January 2013 Playlist
Ben Bedford – What we lost (2012) 3.5***
Lovely, reflective folksy country stories, well written, sung and played with a slightly different slant that ensures the album stands out from a host of similar albums. Very melodic and tuneful.
http://benbedford.com/
(Full review to follow)
The Earl Brothers – Outlaw Hillbilly (2012) 4.5****
Tremendous album of original songs that thematically and atmospherically predated Bluegrass or maybe even ‘hillbilly!’
http://earlbrothers.com/
(Full review to follow)
Rob Lutes – The Bravest Birds (2013) 4****
A man who has a back catalogue of consistent excellence but this tremendous new album of rootsy, bluesiness with more than a few hints of country could well turn out to be his best yet!
http://roblutes.com/
(Full review to follow)
The Real Americans – I don’t know the blues (2013) 3***
Very good lead vocals, harmonies and playing on some quite unusual songs from a promising band that has a nice raw edge that blends rock with a little country but never into formulaic country rock.
http://www.reverbnation.com/therealamericans
Mount Moriah – Miracle Temple (2013) 3***
Heather McEntire’s beautiful, expressive vocals are the highlight on a good album of folksy Americana songs. Not far behind her is a nice melodic guitar sound which adds to the atmosphere, with some good songs and arrangements capping an album that whilst not overtly country, has a nice rootsy feel.
http://www.mountmoriahband.com/
Kevin Bowe & the Okemah Prophets – Natchez trace (2012) 3.5***
Rooted in country but with a scope that is almost breathtaking. Starts out as mellow country and then spreads its net wide!
http://kevinbowe.com/
(Full review may follow)
Miles Davis – ‘Round about midnight. (1957) 5*****
Hadn’t played the album for decades and had forgotten just how good this is. The mood is best summed up by the
title.
http://www.milesdavis.com/
Added 21-01-13
Crow Quill Night Owls – Mechanical Union (2008) 4****
Musically excellent as well as an entertainingly authentic slice of ramshackle old timey/jug band music!
http://thecrowquillnightowls.bandcamp.com/
The Great Recession Orchestra (2010) 3***
Some tremendous versions of music made famous by Milton Brown and his Musical Brownies eight decades ago!
http://www.reverbnation.com/thegreatrecessionorchestra
Devil in the Woodpile – Collard greens and gravy (2007) 4****
Tremendous album of raw atmospheric blues, driven by fiddle, harmonica, bass and resonator guitar by this talented Chicago based trio
http://www.bloodshotrecords.com/artist/devil-woodpile
Thea Hopkins – Lilac sky (2013)
An excellent left of centre six song country mini album that is well worth putting on repeat play!
http://theahopkins.com
Full review to follow
Southern Tenant Folk Union – Hello cold goodbye sun (2013) 5*****
Extraordinary album that has it’s roots in folk but is so much more. If you want to listen to challenging music that is also highly listenable you will not find anything much better than this anywhere or at any time!
http://www.southerntenantfolkunion.com/
Full review to follow
Black Twig Pickers – Rough carpenters (2013) 4****
Tremendous album of hugely atmospheric ‘old timey’ instrumentals and vocal songs by probably the best band in this genre!
http://www.blacktwigpickers.org
Full review to follow
Angela Perley and the Howlin’ Moons –Nowhere is now (2012)
Feminine vocals that are not only gorgeous but also full of character, with some excellent songs and playing on this five track e.p that ranges from hard country to country rock, even including an atmospheric musical saw!
http://angelaperleyandthehowlinmoons.tumblr.com/
The Henry Girls – December Moon (2011) 3***
A very good album that thankfully manages to steer clear of Corrs territory despite some of the songs being a little too sweet. The fact that others have a nice edginess is a relief although for me less instrumentation would have benefitted some excellent songwriting and some of the most gorgeous lead and harmony vocals you could wish to hear.
