Posts by Jason Macneil

There’s something endearing about a handwritten note in a promo or review album copy. And that’s what this writer found in Old Californio’s Sundrunk Angels. Some might see it as currying favor, but when an album is this strong, no note is really necessary.

After years in the Big Apple, singer-songwriter Amy Speace headed back to Nashville and it appears that the change in scenery certainly hasn’t hurt her songwriting by the dozen offerings on Land Like a Bird. 

Blues rock guitarist Joe Bonamassa was known to many music fans over the years, but a 2009 sold-out show at London’s Royal Albert Hall – featuring Eric Clapton – definitely put him into another sphere of acclaim. And so it is with Dust Bowl that Bonamassa sounds like a great axe man with a set of pipes that are vintage Paul Rodgers

Singer-songwriter Kip Boardman is the type of singer-songwriter which sticks to the idea that less is much more, especially regarding bombastic flourishes compensating for any quality shortcomings. Here Boardman adheres to a bare-bones approach in the vein of Ray LaMontagne, Ryan Adams and a roots-y Jason Mraz on the sincere opener “All Fall Down,” the groovy “All That Bad” and the laidback toe-tapper “Mysterious Stranger.”

After calling it a day with Guided By Voices, then releasing a ton of material, then reforming Guided By Voices, Robert Pollard still has time to keep releasing material. As meticulous as some artists are in tossing their songs out into the general public, Pollard’s workmanlike approach has meant some misses but more often than not delectable, infectious hits.

Greg Dulli is a very talented singer-songwriter. From his days in Afghan Whigs to his more recent collaboration with Mark Lanegan in The Gutter Twins, he has continued to make passionate, purposeful music. And Dynamite Steps, his latest offering under The Twilight Singers comes extremely close to matching the beauty of 2003’s Blackberry Belle.

The paths of the late Vic Chesnutt and Canadian darlings Cowboy Junkies crossed a few times during tours, recording sessions and a possible collaboration Chesnutt and the band’s Michael Timmins discussed a few years ago.  Chesnutt’s suicide would prevent that from happening, but the group has decided that a fine tribute would be to cover his material in the similar ramshackle, keep-the-tape-rolling manner he would have loved. And the result of that is this extremely strong collection of performances, many of them bittersw

On Hardcore Will Never Die But You Will, as was the case on earlier albums and more recently on 2008’s brilliant and often under-appreciated The Hawk Is Howling, Scottish rock outfit Mogwai knows how to set a mood early and occasionally explode from that jumping off point. With a bit more texture in spots a la The Cure-meets-Coldplay which fuels “White Noise” (and later during “Letters To The Metro”) Mogwai settle things down with a decent if not delectable “Mexican Grand Prix” with, dare I say it, vocals?

Ryan Adams can be easily heard in the opening moments of “The Father,” the rootsy, warm and inviting keeper by Vancouver-via-Los Angeles band HoneyChild. Led by Tobias Jesso, the group nails the opener by balancing delicacy with heaviness. Think of an Americana answer to The National and you might get the gist of the first track.

It only takes a near death experience with an arsonist to make great music. Before making their new album, Lubbock roots rock band Thrift Store Cowboys had a stranger set fire to their trailer filled with merchandise and gear. But it appears that brush with the end fuelled this new effort, one with confidence, consistency and brilliant verve.

It’s been done and will be done many times again but when artists decide to honor a classic rock album, it can end up being a stale, cheesy rehash or resulting in something truly strong. Thankfully, when it comes to Pink Floyd’s Dark Side Of The Moon the Easy Star All Stars can dub this album primarily fabulous. 

Put together musicians who have played with Zeppelin, Deep Purple and others and you should expect a concoction of ‘70s era hard rock with a blues belting vocal delivery. The new “super group” Black Country Communion is just that. Featuring Glenn Hughes on vocals, master blues-rock guitarist Joe Bonamassa, and Jason Bonham on drums, the band plow through a heavy, riff-saturated opener entitled “Black Country” with Hughes planting himself firmly inside the rocker.

John Prine’s In Person & On Stage is nothing stellar but the live collection of tracks shows that the longtime singer-songwriter is still doing quite well for himself. With a tandem of guitarist Jason Wilber and bassist Dave Jacques fleshing out most of the 14 songs, Prine begins with the warm, toe-tapping “Spanish Pipedream” and rarely misses the mark on other gems like “Unwed Fathers,” “Paradise” and “Bear Creek Blues.”

When you listen to old-school soul singer Sharon Jones and her brassy Dap Kings, you get the sense that if you dropped your iPod the recording might begin skipping like a vinyl release. Such is the case with I Learned The Hard Way, her latest collection of retro R&B which hits all the right notes Jones nailed on her prior release 100 Days, 100 Nights.

Brooklyn critical darlings Yeasayer have upped the quality ante somewhat from their first effort, and it is definitely apparent from the opening plodding prog-electro feel of “The Children.” Although not necessarily for everyone’s sonic palette, the core duo of Chris Keating and Anand Wilde at times resemble Animal Collective, Hot Chip, Tears Fears and Tom Waits (or Thomas Dolby) simultaneously.

After reuniting behind an album that was praised (and panned) by some, Clem Snide have returned with a far more focused record, one which gets off on the right foot with the punchy, punk-ish “Walmart Parking Lot,” resembling an equal mix of Ryan Adams and Arcade Fire. The same can be said for the urgent “BFF” later in the album. Meanwhile lead singer Eef Barzelay also shines on the lighter, intriguing, roots-meets-strings “Denise” and extremely tender “Denver” that is definitely worth repeated listens. 

Southern sounding singer-songwriter Ken Will Morton’s latest release True Grit brings to mind a cross between Tom Waits, Marah, Steve Earle circa Exit O and Ryan Adams. Whether it’s the safe but solid opening title track to the roots-rock nugget “Gamblin’ Man’s Blues,” Morton can pen a song with an equally strong melody. And thankfully Morton doesn’t ease off that quality pedal for a moment judging by the mid-tempo “Hard Weathered Life.”

Having opened for Wilco and Meat Puppets among others, this Minnesota band makes a huge impression with album number two. The trio of drummer Eric Pollard, bassist Steve Garrington and singer/guitarist Alan Sparhawk kick things off with an endearing slow-burner “Hide It Away” evoking a blend of Explosions In The Sky and Coldplay.

Garage-y guitar driven for the most part, bands such as Woven Bones (“Spirits Roam”) and Dikes Of Holland’s “Little City Girl” would give Band Of Skulls a run for the money in the near future.

Having supported The Flaming Lips and Raconteurs in recent years, psychedelic rock band Birds Of Avalon indeed have an uncanny ability to make retro sound relevant again on Uncanny Valley, especially on the short but punchy “Side Two” but up the ante on the heady “I Never Knew” and the vibrant “Eyesore” thanks to the guitar work of husband Paul Siler and wife Cheetie Kumar.