The Wellfeds – Short Man Syndrome
An album that almost defines easy going mid tempo roots music but whilst it is also sparse it has depth, with it’s well written, often humourous songs, amiable warm lead vocals and expert playing. It is an album that includes country, folk and various off shoots all blended into a style reminiscent of artists such as Guy Clark, John Prine, Townes etc and although not quite at those giddy height yet this is certainly a very good start!
http://thewellfeds.com/
The Mystix – Midnight in Mississippi (Self Released)
You always get more than what you pay for from this hugely talented ‘supergroup’ of roots musicians. They play blues and country, most of the time without blending the two, but bringing their own particular sense of style to every song which ultimately blends those individual songs as if there is no generic separation. Their own originals blend with ‘covers’ to ensure the listener has a trip through the very best of roots music all played by virtuosic musicians who ‘feel’ the music, all capped off by the raw, whiskey soaked, but melodic vocals of Jo Lily. A supergroup of super musicians who have made yet another super album! Long may they continue to do so.
http://www.themystix.com/
Trailerpark Idlers – Fifty gallons of lightning
This is a strange, unusual album that has it’s roots in ‘old America’ despite the fact that this excellent and quite original band are Swedish! The vocals and harmonies are all good, but different in texture and tone to most of what I listen to. Part of the reason is probably the different accents but there is a brooding, slightly eerie atmosphere to many of the excellent songs, as if the band have discovered a sound that slips between the cracks of country, alt. country, country rock and folk enabling them to bring an otherworldly persective to their music. A really good album that I’m sure I will have more to say about as time goes by!
http://trailerparkidlers.com/
The Westbound Rangers – Gone for way too long (2013) (Self Released)
This is another terrific album that, had I discovered it last year, would have got the full review treatment. They are Nashville based but are certainly not from the bland factory produced side of the city! They blend what is predominately ‘old timey’ music with bluegrass, alt. country, country rock and several other less obvious strains into a tremendous album. Their songs are, whether their own or covers, all excellent but what really lifts this talented four piece is the fact that all are tremendous vocalists who also have the instrumental chops that allows their music to flow beautifully. At the moment I’m probably playing this album more than any other and will no doubt continue to do so for some time yet. Brilliant album by a brilliant band.
(If you try to get to westboundrangers.com all you will find is a fuel efficiency site!)
http://www.reverbnation.com/thewestboundrangers
Added 5th October 2014
Bob Wayne – Back to the camper. (Moon Unit Records)
This is Bob Wayne’s sixth album, the third that i’ve written about and for me, the best yet, containing more darkly dramatic stories than the other two put together. I actually loved both of those albums but this contains more fully formed stories bringing an update in not just attitude but a considerable leap forward in his songwriting. The playing is as always, excellent and his raw deep vocal style is perfect for telling his dark stories of life so far on ‘the wrong side of the tracks’ that he probably can’t actually see those tracks!
http://bobwayne.org/
Gordie MacKeeman and his Rhythm Boys – Pickin’ ‘n’ clickin’ (2013) (Self Released)
Promoted as folk and bluegrass, as usual these vague descriptions don’t sum up the extent of the roots music played by this band of talented musicians who are natives of Prince Edward island. The folk music has strong dashes of not only their local style but also Irish and Appalachian ‘hillbilly’ and includes a strong continental European influence ensuring they are very different to most other acoustic bands. Gordie has a pleasant warmth to his vocals on this tremendous collection of songs with some gorgeous harmonies, excellent playing and covering styles from downbeat ballads to upbeat old timey, even including six high quality instrumentals amongst the fourteen tracks. If you like acoustic music that is a little unusual, with various tempos and styles, even including a gypsy jazz feel on occasions, you really need a copy of this album!
http://www.gordiemackeeman.com/
Leyla McCalla – Vari Colored Songs: A tribute to Langston Hughes (Self Released)
This is an astounding album! Without a doubt there is no other musician like this hugely talented vocalist and multi instrumentalist whose sound is so incredibly unusual and addictive. She is helped out on this her debut recording by artists of the calibre of the Carolina Chocolate Drops, as well as Don Vappie and Luke Winslow King. As the title infers the album is a tribute to the poetry of Langston Hughes, with Leyla having written the music, but there are also Haiitian folk songs, an island from which Leyla originates although now living in New Orleans. It is impossible to label this music that has some strange percussive instrumentation along with banjo and even steel guitar. Everyone should have a copy of this beauty in their collection.
