The Sumner Brothers – I’ll be there tomorrow (2012) 5*****
One of the most far reaching ‘roots albums’ of the year covers heavy (but melodic) rock to country twang to authentic hillbillyness all done with great flair and two lead vocalists that most bands would kill for!
http://www.thesumnerbrothers.com/landingpage.cfm
(Full review to follow)
Nathan Bell – Only the most important thing (Songs from a sporting life)( 2012) 3.5***
Rootsy, incredibly listenable (even in the U.K) tales of some of Nathan’s sporting heroes. Tremendously well written stories that draw you in, as do the vocals and playing on this fully formed album that was put together from bits and pieces!
http://www.nathanbellmusic.com
(Full review to follow)
Hurray For The Riff Raff – Look out Mama. (2012) 4****
Quite an original, or at least different, take on country and alt. country music that works really well.
http://hurrayfortheriffraff.com/
(Full review to follow)
Larkin Poe – Thick as thieves (2012) 3***
Beautiful, powerfully expressive vocals and excellent playing on a folksy, pop rock album that includes a little bluesy jazziness at times.
http://www.myspace.com/larkinpoe (No other website but are on ‘facebook, etc.)
The Vagaband – Town & Country (2012) 3.5***
Terrific blend of various roots genres with a predominately country feel by this talented and quite original eight piece British band!
http://thevagaband.co.uk
(Full review to follow)
Eve Selis – Family Tree (2012) 3***
Nicely blended album that ranges from hard driving rocked up country to emotional big
country ballads, all well written, beautifully sung and played with huge commitment and no little skill and always with a slight edginess that avoids the mainstream blandness!
http://www.eveselis.com/
Will Scott – Keystone crossing (2012) 4****
Beautifully blended mix of blues and country that produces a potent mix!
http://www.willscottmusic.com
(Full review to follow)
Added 16-09-12
Jack Klatt & the Cat Swingers – Mississippi roll (2012) 4****
Verging on being a great album! A tremendous mish mash of blues, country, folk, Vaudeville, and more, with several hugely talented guests including Charlie Parr!
http://www.jackklatt.com/
(Full review to follow)
The Lewis Brothers – Folk & camp fire songs (2012) 3***
A talented band playing an album of covers. Some are pretty average but those that work are exceptional. Excellent playing, good singing and sublime harmonies.
http://lewisbrothersband.com/
(Full review to follow)
Jack Klatt & the Cat Swingers (2010) 3.5***
Less diverse than their second album but still a good listen and with a tremendous amount of individuality
http://www.jackklatt.com/
Stephanie Fagan - Heart Thief (2011) 3.5***
Gorgeous album, rooted in country but including a few offshoots into other generic fields, beautifully written, sung and played tales built around various aspects of love.
http://stephaniefagansings.com/
(Full review to follow)
Stevie Tombstone – Greenwood (2012) 4****
Tremendous album of roots music that whilst predominately rooted in country also blends perfectly with the blues!
http://www.stevietombstone.net/
(Full review to follow)
Added 21-09-12
Trevor Alguire – Till sorrow begins to call (2012) 3***
Beautifully atmospheric and varied country music that is well written, excellently played and with warm, expressive vocals. Steers clear of the formulaic country so beloved of the masses although there are several large doses of sugar!
http://www.trevoralguire.com/
(Full review may follow)
Drew Nelson – Tilt-a-whirl (2012) 3.5***
Excellent rootsy country story songs that at times the listener gets lost in. Some lovely guitar and steel guitar sounds and perfectly suited vocals.
http://drewnelson.net/
(Full review to follow)
Hat Fitz & Cara – Wiley ways (2012) 4.5****
Incredible album of powerful, quirky blues that at times are reminiscent of the Rev. Peyton, at others the ancient fife and drum bands, with Fitz’s melodic guitar, gravelly vocals and Cara’s beautifully expressive powerful vocals.
