Posts by Maeri Ferguson

[rating=7.00] If the way to get through 2017 without going completely nuts is to dance our asses off, Spoon has us covered. On their ninth studio album Hot Thoughts, Spoon doesn’t lose what makes them Spoon, but they’re definitely taking some risks and having plenty of fun doing it. Weird, trippy instrumentals and spaced out […]

[rating=6.00] If you loved Conor Oberst’s last record, 2016’s Ruminations, you’ll probably like his new one, Salutations…but not for the same reasons. The two are essentially fraternal twins, as Oberst has remade and rerecorded Ruminations with a new band and a few additional tracks and called it Salutations. Ruminations found Oberst recovering from health issues, […]

[rating=9.00] It has been a long five years for fans of The Shins, eager for them to put out a new record. And though frontman James Mercer keeps himself busy with side projects (Broken Bells), when it comes to the Shins, we’ve only received a smattering of new tracks here and there since 2012’s Port […]

[rating=8.00] Valerie June has grown in the last four years. While her 2013 release Pushin’ Against a Stone was an anticipated splashy debut, particularly as she collaborated with Dan Auerbach (The Black Keys), her new record, The Order of Time, shows an artist who has lived a bit more life, matured and had some time […]

Nikki Lane can set fire to a stage, and she did just that on March 2nd at Music Hall of Williamsburg as part of Highway Queen tour. On the tails of her new record, also titled Highway Queen, Lane and her band has been maintaining a rigorous show schedule. But nevertheless, the energy was high […]

[rating=7.00] Even as his sound has grown bigger and grander over time, Tim Showalter’s songwriting has always radiated with a kind of dark intensity. As Strand of Oaks, he has been consistently making compelling music for years, but it wasn’t until his last record, 2014’s Heal, that he truly emerged as a force of rock […]

[rating=7.00] Nikki Lane has been on a steady rise with each record she makes, garnering praise for her give-no-f***s cowgirl attitude and throwback country queen style. And never has either quality been so sharp than on her new release Highway Queen. A stylish, harmony-heavy record that packs a twangy punch, it finds Lane continuing to […]

[rating=7.00] To say that Chuck Prophet is a rock and roll obsessive would be an understatement. His love for rock music is so deeply rooted in him, it continues to inspire him in sound and in songwriting. On his latest record  Bobby Fuller Died for Your Sins, Prophet pays homage to the genre and to […]

[rating=9.00] Ron Gallo has a sick, twisted worldview, and that is what you’ll love about his new record Heavy Meta. Gallo has an undeniable talent and a penchant for the dark and weird side of things. His commentary can be such a bummer, perhaps because he often hits the nail on the head. But you’ll […]

[rating=8.00] At a Hiss Golden Messenger show last year, front man MC Taylor said of Tift Merritt (who stood by his side providing backing vocals), “This woman has the kind of voice I want to write songs for.” And though her voice wasn’t alone on stage that night, longtime fans of Merritt’s understood. Her lived-in, […]

[rating=8.00] One of his generation’s most prolific artists, Ty Segall seems to be an endless well of creativity. He cannot be contained, and his latest release in a long string of them over the last decade proves he’s still got something to say. The self-titled record finds him continuing to mine his punk rock roots, […]

[rating=7.00] Though we didn’t even know it, we have been waiting for the new collaboration record from Will Kimbrough and Brigitte DeMeyer. It has been a wait because the duo began playing together more than five years ago, and have only just now decided to make an album. And it is a low key beauty […]

It’s been awhile since Caitlin Rose has graced a New York City stage, but she did just that, albeit a bit nervously last Thursday at Mercury Lounge with Daniel Romano. Though Romano and did double duty as Rose’s backing band, the two artists’ performances could not have been more contrasted. Romano opened the show with […]

[rating=8.00] Jim James has become a kind of thought leader in modern music, putting his feelings about politics, the world and humankind right out in the open and continuously pushing the boundaries of his sound. His last record, Regions of Light and Sound of God, showed a strong lean toward a dreamy groove so well […]

[rating=8.00] Paul Cauthen is singing the gospel of the blue collar man. His deep toned voice goes down like a rich, dark stout, calling to mind a young Waylon Jennings. And on his new record, perfectly titled My Gospel, he doesn’t hold back. Right out the gate, the album’s first song “Still Drivin’” is a […]

[rating=7.00] How do you pay tribute to an artist as brilliant and singular as Elliott Smith? By assembling an impressive list of artists to interpret his work and make it their own. That is exactly the goal of the newly released Say Yes! A Tribute to Elliott Smith, which features appearances from the likes of […]

[rating=8.00] That old school folk drifter sound is what you’ll get from Luke Roberts’ earthy new album Sunlit Cross. It’s a breath of fresh air, beautiful and bright, with pared down production and simple acoustic arrangements. And though Roberts began writing the songs on Sunlit Cross while traveling, his Nashville roots are undeniable. There’s a […]

[rating=8.00] From the start, it’s always been a bit of challenge to pin Jonny Fritz down. His brand of “silly country” feels so unique to him, it’s hard to compare him to anyone else. It’s even harder to determine his level of sincerity when he sings songs about the best breed of dogs and chowing […]

If you want to hear the most angelic sound, listen to Sara Watkins sing “Like New Year’s Day” off her new record Young in All the Wrong Ways, to a quiet, rapt audience. Such a treat was granted on October 5th at Bowery Ballroom where Watkins delivered a stellar live show filled with new songs […]

[rating=9.00] If, like me, you were one of the devout followers of Hiss Golden Messenger’s 2014 record Lateness of Dancers, one of the year’s best, than you’ve likely been waiting for its follow up with bated breath. And with the Durham, North Carolina band’s new release Heart Like a Levee, M.C. Taylor has not let […]