http://www.leylamccalla.com/
Front Country – Sake of the sound (Self Released)
A tremendously talented six piece band that includes Melody Walker and Jacob Groopman in it’s ranks. The album is labelled as ‘progressive bluegrass’ but as usual that terminology only paints half the picture. Certainly there is bluegrass, but there is also a powerful folksy feel and even some impressive gospel, all played and sung with a nice ‘edginess.’ Add this to their often virtuosic playing that sometimes has an improvisational feel, lovely expressive female lead vocal as well as an excellent male lead, tremendous harmonies and some very good songs and it is easy to see this band having some real success.
http://www.frontcountryband.com/
Added 7th October 2014
Joey Allcorn – Nothing left to prove (Self Released)
This is Joey’s third album and as with the previous two, is uniformly excellent. His band can handle just about anything thrown at them and Joey’s warm nasally vocal is perfectly suited to this blend that is part honky tonk and part country rock with an often raw bluesy edge.
I can’t understand how he’s not a household name everywhere; he certainly should be! Tremendous album!
http://wn.com/joey_allcorn
Red Eye Gravy – Dust Bowl hangover – Tired of it records
This is a brilliant album, but one that is difficult to describe briefly. Red Eye Gravy is an Oklahoman trio that not only generates huge power but are also masters of everything from hillbilly to alt. country, to blues, all performed with a tremendous, raw driving sound that only the best of punk bands were able to generate. There is a tremendous melodicism and the lead vocals couldn’t really be more evocative whilst at sixteen tracks it is generous but all are essential, with no filler whatsoever There is plenty of twang, banjo, fiddle, acoustic guitars, raw rock guitars, in fact something for everyone, even including a great version of the classic blues of Ain’t No Grave! Just don’t look at their photos! A scary looking band that have made a great album.
http://www.redeyegravyband.com/
Added 13th October 2014
Peter Mulvey – Silver ladder (Signature Sounds)
A terrific album by a man who just seems to get better with each recording and this is his thirteenth! There are few songwriters who can match him for diversity and poetic quality and whilst some spill over into metaphor it is rewarding and challenging absorbing and trying to work out his stories. Added to his writing abilities is his warm expressive vocal style that can often take on an evocative raw edge if that is what the story require. In my notes I mentioned that perhaps he is comparable to an artist such as John Hiatt but that is a compliment to Hiatt rather than Peter Mulvey. A tremendous recording that will enhance anyone’s collection!
http://www.petermulvey.com/
(Will get the full review treatment soon)
Red Pine Timber Company – Different Lonesome (Zine Records/Red Pine Records)
This is a simply stunning album! They formed in Scotland 5 years ago and this, their debut release, is one of the best alt. Country albums of the year. Eight members in a band that includes sax, trombone and a little trumpet with the usual country instrumentation, great vocals and playing and some tremendous songs. Not only is a lineup of eight members unusual but there is only one song that clocks in at less than 4 minutes and there are 5 at over 6 minutes and even one at 7 plus! Definitely a case of more is more! Great album.
http://www.redpinetimberco.com/
(Will get the full review treatment)
Hidden Highways – Old Hearts Reborn (Out on a limb records) 2013
An album I missed on release but consists of a musically sparse mellow collection of ten folksy Americana tales by a male and female duo. The vocals are always excellent as they would need to be on an album as slow and moody as this. Whilst it is musically mellow the lyrics draw the listener in to their atmospherically reflective world. The soft mellow vibe will probably be attractive to as many as will be put off for the same reason!
http://hiddenhighways.bandcamp.com/
Added 21st October 2014
Jonah Tolchin – Clover Lane (Yep Roc Records)
A tremendous album that veers from music rooted in and evocative of, old time ‘hillbilly’ right through to modern days blues rock with stop offs at alt. Country, folk, country and any number of other sub genres! Beautifully written songs, all arranged, sung and played in masterly fashion, with everything having a nice edginess that holds the attention. The album grabbed me from first play and keeps revealing more with every subsequent listening session!