http://www.hatfitz.net/
(Full review to follow)
Calexico – Algiers (2012) 3.5***
Not their best, but any release by this band is pretty much unique and well worth repeated
listening sessions. A little more ambient and a little less mariachi this time around but still recognizably Calexico!
http://www.casadecalexico.com/
Porchlight Smoker 2 (2012) 4****
An album of high quality roots music that contains a blend of edgy country and British
folk, played by a tremendously talented four piece band that includes at least three excellent lead vocalists and harmonies that few can match!
http://www.porchlightsmoker.com/
(Full review to follow)
Blame Sally – Live at KVIE studios, vol.1 (2012) 3.5***
An excellent and atmospheric live album by four talented women singer/songwriters who joined forces to make some great music and includes some stunning harmonies. The recording has a nice edginess with tremendous instrumentation as well as those gorgeous vocals.
http://blamesally.com/about/
(Full review to follow)
Added 28th September
Blind Corn Liquor Pickers – Myths and routines (2012) 3.5***
How to describe the indescribable? A mix of hard driving, at times bluesy, at others soulful, but always hillbilly, country etc. etc. all mixed into a highly irreverent, potent and hugely entertaining stew with a large amount of skill and talent!
See/hear them on youtube.
http://www.myspace.com/blindcornliquorpickers
(Full review to follow)
Holly Golightly and the Brokoffs – Sunday run me over (2012) 3.5***
The quirky edge of country but always highly listenable! Off kilter and appealingly raw.
http://hollygolightlyandthebrokeoffs.com/
Bob Dylan – Tempest (2012) 4****
More excellent rootsy bluesiness. Only listened a few times so far so it probably has more to offer yet. I don’t think that anyone can say it’s his best, but it is very good. Fortunately the poeticism is still strong in his lyrics, or these lengthy songs wouldn’t have worked, although the nearly 14 minutes title track can be heavy going!
http://www.bobdylan.com/
The Defibulators – Corn money (2012) 3***
A little disappointing. Despite the lowest of lo fi production it’s easy to hear their talent. Better production and less of the extraneous sound effects and this would probably have been a great album instead of which it is just very good!
http://thedefibulators.com/
One of the most far reaching ‘roots albums’ of the year covers heavy (but melodic) rock to country twang to authentic hillbillyness all done with great flair and two lead vocalists that most bands would kill for!
http://www.thesumnerbrothers.com/landingpage.cfm
(Full review to follow)
Nathan Bell – Only the most important thing (Songs from a sporting life)( 2012) 3.5***
Rootsy, incredibly listenable (even in the U.K) tales of some of Nathan’s sporting heroes. Tremendously well written stories that draw you in, as do the vocals and playing on this fully formed album that was put together from bits and pieces!
http://www.nathanbellmusic.com
(Full review to follow)
Hurray For The Riff Raff – Look out Mama. (2012) 4****
Quite an original, or at least different, take on country and alt. country music that works really well.
http://hurrayfortheriffraff.com/
(Full review to follow)
Larkin Poe – Thick as thieves (2012) 3***
Beautiful, powerfully expressive vocals and excellent playing on a folksy, pop rock album that includes a little bluesy jazziness at times.
http://www.myspace.com/larkinpoe (No other website but are on ‘facebook, etc.)
The Vagaband – Town & Country (2012) 3.5***
Terrific blend of various roots genres with a predominately country feel by this talented and quite original eight piece British band!
http://thevagaband.co.uk
(Full review to follow)
Eve Selis – Family Tree (2012) 3***
Nicely blended album that ranges from hard driving rocked up country to emotional big
country ballads, all well written, beautifully sung and played with huge commitment and no little skill and always with a slight edginess that avoids the mainstream blandness!
http://www.eveselis.com/
Will Scott – Keystone crossing (2012) 4****
Beautifully blended mix of blues and country that produces a potent mix!
http://www.willscottmusic.com
(Full review to follow)
Added 16-09-12
Jack Klatt & the Cat Swingers – Mississippi roll (2012) 4****
Verging on being a great album! A tremendous mish mash of blues, country, folk, Vaudeville, and more, with several hugely talented guests including Charlie Parr!
