Added 5th November 2012
Nick Ferrio & His Feelings (2012) 3.5***
Lovely country sounds including haunting steel with Ferrio’s pleasantly expressive twangy vocals on some predominately dark songs of lost love and murder!
http://www.nickferrio.com/
Mudgrass – Just that way (2012) 3.5***
Raw rootsy country rocker that leans in both rock and country directions equally with some great playing and some raw evocative vocals by two lead vocalists on an excellent album by this San Diego band
http://mudgrass.com
(Full review to follow)
Otto Mobile and the Moaners – Restless sun (2012) 4****
Bluesy country with a little R ‘n’ B, and two vocalists who stand comparison with Gram
& Emmylou, all done with a hugely appealing ‘ramshackleness!
http://ottomobile.net/
(Full review to follow)
Lowlands – Beyond (2012) 3***
Quite an unusual album of deep rootsy rock with a few hints of country and blues!
http://www.lowlandsband.com/
Cahalen Morrison and Eli West – Our lady of the tall trees (2012) 4****
Beautifully evocative music that creates an atmosphere of the folk music that probably preceded ‘old timey!’
http://cahalenandeli.com
http://www.cahalen.com
(Full review to follow)
Ash Gray and the Girls – Born in the Summer (2012) 2.5**
A pleasant throwback to the 1967 ‘Summer of love.’ Hardly original but if you weren’t around at the time this may enable you to reminisce about the days you missed and a time that those of us that were around can barely remember!
http://ashgrayandthegirls.com/
(Full review may follow)
Re evaluated 09-11-12!
The Good Luck Thrift Store Outfit – Old Excuses (2012) 5*****
Tremendous album that blends country, old timey, alt. country into a pretty much unique stew, driven along by some excellent playing, great songs and with the added bonus of two entirely different lead vocal styles that blend perfectly, from Willie Tea Taylor and Chris Doud.
http://www.reverbnation.com/tgltso
http://www.myspace.com/thegoodluckthriftstoreoutfit
(Full review to follow)
Added 11-11-12
Leon Hunt n-Tet – Farewell Blues (Remembering Earl Scruggs) (2012) 3.5***
Excellent tribute album and more, that blends bluegrass, old timey and blues into a highly listenable and expertly played mix that is sung with real feeling and passion.
http://www.leonhuntntet.com/
(Full review to follow)
Vera Van Heeringen – Standing tall (2012) 3.5***
A high quality album of reflective country/folk that verges on bluegrass, by a talented
singer, songwriter, guitarist.
http://www.veravanheeringen.com/
(Full review to follow)
Cheap Wine – Based on lies (2012) 3***
From Italy a very good album of rootsy rock that has an alt. country feel and a dark powerful atmosphere.
http://www.cheapwine.net/
(Full review may follow)
Added 16-11-12
The Mystix – Mighty Tone (2012) 4****
Some brilliant playing and atmospheric vocals on a ‘roots’ album that includes three self penned songs amongst the excellent blues, country and even jazz covers that all blend seamlessly to produce a tremendous album!
http://www.themystix.com/
(Full review to follow)
The Easy Ramblers – Easy does it (2011) 3***
A really good acoustic album of music that is steeped in ‘old timey’ as much as bluegrass
or folk, all played by a talented trio, with lovely expressive female lead vocals.
http://theeasyramblers.com
(Full review may follow)
Dirty River Boys – Science of flight (2012) 4****
Tremendously expansive alt. country that goes far beyond it’s usual borders, all from a band that hails from West Texas.
http://www.dirtyriverboys.com/
(Full review to follow)
Added 20-11-12
Lindi Ortega – Cigarettes & Truckstops (2012) 4****
Gorgeous feminine vocals that can rock or handle the tenderest of ballads. Generically country music but with a powerful edginess that lets you know this is a special talent with some tremendous songs
http://lindiortega.ca/
(Full review may follow)
The Bean Pickers Union – Better the devil (2012) 3.5***
Slow moody ‘Americana’ that is difficult to compare to anyone else, but the songwriting, vocals and instrumentation have an appealing sparseness.
