Sans loops, laptops, and samplers, STS9 hit the stage in Denver, CO this past December and made music using just the basics – fingers, wood, wire, sticks, and keys – doing it live, without a net. The results are documented on STS9’s latest release, Axe The Cables. And they are nothing short of pure pleasure.
Do you like seminal Scottish rockers Travis? Well, you’re going to like lead singer Fran Healy’s first solo jaunt, Wreckorder. Imagine, if you will, Travis, circa The Invisible Band, adding in a bit more orchestra and slightly lacking a bit of the energy brought by Andy, Dougie, and Neil.
Menomena is a great buzz band. They burst out of Portland (Oregon) a few years back on the back of a strong second full-length album, and have gained critical and popular acclaim through an engaging, contemporary sound. They fit in perfectly with ironic hipsterdom: it’s easy to imagine them being listened to in a perfectly (fake) woodsy lodge-style bar (in a dense urban neighborhood), wearing one’s trucker hat and probably something polyester.
Dave Binney's Aliso is a vigorous piece of work where the production values of sparkling sound and astute track sequencing are wholly in line with the stellar musicianship.
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.”
North Carolina singer/songwriter, John Mark McMillan, is a relatively unknown name recalling vocal comparisons to Ryan Adams with a fresh new sound that blends americana, indie and country. McMillan’s major label debut, The Medicine, combines his unpolished rock-n-roll with anthem-style choruses and spiritually charged lyrics that we will call “Sacred Twang.”
Coming from the heart of New Orleans is this pack of rebel-rousers known as the Rough Seven, with their blinding, fantastic debut disc Give Up Your Dreams. Containing former members of 9th Ward cult heroes Morning Forty Federation, the new outfit strives for a gutter gospel sound and achieves it winningly.
Many people know Shel Silverstein as the brilliant mind behind the poetry and art of books like A Light in the Attic, Where the Sidewalk Ends, and Falling Up. A much smaller number of people know about Silverstein's equally impressive composing skills, but the tribute album Twistable Turnable Man will surely change that. Since Silverstein is known less as a songwriter than as an artist and poet, the entire experience of listening to Twistable Turnable Man is colored by the listener's perception. But no matter where Silverstein fits into your life, there's plenty to love on this album, and it is guaranteed to stoke your appreciation for him.
Soulive fans looking for an all-together-different side to Eric Krasno’s playing style on his debut solo record Reminisce will most likely be disappointed. This is far from a stylistic departure for Krasno as his knack for the groove comes through as sharp as ever, which, for most, is a good thing.
For years country music superstar Dierks Bentley has made it known of his love for bluegrass music. So it was no surprise to his fans that he announced he was releasing a bluegrass project this year. Bentley recruited well known friend and producer/songwriter Jon Randall to help put together an album that would honor his love of this genre while putting his own spin on it.
