By Ken Paulson – Kent Blazy’s new album My Life So Far is that rare album founded in truth and fueled by gratitude. Blazy has had plenty of success, writing seven number one country songs and earning induction into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. But this musical autobiography is not about personal achievement. Instead, it’s a reflective acknowledgement of…
Category: New releases
Buddy Mondlock’s rich and bright “Filament”
By Ken Paulson Buddy Mondlock is part of a rich singer-songwriter tradition. His songs – like those of Nanci Griffith, Steve Goodman and Guy Clark – tell stories and create characters in a truly compelling and realistic way. By the end of a Buddy Mondlock album, you feel as though you’ve met a half-dozen new people. Filmanent, produced by Brad…
Kent Blazy Meets the Beatles
By Ken Paulson – It’s always a joy when an artist and songwriter is an unabashed music fan like the rest of us. That’s certainly the case with Kent Blazy, whose new album From The Beatles to the Bluebird, is fueled by a love of John, Paul, George and Ringo. Blazy, a 2020 inductee into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of…
Cimarron 615: A new band with Poco roots
By Ken Paulson – A tribute to the late Rusty Young of Poco has paid a welcome dividend: the birth of a new band. Five artists, all with significant ties to Young and Poco, teamed up late last year for My Friend: A Tribute to Rusty Young on Blue Elan Records. The quintet, dubbed Cimarron 615 for the recording, contributed…
Steve Forbert is “Moving Through America” with stop in Nashville
By Ken Paulson – Words never spoken after a Steve Forbert concert: “I’m just so tired of him playing the same set on every tour.” Forbert, a former Nashville resident, returned to the town’s City Winery tonight with a performance that promoted his new album Moving Through America, but seemed to be largely fueled by whim. I was just telling…
Review: Will Kimbrough’s fine “Spring Break”
By Paul T. Mueller –“Spring break” took on some added meaning early this year, when the pandemic shut down normal life and most people had to adjust to a strange new reality. For Nashville-based singer-songwriter Will Kimbrough, Spring Break turned out to be a good title for an album recorded during a forced hiatus from touring and other activities. It’s…
Review: James McMurtry’s “Blasted from the Past”
Blasted, which James McMurtry calls “whiskey-soaked cowpunk from a bygone era,” is an interesting time capsule from an earlier phase of his career.
Review: “Kiss of the Diamondback” by Gurf Morlix
By Paul T. Mueller –Gurf Morlix made good use of the early months of the COVID crisis, producing an album titled Kiss of the Diamondback. As might be expected in a time of isolation, most of the nine songs are written from a first-person perspective, dealing with themes including love, insecurity, life’s struggles, and the search for meaning. All are…
New – Reed Waddle’s “Time The River”
Reed Waddle has a vibrant new album, exemplified by album opener “Too Bright to Fade Away.” You’ll find engaging songs throughout. The album tracks are available now for streaming on YouTube.
John Sieger’s “The Pleasure of Your Company”
We first heard John Sieger’s songs when he headed up Semi-Twang in the late ’80s. It’s gratifying to hear that he’s still creating compelling music. From his arresting new album Modern Folk Vol. II, here’s “The Pleasure of Your Company:”
Review: Eliot Bronson’s “Empty Spaces”
Empty Spaces is one fine breakup album – written, as Eliot Bronson says, as therapy in the wake of painful breakup and a move to a new city.
Mustangs of the West: A matter of “Time”
“Getting the band back together” is a common fantasy in popular music; sometimes it works, more often it tanks.
Review: Eliza Gilkyson’s “2020”
Eliza Gilkyson unflinchingly depicts the anger and despair many are feeling, but also channels faith, sympathy and hope.
Review: Wheatfield’s “Some People”
Some People, the latest effort from folk-rock veterans Wheatfield, is as much a testament to enduring friendship as it is a musical document.
New release: Bill Lloyd’s “Don’t Kill the Messenger”
“Steve Goodman Live ’69:” A treasure
By Ken Paulson – I first saw John Prine onstage at Chicago’s Ravinia Festival in July of 1972. Prine was the main attraction, but the animated young man who shared the stage with him that night was a close second. You might know Steve Goodman as the writer of “City of New Orleans” or as a close friend and collaborator…
Review: Lucinda Williams’ “Good Souls Better Angels”
By Paul T. Mueller – Lucinda Williams’ latest release, Good Souls Better Angels, will probably be a big hit with fans who have embraced her late-career evolution into a kind of rock ‘n’ roll godmother. It may not prove so popular with those who fell in love with the introspective poetry of her earlier days as a folkie singer-songwriter. Williams…
Show 48 The Reverend Shawn Amos’ new “Blue Sky”
Learn how Shawn Amos’ Blue Sky came together and what he has in common with the Who on this edition of the Americana One Podcast.
Bill Lloyd on his new live album 2GTRSBSDRMS
The prolific Bill Lloyd talks about his new live album cryptically called “2GTRSBSDRMS.” It’s full-throttle back-to-basics rock.
Conversations on Cayamo: The Mastersons
The Mastersons were remarkably prescient in recording and releasing their new album No Time For Love Songs.