http://www.myspace.com/beanpickersunion
(Full review may follow)
Sleepy Driver – In a low dark light (2012) 3***
Very good album of melodic rootsy rock that often leans towards country, with some very
good songwriting plus excellent singing and playing.
http://sleepydriver.ca/
Melissa Ruth & the Likely Stories – Ain’t no whiskey (2012) 4****
Gorgeous album of pretty much unique ‘Doo wop twang.’ Sparse tuneful guitars, beautiful
character laden, feminine vocals and excellent songs. Melissa really is a huge talent who should soon be known to many!
http://melissaruthmusic.com/
(Full review to follow)
J.Tex & the Volunteers – House on the hill (2012) 4****
Tremendously inventive take on country music that is a far cry from the mainstream but is no less country for it and by a highly original trio based in Copenhagen! A few excellent covers and some very good songwriting and playing with vocals that are raw and rasping but full of melodicism!
http://jtexmusic.wordpress.com/
(Full review to follow)
Added 28-11-12
Ol’ Yeller – Levels (2012) 3.5***
Great songs, excellent vocals and playing, brilliant harmonies and a nice blend of roots rock and classic country rock. Seven albums in and still virtual unknowns! Unbelievable!!
http://www.richmattsonmusic.com/
Dolly Varden – For a while (2012) 3***
Excellent rootsy country rock with plenty of soulfulness from the talented husband and wife led team
http://www.dollyvarden.com/
Horsehead – Sympathetic vibrations (2012) 3.5***
An album of high quality roots rock that verges on country rock. Terrific, expressive
vocals and excellent playing on some varied stories and tempos. http://horseheadmusic.blogspot.co.uk/
Rachel Brooke – A Killer’s Dream (2012) 4****
On first few listen doesn’t quite reach the heights of last years album of the year ‘Down in the barnyard’ thanks to the heavier instrumentation, but it’s still a terrific album and there’s plenty of time for it to grow on me!
http://rachelbrooke0.wix.com/
Nick Ferrio & His Feelings (2012) 3.5***
Lovely country sounds including haunting steel with Ferrio’s pleasantly expressive twangy vocals on some predominately dark songs of lost love and murder!
http://www.nickferrio.com/
Mudgrass – Just that way (2012) 3.5***
Raw rootsy country rocker that leans in both rock and country directions equally with some great playing and some raw evocative vocals by two lead vocalists on an excellent album by this San Diego band
http://mudgrass.com
(Full review to follow)
Otto Mobile and the Moaners – Restless sun (2012) 4****
Bluesy country with a little R ‘n’ B, and two vocalists who stand comparison with Gram
& Emmylou, all done with a hugely appealing ‘ramshackleness!
http://ottomobile.net/
(Full review to follow)
Lowlands – Beyond (2012) 3***
Quite an unusual album of deep rootsy rock with a few hints of country and blues!
http://www.lowlandsband.com/
Cahalen Morrison and Eli West – Our lady of the tall trees (2012) 4****
Beautifully evocative music that creates an atmosphere of the folk music that probably preceded ‘old timey!’
http://cahalenandeli.com
http://www.cahalen.com
(Full review to follow)
Ash Gray and the Girls – Born in the Summer (2012) 2.5**
A pleasant throwback to the 1967 ‘Summer of love.’ Hardly original but if you weren’t around at the time this may enable you to reminisce about the days you missed and a time that those of us that were around can barely remember!
http://ashgrayandthegirls.com/
(Full review may follow)
Re evaluated 09-11-12!
