Archive: 2020

The debut full length from Melbourne, Australia based Bananagun is an excitingly intoxicating mix of genres. Taking inspiration from such wide-ranging influences as afro-funk, retro soul, exotica jazz, folk, rock and garage punk The True Story of Bananagum keeps listeners guessing from moment to moment as the rich sounds blend into delicious tropical cocktails with […]

Montreal indie rock trio Plants and Animals have announce The Jungle, their fifth studio album set to be released October 23rd via Secret City Records. Their shortest album yet and certainly their boldest, The Jungle is eight acts in a world full of noise. The album is self-produced and was recorded at Mixart, their studio […]

Once a bastion of camaraderie and artistic good will, the Mendoza Line is now an enterprise entirely shot through with and utterly hollowed out by hatred. Specifically, the women hate the men and the men hate themselves. The many excellent reasons for this development are meticulously and tunefully documented on the new LP We’re All […]

Old 97’s, the iconic alt-country outfit fronted by Rhett Miller, is returning with their twelfth album, the aptly titled Twelfth, to be released on August 21 on ATO Records. Twenty-seven years in, Old 97’s still features its original lineup – Miller, guitarist Ken Bethea, bassist Murry Hammond, and drummer Philip Peeples – and Twelfth is a testament to the band’s staying power. The album’s cover image […]

Last Friday (6/19), Bob Dylan released Rough and Rowdy Ways, his first album of originals since 2012’s Tempest. The album contains blues romps, hymns, dirges, meditations—all forms that allow Dylan to strut his way around the rock’n’roll that previously commanded his attention. As with his previous late-era releases, endless couplets spill from Dylan’s weathered-yet-expressive voice […]

The last time we heard Will Hoge was on his 2018 blistering political protest filled American Dream, much of which is playing out in streets as this is being written. This time around, however, it’s as if he’s content having gotten all that angst out. Instead, he retreats to a more familiar comfort zone, storytelling […]

Jerry Granelli is a drummer with a decorated history of collaborations with icons over his six decade career. Here on The Jerry Granelli Trio Plays Vince Guaraldi & Mose Allison he teams with pianist Jamie Saft and bassist Bradley Christopher Jones to pay tribute to two of his favorite tenures with pianist Vince Guaraldi and […]

Following the release of their critically acclaimed second album, Sideways To New Italy, earlier this month on Sub Pop,  return today with the video for recent single “Cameo.” One of the record’s anthemic high points, “Cameo” begins with open guitar strums and Fran Keaney’s lone voice before building to a swirling roar, showcasing a band at […]

Grammy Award-winning American roots band and Grand Ole Opry members Old Crow Medicine Show have released a new song entitled “Pray For America”.  Out now, “Pray For America” was recently the subject of an in depth interview and exclusive premiere via NPR’s Morning Edition.  Click HERE to listen to a conversation between host David Greene and band […]

Appearing in his first livestream since the pandemic began, Andy Shauf will play an all-request show from his home in Toronto on Tuesday, June 30 at 9 pm ET. Tune in HERE. This one-hour performance will help to raise funds for a variety of causes, including his neighborhood’s Parkdale Community Food Bank, Nia Centre for the Arts (a Toronto-based not-for-profit arts centre that […]

NPR has just shared an intimate Tiny Desk Concert by acclaimed violinist, singer, songwriter, and producer Sudan Archives. Recorded at the tail end of her tour in support of her debut full length Athena, which culminated with a sold out show at New York’s Bowery Ballroom just days before shelter in place orders took hold, the session features performances of “Confessions”, “Glorious”, and […]

Two of the greatest shapeshifters in modern roots music are Cass McCombs and Steve Gunn. On this intriguing collaborative single, they present a lilting, laid-back take on Michael Hurley’s psychedelic folk classic “Sweet Lucy”(below) as well as a beautiful rendition of traditional Scottish tune “Wild Mountain Thyme”. This two-song single is also available as a 7” via Bandcamp on Juneteenth with all […]

Acclaimed guitarist Bill Frisell has announced his newest project Valentine — the debut recording of his trio with bassist Thomas Morgan and drummer Rudy Royston — which will be released August 14 on Blue Note Records. Frisell has also released the album’s closing track “We Shall Overcome,” the Civil Rights anthem that he holds dear as a message of hope in all dark […]

Alabama Shakes guitarist Heath Fogg returns with Sun on Shade, the debut album from his new project of the same name. Set for June 26 release via ATO Records, the album examines the power and fragility of the human spirit, particularly in the face of addiction. See below for track listing. “Tiger Lilies,” the first […]

It’s been almost ten years since Bright Eyes last performed a show together (in Honolulu on 11/21/2011), but tonight (6/22) they’re back together – with some additional friends – to play their brand new single “Mariana Trench” on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. Today’s single release comes with details of the band’s long-awaited tenth album, and […]

Good pop songs celebrate the history of the genre. They exist on a continuum – informed by the past, but pushing ahead into the future. From the Ronettes’ “Be My Baby” to Katy Perry’s “Teenage Dream,” pop songs are obsessed with the idea of “the moment.”  The characters in these songs are taking control of […]

Brian Jones was many things. He was the founder and early leader of the Rolling Stones. He was a master musical craftsman, one who could pick up an instrument new to his hands and be playing it within hours. He was a pin-up boy for the youth of Britain whose hormones were raging to a […]

Color of Noize is only Derrick Hodge’s third album under his own name but he has been almost ubiquitous in recent years as a sidemen, producer, collaborator and opinion leader. The composer/bassist/bandleader has collaborated with Robert Glasper, Maxwell, Terence Blanchard, and Common. He’s played on Grammy-winning albums by all four. He’s produced for Blue Note […]