Bluegrass Cum Laude, And Then Some

DOYLE LAWSON & QUICKSILVER begin 2015 with honors with bluegrass cum laude on IN SESSION. Highest honors here, and well earned.
by David McGee
 

 
 

Slim In Name Only

ANTHOLOGY, a new double-CD overview, chronicles the tough, tender and topical sides of TOO SLIM AND THE TAILDRAGGERS, one of America's best bands
by David McGee
 

 

 

Sean Costello, Fully Present

Finally seeing the light of day after being recorded in 2005, SEAN COSTELLO's IN THE MAGIC SHOP is more than a fitting final tribute--it's a masterpiece by an artist who is fully present in all dimensions.
by David McGee
 

 
 

Christmas Blues with a Positive Spin

Appraising a Yuletide gem from Carolina beach music legend, soul veteran CLIFFORD CURRY, and a look back at Curry's interesting career.
by David McGee
 

 

 

45 Years Later, Still Right on Time

The tipoff is in the title: MERRY CHRISTMAS WITH MARTY ROBBINS. One of country's greatest singers is intimately involved in the thoughtful songs he shares with us for the Yuletide including two of his own.
by David McGee
 

 
 

Everything Old Is New Again

On CHRISTMAS, the platinum-plus Australian Christian artist PETER FURLER teams with Vintage Christmas aficionado DAVID IAN for a soothing, introspective, jazz-based seasonal rumination.
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
 

 
 

Christmas in Verse, 2021

Timeless Christmas poems by ALFRED, LORD TENNYSON, DOLLIE RADFORD, ROBERT SOUTHWELL, et al. plus Christmas music videos featuring THE POGUES, THE PRETENDERS, THE ROYAL GUARDSMEN, THE SALSOUL ORCHESTRA and THE SUPREMES.
by David McGee
 

 

 

Très engagé E una gioia di vivere (or, You Go, Girl)

Exploring the vagaries of love in French and Italian songs, CATARINA ZAPPONI delivers a seductive gem on ROMANTICA, her first album since 2001 and well worth the wait.
by David McGee
 

 
 

Finding the Fountain of Youth

Chicago blues veteran BILLY BOY ARNOLD teams up with producer DUKE ROBILLARD and band for a powerhouse set on THE BLUES SOUL OF BILLY BOY ARNOLD, one of 2014's finest blues releases.
by David McGee
 

 

 

Hurricane Warning

Almost a half-century into his career. BOBBY 'HURRICANE' SPENCER delivers big-time on 'HURRICANE UNLEASHED,' singing some hard-luck blues but also revealing himself as a true romantic, in spite of heartbreak.
by David McGee
 

 
 

Full-Bodied Blues

COME BACK BABY, LINSEY ALEXANER's second Delmark release, exceeds his 2012 effort in all respects--singing, playing and writing. It's an album for those who love their blues full bodied.
by David McGee