reviews |
 Hard Working Americans (from the album We’re All in This Together) In the blink of an eye, Hard Working Americans have matured from a jam to a band. In three years, HWA have grown from a collective gathering of top shelf jam band musicians (Todd Snider on vocals, Dave Schools (Widespread Panic) on bass, Chad Staehly (Great American Taxi) on keyboards, Neal Casal (Chris Robinson Brotherhood) on guitar and vocals, Duane Trucks on drums, Jesse Aycock on pedal steel and guitar). The band’s self-released album was followed by a live disc and video (The First Waltz), which gathered the debut tracks and put them into a setting where Hard Working Americans felt most comfortable, a live performance that could include the band on stage and the audience that HWA considers as much a part of their show and sound as the guys with the instruments. We’re All in This Together, the latest release from Hard Working Americans, brings the group back to the stage for a recording. The sound of HWA have progressed from a bunch of musicians with a great idea to a musical unit that showcases individual instruments and players as one sound. The songs on We’re All in This Together are drawn from Hard Working Americans studio albums and includes new tracks directly related to the live release. The title track puts Todd Snider at the podium for a manifesto resume that speaks of the band’s beginnings. The track becomes a chant mantra of the title that morphs into “Is This Thing Working?”, which, in turn, brings the audience into the song’s final mix. The two albums recorded in the studio for Hard Working Americans are comprised of an album of cover tunes (Hard Working Americans) and originals (Rest in Chaos). We’re All in This Together bridges the two previous efforts opening with “Mission Accomplished” and includes tracks from the pen of HWA (“Roman Candles”, “Ascending into Madness”, Burn Out Shoes”). Favorites songs from the work of other artists share space on We’re All in This Together with “I Don’t Have a Gun” (Daddy aka Tommy Womack/Will Kimbrough), “Stomp and Holler” (Hayes Carrl), “Another Train” (Will Kimbrough), and a closing tribute to the man that birthed a million guitarslingers, Chuck Berry, with a Hard Working American’s version of “School Days (Ring! Ring! Goes the Bell)”. Listen and buy the music of Hard Working Americans from AMAZON
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 Mark Heyes (from the album Outrun the Law) The title track slams the car door shut and hits the gas as Outrun the Law, the latest release from Mark Heyes, gets schooled running shine before hitting the big leagues of racing, wheels spinning and the goal on the checkered flag in Daytona, Talledega, Fontona, and Pocono. The common thread for the songs of Outrun the Law is the natural Country Folk warmth found in the vocals of Mark Heyes. The songs are backed by Folk (“Long Hard Road”), Barn Dance Bluegrass (“Backtrackin’”), Blues (“Matrimony Blues”), moody late night noir (“She Never Knew I Knew”), Gypsy Jazz (“Tribute to Django”), and twang-tinged Rock’n’Roll (“Just Wait and See”), all guided smoothly by the man behind the microphone, Mark Heyes. Growing up in Madison, Wisconsin, Mark Heyes became a musical sponge after hearing The Beatles, learning any instrument he could wrap his hand around, eventually making his way west, setting up in Los Angeles and immersing himself in what became a twenty-eight-year career as an Emmy Winning writer and producer of music for television. Outrun the Law presents Mark Heyes as man and guitar, the album offering music that drifts like wisps of smoke in “Crystal Blue”, firebrand Outlaw Country with “What Can I Do”, and tender homecoming ballads on “Take Me Back to Durango” while Mark takes the temperature of political climates for “Red and Blue”. Listen and buy the music of Mark Heyes from iTunes  Whiskey Shivers (from the album Some Part of Something) Whiskey Shivers doesn’t play Bluegrass as much as attack the genre, ripping into the strings and stomping out a beat with steel-toed boots. Some Part of Something, the recent release from Whiskey Shivers, matches the worlds-end ferocity of the playing with equally fringe dwellings tales that turn frowns into smiles in a small town with