http://www.thehenrygirls.com/wordpress/
Added 28-01-13
David Hope – Scarecrow (2012)3.5***
A really high quality album of folk, blues and country all beautifully blended together with strong writing, excellent raw, expressive vocals and perfectly chosen sparse instrumentation.
http://www.reverbnation.com/davidhope
Full review to follow
Jimbo Mathus – White Buffalo (2013) 4****
Terrific album of roots music that blends deep rural blues with country rock a la Flying Burrito Brothers and a little southern rock into a highly entertaining listening experience!
http://jimbomathus.com/
Full review to follow
Jez Hellard & the Djukella Orchestra –Blood and honey (2012) 3***
A really good album of mainly English folk music that also includes songs by Rosselson
and Bennett/Tweedy/Guthrie that adds a little quirkiness to the tradition!
http://www.jezhellard.com/
The Creak - Here, hold this. (2012) 3***
A good acoustic album that is rooted in bluegrass but at times has a nice western swing feel, albeit acoustic. Much of it is a little difficult to categorise, but it is inventive and beautifully played, with excellent harmonies and a strong air of drama to many of the songs.
http://thecreak.net
Mayeux & Broussard – While the gittin’s good. (2012) 3***
An album that blends blues and country, with the weighting towards blues, by two excellent vocalists, one expressively raw and the other with a smoother style. Some good songs as well.
http://www.reverbnation.com/mayeuxbroussard
Full review may follow
Larkin Poe & Thom Hell – The sound of the ocean sound. (2013) 2.5**
I haven’t heard much of Larkin Poe and even less of Thom Hell and whilst the female vocals are gorgeous and the production good, I don’t think either party has benefitted from this link up. Just comes across as a little too smoothly‘pleasant’ and with very little edginess. Instrumentation is generally well chosen and dobro stands out, as do the female harmonies.
http://www.larkinpoe.com/
Rhubarb Whiskey – Same sad end (2013) 4****
An excellent musical hybrid that includes punk, country, old timey, a smattering of bluegrass, a little blues, all mixed into a highly individual style!
http://www.rhubarbwhiskey.com/
Full review to follow
Lovely, reflective folksy country stories, well written, sung and played with a slightly different slant that ensures the album stands out from a host of similar albums. Very melodic and tuneful.
http://benbedford.com/
(Full review to follow)
The Earl Brothers – Outlaw Hillbilly (2012) 4.5****
Tremendous album of original songs that thematically and atmospherically predated Bluegrass or maybe even ‘hillbilly!’
http://earlbrothers.com/
(Full review to follow)
Rob Lutes – The Bravest Birds (2013) 4****
A man who has a back catalogue of consistent excellence but this tremendous new album of rootsy, bluesiness with more than a few hints of country could well turn out to be his best yet!
http://roblutes.com/
(Full review to follow)
The Real Americans – I don’t know the blues (2013) 3***
Very good lead vocals, harmonies and playing on some quite unusual songs from a promising band that has a nice raw edge that blends rock with a little country but never into formulaic country rock.
http://www.reverbnation.com/therealamericans
Mount Moriah – Miracle Temple (2013) 3***
Heather McEntire’s beautiful, expressive vocals are the highlight on a good album of folksy Americana songs. Not far behind her is a nice melodic guitar sound which adds to the atmosphere, with some good songs and arrangements capping an album that whilst not overtly country, has a nice rootsy feel.
http://www.mountmoriahband.com/
Kevin Bowe & the Okemah Prophets – Natchez trace (2012) 3.5***
Rooted in country but with a scope that is almost breathtaking. Starts out as mellow country and then spreads its net wide!
http://kevinbowe.com/
(Full review may follow)
Miles Davis – ‘Round about midnight. (1957) 5*****
Hadn’t played the album for decades and had forgotten just how good this is. The mood is best summed up by the
title.
http://www.milesdavis.com/
Added 21-01-13
Crow Quill Night Owls – Mechanical Union (2008) 4****
Musically excellent as well as an entertainingly authentic slice of ramshackle old timey/jug band music!
