Considering Historical Conflict & Conflicted History

JASON RINGENBERG offers a reckoning with history on his 18th solo album, RHINESTONED, featuring the Freedom Riders, Crazy Horse, Jesus Christ and, in spirit, Hank Williams, the Ozark Mountain Daredevils, the Carter Family and T...
by David McGee
 

 
 

Music Connecting People, Wherever They May Be

BILLY ALTMAN on the FOLK ALLIANCE INTERNATIONAL UNLOCKED FESTIVAL: 'a week of discovery of a lot of worthwhile music (and) a valuable reminder of the power of music to connect people, wherever they may be.'
by David McGee
 

 

 

Bluegrass Speaks to The Moment

A bluegrass trifecta: three new albums, by DALE ANN BRADLEY, THE DILLARDS and PHIL LEADBETTER AND THE ALL STARS OF BLUEGRASS (featuring Steve Gulley) all speak to the moment, addressing a variety of current hot-button issues in...
by David McGee
 

 
 

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