The Romantic

WILLIE NELSON returns at his best on LET'S FACE THE MUSIC AND DANCE, a torch album chronicling a bruised but not broken romantic's tumultuous journey of the heart.
by David McGee
 

 
 

A Final Communiqué, Tough and Tender

The late Cesaria Evora, the 'barefoot diva' who put Cape Verde's morna music on the global map, is fully present on Mãe Carinhosa, a newly released collection of her final recordings.
by David McGee
 

 

 

Being About Muscular Music and Timely Topics

Australian blues guitar great GEOFF ATCHISON has re-released his outstanding 2005 album, LITTLE BIG MEN, with four rare bonus tracks added to the original's host of smart, topical, ever-relevant songs.
by David McGee
 

 
 

The Songs Linger On…

Multiple JUNO award winner OLD MAN LUEDECKE has one of the sleeper albums of 2013 in TENDER IS THE NIGHT. Produced by TIM O'BRIEN, its songs linger in memory and beg repeat listens.
by David McGee
 

 

 

For a Friend

Just over the horizon, out of sight, beyond the ear’s reach, love, like the road, goes on forever. NANCY CASSIDY celebrates life for an ailing friend on SONG OF JOY.
by David McGee
 

 
 

In the Mist of a Memory

86-year-old BOYD LEE DUNLOP survives a near-fatal heart attack to triumph on his second album, THE LAKE REFLECTIONS, a collection of solo piano improvisations.
by David McGee
 

 

 

A New Spin on the Old Chanson

On VINTAGE FRANCE, the classic French chanson is alive and hip in the hands of expert practitioners such as MADELEINE PEYROUX, JULIETTE GRECO and others.
by David McGee
 

 
 

In a Quiet Way, Quietly Moving

IN A QUIET WAY, QUIETLY MOVING--Being about TERRY ALLEN's Bottom of the World; PHARIS & JASON ROMERO's Long Gone Out West Blues; and the WILLIAMSON BROTHERS' Bluegrass!
by David McGee
 

 

 

Voices From Beyond the Glow in the Sunset Skies

An all-star cast of roots songwriters, musicians and vocalists join forces on GOD DIDN'T CHOOSE SIDES: Civil War True Stories about Real People, Volume 1. Ye shall be moved.
by David McGee
 

 
 

Funk-tion At the Junction

At age 77, BOBBY RUSH is reinvigorated, as he proves in the potent performances he musters on his latest album, DOWN IN LOUISIANA, found at the junction where funk, soul and blues meet.
by David McGee
 

 

 

But Beautiful

A pair of albums designed to spur reflection share ALBUM OF THE WEEK honors: NEARNESS, a classy batch of standards by TINA BRUHN and JOHNNY O'NEAL, and BEATLERIANAS by Carlos Barbosa-Lima & The Havant String Quartet
by David McGee
 

 
 

Roll On

DAVE ADKINS and REPUBLIK STEEL make an impression on their debut album, That's Just the Way I Roll, as a new bluegrass band to be dealt with. Secret weapon: Adkins himself, a formidable vocalist.
by David McGee