the opening of a new store (“Liquor, Beer, Wine, and Ice”), cross the border with pedal through the floorboard on the tour bus (“No Pity in Rose City”), and roll a boulder up the steep hill of love (“Southern Sisyphus”). Some Part of Something spits and snarls as Whiskey Shivers re-shape Bluegrass with masterful playing and delivery. Ragged banjo lines weave a drunken path into Some Part of Something with the pounding rattle of album opener “Cluck Ol’ Hen”. Whiskey Shivers plow through “Reckless” like a rocket with a rocket up its ass while the Austin, Texas-based band flies across the racing rhythms of “Like a Stone”, slow to a sway with “Red Rocking Chair”, glide over the cabaret strains of “Fuck You”, and quietly lend support for a hurting heart in “True Love (Will Find You in the End”) as Some Part of Somethingremakes The Cure’s “Friday I’m in Love” into a threat delivered on frenetic strings. Listen and buy the music of Whiskey Shivers from AMAZON  David Rawlings (from the album Poor David’s Almanack available on Acony Records) Leaving the Machine age behind him, David Rawlings foregoes a full band (David Rawlings Machine), putting just his name on the album and delivering words and music steeped in the American musical history of storytelling. Many of the tunes on Poor David’s Almanack were crafted using traditional songs and stories, backing the tales with electric and acoustic sound. Recorded at Woodland Studios in East Nashville, David Rawlings was joined by musical life partner Gillian Welch as well as former (Willie Watson) and current (Setch Kecor, Critter Fuqua) members of Old Crow Medicine Show, Taylor and Griffin Goldsmith (Dawes), Brittany Haas (Crooked Still), and Paul Kowert (Punch Brothers). The warmth of Poor David’s Almanackspeaks to the appreciation of the musicians for their instruments. The voices of David Rawlings and Gillian Welch come together in harmony as easy as the swaying rhythm in “Yup” as the track rides on one riff while the saw playing of Austin Hoke circles the song. The album opens boarding “Midnight Train” as the groove on Poor David’s Almanack is set by strings, the model continues on the staggered strumming of “Airplane”, the picking of “Put ‘Em Up Solid”, and chord chops of “Come on Over My House”. Hand claps and harmony are the foundation for the folk tale of “Money is the Meat in the Coconut” as Poor David’s Almanack turns back the pages of time for the sepia toned “Lindsey Button” and the creation story in “Good God a Woman” while David Rawlings plugs in to showcase his six-string prowess in “Guitar Man” and beats darkness into the dangers of leaving home for “Cumberland Gap”.  Don Bryant (from the album Don’t Give Up on Love on Fat Possum Records) Don Bryant and Ann Peebles have enjoyed a forty-three year marriage. After being teamed together in 1970 through Hi Records the couple penned hits such as “I Can’t Stand the Rain”, marrying in 1974, and touring together for decades until Ann retired from touring in 2010. After being on the road for years, Don Bryant found himself at home. He used the new environment creatively, heading in to the studio and beginning sessions for Don’t Give Up on Love. At seventy-four years old, Don’t Give Up on Love marks a triumphant return for Don Bryant, The album taps multiple generations of A-list Memphis musicians, including members of the Hi Rhythm section band. Produced by Scott Bomar (The Bo-Keys) and Bruce Watson at Electraphonic Recording in Memphis, Tennessee, Don’t Give Up on Love is a collection of tunes from a husband honoring a wife in song. A funky groove line and horn blasts churn underneath Don Bryant as he claims ‘you set my soul on fire’ on “Something About You” and assured rhythms support the pain in “Can’t Hide the Hurt” as Don Bryant shares the advice of a man who has learned lessons in his years to stop playing in “One Ain’t Enough” and puts hope into each line as he encourages love to hang on in the title track. Don’t Give Up on Love sets a standard for Soul by continuing the power of its ability to reinforce hard times as it justifies every feeling of the heart and soul. Don Bryant opens the album with a slow-burn version of O.V. Wright’s “A Nickel and a Nail” as he goes back to personal Roots with the