Various Artists
10 Years of European World of Bluegrass
Strictly Country Records
4.5 stars (out of 5)
So, the high cost of gas is putting the brakes on your festival-going plans for the summer? Never fear: Producer Liz Meyer and the fine folks at the European World of Bluegrass have put together the festival to end all festivals on [...]
Archive for June, 2008
“10 Years of European World of Bluegrass” by Various Artists
Posted in 4 and 4.5 Star Albums, Bluegrass, Maria Morgan Davis on June 30, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
“Still Crooked” by Crooked Still
Posted in 4 and 4.5 Star Albums, Americana, Bluegrass, Donald Teplyske, Folk, Old-time, Uncategorized on June 29, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Crooked Still
Still Crooked
Signature Sounds
4.5 stars (out of 5)
From the opening seconds of Ola Belle Reed’s timeless “Undone in Sorrow,” listeners sense they are in for a treat with Crooked Still’s third album. The promise is fulfilled in each of the album’s 44 minutes.
Crooked Still’s story is well known. As part of the emerging young [...]
“3D” by Casey Driessen
Posted in 4 and 4.5 Star Albums, Americana, Bluegrass, Kevin Kehrberg, Rock, tagged Kevin Kehrberg on June 26, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Casey Driessen
3D
Sugar Hill Records
4.5 stars (out of 5)
Upon entering Casey Driessen’s 3D into iTunes, the word Unclassifiable appears in the application’s Genre column. Coincidence or not, this debut solo project from one of today’s most promising young fiddlers is certainly beyond category. After what sounds like a storm siren—perhaps a beacon to listeners that this [...]
“The Band of Heathens” by The Band of Heathens
Posted in Americana, Blues, Country, Rock, Tim Walsh on June 24, 2008 | 1 Comment »
The Band of Heathens
The Band of Heathens
BOH Records
3 stars (out of 5)
The Band of Heathens was born at the legendary Momo’s in Austin, where its singers and songwriters Colin Brooks, Ed Jurdi, and Gordy Quist transformed their regular co-billings into on-stage collaborations. The Heathens quickly became heroes in the local club scene and started racking [...]
“Now” by Boudler Acoustic Society
Posted in Americana, Maria Morgan Davis on June 24, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Boulder Acoustic Society
Now
Self-released
1 star (out of 5)
In many ways, the Boulder Acoustic Society offers up typical new acoustic music. There’s the bouncy, clean-cut jive, the Chet Baker vocal stylings, the “It’s a Small World” approach to material, where Latin blends into gospel blends into jazz, and the resulting juggernaut deracinates everything in its path.
But the [...]
“Tuned In” by Joe Mullins and the Radio Ramblers
Posted in Aaron Keith Harris, Bluegrass, Gospel on June 8, 2008 | 1 Comment »
Joe Mullins and the Radio Ramblers
Tuned In
Self-released
3.5 stars (out of 5)
Many remember Joe Mullins for his world-class banjo and tenor vocal work with the Traditional Grass and with Longview.
Not everyone knows that for the last several years, Joe has been making his living with his growing Classic Country Radio enterprise in southwest Ohio, with AM [...]
“Asking for Flowers” by Kathleen Edwards
Posted in 5 Star Albums, Americana, Singer-songwriter, Tim Walsh, Uncategorized on June 8, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Kathleen Edwards
Asking for Flowers
Zoe/Rounder Records
5 stars (out of 5)
Credit Canadian Kathleen Edwards for taking the time after 2005’s Back to Me to not just restock her inventory of songs, but to come up with a magnum opus on her third full-length release stateside. With eleven new masterpieces, affective all-out vocals, brilliant backing, and Jim [...]
“Last Good Kiss” by Last Train Home
Posted in 4 and 4.5 Star Albums, Americana, Maria Morgan Davis on June 8, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Last Train Home
Last Good Kiss
Red Beet Records
4 stars (out of 5)
If you’ve overdosed on teen celebs (well-behaved and otherwise), D.C. band Last Train Home has the cure: music by and for grown-ups. Their latest release is packed with intelligent, emotionally truthful lyrics, tuneful vocals, and a scintillating mix of influences from 80s power pop and [...]
“A Bluegrass Tribute to the Stars of Country” by Various Artists
Posted in Bluegrass, Country, Tim Walsh on June 7, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Various Artists
A Bluegrass Tribute to the Stars of Country
Pinecastle Records
2.5 Stars (out of 5)
Well, I guess A Bluegrass Tribute to the Stars of Country certainly sounds better than A Record Label’s Attempt to Boost its Back Catalogue. Pinecastle Records has combed its vaults and come up with fourteen convenient covers for the concept. There are [...]
“Made in the Shade” by the Red Stick Ramblers
Posted in 4 and 4.5 Star Albums, Americana, Country, Katy Leonard, Old-time on June 5, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Red Stick Ramblers
Made in the Shade
Sugar Hill Records
4 stars (out of 5)
The Red Stick Ramblers’ Made in the Shade provides a diverse mix of
musical styles and experiences, all inspired by the rich and tasty
musical gumbo of Louisiana. Predominantly filled with Cajun dance
tunes, this album offers something for fans of almost any genre.
The unrushed [...]
