Archive | 2012
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Book Review: The Rolling Stones and Philosophy: It’s Just a Thought Away
The Rolling Stones have been called many things over the years, but they have, rarely, if ever, been viewed as philosophers – until now.
Feature Review: Wayne Toups, Steve Riley, and Wilson Savoy, Band Courtbouillon
Wayne Toups, Steve Riley, and Wilson Savoy Band Courtbouillon [Valcour Records (2011)] It’s not often three Cajun accordionists come together as a band, especially when they lead their own aggregations but that’s the case here with Wayne Toups (Zydecajun), Steve Riley (Mamou Playboys) and Wilson Savoy (Pine Leaf Boys). Initially, Savoy’s Pine Leaf Boys performed at a ceremony [...]
Review: Maria Muldaur, Steady Love
Steady Love is an ass-kicking evening at the roadhouse with a surprisingly successful collection of blues numbers that border at times on R&B.
Review: Chuck Prophet, Temple Beautiful
Temple Beautiful is a soaring, passionate work that captures the grandeur and mystery of one of the world’s greatest cities.
Review: Arty Hill, Another Lost Highway
Arty Hill Another Lost Highway [Self-released (2011)] Ever since Hank Williams warbled about that forlorn lost highway towards the end of short, tragic career, it’s become a symbol of country lore. Baltimore’s Arty Hill finds his way on a similar lost highway, but not necessarily the one Williams traveled. Instead, Hill’s is comically littered with 12-pack mornings, [...]
Review: Hekla Stålstrenga, Makramé
This is the second recording by the Norwegian band Hekla Stalstrenga, formed by fiddler Ragnhild Furebotten and guitarist Tore Bruvoll back in 2008. The group plays traditional music from northern Norway with some original compositions mixed in.
Review: The Poison Oaks, Pine
The Poison Oaks is a talented, 14- member collective that includes famed drummer Dave Mattacks and singer-songwriter Jennifer Kimball. Founder and lead singer Laura Cortese has an ethereal voice very suitable to the alt-pop on the way-too-brief Pine.
Review: Anita Skorgan, På gyllen grunn
Norwegian singer and songwriter Anita Skorgan is well known in her native country as a pop and contemporary singer, with strong ties to Norway’s entries in the Eurovision Song Contest in the 1990s. So it’s not surprising to hear that her first release in 10 years, På gyllen grunn a recording of stark, minimalistic songs inspired by artist Emanuel Vigeland, has met with mixed reviews in Norway.
Feature Review: Bua, Down the Green Fields
Sometimes all you really need to say in a review is “Damn, they killed it.”
So I’m happy to say about the new album, Down the Green Fields, from Irish-American traditionalists Bua: Damn, they killed it. Seriously.
Review: Bahamas, Barchords
It’s no mystery to me why Bahamas (a.k.a. Afie Jurvanen) has been quietly building anticipation for his solo material since releasing the Juno-nominated Pink Strat a couple years ago: He backs up his easygoing, warm, and humble attitude with impeccable skills as a guitarist (of course), songwriter, and arranger. Barchords, his second disc, is steeped in classic pop and soul, a 3 a.m. form of Motown.
Review: Leni Stern, Sabani
Leni Stern’s new album is a worthy compatriot of the work of other Western artists who have been influence by and collaborated with Mali’s musicians, such as Corey Harris Bonnie Raitt, Ry Cooder, Robert Plant, and Taj Mahal, adding her own jazz influences and a singer-songwriter tinge.
