Until recently there’s been something of a divide between pop-country and alt-country but now they seem to be finding common ground more often. Jenny Queen’s new album achieves that and now Tracy McNeil finds similar gold by mining the tried and true washes of guitar distortion, twang and tremolo that characterise melancholic americana with added … Continue reading
Category Archives: Americana
NEWS: Ryan Adams announces new self-titled LP
Ryan Adams‘ new self-titled album will be out on September 9th. Preorders are already available on Amazon and direct from Pax.Am Records. The vinyl release is on 180g and includes a download card – 320kbps mp3s ripped from vinyl. Track Listing: Gimme Something Good Kim Trouble Am I Safe My Wrecking Ball Stay With Me … Continue reading
VIDEO: Mia Dyson ~ When We’re Older
Mia Dyson has a brand new album called Idyllwild out now. Here’s the clip for the first single ‘When We’re Older’ and it’s an excellent song built on a beautiful sentiment, rough and raw guitars with one of those heart-tugging vocal performances. Emotive and catchy as hell. http://rd.io/x/QUN9AiIb81Y/ Continue reading
2014 FAVOURITE AMERICANA ALBUMS SO FAR…
We’re halfway through 2014 already, crazy huh?! In my opinion it has been a superb start to the year with some outstanding albums released, many of which will still be firm favourites at the end of the year. You can hit links on the many of the albums listed below to read our reviews. … Continue reading
ALBUM REVIEW: The Yearlings ~ All The Wandering
Robyn Chalklen and Chris Parkinson are the core duo of The Yearlings and this, their fifth album, finds them at the top of their game. All The Wandering is the kind of album that fires melancholic shots straight to your heart. With weeping pedal steel courtesy of Lost Ragas’ Shane Reilly alongside a raft of … Continue reading
ALBUM REVIEW: The Felice Brothers ~ Favorite Waitress
In the world of alt-country there are those artists who stick to traditional storytelling, instrumentation and playing, mixing that hybrid of country, rock and folk, often with stunning results from tried and tested ingredients. Others, like The Felice Brothers, are prepared to test out new musical waters, evolve and expand their sound. From their early … Continue reading
ALBUM REVIEW: Little Bastard ~ Little Bastard
The last few years has seen Little Bastard gain a reputation as one hell of a live band, the septet causing raucous, drunken partying with their punk-spirited folk and bluegrass. Now they’ve finally stepped off the road to try and bottle some of that stage magic on their debut album. The good news is … Continue reading
SIX STRINGS: Jenny Queen
Sydney-based US singer/songwriter Jenny Queen recently released her new LP Small Town Misfits which we summarised in our review as “A very good album that proves how catchy melodies and astute, substantive songwriting can successfully coexist.” Queen was kind enough to answer our Six Strings Q&A and give us an insight into her musical world. … Continue reading
VIDEO: Lachlan Bryan and The Wildes ~ You, Me and The Blues
Taken from his Black Coffee album which won a Golden Guitar award at Tamworth this year, here’s Lachlan Bryan’s brand new clip for the track ‘You, Me and The Blues’, complete with swords, Elvis and a Tarantino-esque babe. Bryan is playing a bunch of shows with Dan Waters and The Weeping Willows under the banner Follow … Continue reading
ALBUM REVIEW: Jenny Queen ~ Small Town Misfits
Jenny Queen is an Ohio native, based in Sydney, who sits on the stylistic fence on her third album. Her sound is firmly in a pop country vein that wouldn’t be out of place on the soundtrack to the TV series Nashville yet there is a constant undercurrent of mild emotional turbulence and the sense … Continue reading
ALBUM REVIEW: Jolie Holland ~ Wine Dark Sea
Jolie Holland has always operated outside the conventional restraints of folk, jazz and country music. She’s dabbled in and blended those styles and more but on Wine Dark Sea she throws them all in the air, managing to juggle and reconnect them (and others) in thrillingly madcap, visceral, primal and intellectual combinations. Instruments rattle, grate … Continue reading
SIX STRINGS: Darren Cross (stream the new single)
Darren Cross has been part of the music industry for the last two decades as a member of a number of bands, most notably 90s indie pop upstarts Gerling. He’s also a soundtrack composer, runs the music and video production company Bernstein Studios, has co-written with Jagwar Ma and is now one half of Jep and Dep … Continue reading
ALBUM REVIEW: Tiny Ruins ~ Brightly Painted One
Hollie Fullbrook’s debut album and other releases as Tiny Ruins have been critically lauded, as have her many live shows over the last few years. Brightly Painted One, her long overdue follow-up to Some Were Meant For Sea continues the exceptional journey of this New Zealand singer/songwriter whose reputation is now one that spans continents. … Continue reading
NEW MUSIC: Marlon Williams ~ Strange Things
If you haven’t heard the other-worldly voice of New Zealander Marlon Williams you need to fix that immediately. Below you can check out his new single ‘Strange Things’, released today and presumably from a forthcoming and much anticipated solo album. It’s a lush and beautifully haunting song with ghostly backing vocals that highlights Williams’ voice and … Continue reading
NEW MUSIC: Gretta Ziller ~ Hunt For Love
Gretta Ziller has a new EP called Hell’s Half Acre coming out in July, here’s the first taste of it with the wonderfully soaring and swooning single (and excellent video clip) ‘Hunt For Love’. Ziller was a finalist in the 2013 Telstra Road to Discovery Grand Finals at the Tamworth Country Music Festival, and a … Continue reading