By Ken Paulson
This just in:
An Unreal Dream – Various Artists
The soundtrack to An Unreal Dream: The Michael Morton Story features not only atmospheric music from the film, but also compelling performances by a number of Americana artists.
The film tells the story of a man unjustly convicted of murdering his wife. Robert Earl Keen performs “Take This Hammer” and Jerry Jeff Walker does “Amazing Grace.” Truly chilling, though, is “In the Pines” performed by Slaid Cleaves and Eliza Gilkyson.
Silent Revelry – Alex Tjoland Band
We just received our first holiday album of the year, a collection from the Alex Tjoland Band called Silent Revelry. It has a copyright date of 2012, but Christmas albums are evergreen. It’s an ambitious effort, largely driven by original songs, plus a robust Silent Night to open the set. It includes a surf guitar instrumental appropriately titled “Surf’s Up, Santa Claus.”
We’re Not Lost – The Show Ponies
Here’s an energetic and sometimes irreverent bluegrass album that won us over with “Baby, I’m in Love with You,” a full-throttle opener that (sort-of) manages to rhyme “hiatus” with “cicadas” and “tomatoes.”
Long Way Down- Glass House
Mark Vickness and David Worm comprise Glass House, an accomplished duo with impressive vocals and ambitious compositions.
Highlights include album opener “Build a Bridge” and a stellar cover of Robbie Robertson’s “Broken Arrow.”
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