ALBUM REVIEW: Copperline – Rusty Fords And Weatherboards

Posted on March 5, 2019 by Doubtful Sounds • Leave a comment

Copperline Rusty Fords And Weatherboards Independent The members of Sydney band Copperline have been playing in various bands dating back to the 90s and after ten years they’ve finally recorded their debut album together, one that certainly feels like a collective gathering of likeminded musicians and accomplished players. Led by songwriter Brad Christmas, the band … Continue reading →

Album Artwork / Album Reviews / Alt-Country / Americana / Country / Stream

ALBUM REVIEW: Jeff Tweedy – Warm

Posted on March 4, 2019 by Doubtful Sounds • Leave a comment

Jeff Tweedy Warm dBpm Records Inc. Surprisingly this is the debut solo album of new material for Jeff Tweedy (Wilco/Uncle Tupelo). He’s previously released a live-in-studio album of songs from his back catalogue and then there was the Sukierae album under the name Tweedy, with son Spencer. This though feels wholly Jeff – relaxed and effortlessly … Continue reading →

Album Artwork / Album Reviews / Americana / Country / Folk

ALBUM REVIEW: Neil Young – Songs For Judy

Posted on February 13, 2019 by Doubtful Sounds • Leave a comment

Neil Young Songs For Judy Shakey Pictures Records/Warner Music In 1976 Neil Young embarked on a North American tour with Crazy Horse. His opening act was himself, raw and acoustic in large auditoriums across the country. Joel Bernstein and Cameron Crowe were along for the ride and when Bernstein was roped in as a guitar … Continue reading →

Album Artwork / Album Reviews / Americana / Cosmic Country / Country / Soul / Videos

ALBUM REVIEW: Magpie Diaries – Sanctuary

Posted on February 4, 2019 by Doubtful Sounds • Leave a comment

As well as working tirelessly putting together festivals such as The Gum Ball and Dashville Skyline on his family property in the Hunter Valley of NSW, Matt ‘Magpie’ Johnson also finds time to write music with Magpie Diaries. Sanctuary is their debut album and finds them inhabiting a sweet spot right at the nexus of … Continue reading →

Album Reviews / Alt-Country / Americana / Country / Features / Folk / News

FAVOURITE ALBUMS OF 2018

Posted on December 12, 2018 by Doubtful Sounds • Leave a comment

Yesterday we revealed our favourite 2018 local releases from Australia (and NZ). Today we go global with our 40 favourite albums of 2018. We were going to make it a list that excluded the local albums, seeing as we’ve already published those favourites, but as with previous years we decided we don’t want to separate … Continue reading →

Album Artwork / Album Reviews / Alt-Country / Americana / Country / Stream

ALBUM REVIEW: Kevin Welch – Dust Devil

Posted on December 12, 2018 by Doubtful Sounds • Leave a comment

Kevin Welch has built a career both as a songwriter, respected and covered by his peers, and a solo and collaborative recording and touring artist in his own right. It’s his songs that are his calling cards, that and an open approach to the way he dresses and dances with each of them. On his … Continue reading →

Album Artwork / Album Reviews / Alt-Country / Americana / Folk / Psychedelic / Soul / Stream

ALBUM REVIEW: Marlon Williams – Make Way For Love

Posted on December 12, 2018 by Doubtful Sounds • Leave a comment

Here comes the break-up album. It’s a tried and true fallback for a million songwriters out there but only a small percentage really nail the heartache, despair, fallout and renewal that comes from a fractured relationship. Marlon Williams has taken an approach that doesn’t shy away from the bruises and open wounds, instead he presents … Continue reading →

Album Artwork / Album Reviews / Alt-Country / Americana / Blues / Country / Rock / Stream

ALBUM REVIEW: Matt Joe Gow – Break, Rattle & Roll

Posted on December 10, 2018 by Doubtful Sounds • Leave a comment

Album number three for Melbourne-based songwriter Matt Joe Gow and this one finds him hitting his stride with his most compelling and realised set of songs to date. Gow co-produced the album and it certainly sounds world class with space for the songs to breathe and backed up with some wonderful and stylistically varied playing … Continue reading →

Album Artwork / Album Reviews / Americana / Cosmic Country / Soul / Swamp Rock

ALBUM REVIEW: Phosphorescent – C’est La Vie

Posted on December 10, 2018 by Doubtful Sounds • Leave a comment

It’s been five years since Matthew Houck released his last Phosphorescent album and by all reports he’s gone through a bunch of stuff in that time – falling in love, starting a family, leaving New York for Nashville, building a studio from the ground up and nearly dying from meningitis. As a result, C’est La Vie … Continue reading →

Album Artwork / Album Reviews / Country / Stream

ALBUM REVIEW: Colter Wall – Songs Of The Plains

Posted on December 3, 2018 by Doubtful Sounds • Leave a comment

Country music is so often built on voices, distinctive personalities that convey wisdom and experience. Willie, Waylon, Johnny, Dolly – iconic names that all had their own unique sound. Each new generation throws up one or two artists that join that illustrious company. Sturgill Simpson is a recent one that comes to mind. Another is Colter … Continue reading →

Album Artwork / Album Reviews / Alt-Country / Americana / Folk / Psychedelic / Stream

ALBUM REVIEW: M.E. Baird – Time

Posted on November 27, 2018 by Doubtful Sounds • Leave a comment

Matthew Baird’s 2014 album, Fall, caught these ears as a great example of how to absorb influence from varying genres and scenes with subtlety. Now, on the followup Time, Baird has again subverted the obvious and recorded a set of songs that dig into a number of musical corners with darkly rewarding results. Many of … Continue reading →

Album Reviews / Alt-Country / Americana / Rock / Stream

ALBUM REVIEW: Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit – Live From The Ryman

Posted on November 14, 2018 by Doubtful Sounds • 1 Comment

There’s that age old conundrum with live albums – it’s never going to be as good as actually being there but you get to hear different versions of songs and and the nuances within them. Jason Isbell released a live EP back in 2008 and the Live From Alabama album in 2012 so it’s clear he’s … Continue reading →

Album Artwork / Album Reviews / Americana / Country / Videos

ALBUM REVIEW: Jim Lauderdale – Time Flies

Posted on November 11, 2018 by Doubtful Sounds • Leave a comment

Jim Lauderdale is now 30 albums deep into his career and his latest is indeed a pearl of a record, blending his customary mix of country, soul and swing with sweet and subtle ease. The title track opens the album on a high with an aching sway that blossoms into a soaring chorus reminiscent of … Continue reading →

Album Artwork / Album Reviews / Alt-Country / Americana / Rock / Stream

ALBUM REVIEW: Lucero – Among The Ghosts

Posted on November 9, 2018 by Doubtful Sounds • Leave a comment

The stars have certainly aligned for Lucero on this, their ninth album. It marks their 20th year as a band and was recorded by Matt Ross-Spang (Jason Isbell, Margo Price, Drive-By Truckers) at the auspicious Sam Phillips Recording Service studio in their hometown of Memphis. Most importantly, it stands tall as one of their strongest … Continue reading →

Album Artwork / Album Reviews / Alt-Country / Americana / Country / Stream

ALBUM REVIEW: James Ellis & The Jealous Guys – It Ain’t Texas (But It Ain’t Bad)

Posted on November 7, 2018 by Doubtful Sounds • Leave a comment

Australian country music can stay true to its American roots and also sound like a product of its antipodean environment. While the big names chase the sales figures and follow well-worn formats there others that carve out a sweet niche of inner city honky tonk and heartworn laneways. James Ellis’ imagination was captured on a … Continue reading →