http://www.jonahtolchin.com/
Full review may follow
The Mascot Theory – Hand me down miracles (Stone after Stone Records)
A brilliant album that creates the impression of being equal parts folk and country rock but as you delve into these twelve beautifully written and varied songs you realise there is a lot more involved here. The playing is excellent and the arrangements have a nice originality, the lead vocals are great and the band harmonies are some of the best around. Terrific album that I suspect will reveal even more depth with repeated listening sessions. What more could the discerning roots music fan want?
http://themascottheory.com/
Full review to follow
American Thread – Songs in the war (Self Released)
A terrific rootsy album that helps define modern day ‘alt. Country with the songs veering between an excellent rocked up sound and a slightly more tender ‘country’ sensibility, but always with a ‘punked up’ edginess. Brendan Ahern’s lyrics and vocals are much too raw to ever be termed mellow on an album full of a gritty realism, excellent arrangements and playing and a beautifully balanced recording.
http://americanthreadband.com/music
Full review to follow
Added 26th October 2014
Bob Cheevers – On earth as it is in Austin (Private Angel Records)
Bob Cheevers has been writing great songs for himself and many others for many years now and this is his own tenth album. He is hugely talented as a writer and no mean vocalist. His ‘problem’ is that his voice sounds, most of the time, exactly like Willie Nelson, in fact he actually mentions that in a joky way on one of the excellent songs on this album. As is so often the case when there is such a likeness it is both a blessing and a curse. The blessing is that he is able to perform evocatively on every song; the curse is that likeness with Willie that often encourages people to not take the man too seriously. That is a shame because in terms of his writing he is not like Willie and has always had plenty of original ideas as evidenced on this excellent recording. Buy it and whilst you can’t help but notice the similarities you should also hear the differences as well.
http://www.bobcheevers.com/
Lucinda Williams – Down where the spirit meets the bone (Highway 20 Records)
Several reviewers have said this could be the best work of Lucinda’s career although that may be a step too far, despite the mostly high quality music contained on the two discs. It is certainly justifiably a double album thanks to the all round quality and twenty very good songs, some of which are tremendous and do transport the listener back to Lucinda’s supreme early recordings. The playing is excellent, as mostly are Lucinda’s vocals but when she goes in to ‘wracked’ mode they are on occasions a little too wracked! Her overall sound and direction has changed little over the years but she can still rock and there are some very strong country songs on this excellent album.
http://lucindawilliams.com/
Fagervall Bjorkenvall – The silence (Rootsy)
Ten beautiful melancholic songs on this album by a Swedish duo that is new to me, although Tony Bjorkenvall was a member of The Willy Clay Band, whilst Marcus Fagervall won Swedish idol back in 2006! The harmonies echo the aching beauty of some of the brother acts of old with a haunting instrumentation reminiscent of some of Daniel Lanois work. Because of the mellow flow of the album i’m not sure how far they can take this hauntingly mellow generic strand but it certainly works well on this album.
https://www.facebook.com/FagervallBjorkenvall
Added 28th October 2014
Matthew the Oxx – Elephant (Self Released)
This is a modern day, intensely dramatic, folksy album by a talented, as well as prolific, singer songwriter from the Cotswolds. There is a haunting ethereal beauty to every song on this recording of sparse instrumentation that gradually works it’s way into the listeners consciousness. Fairly obviously music is in his genes with his father being Terry Oldfield and uncle, Mike, but he is very much his own stylist and has a warm, unusual, vocal style that should appeal to the majority, given the chance.
http://matthewtheoxx.com/
Mikey Classic and his Lonesome Spur (Farmageddon Records) 2013
Excellent raw original songs by a man who possesses a raw but expressive vocal style and with little support other than either his banjo or acoustic guitar but such is the power of his music, he needs nothing else.
http://www.reverbnation.com/mikeyclassichislonesomespur
The Don Darlings (Heptown Records)
A terrific album of some of the darkest southern country gothic you are ever likely to hear, with some great and memorable melodies, excellent arrangements and playing, allied to the deepest darkest vocals around. All this from a Swedish based band who perform with tremendous fire and passion!
