Posts by Lee Zimmerman

String Cheese Incident Try Reaching For Elusive Magic Studio LP On ‘Believe’ (ALBUM REVIEW)

Paul McCartney Reissues 1989 Number 1 LP ‘Flowers in the Dirt’

Iggy Pop Turns 70 – Ten Other Living Legends of The Punk Ethos

[rating=8.00] It’s not only odd but also ironic that for all her success supporting others — Jeff Beck, Lou Reed, Tom Jones, among them — Imelda May hasn’t been able to step out from the shadows and make more of an indelible imprint on her own. With four albums to her credit, she’s still a […]

[rating=9.00] “Life is good, you look around and think you’re in the right neighborhood…” Aimee Mann singing those upbeat lyrics from the song “Patient Zero,” one of many outstanding tracks on Mental Illness, clearly belies the album’s otherwise ominous title. Indeed, based on the name alone, the record would suggest there’s reason for pause. Mann’s […]

[rating=8.00] The fact that Lake Street Dive bassist, singer and songwriter Bridget Kearney’s initial solo album has arrived so quickly on the heels of her band’s rapid ascent to success suggests that stardom may be imminent, both for her as well as the band. As its title tends to suggest, Kearney adheres to a somewhat […]

[rating=9.00] Drew Holcomb has always been a passionate performer, making records that have been consistently satisfying since day one. Like Springsteen and Mellencamp he is, at his core, a well-traveled troubadour whose voice echoes the heartland and whose melodies quickly burrow under the skin. That’s especially evident on Souvenir, an album so urgent and exhilarating […]

[rating=7.00] Truth be told, Depeche Mode have never been the most effusive bunch. And yet, their resilience is admirable. Formed in 1980, they’ve survived the prevailing winds of changing trends and diverging circumstance, not to mention the individual afflictions of core members Andy Fletcher, Martin Gore and Dave Gahan, be it alcoholism, depression or a […]

[rating=9.00] In the popular context, referring to any artist or outfit as hailing from the “heartland” implies a certain down-home proficiency — all fiddles, harmonies, homilies and back porch convergence. It is a cliche of course, but an often used one at that, a convenient way to typecast a style of music and those that […]

[rating=7.00] Anyone for Tennis? That’s the obvious question here, as well as the name accorded the Denver-based duo consisting of Patrick Riley and Alaina Moore. While these two music makers identify themselves with a sport mostly associated with fuzzy balls, Wimbledon stadium and superstar sisters Venus and Serena Williams, it’s also apparent that they’re adept […]

[rating=9.00] You have to give Curtis McMurtry credit. As a musical denizen of Austin, Texas, he could have continued the standard approach that complies well with the tack taken by the typical singer/songwriter. To his credit, however, he opts to branch out into other realms, specifically a jazz/chamber hybrid that brings him more into a […]

[rating=9.00] Some 30 years ago, The Feelies gave new meaning and incentive to the alt-rock underground. Based out of the otherwise unassuming town of Hoboken New Jersey, they fused a psychedelic sensibility to the acoustic strum purveyed by REM, fashioning an allusive yet enticing sound that was undoubtedly hypnotic in its dryly distinct take on […]

[rating=8.00] For most of her life, Pegi Young’s role was that of Neil Young’s wife, partner and musical sidekick, a satisfying set-up to be sure, but one that found her relying on his fame and stature with little regard for her own interests. After 36 years, all those connections were shattered by a painful divorce, […]

[rating=8.00] Names can be deceiving, especially when the handle in question belongs to Frontier Ruckus, a band based out of Detroit whose idea of making music has as little to do with creating a ruckus as snow does to falling in the Sahara. Still, after five albums, they obviously know what they’re doing, and even […]

[rating=8.00] Known primarily as a reliable session hand heralded for both his guitar playing and his behind the boards prowess, Gurf Morlix is also a seasoned solo artist whose no-nonsense approach has made him one of Austin’s most reliable practitioners. The Soul & The Heal is a fine example of that signature sound, a tattered […]

[rating=9.00] It’s no small mark of distinction when you’re able to enlist superstars like The Mavericks to participate in an early outing. Yet it’s far more impressive when the sound you produce yourself sounds so assured and confident, even the initial time out. That was the case with Canada’s Whitney Rose, whose previous album, somewhat […]

[rating=7.00] Hey Mr Ferryman, album number ten since Mark Eitzel started his solo sojourn away from the realms of American Music Club, finds this ever-inventive artist shifting his stance towards a sound that’s fully flush with ethereal ambiance. Both somber and surreal, it conveys a sense of deep contemplation, the kind that the late Leonard […]

[rating=8.00] Furnace is Dave Simonett’s sophomore effort under the monicker he adapted after putting Trampled By Turtles, the gig he works by day, at least temporarily on hold. Not surprisingly then, Dead Man Winter sounds very little like his other ensemble, save the superb quality of the songwriting. Even so, Simonett admits that the new […]

[rating=8.00] Regardless of his guise, the one thing that’s consistent about Tommy Stinson’s musical career is his proficiency for pure, unabashed thrash ‘n’ roll. It was nurtured as a core member of The Replacements and then spun off with his solo forays, his support stints with Soul Asylum and Guns N’ Roses, and his various […]

[rating=8.00] As one might expect of a collective of sorts, Band of Heathens worked their way into the spotlight fairly quickly. It wasn’t that they had any grand designs, or even any thoughts about becoming a band in the first place. What initially began as a series of Wednesday night jam sessions at a club […]