2013’s Elite Half-Hundred – Part II

Part II of 50 keepers from the year since passed: Selections include albums by CLAIRE LYNCH, FRANK SOLIVAN & DIRTY KITCHEN, BOBBY RUSH, MARY J. BLIGE, SAMANTHA FISH, et al.
by David McGee
 

 
 

Swingin’ and A-Surfin’, All Summer Long: Revisited

A fresh look at one of our 2014 summer picks, SUMMER BEACH PARTY, a collection of tunes from the beach movies of the '60s, with some curious omissions to account for.
by David McGee
 

 

 

Tested In the Furnace of Affliction

SAM BUTLER, former lead guitarist with the Blind Boys of Alabama, makes his solo debut with a most unusual spiritual album--with songs by Springsteen, Waits, Curtis Mayfield, Johnny Cash, et al.
by David McGee
 

 
 

Stirring the Heart, Captivating the Mind

The young order of contemplative nuns based in Missouri and known as BENEDICTINES OF MARY, QUEEN OF APOSTLES stir the heart and captivate the mind on EASTER AT EPHESUS.
by David McGee
 

 

 

Christmas, Close to Home, Hearth and Heart

In his songs about home, hearth and heart, RICK LANG evokes a down-home Christmas celebration, with the help of some talented musicians who took his songs to unexpected places.
by David McGee
 

 
 

Aiming for Higher Ground

A stirring new live album from young blues sensation CHRISTONE 'KINGFISH' INGRAM and a fine new solo outing from his producer, TOM HAMBRIDGE.
by David McGee
 

 

 

Dem Bones, Dem Bones, Dem Beautiful Bones

On her sixth album, Kansas City-born and –bred soul/blues chanteuse and pianist Kelley Hunt puts it all together—the writing, the singing, the playing—and says what’s in her heart and on her mind in compelling fashion.
by David McGee
 

 
 
 

Wasn’t That a Time?

In 1966 BOB DYLAN recorded BLONDE ON BLONDE in Nashville and the floodgates opened. A new double-CD collection documents some great music made in Nashville from the mid-'60s through the early '70s.
by David McGee
 

 

 

Message Delivered

Chicago blues man DAVE SPECTER is back with his first album in four years, MESSAGE IN BLUE, and it's a keeper in the blues, soul and R&B categories all. Soul singer OTIS CLAY makes his Delmark label debut in spectacular fashion...
by David McGee
 

 
 

Otherworldly Sensations of Time and Space

A COSMIC RHYTHM WITH EACH STROKE, by VIJAY IYER and WADADA LEO SMITH, is grounded in human feeling and promises to stand the test of time.
by David McGee
 

 

 

150 Years of Touching the ‘Fount of Tears’

Next year an American treasure, the FISK JUBILEE SINGERS, will celebrate 150 years of bringing spiritual messages of hope, redemption and salvation to the world. The celebration begins with a great live album marking the occasion.
by David McGee
 

 
 

Christmas Beyond the Blue

BLUES, BLUES CHRISTMAS VOLUME 3 leads this revised and updated review of four essential blues Christmas albums, including last year's DEATH MIGHT BE YOUR SANTA CLAUS
by David McGee