Christmas collections are often a dubious proposition, sets of songs that harbor some measure of holiday cheer but then fade into irreverence the rest of the year. Oftentimes the material is otherwise inconsequential — after all, is another take on […]
Here’s a look at five noteworthy new releases—everything from folk to power pop to country: Various artists, Christmas on the Lam and Other Songs from the Season. A Christmas album already? Well, if presidential election season can last two years, […]
Where to begin? The Americanafest can be described in many ways — entertaining, enlightening and — to be absolutely honest — exhausting. But mostly it’s amazing. Six days of shows, showcases, discussions, and seminars involving the brightest lights in Americana […]
In the late 1930s, as those living on the land that became the Great Smoky Mountains National Park were leaving (some voluntarily, some forcibly) their homesteads, farms, mines and logging camps, folklorist Joseph Hall collected field recordings of their dialectical […]
After describing RockyGrass as the perfect festival last year, I actually need to amend that sentiment. There is no such thing as perfection, yet many of us constantly strive for it. I would say it is more like a Three Michelin […]
It’s Creedence as you’ve never heard them-at least not in this country. This Latin tribute to CCR features a bevy of Latin artists including Los Lobos, Los Lonely Boys and Ozomatli as well as ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons teamed up […]
The difference between ska, rocksteady and reggae may be lost on casual listeners, but even without an academic understanding of Jamaican music’s evolution, rocksteady’s slower tempos, heavy backbeat and harmony vocals will get listeners on their feet. In celebration of […]
If Alligator Records didn’t exist, somebody would have to invent it. Over the years it’s become one of those things you take for granted, but one no blues fan could do without it. The umbrella that founder Bruce Iglauer erected […]
Attempting to emulate the an Americana goddess like Emmylou Harris is no mean feat, but the mostly unknown artists that contribute to To Emmylou do an especially impressive job of serving up songs associated with today’s reigning queen of country. […]
When Canada’s Stony Plain label turned 10 years old, it celebrated with a compilation album of new and old material from its vaults. The record apparently met with some success, because the company has reprised the concept every five years […]
