
The Steel Wheels – Lay down, lay low (2012) 4****
Tremendously versatile band that plays various strands of modern Appalachian ‘folk’ music
http://www.thesteelwheels.com
(Full review to follow)
Stacey Earle and Mark Stuart – Dedication (2012) 3***
They really know how to write sad songs but unfortunately some are almost too sad on this, what is for them, patchy album.
http://www.staceyandmark.com
Karen Collins & the Backroads band – No yodeling on the radio
(2012) 3.5***
Country music from the rural backwoods played as it should be, sweet but not sugary!
http://users.rcn.com/fredfeinstein/karen/index.html
Otis Gibbs – Harder than hammered hell (2012) 4****
A fuller band sound, more reflective than recent albums but still high quality
http://otisgibbs.com
(Full review to follow)
Two Dollar Bash – New Adventures (2011) 4****
An excellent throwback to early country rock but with quite a lot of
originality
http://www.twodollarbash.net
(Full review to follow)
Hillfolk Noir – Radio Hour (2012) 4****
A diverse bunch of excellent ‘hillbilly’ and blues all interlinked with made up commercials to make it sound like an old time radio programme................ and it works!
http://www.hillfolknoir.com
(Full review to follow)
The Cactus Blossoms (2011) 4****
Classic ‘country and western’ with terrific brother harmonies and with an edginess that many lack. Terrific album!
http://thecactusblossoms.com
(Full review to follow)
Dennis Crommett – In the Buffalo surround (2011) 3.5***
Music ranges from mellow folk to country rock with some excellent lyrics and vocals that just seem to float away with the songs
http://www.denniscrommett.com
The Crooked Brothers – Deathbed pillowtalk (2010) 4****
From Tom Waitsian style vocals to what can almost be termed ‘straight country,’ on into folk, alternative country, country rock and blues! Not quite as good as their 2011 album but still very very good.
http://crookedbrothers.com
Nathan Bell – Black Crow Blue (2011) 3.5***
Sparse instrumentation and stories from the underiviledged side of life. Mellow sounding but deep in content!.Improves with each listen!
http://www.myspace.com/nathanbellmusic
(Full review might follow!)
Brock Zeman – Me then you (2011) 3.5***
Terrific country rock/folk album with highly literate lyrics and a lot of diversity
http://www.brockzeman.com
(Full review to follow)
Woody Pines – You gotta roll (6 track e.p) (2012) 3.5***
Tremendous versions of some old time blues and hillbilly all done in Woody’s inimitable style
http://woodypines.com
(Full review to follow)
Maria Doyle Kennedy & Kieran Kennedy –The storms are on the ocean (2011) 4****
Gorgeously atmospheric versions of some classic ‘old timey’ songs.
http://mariadk.com
(Full review soon!)
Lyle Lovett – Release me (2012) 2.5**
He’s never made a bad album but this one is a long way from his best. Diversity doesn’t always work!
http://lylelovett.com