https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Don-Darlings/164963240236902
Full review to follow
An album that almost defines easy going mid tempo roots music but whilst it is also sparse it has depth, with it’s well written, often humourous songs, amiable warm lead vocals and expert playing. It is an album that includes country, folk and various off shoots all blended into a style reminiscent of artists such as Guy Clark, John Prine, Townes etc and although not quite at those giddy height yet this is certainly a very good start!
http://thewellfeds.com/
The Mystix – Midnight in Mississippi (Self Released)
You always get more than what you pay for from this hugely talented ‘supergroup’ of roots musicians. They play blues and country, most of the time without blending the two, but bringing their own particular sense of style to every song which ultimately blends those individual songs as if there is no generic separation. Their own originals blend with ‘covers’ to ensure the listener has a trip through the very best of roots music all played by virtuosic musicians who ‘feel’ the music, all capped off by the raw, whiskey soaked, but melodic vocals of Jo Lily. A supergroup of super musicians who have made yet another super album! Long may they continue to do so.
http://www.themystix.com/
Trailerpark Idlers – Fifty gallons of lightning
This is a strange, unusual album that has it’s roots in ‘old America’ despite the fact that this excellent and quite original band are Swedish! The vocals and harmonies are all good, but different in texture and tone to most of what I listen to. Part of the reason is probably the different accents but there is a brooding, slightly eerie atmosphere to many of the excellent songs, as if the band have discovered a sound that slips between the cracks of country, alt. country, country rock and folk enabling them to bring an otherworldly persective to their music. A really good album that I’m sure I will have more to say about as time goes by!
http://trailerparkidlers.com/
The Westbound Rangers – Gone for way too long (2013) (Self Released)
This is another terrific album that, had I discovered it last year, would have got the full review treatment. They are Nashville based but are certainly not from the bland factory produced side of the city! They blend what is predominately ‘old timey’ music with bluegrass, alt. country, country rock and several other less obvious strains into a tremendous album. Their songs are, whether their own or covers, all excellent but what really lifts this talented four piece is the fact that all are tremendous vocalists who also have the instrumental chops that allows their music to flow beautifully. At the moment I’m probably playing this album more than any other and will no doubt continue to do so for some time yet. Brilliant album by a brilliant band.
(If you try to get to westboundrangers.com all you will find is a fuel efficiency site!)
http://www.reverbnation.com/thewestboundrangers
Added 5th October 2014
Bob Wayne – Back to the camper. (Moon Unit Records)
This is Bob Wayne’s sixth album, the third that i’ve written about and for me, the best yet, containing more darkly dramatic stories than the other two put together. I actually loved both of those albums but this contains more fully formed stories bringing an update in not just attitude but a considerable leap forward in his songwriting. The playing is as always, excellent and his raw deep vocal style is perfect for telling his dark stories of life so far on ‘the wrong side of the tracks’ that he probably can’t actually see those tracks!
http://bobwayne.org/
Gordie MacKeeman and his Rhythm Boys – Pickin’ ‘n’ clickin’ (2013) (Self Released)
Promoted as folk and bluegrass, as usual these vague descriptions don’t sum up the extent of the roots music played by this band of talented musicians who are natives of Prince Edward island. The folk music has strong dashes of not only their local style but also Irish and Appalachian ‘hillbilly’ and includes a strong continental European influence ensuring they are very different to most other acoustic bands. Gordie has a pleasant warmth to his vocals on this tremendous collection of songs with some gorgeous harmonies, excellent playing and covering styles from downbeat ballads to upbeat old timey, even including six high quality instrumentals amongst the fourteen tracks. If you like acoustic music that is a little unusual, with various tempos and styles, even including a gypsy jazz feel on occasions, you really need a copy of this album!
http://www.gordiemackeeman.com/
Leyla McCalla – Vari Colored Songs: A tribute to Langston Hughes (Self Released)
This is an astounding album! Without a doubt there is no other musician like this hugely talented vocalist and multi instrumentalist whose sound is so incredibly unusual and addictive. She is helped out on this her debut recording by artists of the calibre of the Carolina Chocolate Drops, as well as Don Vappie and Luke Winslow King. As the title infers the album is a tribute to the poetry of Langston Hughes, with Leyla having written the music, but there are also Haiitian folk songs, an island from which Leyla originates although now living in New Orleans. It is impossible to label this music that has some strange percussive instrumentation along with banjo and even steel guitar. Everyone should have a copy of this beauty in their collection.
