Thirst No More

The world-weariness welling from deep within the Nashville-based singer-songwriter SUSAN McCRACKEN's soul expresses not helplessness but hopefulness on PATIENT KINGDOM, as if giving testimony to the cyclicality and potentiality...
by David McGee
 

 
 

Somewhere Between Heartache and Redemption

Balancing personal misfortune with spiritual redemption, CRYSTAL SHAWANDA is making a major movie with CHURCH HOUSE BLUES, her fourth blues album.
by David McGee
 

 

 

Places in The Heart

Find yourself in THE UNENDING ALTERATION OF THE HEART if you will, but GABRIELLE LOUISE is addressing herself in unvarnished interior monologues, leading by example in facing head-on hard truths about life, love and loss. Behol...
by David McGee
 

 
 

Dispatches From Solitude

Forced into isolation by the pandemic, JOHN McCUTCHEON began writing songs, and more songs, came up with a moving tribute to front line workers and to his friend John Prine, found some humor in his plight, and voila! CABIN FEVE...
by David McGee
 

 

 

Exception To The Rule

Something's different about CARY MORIN as we hear him on his fine new album, DOCKSIDE SAINTS: It feels like he's pulling away from the pack.
by David McGee
 

 
 

Really the Blues: A Roundup

A blues roundup featuring new CDs from British blues-rock veterans SAVOY BROWN, a great one from the late RON THOMPSON and, triumphantly returning from a six-year absence on record, DIANE SCHUUR.
by David McGee
 

 

 

The Silence Lifts

ALICIA NUGENT, one of the finest voices of her generation, makes a triumphant return on KEITH STEGALL-produced THE OLD SIDE OF TOWN. They don't make 'em like her anymore.
by David McGee
 

 
 

Always The Winning Hand

Ever-prolific AL BASILE returns with arguably his strongest effort yet, LAST HAND, a musical radio play concerning a May-to-December romance between an older man and a younger woman. Don't give away the ending.
by David McGee
 

 

 

In the Still of the Night

Reflective, ruminative, serene, spiritual, moving and soothing--three new albums are right on time for our times.
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
 

 

 

Familiar, Fresh & True to the Human Experience

On a most impressive debut, JOHNNY & THE MONGRELS leap immediately into the front ranks of chicken-fried southern soul and swamp-rock on CREOLE SKIES.
by David McGee
 

 
 

Blues Built to Last

Chicago blues masters BOB CORRITORE and JOHN PRIMER have delivered blues built to last on THE GYPSY WOMAN TOLD ME, containing performances every bit as classic as the cover art by VINCE RAY.
by David McGee