Tag Archives: Americana music

Daniel Lanois’ Belladonna

Daniel Lanois has been known chiefly in the past for his recording work with other artists. He was producer on career-reviving records by two mature, established artists: Bob Dylan’s Oh Mercy in 1989 and a decade later Time Out of … Continue reading

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Jolie Holland’s Springtime Can Kill You

Two of the most stunningly original female singer-songwriters in today’s field of American music are both recording for Los Angeles’ independent label Anti-: Neko Case and Jolie Holland. And both redheads have new albums out in 2006, which makes it … Continue reading

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Calexico’s World Drifts In: Live at the Barbican London

It’s such a pleasure when a concert DVD is done right, and this one is an excellent example of the potential of this medium. Of course, it helps when it involves one of your favorite bands. Calexico is one of … Continue reading

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Jolie Holland’s Escondida

Jolie Holland’s Escondida is an immensely satisfying follow-up to her 2003 debut, a CD full of demo recordings called Catalpa. Holland has roots in Louisiana and Texas, is a founding member of Vancouver, Canada’s Be Good Tanyas, and now is … Continue reading

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Various artists’ Goodbye Babylon

Crossroads. Everybody knows the story about Robert Johnson at the crossroads, selling his soul to the Devil in exchange for the ability to play guitar like a fiend. But the real crossroads in American music is gospel. Gospel music is … Continue reading

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Various artists’ Where Will You Be Christmas Day?

“Christmas is the bright crown of the year, it is a religious festival but it also marks the year’s end and is a time for fun and feasting as well as for worship and prayer. It is not one short … Continue reading

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Neko Case’s The Tigers Have Spoken

A live album often signals either contractual obligation for a musical act that’s treading water, or one that has nothing new to offer and hopes to cash in with a padded set of previously released material. But neither is the … Continue reading

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Cowboy Jack Clement’s Guess Things Happen That Way

We’ve been getting a lot of this genre in lately. Cowboy Song. Essentially it’s a softer, quieter country music. More like folk music in a lot of ways, but still featuring enough twang to rate high on the Western scale. … Continue reading

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Giant Sand’s …Is All Over the Map

Tucson desert rat Howe (the “e” is silent) Gelb has been making his idiosyncratic music since about 1980, when he formed Giant Sand Worms with the German guitarist Rainer Ptacek. Through the 1990s, Giant Sand included Gelb on guitar, piano … Continue reading

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Dolorean’s Violence in the Snowy Fields

No sophomore slump here. In fact, quite the opposite. Dolorean, the Portland, Oregon, based combo fronted by Al James, has followed its 2003 debut Not Exotic with a knockout of a record. Where their previous effort was pared down to … Continue reading

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