http://www.leylamccalla.com/
Front Country – Sake of the sound (Self Released)
A tremendously talented six piece band that includes Melody Walker and Jacob Groopman in it’s ranks. The album is labelled as ‘progressive bluegrass’ but as usual that terminology only paints half the picture. Certainly there is bluegrass, but there is also a powerful folksy feel and even some impressive gospel, all played and sung with a nice ‘edginess.’ Add this to their often virtuosic playing that sometimes has an improvisational feel, lovely expressive female lead vocal as well as an excellent male lead, tremendous harmonies and some very good songs and it is easy to see this band having some real success.
http://www.frontcountryband.com/
Added 7th October 2014
Joey Allcorn – Nothing left to prove (Self Released)
This is Joey’s third album and as with the previous two, is uniformly excellent. His band can handle just about anything thrown at them and Joey’s warm nasally vocal is perfectly suited to this blend that is part honky tonk and part country rock with an often raw bluesy edge.
I can’t understand how he’s not a household name everywhere; he certainly should be! Tremendous album!
http://wn.com/joey_allcorn
Red Eye Gravy – Dust Bowl hangover – Tired of it records
This is a brilliant album, but one that is difficult to describe briefly. Red Eye Gravy is an Oklahoman trio that not only generates huge power but are also masters of everything from hillbilly to alt. country, to blues, all performed with a tremendous, raw driving sound that only the best of punk bands were able to generate. There is a tremendous melodicism and the lead vocals couldn’t really be more evocative whilst at sixteen tracks it is generous but all are essential, with no filler whatsoever There is plenty of twang, banjo, fiddle, acoustic guitars, raw rock guitars, in fact something for everyone, even including a great version of the classic blues of Ain’t No Grave! Just don’t look at their photos! A scary looking band that have made a great album.
http://www.redeyegravyband.com/
Added 13th October 2014
Peter Mulvey – Silver ladder (Signature Sounds)
A terrific album by a man who just seems to get better with each recording and this is his thirteenth! There are few songwriters who can match him for diversity and poetic quality and whilst some spill over into metaphor it is rewarding and challenging absorbing and trying to work out his stories. Added to his writing abilities is his warm expressive vocal style that can often take on an evocative raw edge if that is what the story require. In my notes I mentioned that perhaps he is comparable to an artist such as John Hiatt but that is a compliment to Hiatt rather than Peter Mulvey. A tremendous recording that will enhance anyone’s collection!
http://www.petermulvey.com/
(Will get the full review treatment soon)
Red Pine Timber Company – Different Lonesome (Zine Records/Red Pine Records)
This is a simply stunning album! They formed in Scotland 5 years ago and this, their debut release, is one of the best alt. Country albums of the year. Eight members in a band that includes sax, trombone and a little trumpet with the usual country instrumentation, great vocals and playing and some tremendous songs. Not only is a lineup of eight members unusual but there is only one song that clocks in at less than 4 minutes and there are 5 at over 6 minutes and even one at 7 plus! Definitely a case of more is more! Great album.
http://www.redpinetimberco.com/
(Will get the full review treatment)
Hidden Highways – Old Hearts Reborn (Out on a limb records) 2013
An album I missed on release but consists of a musically sparse mellow collection of ten folksy Americana tales by a male and female duo. The vocals are always excellent as they would need to be on an album as slow and moody as this. Whilst it is musically mellow the lyrics draw the listener in to their atmospherically reflective world. The soft mellow vibe will probably be attractive to as many as will be put off for the same reason!
http://hiddenhighways.bandcamp.com/
Added 21st October 2014
Jonah Tolchin – Clover Lane (Yep Roc Records)
A tremendous album that veers from music rooted in and evocative of, old time ‘hillbilly’ right through to modern days blues rock with stop offs at alt. Country, folk, country and any number of other sub genres! Beautifully written songs, all arranged, sung and played in masterly fashion, with everything having a nice edginess that holds the attention. The album grabbed me from first play and keeps revealing more with every subsequent listening session!
