By Ken Paulson — Dion: The Complete Laurie Singles is another revelatory re-issue from Real Gone Music, revisiting Dion’s early career, but also chronicling the transitions of rock ‘n’ roll. This collection covers his late ’50s Doo-Wop origins with the Belmonts, his initial solo success with more ambitious material like “Runaround Sue” and “The Wanderer” and his 1968 comeback…
Review: David Olney’s “Robbery and Murder”
By Ken Paulson — David Olney , one of the most ambitious and literate artists in Americana music, has just released Robbery and Murder, the third in a series of theme-driven EPs. It’s an 8-song collection that explores two “love stories” that aren’t always so loving. The title of the album is one hint. Olney draws upon Chuck Willis’ “Betty…
New to chart: Neil Young & Crazy Horse, Gary Clark Jr., Departed, Jason Isbell
Americana Music News — In the category of no suprises, Dwight Yoakam still has the number one album on the Americana Music Airplay chart with 3 Pairs, followed once again by John Hiatt’s Mystic Pinball. New to the chart this week: Gary Clark Jr.’s Black and Blu, Departed’s Adventus, Neil Young and Crazy Horse’s Psychedelic Pill and Jason Isbell and the 400…
Reviews: Whitehorse, King’s Bullet, Rich Mahan, Jesse Lafser
By Ken Paulson — Whitehorse’s The Fate of the World Depends On This Kiss entered the Americana music airplay chart this week and with good reason. Melissa McClelland and Luke Doucet are accomplished solo performers and their pairing here is remarkable. The music is ambitious and diverse, from the ornate “Achilles’ Desire” to the sweet “Mismatched Eyes (Boat Song)” to…
Americana Music Festival on PBS Nov. 10-16
Americana Music News — One of the best nights for music in Nashville each year (and that’s saying something) is the annual Americana Music Festival Honors and Awards Show at the Ryman Auditorium. The best moments of the 2012 show will be featured in a special edition of Ausin City Limits, airing the week of Nov. 10-16 on PBS. The…
New video: Mumford and Sons’ “Lover of the Light”
Americana Music News — New video from Mumford and Sons’ new album Babel: Follow Sun209: Americana Music News on Twitter at @sun209com.
New to chart: Bonnie Bishop, Andrew Bird, Whitehorse
Americana Music News–Dwight Yoakam’s Three Pairs remains at the top of the Americana Music Airplay Chart, with John Hiatt’s Mystic Pinball in the second slot for another week. New to the chart this week: Bonnie Bishop’s Free, Andrew Bird’s Hands of Glory and Whitehorse, with our favorite album title this year, The Fate of the World Depends on This Kiss.…
Review: The 1861 Project Vol. 2
By Ken Paulson — The 1861 Project Volume 2 is a worthy and well-crafted sequel to the first edition, a remarkable collection of original songs about those who endured the Civil War. The new volume is sub-titled “From the Famine to the Front” and focuses on Irish immigrants of the era. That’s a niche subject, but the music here is…
Review: Who Are You: An All-Star Tribute to the Who
By Ken Paulson — Tribute albums can be wildly uneven, but the new Who celebration from Cleopatra Records boasts 16 strong tracks from a virtual encyclopedia of pop and progressive rock. Who Are You: An All-Star Tribute to the Who has the feel of a fanboy project that came out remarkably well. At some point, someone said, “Hey, how…
Charting: Jamey Johnson, Dirty River Boys, Jim Lauderdale
Americana Music News — Dwight Yoakam moves past John Hiatt for the number one slot on this week’s Americana Music Airplay Chart as Three Pears lands in the top position.. New to the chart this week: Jamey Johnson’s Living for a Song: A Tribute to Hank Cochran, the Dirty River Boys’ Science of Flight and the prolific Jim Lauderdale’s Carolina…
Review: Kathryn Caine’s “When I Was His Wife”
By Paul T. Mueller –Singer-songwriter Kathryn Caine’s fifth album is a nice showcase for her fine songwriting and expressive singing, and she helps her own cause by acting as co-producer. Caine is from Charlottesville, Virginia, so it’s not surprising that the 12 songs on When I Was His Wife (10 of them written and one co-written by Caine) feature a…
Reviews: Jack Tempchin, Maura Rogers, Alvin Lee
By Ken Paulson— Catching up with recent and worthy releases: The CD/DVD set Live at Tales From the Tavern captures Jack Tempchin performing some of his best-known songs and a few other quirky originals in front of an audience. Tempchin’s contributions to the Eagles catalog included “Already Gone” and “Peaceful Easy Feeling. He also wrote big hits with Glen Frey,…
“Quiet Life” video from Kasey Chambers and Shane Nicholson
Americana Music News — The second single from Kasey Chambers and Shane Nicholson’s Wreck and Ruin on Sugar Hill Records: Follow Americana Music News on Twitter at @sun209com.
New to Americana music chart: Rosie Flores, Bonnie Bishop
Americana Music News – There’s no change at the top of the Americana Music airplay chart this week, with John Hiatt’s Mystic Pinball still at the number one position, with the second slot filled by Dwight Yoakam’s Three Pears. New to the chart this week: Rosie Flores’ Working Girl’s Guitar and Bonnie Bishop’s Free. Most adds this week: Jamey Johnson’s…
Diana Lawrence’s “To: Aging Children”
Americana Music News — We’re still making our through CDs that were handed to us during the Americana Music Association conference and are enjoying Diana Lawrence’s To: Aging Children. Lawrence has a compelling voice and her themes about growing up are universal. Kudos, too, for the inventive packaging: An envelope with a letter inside, which doubles as liner notes. Definitely…
Review: LiveWire’s “Livin'”
By Joe Ross– From the opening riff of “Don’t Nothin’ Take My Breath” to closer “Gone” ten tracks later, LiveWire has created an exciting breakout debut album with a tight contemporary country performance highlighted by radio-friendly production, tasteful instrumental licks and yearning vocals. Getting their start about ten years ago at fraternal lodges and clubs in southwestern Missouri and northeastern…
Gallery: Wanda Jackson at the Highline Ballroom
[cincopa AADAr_K5_XW_] Americana Music News — By Jacob Blickenstaff Wanda Jackson performed at the Highline Ballroom in New York City on Friday, October 12th to celebrate the release of her new album, “Unfinished Business” on Sugar Hill Records. Backed by the Hi-Dollars, Jackson covered material spanning her entire career including her signature 50’s Rockabilly hits, straight country, songs from her…
New to chart: Kasey Chambers & Shane Nicholson, Wanda Jackson, Walt Wilkins
Americana Music News — John Hiatt’s albums always seem to have a long run atop the Americana Music airplay chart and Mystic Pinball continues that tradition, holding onto the number one position, followed by Dwight Yoakam’s Three Pears. New to the chart this week: Wreck and Ruin by Kasey Chambers and Shane Nicholson, Unfinished Business by Wanda Jackson and Walt…
Americana music showcased in Brite video series
Americana Music News — As we count down to the Nov. 10 national broadcast of the Americana Music Festival Award show, you’ll want to check out a cool series of videos produced by Brite Revolution during the festival in Nashville. Here’s the kick-off video featuring honeyhoney: Follow Sun209:Americana Music Journal News at @sun209com.
Eileen Ivers and Immigrant Soul in Nashville Oct. 26
Americana Music News — Eileen Ivers, an extraordinary violinist best known for her performances with Riverdance, comes to Nashville on Friday, Oct. 26, for a concert at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center’s James K. Polk Theater. It should be a good fit. Just as Nashville has outgrown its country music roots, Ivers has moved past her reputation as a Celtic…