Reflecting on The Disarmers previous record, Sidelong, it is near impossible for this reviewer to hear train beat and tremolo without immediately conjuring the Old 97s, and if this is the jump off, think of Sarah Shook as Rhett Miller’s badass younger cousin. Sidelong, re-released on Bloodshot in 2017, was originally recorded and self released … Continue reading
This is album number three for the French songwriter who, much like her music has to date, has had a slow-burning rise to prominence. She’s still relatively unknown but on this album she’s found the best balance to date between gothic rock ’n’ roll and a smoky country noir sound. Fearless Heart finds her ensconced … Continue reading
In the long history of duets and collaborations in the world of country music comes a new triple threat in the form of Robert Ellis, Cory Chisel and Jonny Fritz. Each are distinct artists in their own right but together as Traveller they’ve captured a really special musical atmosphere and creativity that highlights each of … Continue reading
Based in America for the last few years, Lo Carmen has slowly been absorbing that country’s country music, blending it with her atmospheric slowcore sound and emerging with beautiful new album that seamlessly connects both worlds. Lovers Dreamers Fighters is just what it says, a document of the highs and lows of relationships, the bruises … Continue reading
When Kyle Jenkins sings ‘I fell in love with your methadone eyes, upon the ground where we lied’, it gives you an idea of the territory that Suicide Swans are operating in – warts and all human emotion and experience. It’s tempered with a sympathetic and empathetic casting of Augusta’s characters and presented in a … Continue reading
Since her 2014 debut album Solitude, Ruby Boots (Bex Chilcott) received the Australian Government’s Council for the Arts’ Nashville Songwriter Residency grant, packed up her belongings, headed to the USA, wrote her new album and recorded with the Texas Gentlemen as her backing band. Don’t Talk About It is a leap forward for Chilcott, both … Continue reading
Rising through the country and Americana ranks, Margo Price hit pay-dirt with her 2016 album Midwest Farmer’s Daughter, drawing critical acclaim from all quarters of the country world. Now she’s gone one step further on her new album, never pulling punches and wrapping it all up in a wonderfully wide-ranging classic and soulful country palette. … Continue reading
Melbourne’s Brooke Russell has one of those voices that, depending on your mood, that is comforting and makes everything feel alright or assists you in wallowing in your sorrow. Either way it’s a beautiful voice, full of rich tonal character that sways through the melodies and slow dances across the quietly mesmerising backing of her … Continue reading
Fanny Lumsden continues to go from strength to strength, building her fiercely independent brand of autobiographical country and folk music. Playing country hall shows, living and traveling in a caravan and covering all corners of Australia, she’s living as boldly as she’s working hard and this album, her second full-length, finds her documenting those adventures … Continue reading
It’s been a long time coming but Melbourne’s Gretta Ziller has finally released her debut solo album, the followup to her Hell’s Half Acre EP from 2014. The good news is that it exceeds the expectations she set up with that fine EP, digging deeper and taking her songwriting and singing to some impressive and … Continue reading
Here they are, the 40 albums that I personally felt were the most important, fascinating and listenable in 2017. It was a near impossible process to collate them on a spreadsheet and make decisions and adjustments as to the creative worth of one over another. I’d highly recommend all the albums on this list and … Continue reading
2017 is pretty much done and dusted and it’s been another great year for Australian and New Zealand releases under the broad banner of Americana music. Our favourite album (and an EP) list takes in ethereal and eccentric folk music, raw alt-country, covers, spoken word and melancholic power pop – highlighting the range in … Continue reading
Sam Beam returns with his sixth album and it finds him returning to his earlier sound where the music is stripped back, relatively unadorned and existing in it’s own unhurried world. By recording live, with minimal overdubs, Beam has ensured the focus is on a clear and detailed presentation of the songs, his warm and … Continue reading
As one of The Felice Brothers, Ian Felice has been the haunting, ragged and cosmic voice behind a rich discography of Americana music that straddles the contemporary and the archaic, with their lived-in sound and free-wheelin’ and free-spirited lyricism. Now Felice has followed in the steps of brother Simone (who left the band fairly early … Continue reading
Since The Black Crowes finally closed the curtains at the start of 2015, Chris Robinson has continued to embrace his new lease of life with his band of soulful and psychedelic, country and blues-rock travellers in Chris Robinson Brotherhood. Barefoot In The Head is their fifth album and it again showcases their effortless musical synergy … Continue reading
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