Tag Archives: Americana music

Nolan Porterfield’s Last Cavalier: The Life and Times of John A. Lomax

“John Lomax got Leadbelly out of prison.” That’s the commonly accepted story; you can still see it being bandied about if you do a web search under his name. But as every biblical scholar and IRS auditor knows, the truth … Continue reading

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Jimmy LaFave’s Texoma

Jimmy LaFave proves that rock ‘n’ roll still lives with this collection of blues, ballads and rootsy rockers. Texoma evokes the windswept, dusty border country where Texas and Oklahoma meet, in LaFave’s gritty tenor vocals, in his spare, Texas-style blues … Continue reading

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Randall Bramblett’s No More Mr. Lucky

Georgia native Randall Bramblett has recorded an infectious blend of jazzy pop, r&b, soul and country-rock in No More Mr. Lucky. It’s his fourth record in a career as sideman and solo artist that spans a quarter of a century. … Continue reading

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Various artists’ Songcatcher

‘Tis the season for hillbilly music soundtracks. Perhaps hoping to emulate if not duplicate the success of the soundtrack to the Coen Brothers’ 2000 movie O Brother, Where Art Thou?, Vanguard has released a CD of “music from and inspired … Continue reading

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Various artists’ Concerts for a Landmine Free World

Emmylou Harris is very close to sainthood status in my book. Not only does she sing like an angel and uphold all that is honest and true in America’s musical roots, now she has leant her voice and her celebrity … Continue reading

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Eric Taylor’s Scuffletown

Texas singer-songwriter Eric Taylor has been influential on a whole crop of younger folks of the same ilk, including Nancy Griffith, Lyle Lovett and Steve Earle. Lovett, for instance, included one of Taylor’s songs on his 1998 double-CD tribute to … Continue reading

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Rick Shea’s Sawbones

Rick Shea has spent some time the past few years on the road as a member of Dave Alvin’s backing band, the Guilty Men. A talented guitarist and in-demand sideman, Shea makes his solo recording debut with Sawbones.  It’s a … Continue reading

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Frog Holler’s Idiots

Rural Pennsylvania is better known for its “Pennsylvania Dutch” communities than its country singers, but Frog Holler seems determined to change that. This alt-country outfit, who style themselves the eponymous Idiots of this CD, are the type of young rowdy … Continue reading

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Paul Thorn’s Ain’t Love Strange

Paul Thorn is a professional boxer turned country singer. On Ain’t Love Strange, his sophomore effort, he has crafted a set that’s as strong as just about anything by his more experienced Texas singer-songwriter compatriots. He and a small but … Continue reading

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Mason Brown and Chipper Thompson’s Am I Born to Die

An album of old-time American music performed by a couple of New Mexicans, on an artsy independent label based in upstate New York may seem an unlikely thing. But Am I Born to Die is a beautiful and moving piece … Continue reading

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