gospel Soul of “How Do I Get There?”, and struts out asking “am I wasting my time’ on “I Got to Know”. Listen and buy the music of Don Bryant from AMAZON or iTunes  Korby Lenker (from the album Thousand Springs) To record Thousand Springs, Korby Lenker headed to Idaho. The album is number seven in Korby’s studio output, though the songs on Thousand Springswere recorded in a non-studio environment, setting up in locations such as his father’s mortuary as well as a cabin north of Sun Valley, Idaho and removing walls entirely, making music for the album on the edge of Snake River Canyon. Korby Lenker staged the songs using the backdrop of the album creation as part of the storylines for Thousand Springs. Personal history describes what took him to the Gem State, Korby sharing that ‘I grew up in Idaho. My first band, Clockwork Orange, practiced in a basement in Twin Falls. I learned how to play guitar by listening to records and learning the licks, one note at a time. The way I play and think about music now has a lot to do with growing up there, feeling isolated from the outside world. There weren’t a lot of people around me making music. I had to go out and find it’. Sun on the water makes a song from the image of “Mermaids” in Korby Lenker’s mind while visions of “Last Man Standing” recall the battle for land in the American West, scratchy chords back recollections of a party that introduced a younger self to his older image in “Father to the Man” and tenderly picked guitar notes rise up to display “Northern Lights”. The feel of Thousand Springs mirrors the magic of the journey Korby Lenker took to the songs. He packed recording gear and a high-end battery to capture the heart of each song on his trip to Idaho. Once the core was set, Korby traveled around the United State to finish the tracks with friends in backyards and hotel rooms covering seven states. Thousand Springs puts a heartbeat under “Nothing Really Matters” as the tune plugs into its own inner essence, continuing its search for emotion as it attempts to express feelings in “Wherever You Are” and exposing the many paths traveled to find affection with “Love is the Only Song”. Korby Lenker bares his soul in the songs of Thousand Springs as he turns the pages to reveal a “Book Nerd”, seeks companionship gazing through a windshield on “Friend and a Friend”, and waves goodbye to his heart in “Uh Oh”. Listen and buy the music of Korby Lenker from AMAZON or iTunes  Steelism (from the album ism)
‘It’s all about the music, man’ is more than an motto for Steelism. The Nashville instrumental outfit make their music a mission, a way to champion and proudly recall the work of groups such as Booker T. & The M.G.’s and The Ventures as well as the orchestral work of movie soundtracks. Steelism are the music side of words and music, adding to their film score and the hits of 60’s musicians on their recent release, ism, with a hero worship nod to the musical gadgetry of Brian Eno. Steelism use assorted strings along with electronic blips and bleeps with the tribute of “Eno Nothing” on ism as they put a percolated rhythm underneath the dreamy feel of “Let It Brew” and lift a “Cup of Wasser” up on a solid backbeat. At the heart of Steelism are the strings of Jeremy Fetzer (guitar) and Spencer Cullum (pedal steel). The pair co-produced ism alongside Jeremy Ferguson (Lambchop, Andrew Combs). Voices are brought in on ism, adding the vocals of Tristen to the groove of “Shake Your Heel” as Andrew Combs and Jesse Baylin duet on the Country-flavored “Lonely Game” while Ruby Amanfu takes a spin on the circling spy soundtrack rhythms of “Roulette”. Opening ism with a jangle of strings, “Re-Member” takes assured steps into the album while “Chartreuse” colors the sound with dots of notes and “The Henchman/Buffalo” dances on tarantella footsteps as Steelism unravel “Anthem”, rising from humble piano ramble beginnings to banner-waving reverbed guitar and pedal steel riffs. Listen and buy the music of Steelism from AMAZON or iTunes  Shannon McNally (from the album Black Irish)
