Category Archives: Music

Jolie Holland’s The Living and the Dead

Now, here is an excellent example of a record label doing all the right things. The artist in question is Jolie Holland, and the label is the So-Cal indie, Anti-. Holland is an idiosyncratic artist with a strong musical vision … Continue reading

Posted in Music | Tagged | Comments Off on Jolie Holland’s The Living and the Dead

Carlos del Junco’s Steady Movin’, Jimmy Thackery & the Drivers’ Inside Tracks, and Taj Mahal’s Maestro

“Everybody wants to know Why I sing the blues Yes, I say everybody wanna know Why I sing the blues Well, I’ve been around a long time I really have paid my dues…” This song is one of BB King’s … Continue reading

Posted in Music | Tagged | Comments Off on Carlos del Junco’s Steady Movin’, Jimmy Thackery & the Drivers’ Inside Tracks, and Taj Mahal’s Maestro

Old Crow Medicine Show’s Tennessee Pusher

Mike Wilson contributed this review. The five-piece Old Crow Medicine Show take an old-time American roots sound and give it a contemporary makeover, in much the same way that Gram Parsons did with country music some 40 years ago. Built … Continue reading

Posted in Music | Tagged | Comments Off on Old Crow Medicine Show’s Tennessee Pusher

La Musgaña’s Lubicán, Las Seis Tentaciones, En Concierto, y Temas Profanos

These four CDs represent a good sampling of the recorded output from this talented Castilian Spanish folk ensemble. The other three CDs they’ve done over the years (La Musgaña, 1988; El Paso de la Estantigua, 1989; and El Diablo Cojuelo, … Continue reading

Posted in Music | Tagged | Comments Off on La Musgaña’s Lubicán, Las Seis Tentaciones, En Concierto, y Temas Profanos

Robert Plant and Alison Krauss’ Raising Sand

Just before I popped Raising Sand in and uploaded it to my music library, I mentioned in my blog that I was going to review it. Two people responded immediately, and they couldn’t be more different: age, political leanings, upbringings, … Continue reading

Posted in Music | Tagged | Comments Off on Robert Plant and Alison Krauss’ Raising Sand

Le Trio Joubran’s Majaz

Le Trio Joubran is an ensemble of Palestinian oud players, the brothers Samir, Wissam and Adnan Joubran. They come from a very musical family: their father, Hattem Mdada Joubran, makes ouds and other stringed instruments; their mother, Ibtisa Hanna Joubran, … Continue reading

Posted in Music | Tagged | Comments Off on Le Trio Joubran’s Majaz

The Sevens’ Valiant

Some of the best American Celtic music being played and recorded these days is being made by bands that you’ll never hear live unless you live near where they play in small concert halls and bars. Even the better-known bands … Continue reading

Posted in Music | Tagged , | Comments Off on The Sevens’ Valiant

Gordon Duncan’s Just for Gordon

Christopher Conder contributed this review. It is regrettable that Just for Gordon marks the first time I have heard of Scottish bagpiper Gordon Duncan, because this compilation of largely unreleased work has been put out in tribute to the man, … Continue reading

Posted in Music | Tagged | Comments Off on Gordon Duncan’s Just for Gordon

Ladysmith Black Mambazo’s Ilembe: Honoring Shaka Zulu

For anyone who heard Paul Simon’s Graceland and was captivated by the South African choir that is Ladysmith Black Mambazo; for those who have followed their career and been entranced by their dancing and just their look, here is the … Continue reading

Posted in Music | Tagged | Comments Off on Ladysmith Black Mambazo’s Ilembe: Honoring Shaka Zulu

McDermott’s Two Hours’ Goodbye to the Madhouse

I can count on the fingers of one hand, with at least the thumb left over, the number of singer-songwriters whose work I tolerate, let alone enjoy. That puts Nick Burbridge, the powerhouse behind McDermott’s 2 Hours, in rare and … Continue reading

Posted in Music | Tagged | Comments Off on McDermott’s Two Hours’ Goodbye to the Madhouse