http://thecrowquillnightowls.bandcamp.com/
The Great Recession Orchestra (2010) 3***
Some tremendous versions of music made famous by Milton Brown and his Musical Brownies eight decades ago!
http://www.reverbnation.com/thegreatrecessionorchestra
Devil in the Woodpile – Collard greens and gravy (2007) 4****
Tremendous album of raw atmospheric blues, driven by fiddle, harmonica, bass and resonator guitar by this talented Chicago based trio
http://www.bloodshotrecords.com/artist/devil-woodpile
Thea Hopkins – Lilac sky (2013)
An excellent left of centre six song country mini album that is well worth putting on repeat play!
http://theahopkins.com
Full review to follow
Southern Tenant Folk Union – Hello cold goodbye sun (2013) 5*****
Extraordinary album that has it’s roots in folk but is so much more. If you want to listen to challenging music that is also highly listenable you will not find anything much better than this anywhere or at any time!
http://www.southerntenantfolkunion.com/
Full review to follow
Black Twig Pickers – Rough carpenters (2013) 4****
Tremendous album of hugely atmospheric ‘old timey’ instrumentals and vocal songs by probably the best band in this genre!
http://www.blacktwigpickers.org
Full review to follow
Angela Perley and the Howlin’ Moons –Nowhere is now (2012)
Feminine vocals that are not only gorgeous but also full of character, with some excellent songs and playing on this five track e.p that ranges from hard country to country rock, even including an atmospheric musical saw!
http://angelaperleyandthehowlinmoons.tumblr.com/
The Henry Girls – December Moon (2011) 3***
A very good album that thankfully manages to steer clear of Corrs territory despite some of the songs being a little too sweet. The fact that others have a nice edginess is a relief although for me less instrumentation would have benefitted some excellent songwriting and some of the most gorgeous lead and harmony vocals you could wish to hear.
http://www.thehenrygirls.com/wordpress/
Added 28-01-13
David Hope – Scarecrow (2012)3.5***
A really high quality album of folk, blues and country all beautifully blended together with strong writing, excellent raw, expressive vocals and perfectly chosen sparse instrumentation.
http://www.reverbnation.com/davidhope
Full review to follow
Jimbo Mathus – White Buffalo (2013) 4****
Terrific album of roots music that blends deep rural blues with country rock a la Flying Burrito Brothers and a little southern rock into a highly entertaining listening experience!
http://jimbomathus.com/
Full review to follow
Jez Hellard & the Djukella Orchestra –Blood and honey (2012) 3***
A really good album of mainly English folk music that also includes songs by Rosselson
and Bennett/Tweedy/Guthrie that adds a little quirkiness to the tradition!
http://www.jezhellard.com/
The Creak - Here, hold this. (2012) 3***
A good acoustic album that is rooted in bluegrass but at times has a nice western swing feel, albeit acoustic. Much of it is a little difficult to categorise, but it is inventive and beautifully played, with excellent harmonies and a strong air of drama to many of the songs.
http://thecreak.net
Mayeux & Broussard – While the gittin’s good. (2012) 3***
An album that blends blues and country, with the weighting towards blues, by two excellent vocalists, one expressively raw and the other with a smoother style. Some good songs as well.
http://www.reverbnation.com/mayeuxbroussard
Full review may follow
Larkin Poe & Thom Hell – The sound of the ocean sound. (2013) 2.5**
I haven’t heard much of Larkin Poe and even less of Thom Hell and whilst the female vocals are gorgeous and the production good, I don’t think either party has benefitted from this link up. Just comes across as a little too smoothly‘pleasant’ and with very little edginess. Instrumentation is generally well chosen and dobro stands out, as do the female harmonies.
http://www.larkinpoe.com/
Rhubarb Whiskey – Same sad end (2013) 4****
An excellent musical hybrid that includes punk, country, old timey, a smattering of bluegrass, a little blues, all mixed into a highly individual style!
http://www.rhubarbwhiskey.com/
Full review to follow