Reviews

Alive, Authentic and Profoundly Human

This week's ALBUM OF THE WEEK is 'Brothers in Bamako,' a ttansAtlantic union of souls between modern day griots Habib Koité, of Mali, and the veteran New York City-born folksinger Eric Bibb. Their song is 'alive, authentic and profoundly human.'

Spotlight Album

Bipartisan Consensus

Simple poetry and keen observations mark the elegant songs of Marty Atkinson and Katy Boyd, aka Blue Cactus Choir, whose first album, ...Once In a Bluegrass Moon is our new Album of the Week.

Reviews

Company’s Comin’

Wagons leader Henry Wagons is back with a compelling solo EP, 'Expecting Company?' These short stories in musical form find Wagons edging into Jorge Luis Borges territory. What will he make of that?

Reviews

Steeldrivers: Regrouped, Renewed, Revitalized

Regrouped, renewed and revitalized, THE STEELDRIVERS are back with with Hammer Down, a new album comparable in every way to the group's two previous Grammy nominated long players.

Reviews

Elizabeth Cook’s Gospel Set

Summoning memories of 'good rocking country bands twanging for Jesus,' hard country devotee ELIZABETH COOK goes hard gospel on her Gospel Plow EP. You are hereby sanctified.

Reviews

Hard, Stomping and Merciless

Out of Seattle with a Chicago mindset and some southwestern sizzle, RJ Knapp & Honey Robin offer hard, stomping, merciless urban blues on Don't Blame the Dynamite..If You Can't Light the Fuse.

Reviews

A Stop at Willoughby

Fresh off another Grammy nomination, the Time Jumpers pulled into Manhattan's City Winery on February 12 for a show of traditional country tunes and great picking that explained why the group has few equals.

Reviews

With a Swagger and A Wink

CHRIS LEIGH wouldn’t be the first hard-core country artist to attribute a burst of inspiration to a wrecked marriage but he may be the latest. His impressive, bare-knuckled debut, Broken Hearted Friends, tells the tale.

Reviews

Love From Both Sides Now

One voice, one piano, some chestnuts from the Great American Songbook, one quiet, powerful original and an unerring aim for the heart: the Wailin' Jennys' HEATHER MASSE and the legendary DICK HYMAN make art on LOCK MY HEART.

Reviews

A Chicago Blues Bonanza, Right on Time

Out of print for years, Delmark has reissued AL MILLER'S masterful ...IN BETWEEN TIME, a bonanza of Chicago blues featuring all-star Chi-town blues stalwarts Miller, John Primer, Billy Flynn and others.