http://www.jackklatt.com/
(Full review to follow)
The Lewis Brothers – Folk & camp fire songs (2012) 3***
A talented band playing an album of covers. Some are pretty average but those that work are exceptional. Excellent playing, good singing and sublime harmonies.
http://lewisbrothersband.com/
(Full review to follow)
Jack Klatt & the Cat Swingers (2010) 3.5***
Less diverse than their second album but still a good listen and with a tremendous amount of individuality
http://www.jackklatt.com/
Stephanie Fagan - Heart Thief (2011) 3.5***
Gorgeous album, rooted in country but including a few offshoots into other generic fields, beautifully written, sung and played tales built around various aspects of love.
http://stephaniefagansings.com/
(Full review to follow)
Stevie Tombstone – Greenwood (2012) 4****
Tremendous album of roots music that whilst predominately rooted in country also blends perfectly with the blues!
http://www.stevietombstone.net/
(Full review to follow)
Added 21-09-12
Trevor Alguire – Till sorrow begins to call (2012) 3***
Beautifully atmospheric and varied country music that is well written, excellently played and with warm, expressive vocals. Steers clear of the formulaic country so beloved of the masses although there are several large doses of sugar!
http://www.trevoralguire.com/
(Full review may follow)
Drew Nelson – Tilt-a-whirl (2012) 3.5***
Excellent rootsy country story songs that at times the listener gets lost in. Some lovely guitar and steel guitar sounds and perfectly suited vocals.
http://drewnelson.net/
(Full review to follow)
Hat Fitz & Cara – Wiley ways (2012) 4.5****
Incredible album of powerful, quirky blues that at times are reminiscent of the Rev. Peyton, at others the ancient fife and drum bands, with Fitz’s melodic guitar, gravelly vocals and Cara’s beautifully expressive powerful vocals.
http://www.hatfitz.net/
(Full review to follow)
Calexico – Algiers (2012) 3.5***
Not their best, but any release by this band is pretty much unique and well worth repeated
listening sessions. A little more ambient and a little less mariachi this time around but still recognizably Calexico!
http://www.casadecalexico.com/
Porchlight Smoker 2 (2012) 4****
An album of high quality roots music that contains a blend of edgy country and British
folk, played by a tremendously talented four piece band that includes at least three excellent lead vocalists and harmonies that few can match!
http://www.porchlightsmoker.com/
(Full review to follow)
Blame Sally – Live at KVIE studios, vol.1 (2012) 3.5***
An excellent and atmospheric live album by four talented women singer/songwriters who joined forces to make some great music and includes some stunning harmonies. The recording has a nice edginess with tremendous instrumentation as well as those gorgeous vocals.
http://blamesally.com/about/
(Full review to follow)
Added 28th September
Blind Corn Liquor Pickers – Myths and routines (2012) 3.5***
How to describe the indescribable? A mix of hard driving, at times bluesy, at others soulful, but always hillbilly, country etc. etc. all mixed into a highly irreverent, potent and hugely entertaining stew with a large amount of skill and talent!
See/hear them on youtube.
http://www.myspace.com/blindcornliquorpickers
(Full review to follow)
Holly Golightly and the Brokoffs – Sunday run me over (2012) 3.5***
The quirky edge of country but always highly listenable! Off kilter and appealingly raw.
http://hollygolightlyandthebrokeoffs.com/
Bob Dylan – Tempest (2012) 4****
More excellent rootsy bluesiness. Only listened a few times so far so it probably has more to offer yet. I don’t think that anyone can say it’s his best, but it is very good. Fortunately the poeticism is still strong in his lyrics, or these lengthy songs wouldn’t have worked, although the nearly 14 minutes title track can be heavy going!
http://www.bobdylan.com/
The Defibulators – Corn money (2012) 3***
A little disappointing. Despite the lowest of lo fi production it’s easy to hear their talent. Better production and less of the extraneous sound effects and this would probably have been a great album instead of which it is just very good!
http://thedefibulators.com/