The Good Luck Thrift Store Outfit – Old Excuses (2012) 5*****
Tremendous album that blends country, old timey, alt. country into a pretty much unique stew, driven along by some excellent playing, great songs and with the added bonus of two entirely different lead vocal styles that blend perfectly, from Willie Tea Taylor and Chris Doud.
http://www.reverbnation.com/tgltso
http://www.myspace.com/thegoodluckthriftstoreoutfit
(Full review to follow)
Added 11-11-12
Leon Hunt n-Tet – Farewell Blues (Remembering Earl Scruggs) (2012) 3.5***
Excellent tribute album and more, that blends bluegrass, old timey and blues into a highly listenable and expertly played mix that is sung with real feeling and passion.
http://www.leonhuntntet.com/
(Full review to follow)
Vera Van Heeringen – Standing tall (2012) 3.5***
A high quality album of reflective country/folk that verges on bluegrass, by a talented
singer, songwriter, guitarist.
http://www.veravanheeringen.com/
(Full review to follow)
Cheap Wine – Based on lies (2012) 3***
From Italy a very good album of rootsy rock that has an alt. country feel and a dark powerful atmosphere.
http://www.cheapwine.net/
(Full review may follow)
Added 16-11-12
The Mystix – Mighty Tone (2012) 4****
Some brilliant playing and atmospheric vocals on a ‘roots’ album that includes three self penned songs amongst the excellent blues, country and even jazz covers that all blend seamlessly to produce a tremendous album!
http://www.themystix.com/
(Full review to follow)
The Easy Ramblers – Easy does it (2011) 3***
A really good acoustic album of music that is steeped in ‘old timey’ as much as bluegrass
or folk, all played by a talented trio, with lovely expressive female lead vocals.
http://theeasyramblers.com
(Full review may follow)
Dirty River Boys – Science of flight (2012) 4****
Tremendously expansive alt. country that goes far beyond it’s usual borders, all from a band that hails from West Texas.
http://www.dirtyriverboys.com/
(Full review to follow)
Added 20-11-12
Lindi Ortega – Cigarettes & Truckstops (2012) 4****
Gorgeous feminine vocals that can rock or handle the tenderest of ballads. Generically country music but with a powerful edginess that lets you know this is a special talent with some tremendous songs
http://lindiortega.ca/
(Full review may follow)
The Bean Pickers Union – Better the devil (2012) 3.5***
Slow moody ‘Americana’ that is difficult to compare to anyone else, but the songwriting, vocals and instrumentation have an appealing sparseness.
http://www.myspace.com/beanpickersunion
(Full review may follow)
Sleepy Driver – In a low dark light (2012) 3***
Very good album of melodic rootsy rock that often leans towards country, with some very
good songwriting plus excellent singing and playing.
http://sleepydriver.ca/
Melissa Ruth & the Likely Stories – Ain’t no whiskey (2012) 4****
Gorgeous album of pretty much unique ‘Doo wop twang.’ Sparse tuneful guitars, beautiful
character laden, feminine vocals and excellent songs. Melissa really is a huge talent who should soon be known to many!
http://melissaruthmusic.com/
(Full review to follow)
J.Tex & the Volunteers – House on the hill (2012) 4****
Tremendously inventive take on country music that is a far cry from the mainstream but is no less country for it and by a highly original trio based in Copenhagen! A few excellent covers and some very good songwriting and playing with vocals that are raw and rasping but full of melodicism!
http://jtexmusic.wordpress.com/
(Full review to follow)
Added 28-11-12
Ol’ Yeller – Levels (2012) 3.5***
Great songs, excellent vocals and playing, brilliant harmonies and a nice blend of roots rock and classic country rock. Seven albums in and still virtual unknowns! Unbelievable!!
http://www.richmattsonmusic.com/
Dolly Varden – For a while (2012) 3***
Excellent rootsy country rock with plenty of soulfulness from the talented husband and wife led team
http://www.dollyvarden.com/
Horsehead – Sympathetic vibrations (2012) 3.5***
An album of high quality roots rock that verges on country rock. Terrific, expressive
vocals and excellent playing on some varied stories and tempos. http://horseheadmusic.blogspot.co.uk/
Rachel Brooke – A Killer’s Dream (2012) 4****
On first few listen doesn’t quite reach the heights of last years album of the year ‘Down in the barnyard’ thanks to the heavier instrumentation, but it’s still a terrific album and there’s plenty of time for it to grow on me!
http://rachelbrooke0.wix.com/
