[rating=8.00] The press leading up to the album is all about an empowering statement for females to rise to the top but the bigger news, considering so many artists across
[rating=8.00] Covering Ray Charles would be a risky endeavor for any band or artist. Arguably, Charles is the greatest soul singer ever. Yet, Austin’s Band of Heathens, though not evoking
[rating=9.00] Richard Thompson was a mere 18 years old when he made his debut with Fairport Convention in 1967. Unbelievably, it seems, that was 51 years ago. Thompson hasn’t lost
[rating=9.00] Following his rather stunning Grammy win for 2015’s Shine for All the People, Mike Farris is obviously riding high, this time applying his signature heartbreaking voice and emotional approach
[rating=8.00] When Eric Lindell was first signed to Alligator for whom he made three records, some fell into the trap of conveniently dubbing him a bluesman. That’s only one of
[rating=8.00] Think back to the great female singers who could meld R&B, blues, pop, and jazz into one coherent statement and likely the names Nina Simone, Roberta Flack and Nora
[rating=8.00] Five years in, St. Paul & The Broken Bones have just released their third album, with each thematically different from the other. While 2016’s acclaimed Sea of Noise stamped them
[rating=7.00] Even his name sounds like he’s from a couple of centuries ago. His gravelly, well-worn voice fits the part too. And, so does the cover art for that matter.
[rating=8.00] Joanne Shaw Taylor’s (JST) final Ruf recording was the terrific live CD/DVD Songs from the Road. After leaving Ruf, JST made two albums that received little distribution in the
[rating=8.00] This writer has witnessed Gina Sicilia’s musical growth first-hand, recalling a bit shy, nervous then Philadelphia-based Sicilia in her early twenties (before she released any albums), and comparing that
