The title of Cahalen Morrison’s latest solo effort — The Flower of Muscle Shoals — implies a nostalgic tie to roots music history. Through his duo work with Eli West, Morrison has already demonstrated a reverence (and considerable talent) for acoustic Americana. The Flower of […]
The alt-country scene is crowded these days, which is great for fans but tough for artists looking to stand out. Fortunately for Amy McCarley, the first thing that strikes a new listener is her distinctive voice. There are shades of genre luminaries […]
The Second Hand opens with an energetic live reading of Susan Gibson’s Top-40 masterpiece, the coming-of-age anthem, “Wide Open Spaces.” It’s the song that put her on the songwriting map (and the Dixie Chicks on the path to country mega-stardom), and […]
I’m always surprised by how challenging it is to assemble the ubiquitous “Year-end Top 10” post. When asked to distill a year of great music into just ten albums, I usually find myself going back and forth, constantly revising the […]
Attention-grabbing contemporary blues acts — bands that really encourage listeners to pull classic albums out of rotation — can be hard to find. Fair or not, it usually takes something special to pique my interest; exceptional tunesmithing and musicianship, a […]
The blues is first and foremost a vocal tradition, but the guitar has played a prominent role in defining the genre’s sound. Recent instrumental releases from Tinsley Ellis and Ronnie Earl put the instrument front and center. Get It! by Tinsley […]
On my guitar blog New.Old.Stock., I have a semi-regular column called “These are a Few of My Favorite Tones,” highlighting my favorite recorded guitar sounds. Back in March I dedicated an edition of “My Favorite Tones” to acoustic Americana music. […]
It was the blues, laden as it is with guitars and angst, that initially drew me to roots music. 2013 has seen a bumper crop of solid blues recordings, including these three highlights. “Out of My Mind” by Cassie Taylor […]
Washington DC is a city of professional transients, drawing folks from a wide range of regional and cultural backgrounds; it can’t always be easy for an artist to find the common denominator in a crowded Saturday-night bar. Nonetheless, the Lizzy […]
On my guitar blog New.Old.Stock., I have a semi-regular column called “These are a Few of My Favorite Tones,” highlighting my favorite recorded guitar sounds. Modern Americana music is guitar-centric, and I known there are more than a few pickers […]
