Looking Back, Looking Ahead

Posthumous releases are always hit-or-miss. After all, demos and rehearsals were never created to be shared with the general public. And, while they can provide collectors and completists with some perspective into the mind of an artist, they don’t always provide the best listening experience. That’s what reviewer Don McLeese found with the latest from gone-too-soon singer-songwriter Jeff Buckley. Meanwhile, Gram Parsons enthusiasts the Wild Feathers are back with a promising sophomore release. The enigmatic Esperanza Spalding welcomes us into her world while, on the opposite end of the musical spectrum, multi-talented mandolinist Frank Solivan serves up some delicious new bluegrass stylings. Dig in!