From CountryMusicPride.com by Jim Simpson In celebration of Record Store Day, we’ve decided to give away a copy of Those Darlins’ self-titled debut VINYL album! Yes, you can fire up that old turntable (or whatever else you want to fire […]
Jim Simpson is an award-winning fiction writer and freelance music critic. A native of the wilds of Florida's Gulf Coast, he now resides on the scruffy fringes of Atlanta, Georgia.
He frequently writes about music, with his taste spanning all genres: bluegrass, Americana, classic country, alt-country, western swing, blues, classical, rock 'n' roll, punk, reggae, klezmer, and British isles folk (to name but a few).
He once sang "Happy Birthday" (with about 10,000 other people) to Joni Mitchell, and has seen such legends as Miles Davis, The Incredible Jimmy Smith, Rockpile, Blue Rodeo, King Sunny Ade, David Bowie, Joan Jett, Robyn Hitchcock, R.E.M., Rosanne Cash, Elvis Costello and Bob Dylan live in concert. He has interviewed Those Darlins, John Linnell of They Might Be Giants, Marshall Chapman, Charlie Louvin, Derek Hoke, Jim Avett, the Secret Sisters, and Meghan McCormick.
Jim is a former editor for Awaiting the Flood and has written for The Atlanta Music Guide, Hellbomb, Earbuddy, The Weeklings, The Book Shopper, and The Nervous Breakdown. He recently finished his first novel, and if all goes well it should be in bookstores sometime before his death.
From CountryMusicPride.com by Jim Simpson In celebration of Record Store Day, we’ve decided to give away a copy of Those Darlins’ self-titled debut VINYL album! Yes, you can fire up that old turntable (or whatever else you want to fire […]
Originally published at CountryMusicPride. by Jim Simpson Sophomore efforts are often notoriously inferior to a band’s successful debut (think Spin Doctors, Georgia Satellites, Hootie and the Blowfish). Only the very best artists avoid the Sophomore Slump, the dreaded second album, […]
Originally published at CountryMusicPride by Jim Simpson Some music is simply meant to make you feel good. Western swing certainly does that, and Johnny Gimble, one of the genre’s fiddle and mandolin virtuosos, is still swingin’ at 84. Celebrating With […]
Originally appeared at CountryMusicPride.com by Jim Simpson What better time to honor a musical legend like John Prine than when he’s still very much alive and producing great music? (He has a new live album coming May 25 that we’ll […]
(From CountryMusicPride.com) The Sundance Channel is well into the second season of its critically acclaimed music/talk original series “Spectacle: Elvis Costello with…”. This week — Jan. 20, 10 p.m. EST — features the first of a two-part episode with guest […]
(Originally published at CountryMusicPride.com, Dec. 1, 2009.) This is not your father’s bluegrass. Progressive isn’t a strong enough description for The Greencards: otherworldly is more suitable. The trio at the core of this band consists of two Aussies and a […]
(Originally published by Jim Simpson on CountryMusicPride.com, Jan. 17, 2010.) The Sundance Channel is well into the second season of its critically acclaimed music/talk original series “Spectacle: Elvis Costello with…”. This week — Jan. 20, 10 p.m. EST — features […]
(Originally published Dec. 30, 2009, CountryMusicPride.com) Some artists sneak up on you from out of the haze of a purple dusk, tap you on the shoulder and hand you a precious box. Tiny Television’s Mission Statement (Magnolia Records, 2009) is […]
(Originally published Jan. 15, 2010, CountryMusicPride.com) It’s been eight years since Freedy Johnston’s last album, so what does he open with on this new one but an accordion and a ukulele. Welcome back Freedy, welcome back. Recorded in Nashville at […]
(Originally published 9/25/09, CountryMusicPride.com) Atlanta, GA — I’ve never liked comparisons. If a reviewer must mention how closely one band’s sound resembles another, that only reduces the band to mere cover-band status. Just my opinion, but hey, that’s what I’m […]