Posts by Lee Zimmerman

[rating=7.00] The Mulligan Brothers are an evocative bunch, and though they’re not brothers at all — as evidenced by the fact that they don’t share the same surname and that there’s at least one woman in the bunch, they manage to encompass a fairly wide expanse of musical terrain. The influences are sometimes obvious — […]

[rating=7.00] As a follow up to her last album, the boldly titled Don’t Be Afraid, Canada’ singer and songwriter Tami Neilson continues to procure a distinctive sound that’s bold, brassy and flush with an assertive ability. That allowed her to make her mark in her adopted home of New Zealand and now promises to bring […]

[rating=8.00] Chuck Westmoreland’s homespun sentiment and tenacious trappings make for a durable combination, one that imbues elements of Tom Petty’s enduring anthems and Jason Isbell’s unceasing insurgency. Little wonder then that Long Winter Rodeo is the kind of album that creates an indelible impression, one that ought to establish him for his grit and conviction. […]

[rating=9.00] From a persistent pop star pigeonholed by the nom de plume given him early on, to the Cougar-less blue-collar troubadour bent on asserting his social conscious as his career evolved, John Mellencamp has always been most concerned with asserting his integrity. Having achieved equal status with his prodigious peers — Springsteen, Fogerty, Willie Nelson, […]

[rating=8.00] First impressions don’t count for much as far as Ryley Walker is concerned. That works to his benefit given the fact that his music strays beyond preset parameters, crossing the boundaries from solitary shoegaze to sounds of a decidedly abstract variety. Like Tom Waits, Scott Walker, John Cale and Carla Bley, Walker doesn’t hold […]

[rating=9.00] Given the fact that most of his musical endeavors have been spent sharing stages with Sarah Guthrie, the Guthrie name naturally looms large in Johnny Irion’s ongoing efforts. Even so, his own family connections ought to be considered impressive as well; his uncle is author Thomas Steinbeck, his great uncle is author John Steinbeck and […]

[rating=9.00] With half a dozen albums to his credit, New Orleans-based bluesman Luke Winslow-King has etched a niche as a seasoned troubadour whose adherence to form is measured only by his own emotions. Like Ry Cooder, Gary Clark, Robert Cray, and Walter Trout, he’s keen on tapping tradition without letting it bind him completely. Winslow-King’s […]

[rating=9.00] With a title that proclaims an unfettered sense of starry-eyed optimism, Trampled By Turtles’ first new release since Wild Animals, released nearly four years ago, is, in every sense, a genuine comeback, a record about reunion and re-energizing that the band took extra care to create. The members of the band chose a retreat […]

[rating=6.00] Shakey Graves (known by Alejandro Rose-Garcia to family and friends) seems to have changed his tune. Where once his blend of old-school folk, blues, rock Shakey Graves (known by Alejandro Rose-Garcia to family and friends) seems to have changed his tune. Where once his blend of old-school folk, blues, rock and campfire country songs […]

[rating=8.00] As the title of her fine fourth album suggests, Kat Edmonson is indeed an old-fashioned girl. A superb singer drawn to songs that sound as if they’re of the vintage variety, she defines herself as a classic chanteuse, one who would be easily at home performing twilight tunes in a smoky supper club on […]

[rating=8.00] Cary Brothers is not a sibling ensemble. In fact, as an individual, Brothers may be the most accomplished artist making music these days while still remaining all but unknown to the vast numbers of the listening public. His contribution to the Garden State soundtrack and abundant contributions to film and television scores have earned […]

If ever some creative Hollywood screenwriter wanted to fashion a soap opera around the chemistry of a rock ‘n’ roll band, all he or she would have to do is study the inner workings of Fleetwood Mac as inspiration. The romantic relationships that held the band together also threatened to tear it apart. Lindsey Buckingham […]

With the band’s declared intention not to release any new albums for the foreseeable future, as well as their temporary moratorium on another Moody Blues Cruise in 2019, it seems safe to assume that all group activity has been placed on hold, at least for now. The Moodys’ upcoming induction into the Rock and Roll […]

[rating=7.00] Josh Rouse has always taken an unassuming stance throughout most of his career, never making music that sounds so assertive as to detract from his generally supple style. Love in the Modern Age is no exception, a breezy set of songs that shimmer and shine with an irrepressible radiance that invites and entices the […]

\The news that recently came across the wire about Gibson Guitar’s impending bankruptcy was not only discouraging, but it also a sign that we’re nearing the end of an era. The company supplied its instruments to so many musicians of note, it literally became an indelible part of the musical landscape, both as a brand […]

[rating=6.00] Consider Blackberry Smoke a group of retro-sounding rockers who also cling to contemporary credence. While their sound is clearly modeled on certain Southern Rock standard bearers — Skynyrd, the Allmans, Marshall Tucker and the like — they’re wise enough to know that it takes more than a rebel yell to inspire a broad audience. […]

[rating=9.00] Eels’ new album, The Deconstruction, nearly didn’t happen. After taking a four-year hiatus from which he wasn’t certain that he’d return, Mark Oliver Everett, the band’s eternal mastermind and provocateur, slowly recovered his muse. It didn’t happen all at once; the new music came into being at intermittent stages and with no particular plan. […]

[rating=9.00] There are times where a band’s name and album cover provide little or no indication of what to expect. And when said references offer an image that’s the exact opposite of the music that accompanies those initial impressions, it may dissuade any initial encounter. The fact is, Great Peacock’s handle and the peacock covered […]

[rating=7.00] Stars for Eyes is easily Mark Huff’s most accessible effort yet. It’s a set of songs that shows him making a stunning turn, from the darker, drier material that populated his earlier albums to a rich and riveting sound laden with melodies that strike a solid and substantial first impression. At the same time, […]

[rating=9.00] While the Heartless Bastards have never been known as an especially timid bunch — indeed, their mix of roots and garage rock is generally flush with drama and defiance — the band’s previous efforts could hardly have prepped its followers for the dynamic solo debut of its lead singer and original architect Erika Wennerstrom. […]