Category Archives: Music

The Handsome Family’s Singing Bones

Brett and Rennie Sparks, a.k.a. The Handsome Family, have been releasing records for the better part of a decade now. Singing Bones, their sixth regular release (not counting the internet-only rarities disc Smothered and Covered in 2002), is their first … Continue reading

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Robert Earl Keen’s Farm Fresh Onions

OK, I confess! I’ve occasionally judged a book by its cover. And I’ve sometimes judged a musician by his or her fans. Robert Earl Keen, f’r instance. Keen’s a good ol’ Texas boy best known for his frat-guy party anthem, … Continue reading

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Wicked Tinkers’ Banger for Breakfast

Recently I attended a Wicked Tinkers show at the Portland Scottish Highland Games. As I said in my review of the show, “The Wicked Tinkers are crazy in the way that only very, very good performers can be, with a … Continue reading

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Various artists’ It’ll Come to You … The Songs of John Hiatt

If any American popular songwriter is due a tribute, it’s John Hiatt. He’s been writing and recording his pithy, blues-influenced songs for some three decades, and had songs covered by dozens of more popular artists, but has never had his … Continue reading

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Little Sue’s Crow

One of the mainstays in Portland’s thriving alt-country community, Susanna Weaver performs and records as Little Sue, with backing from a host of other local musicians. Crow, her second CD, is an endearing disc. The 10 songs on Crow cover … Continue reading

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Debashish Bhattacharya and Bob Brozman’s Mahima

Calcutta native Debashish Bhattacharya and American Bob Brozman, both slide guitar virtuosi in their own traditons, have joined forces to create a masterpiece. Mahima is a joyous marriage of two major world music forms into something new and beautiful. The … Continue reading

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Andrew Bird’s Weather Systems

Andrew Bird first came to my attention in the late ’90s as a guest player on records by the swing revivalists Squirrel Nut Zippers. Since then the Chicago native has put out four solo albums, three backed by his own … Continue reading

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Howard Shore and the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra’s The Lord of the Rings soundtracks

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Original scores composed and conducted by Howard Shore, The New Zealand Symphony … Continue reading

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The Baksheesh Boys’ The Baksheesh Boys

Judith Gennett wrote this review. At my college, the typical folkdancer was a nerdy professor’s daughter wearing a homemade polyester peasant blouse who danced with a buck-toothed smile to crackly Monitor LPs. Hence, I long ago missed the boat on … Continue reading

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Dromedary’s Live From the Make Believe

Dromedary is an acoustic duo from Athens, Georgia, that mixes music from all over the world to create its own unique blend. Rob McMaken plays dulcimer, mandolin and guitar, and Andrew Reissiger plays charango (the Andean mandolin-like instrument) and guitar. … Continue reading

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