Covers albums can swing two ways, attempts at slavish replicas of the original songs or those instances where the artist recasts the songs in a new light, with their own personality and style at the forefront. Dan Brodie has successfully taken the latter route with a collection of songs that reveal some of his influences … Continue reading
It may seem a tad peculiar that a band from the Inner West of Sydney could breathe genuine spirit and authenticity into Mexican-infused country music but Dusty Ravens have done just that on their second album. Low Down Jimmy is the sound of desert dust, desperate souls, sin and salvation – all bathed in mood-heavy instrumentation. … Continue reading
In 1976, within weeks of finishing the recording of Long May You Run, his album with Stephen Stills, Neil Young visited the studio and in a solo and weed-assisted session laid down ten songs, many of which would become staples and high-water marks of his long and illustrious career. Young has released many archival albums … Continue reading
She’s known primarily for her country and folk albums but Eilen Jewell has always had a love for the blues. On Down Hearted Blues she’s finally taken the plunge and delved deep into the history of blues music with a collection of covers from the genre that stands as a key cornerstone of all popular … Continue reading
There’s a strong timeless quality that permeates Jed Rowe’s fourth album. Timeless in the sense that the songs aren’t tied to any particular style that can place it on the timeline of rock n roll – yet also in the way the songs are written, paced and arranged. They’re treated with a laid-back swaying sound … Continue reading
With two new albums out this month, Pete Cullen is laying out two sides of himself in song. One Way In is decidedly high throttle rockabilly, and while there is some overlap, here Cullen strips it back, opens his shoulders and sings a batch of decidedly more alt-country songs. The mix of acoustic and electric … Continue reading
Pete Cullen has doubled down on releases in 2017 with the more alt-country album No Way Out also being released at the same time as One Way In. The difference is that this one is firmly in the rockabilly camp. Electric guitars bristle and distort, drums stomp and hit a heavy shuffle while the bass … Continue reading
A life-long Merle Haggard fan, Will Oldham has apparently long considered recording an album of Haggard songs and in the wake of his death last April he’s done just that. He hasn’t gone straight for the hits though, he’s hen-picked from 44 years of recorded songs, choosing personal favourites in honour of the great songwriter. … Continue reading
A year on from the death of friend and collaborator, Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson pays tribute with ‘He Won’t Ever Be Gone’, the closing track on God’s Problem Child. The passing of time and mortality rears its inevitable head on a number of the album’s songs. ‘Old Timer’ and the black humour of ‘Still Not … Continue reading
John Moreland has been one of those best-kept secrets for a while now, slowly emerging as a highly respected songwriter on the alt-country/Americana scene. He’s never had a breakout single or any landmark moment, rather he’s slowly refined and improved his craft, garnering increasing critical acclaim and a growing fanbase. Big Bad Luv finds him … Continue reading
The brothers are back with another album of bluegrass, folk and country music in their laconic, easy-going style. At times the songs themselves dip into bland and cliched lyrical territory but if you can get past that, take a long drive or kick back on a sunny afternoon and relish the exceptional musicianship on display. … Continue reading
In the space of his last two albums Jason Isbell’s status has rocketed from ex-Drive-By Trucker and respected songwriter to Grammy and Americana Association awards winner and one of the most acclaimed of this generation’s Americana/country artists, alongside Sturgill Simpson and Chris Stapleton. The Nashville Sound is a re-framing of Isbell, with his long-serving band … Continue reading
Since those heady early days when Mellencamp was touted by record labels as the heartland rock, pinup boy Johnny Cougar, through to his eventual reshaping into his true self, the strength of his songwriting has always been consistent. Now, with his 23rd studio album, Mellencamp again shows his range and canny ability to draw on … Continue reading
Though Shane Nicholson is now firmly entrenched in Australian country music, with awards aplenty, he’s shown over his strong run of solo albums that he can still maintain a foot in the indie scene in which he forged his songwriting abilities. That positioning has enabled him to straddle alt-country and commercial country with equal aplomb. … Continue reading
Two years after the release of his bestselling, award winning solo debut, Traveller, Stapleton returns with an album that in some ways feels like a retreat from the large stages and mainstream acclaim he received. Shacking up in Nashville’s RCA Studio A with producer and guitarist Brent Cobb, Stapleton recorded two album’s worth of songs. … Continue reading
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