Shannon McNally credits an e-mail connection with Rodney Crowell while Shannon was off the musical grid helping out an ailing family member. Shannon recalls that “I had no vim or vigor for a few years. We started this really wonderful thing of just lobbing song titles back and forth’. The results of the conversations isBlack Irish, the recent release from Shannon McNally. Rodney Crowell produced the album, penning the album opener, “You Made Me Feel for You”, which equally serves as an audio remembrance of the collaboration’s beginnings. Black Irish adds in a few tracks from other artists amid other tunes from her producer as well as co-writes from Shannon. Cuts from Stevie Wonder (“I Ain’t Gonna Stand for It”), J.J Cale (“Low Rider”), Muddy Waters (“The Stuff You Gotta Watch”), and Robbie Robertson (“It Makes No Difference”) along with “Black-Haired Boy” from Susanna and Guy Clark are reworked by Shannon McNally. Black Irish struts out on guitar chords for “Roll Away the Stone”, and quietly strums an acoustic guitar to ask “Isn’t That Love” as Shannon McNally offers a personal history of her time in the music business as well as a tale familiar to all working women with “Banshee Moan”. Listen and buy the music of Shannon McNally from AMAZON or iTunes  Dead Rock West (from the album More Love available from Omnivore Recordings)
Joy and heartbreak take a hit of California sunshine to tell their tale on the psychedelic Roots Rock of More Love, the recent release from Dead Rock West. Produced by John Doe, More Love is the fourth album from the Los Angeles, California-based band. Elliot Easton (The Cars) lends his guitar work on More Love, hitting “Boundless Fearless Love” like waves constantly in motion and Greg Leisz stopped by the studio gliding over “Singing on the Telephone” with his pedal steel guitar rising up like the heat in the desert tale of a night at the Ace Hotel. The duo of Cindy Wasserman and Frank Lee Drennen make up Dead Rock West, offering originals tunes on More Love and giving a touch of twang to Sam Cooke’s “Bring It on Home to Me”. Guitar jangle sparkles against the secret-laden edge of “Darkness Never Tells” and slowly builds up as it makes promises in “Waiting Patiently”. The title track opens More Love with pronounced strums before quieting to a Country sway while “Bleeding Blue” drips its color on acid-drenched sonics and ‘Radio Silence” whispers its story as Dead Rock West strip down the playing for the dreamy “Tell Me Goodbye” and percolate the beat as it dials in stations on “Stereo Love”. Listen and buy the music of Dead Rock West from AMAZON or iTunes  Arthur Alexander (from the album Arthur Alexander on Omnivore Recordings)
The 1972 release of his self-titled album brought Arthur Alexander back into the music world. He recorded his first hit “You Better Move On” at a former tobacco warehouse turned into a recording studio. The success of the track became a building block for Rick Hall’s Fame Studios. Arthur Alexander’s initial recordings were some of the first backed by the soon-to-be legendary Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, and brought a string of early 1960’s hits. Arthur Alexander was considered a comeback album and added a Country touch to the Rhythm and Blues of the Alabama-based songwriter. The Soul groove blends with a thumping twang for “I’m Comin’ Home”, Country Folk is meets a church piano on “Simple Song of Love”, acoustic picking backs “Down the Back Road”, and a soft sway to urged forward with snaking guitar lines on “It Hurts to Want You So Bad”. Though his own star leveled before reaching great heights, Arthur Alexander has had his songs recorded by The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Ike and Tina Turner as well as many other artists. With only three recorded album Arthur Alexander is reissued with six additional tracks in addition to unreleased cuts. Arthur Alexander offered the original version of “Burning Love” on the album covered by Elvis Presley soon after the album’s release. Soulful vocals and strings walk down “Rainbow Road” and integrity wins over passion in “Go on Home Girl” as Arthur Alexander presents his version of Billy Swan’s “Lover Please”, cruises in on funky chord chops and percussion for “Call Me Honey”, and shakes out sea-breeze rhythm for “Call Me in Tahiti”. Listen and buy the music of Arthur Alexander from AMAZON or Omnivore website |
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