Introducing Skinny Dyck, straight out of Lethbridge, Alberta. He’s just put out his third release with the EP Palace Waiting, featuring this dusty dance-floor gem ‘Ripe There On The Vine‘. As he explains, the song is “a modern sounding, traditional rooted country song with a cheeky, optimistic message capturing the waiting game that ensures before … Continue reading
Author Archives: Doubtful Sounds
ESSENTIAL AMERICANA ALBUMS: Bobby Charles – S/T
In the mid 1960s, Woodstock, New York was increasingly becoming a haven for musicians who wanted to escape the grind of New York City (or elsewhere) and draw inspiration from the wooded surrounds and the burgeoning creative community that was thriving there. The town of Woodstock had long been a focal point for artists, since … Continue reading
THE HEAVENLY SOUNDS OF MELISSA CARPER ON HER SINGLE ‘AIN’T A DAY GOES BY’
Texan singer/songwriter and upright bassist Melissa Carper released her single ‘Ain’t A Day Goes By‘ last month. It’s the lead single from her forthcoming LP Ramblin’ Soul, out on November 18th via Mae Music/Thirty Tigers. According to the advance press release, the album ventures into blues, early rock and roll, and old-school soul, along with Carper’s signature … Continue reading
MINOR GOLD STRIKE A RICH MELODIC SEAM ON DEBUT SINGLE/VIDEO
Minor Gold might be a new name but dig a little deeper and you’ll no doubt recognise the key architects of this new collaborative duo – Tracy McNeil and Dan Parsons, both wonderful and successful songwriters, singers and musicians in their own right. The warm folk sound of their debut single ‘Mona Lisa‘ is the perfect … Continue reading
JEN MIZE & THE ROUGH N’ TUMBLE GET ALL RILED UP IN A SOUL & ROOTS SHAKEDOWN
Jen Mize hits the soul, blues and Americana afterburners on this killer second single from this new project with her eight-piece band The Rough N’ Tumble. Sparse and deeply soulful, ‘All Riled Up‘ digs a deep and infectious groove. There are some great contemporary sounds being created with this kind of stylistic blend (Tami Neilson, … Continue reading
HILLSBOROUGH RELEASE DEBUT LP & NEW VIDEO FOR ‘MAGNETIC LIVES’
The Queensland band Hillsborough, based around Phil Usher and Beata Maglai, released their debut album Comin’ Back For You this week and to mark the occasion they’ve also released the video clip for their latest single ‘Magnetic Lives‘ – an alt-country song built around a dusty acoustic strum, an electric twang and sublime vocal harmonies … Continue reading
PHOTOS: Dashville Skyline, October 2022
Another incredible long weekend of cosmic country music in the idyllic surrounds of the Hunter Valley. A ton of highlights at the festival this year (as always) but my PTW gold star picks for this year go to Skyscraper Stan & The Commission Flats, Grace Cummings, Watty Thompson, Bud Rokesky, The Tall Stories, Sweet Talk, … Continue reading
AUSTIN, TX MUSICIAN JD CASPER WRITES A HEARTFELT SONG FOR HIS SON
Sometimes the simplest songs are the most affecting. The bare and poetic conveyance of heartfelt thoughts and emotions always ring the truest and Austin, TX songwriter JD Casper has done just that. The song came to him in an inspired moment over a morning coffee and JD says “I hope he listens to this throughout … Continue reading
ALBUM REVIEW: American Aquarium – Chicamacomico
AMERICAN AQUARIUM CHICAMACOMICO LOSING SIDE RECORDS / THIRTY TIGERS On their ninth studio album, American Aquarium and frontman BJ Barham take a deep dive into loss and ultimately seek to provide solace and hope to the listener. Their brand of emotive Americana is perfectly suited to this kind of subject matter as they tread the … Continue reading
RACHEL ANGEL LOOKS INWARD ON NEW GEM OF A COUNTRY FOLK SINGLE ‘CLOSER TO MYSELF’
We covered an earlier single of Rachel Angel‘s, ‘Strapped’, in 2020 and it’s a pleasure to again be invited into the swirling and evocative pop-laced country folk sound she does so effortlessly. Taken from the new album Midnite Heart Attack, released earlier this month, ‘Closer To Myself‘, is a tour de force of how to … Continue reading
ALBUM REVIEW: Ryan Adams – Romeo & Juliet
RYAN ADAMS ROMEO & JULIET PAXAM RECORDING COMPANY Three years since the NY Times article that revealed his totally inappropriate behaviour with past partners, fellow musicians and fans and cast him into the musical wilderness, Ryan Adams has been slowly rebuilding his career on his own label. Wednesdays (2020), Big Colors (2021) and Chris (2022) … Continue reading
LADY LYON LAY DOWN GRIT AND GROOVE ON NEW SINGLE TEXAS GOLDEN
Sydney group Lady Lyon have been impressing with each single release over the last couple of years and now they’re heading towards the release of their new EP Charity Bag, set for release in April 2023. They’v also been keeping busy with a string of opening slots for the likes of Jen Cloher, C.W. Stoneking, … Continue reading
CJ STRANGER RELEASES SOARING NEW SINGLE ‘YOU MAY RUN’
Following on from his excellent 2020 album Hey Stranger (and a subsequent single and EP), CJ Stranger has released the soaring and intricate new single ‘You May Run‘. At first glance it’s an upbeat folk rock sound but it quickly reveals multiple layers and dynamic twists and turns. The rhythmic strumming is reminiscent of some … Continue reading
WELLINGTON’S SEA MOUSE THRILLINGLY BLEND BLUES AND ROCK
It may sound simplistic on the surface but there are all manner of influences lurking below the surface of Sea Mouse‘s song ‘Cold and Lonely’, the opening track on their new EP Evil Heart. Hendrix, The White Stripes, The Black Keys, Led Zeppelin, The Datsuns, garage rock and electric Mississippi blues. They approach all those … Continue reading
WATTY THOMPSON RELEASES A BRILLIANT VIDEO FOR NEW SINGLE ‘CITY TO RUN’
Melbourne singer-songwriter Watty Thompson has today released single number three from his forthcoming debut solo album on Cheatin’ Hearts Records. ‘City To Run‘ is an epic six minutes of folk spirited country music that runs the gamut of rollicking and rousing sing-along to ruminative musings on the challenges and hardships of city living and the … Continue reading