February 2013 Playlist
Amanda Pearcy – Royal street (2013)
Terrific Texas country album that is a little left of centre and contains some beautifully written deeply poetic songs all performed by a vocalist whose beautiful voice avoids blandness by a country mile, instead substituting it for a richness and character that few others can match!
http://amandapearcy.com/
(Full review to follow)
Mark Mullholland & Craig Ward – Waiting for the storm (2012)
Slow, mournful and melodic, folksy roots music, with beautifully played sparse instrumentation and darkly evocative vocals on an album of mainly harmony duets reminiscent of Simon and Garfunkel but with much more darkness, Also included are two excellent instrumentals. If you found S & G pleasant but a little twee, you will in
all probability enjoy this album and the mellow, reflective, if dark atmosphere that it conjures up! Seven of the lyrically poetic songs are excellent Mullholland originals.
http://markmulholland.net
Self Help Group – Not waving but drowning (2013)
Beautiful mellow sound with a little dramatic tension and harmonies that are just about unsurpassable.
http://sitefy.com/theselfhelpgroup
(Already reviewed)
Charlie Parr – Barnswallow (2013)
Another tremendous album of 21st century old time rural blues by a man who doesn’t just play the blues, but has
it oozing out of every pore!
http://www.charlieparr.com/
(Full review may follow)
Added 17-02-13
Free Range Folk – 444 (2012)
Tremendous album of rural country rock with a nice ‘hillbilly’ feeling!
http://www.freerangefolk.net/
Full review to follow
Hayward Williams – Haymaker (2012)
Really good roots album that includes a lot of literate roots rock and no bluster, with a nice bluesy blend included and a little nod to pop rock, folk and a dab of country! Strong warm and easy vocals on an album that has a moody dark feel.
http://www.haywardwilliams.com/
Full review to follow
Adam Kiesling – Unclouded Day (2012)
Incredible album of ‘old timey’ music, played and sung with an authenticity that few if any can match! On a similar level to Charlie Parr but all 17 songs on this tremendous album are traditional, or at least old!
http://adamkiesling.bandcamp.com/
http://www.banjohangout.org/my/Adam+Kiesling
Full review to follow
Jack Klatt – Love me lonely (2013)
His first solo album of blues, country, old timey, a little vaudeville, with just his vocals and guitar on sixteen songs taken from just about every sub genre of roots music and covering the last eight or so decades, plus a few of his own originals that are not out of place. His guitar playing is excellent and his vocals have never been better!
http://www.jackklatt.com/index.html
Full review to follow
Added 28-02-13
The Giving Tree Band – Vacilador (2012)
Some excellent playing and vocals but an instrumentation that often seems overdone, causing a little confusion that seems unnecessary due to the strength of everything else. One of those albums where less could very well have equated to more if the orchestral tendencies had been supressed, but some very good country rock with a strong folksiness as well as a little rootsy pop/rock on some terrific songs. At times it’s as if they are trying to get every instrument they can think of into songs that don’t really need them. The songs with less going on are best. A very good album that could have been great, so a missed opportunity, but a lot of talent in the band.
http://thegivingtreeband.com/
Rebecca Pronsky – Only Daughter (2013)
Terrific album of alt. country performed by one of the most gorgeous voices in country music and all her own songs! Slow moody ballads and tremendous driving country rockers. They’re all here!
http://www.rebeccapronsky.com/
Daniel Romano – Come cry with me (2013)
Tremendous‘country and western’ album that lies somewhere between Hank and Gram!
http://danielromanomusic.com/
Old Man Markley – Down side up (2013)
Generally speedy punked up roots music with acoustic instrumentation that has bluegrass and old timey blended into the stew. Some good songs, well played and sung but at times the instrumentation is overdone and the often incessant monotony of the drums are not essential. Not that I’m saying drums shouldn’t be used in this type of music, they just don’t seem to be played with enough variety on an otherwise pretty good album.
http://www.oldmanmarkley.com/
Terry Allen – Bottom of the world (2013)
Slow, moody and as usual idiosyncratic take on thoughtfully reflective Texas country music! Might be slow but he doesn’t hold back!
http://terryallenartmusic.com/
Son Volt – Honky Tonk (2013)
Four years since their last album and you can forget the ‘alt.’ prefix, they’ve come up with a tremendous album of ‘country’ music! Takes time to get used to, but worth the effort!
http://sonvolt.net/