Category Archives: Music

Son Volt’s Okemah and the Melody of Riot

Jay Farrar has put out a record that is a worthy successor to his band Son Volt’s 1995 debut, Trace. Okemah and the Melody of Riot is a masterpiece that reflects – somberly, angrily and joyfully – on the current … Continue reading →

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The Sharecroppers Home, Boys!

Faith Cormier wrote this review. The Sharecroppers (Guy Romaine, Mike Madigan and Ed Humber) are three teachers from Pasadena, Newfoundland. Even their Web site doesn’t explain why they chose their name, since sharecropping has never been a way of life … Continue reading →

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The Sharecroppers’ This New Founde Lande

Faith Cormier wrote this review. The Sharecroppers (Guy Romaine, Mike Madigan and Ed Humber) are three teachers from Pasadena, Newfoundland. This New Founde Lande, their second CD, is largely a celebration of Newfoundland history. The title track speaks about the … Continue reading →

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The Sharecroppers’ Natural

Faith Cormier wrote this review. The Sharecroppers (Guy Romaine, Mike Madigan and Ed Humber) are three teachers from Pasadena, Newfoundland. This, their first album, contains a variety of styles. The first cut, “One Room School,” is very country and sounds … Continue reading →

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Shine Cherries’ Shine Cherries

John Benninghouse wrote this review. Shine Cherries are a trio from Albuquerque, New Mexico, and are kindred spirits with the more well-known Handsome Family. Both groups play Americana filtered through a rock music sensibility. But whereas The Handsome Family take … Continue reading →

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Shilelagh Law’s Good Intentions

Faith J. Cormier wrote this review. I found Good Intentions to be a very “New World Irish” collection. First there’s the romantic view of the IRA in “Broad Black Brimmer” and “Boys of ’98.” There’s nothing quite like a good … Continue reading →

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Shebeen’s The Pebbled Shore

Pat Simmonds wrote this review. Shebeen is based around the piping of Robbie Byrne who, according to his Web site, is an ex-Scots Guard Highland Piper and folk musician. The CD arrived with an accompanying note but no cover and … Continue reading →

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Sharon Shannon’s Out the Gap, and Spellbound: the Best of Sharon Shannon

Ever wonder where the other Waterboys got to after Mike Scott left for New York? Did you suspect that the wonderful arrangements on their Fisherman’s Blues and Room to Roam owed a lot to the contributions of ensemble members – … Continue reading →

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Mike Asquino She Believes In Me

No’am Newman wrote this review. Sometimes when our esteemed music editor hands out discs for review, I choose to be masochistic and plump for the singer-songwriter material. The “S/S” epithet always conjures up (at least to me) an image of … Continue reading →

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Chuck Owen and the WDR Big Band’s Renderings

I don’t particularly follow any big bands but I always enjoy a good one, and Germany’s WDR Big Band is one of the best. Their pairing with American composer Chuck Owen and his arranging prowess makes for one of the … Continue reading →

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