http://www.jonahtolchin.com/
Full review may follow
The Mascot Theory – Hand me down miracles (Stone after Stone Records)
A brilliant album that creates the impression of being equal parts folk and country rock but as you delve into these twelve beautifully written and varied songs you realise there is a lot more involved here. The playing is excellent and the arrangements have a nice originality, the lead vocals are great and the band harmonies are some of the best around. Terrific album that I suspect will reveal even more depth with repeated listening sessions. What more could the discerning roots music fan want?
http://themascottheory.com/
Full review to follow
American Thread – Songs in the war (Self Released)
A terrific rootsy album that helps define modern day ‘alt. Country with the songs veering between an excellent rocked up sound and a slightly more tender ‘country’ sensibility, but always with a ‘punked up’ edginess. Brendan Ahern’s lyrics and vocals are much too raw to ever be termed mellow on an album full of a gritty realism, excellent arrangements and playing and a beautifully balanced recording.
http://americanthreadband.com/music
Full review to follow
Added 26th October 2014
Bob Cheevers – On earth as it is in Austin (Private Angel Records)
Bob Cheevers has been writing great songs for himself and many others for many years now and this is his own tenth album. He is hugely talented as a writer and no mean vocalist. His ‘problem’ is that his voice sounds, most of the time, exactly like Willie Nelson, in fact he actually mentions that in a joky way on one of the excellent songs on this album. As is so often the case when there is such a likeness it is both a blessing and a curse. The blessing is that he is able to perform evocatively on every song; the curse is that likeness with Willie that often encourages people to not take the man too seriously. That is a shame because in terms of his writing he is not like Willie and has always had plenty of original ideas as evidenced on this excellent recording. Buy it and whilst you can’t help but notice the similarities you should also hear the differences as well.
http://www.bobcheevers.com/
Lucinda Williams – Down where the spirit meets the bone (Highway 20 Records)
Several reviewers have said this could be the best work of Lucinda’s career although that may be a step too far, despite the mostly high quality music contained on the two discs. It is certainly justifiably a double album thanks to the all round quality and twenty very good songs, some of which are tremendous and do transport the listener back to Lucinda’s supreme early recordings. The playing is excellent, as mostly are Lucinda’s vocals but when she goes in to ‘wracked’ mode they are on occasions a little too wracked! Her overall sound and direction has changed little over the years but she can still rock and there are some very strong country songs on this excellent album.
http://lucindawilliams.com/
Fagervall Bjorkenvall – The silence (Rootsy)
Ten beautiful melancholic songs on this album by a Swedish duo that is new to me, although Tony Bjorkenvall was a member of The Willy Clay Band, whilst Marcus Fagervall won Swedish idol back in 2006! The harmonies echo the aching beauty of some of the brother acts of old with a haunting instrumentation reminiscent of some of Daniel Lanois work. Because of the mellow flow of the album i’m not sure how far they can take this hauntingly mellow generic strand but it certainly works well on this album.
https://www.facebook.com/FagervallBjorkenvall
Added 28th October 2014
Matthew the Oxx – Elephant (Self Released)
This is a modern day, intensely dramatic, folksy album by a talented, as well as prolific, singer songwriter from the Cotswolds. There is a haunting ethereal beauty to every song on this recording of sparse instrumentation that gradually works it’s way into the listeners consciousness. Fairly obviously music is in his genes with his father being Terry Oldfield and uncle, Mike, but he is very much his own stylist and has a warm, unusual, vocal style that should appeal to the majority, given the chance.
http://matthewtheoxx.com/
Mikey Classic and his Lonesome Spur (Farmageddon Records) 2013
Excellent raw original songs by a man who possesses a raw but expressive vocal style and with little support other than either his banjo or acoustic guitar but such is the power of his music, he needs nothing else.
http://www.reverbnation.com/mikeyclassichislonesomespur
The Don Darlings (Heptown Records)
A terrific album of some of the darkest southern country gothic you are ever likely to hear, with some great and memorable melodies, excellent arrangements and playing, allied to the deepest darkest vocals around. All this from a Swedish based band who perform with tremendous fire and passion!
https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Don-Darlings/164963240236902
Full review to follow