ALBUM REVIEW: The Smith & Western Jury – Hotel Texas

Posted on August 21, 2024 by Doubtful Sounds • Leave a comment

Victorian group The Smith & Western Jury dial into authentic, gothic-tinged and dusty twang on their debut album Hotel Texas. Theirs is a distinctly American border sound, where one could picture Calexico backing Eilen Jewell in a late-night honky tonk. Opener ‘Have Mercy’ tumbles and shimmers beautifully, with singer Samantha Lombardi making her mark instantly, … Continue reading →

Album Artwork / Alt-Country / Americana / Australia / Cosmic Country / New Music / Psychedelic / Rock / Video

Lo Carmen releases new single & video and announces new album Transatlantic Light

Posted on July 26, 2024 by Doubtful Sounds • Leave a comment

Sydney artist Lo Carmen has today announced that her new album Transatlantic Light, will be released on vinyl on Sept 13th and digital on Sept 20th. Self produced, recorded with her long time band The Great Beyond – Cec Condon on drums (Mess Hall), Ken Gormly on bass (Cruel Sea and Sam Worrad on guitar … Continue reading →

Alt-Country / Americana / New Music / premiere / Video

VIDEO PREMIERE: Phil Smith – Hallelujah

Posted on July 11, 2023 by Doubtful Sounds • Leave a comment

Tasmanian Phil Smith‘s latest album Into The Night is a real highlight of the Australian Americana albums released so far in 2023. If you’ve got a copy of the new issue (July/August) of Rhythms magazine you can read my full review of the album, or stay tuned for when it gets published here on PTW. … Continue reading →

Album Artwork / Americana / New Music / Video

IRON & WINE ANNOUNCES LORI MCKENNA COVERS EP

Posted on August 25, 2022 by Doubtful Sounds • Leave a comment

LORI finds Iron & Wine drawing from the songbook of noted singer-songwriter and multiple Grammy winner Lori McKenna. The whole EP will be available digitally worldwide on September 16th with vinyl to follow and pre-sales starting Sept 16th via Iron & Wine webshop. Recorded at the famed Sam Phillips Studios (Memphis, TN) with producer Matt Ross-Spang, Iron & Wine’s … Continue reading →

Americana / Bluegrass / Country / Stream / Video

NEW MUSIC: Shane Scarazzini & EightFingers – West Virginia Girl

Posted on December 23, 2020 by Doubtful Sounds • Leave a comment

There’s some exceptional playing on this new track from Nashville, TN artist Shane Scarazzini and his band EightFingers. Check out the guitars that spark and fly amid fiddle and pedal steel on ‘West Virginia Girl‘. The fluidity and energy in the playing is what nails this as a superb track but without the strength of … Continue reading →

Alt-Country / Americana / Cosmic Country / New Music / Video

NEW MUSIC: Freya Josephine Hollick – Jesus Hates It When You Smoke

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

Freya Josephine Hollick is back from recording her next album at the famed studio Rancho de la Luna (Kyuss, QOTSA, Kurt Vile, Daniel Lanois, PJ Harvey, Iggy Pop, Mark Lanegan) in Joshua Tree, California, with Lucinda Williams’ band Buick 6 and renowned guitarist Greg Leisz. She’s celebrating by announcing her first full band headline shows of … Continue reading →

Album Artwork / Album Reviews / Alt-Country / Americana / Psychedelic / Rock / Video

ALBUM REVIEW: William Crighton – Empire

Posted on May 17, 2018 by Doubtful Sounds • Leave a comment

William Crighton’s debut album had him pegged as an Americana/gothic rock songwriter – all fire and brimstone and heart on sleeve emotion. Now, on his sophomore album, he’s expanded his stylistic palette into a whole range of sonic shades and textures. The intense and impassioned preacher is still railing from the pulpit but now you … Continue reading →

Album Artwork / Alt-Country / Americana / Country / New Music / News / Video

NEWS: John Prine Announces New LP The Tree Of Forgiveness

Posted on March 5, 2018 by Doubtful Sounds • Leave a comment

John Prine seems to be going through a late career purple patch of late with collaborations, plenty of live shows and the “Artist of the Year” award at the Americana Music Honors & Awards. Now he’s announced that his new album The Tree Of Forgiveness will be released on April 13th on his own independent label … Continue reading →

Folk / New Music / Video

VIDEO: Tori Forsyth – Black Bird

Posted on June 27, 2016 by Doubtful Sounds • Leave a comment

Tori Forsyth (Hunter Valley, NSW) has released the clip for her new single Black Bird today. The indie-folk singer has a 5 track EP of the same name out now. Continue reading →

Album Artwork / Album Reviews / alt.country / Americana / New Music / Video

ALBUM REVIEW: Mary Chapin Carpenter – The Things That We Are Made Of

Posted on May 30, 2016 by Doubtful Sounds • Leave a comment

Like a slow mist rolling down a valley or long evenings on the back porch, Carpenter’s 14th album is a slow-moving and introspective country affair. Confessional stories of heartache and emotional turbulence are presented and dissected on the Dave Cobb produced album yet across nearly an hour of restrained mood the effect is one of … Continue reading →

alt.country / News / Video

NEWS: Sam Newton Takes Alt-Country To The Theatre

Posted on March 29, 2016 by Doubtful Sounds • Leave a comment

Sydney troubadour Sam Newton has been a busy man of late with regular local gigs and a tour. Now he’s taking alt-country to the theatre with a musical role in a new local production called A Man Walks Into A Bar. It kicks off on April 21st at a new theatre space called “The Blood Moon … Continue reading →

alt.country / Americana / Video

NEW MUSIC: Fallon Cush – Useless Friend

Posted on March 6, 2016 by Doubtful Sounds • Leave a comment

Sydney band Fallon Cush have a brand new album Bee In Your Bonnet coming out on May 20th and here’s the first and very fine single from it – Useless Friend. On their third album they’ve continued the refinement and evolution of the Fallon Cush sound by introducing a more alt-country, wide-open-road feel to the … Continue reading →

Album Reviews / alt.country / Rock / Video

EP REVIEW: Mia Dyson – Tearing Up The Lawn

Posted on March 1, 2016 by Doubtful Sounds • Leave a comment

Mia Dyson hit a fine songwriting streak on her last full length Idyllwild and she continues that here, especially the EP’s first single Tearing Up The Lawn. It’s a carefree, big and bold wash of rock guitar and an ineffable chorus hook. Elsewhere she finds great emotion and beauty in the more restrained corners of … Continue reading →

Album Artwork / Album Reviews / alt.country / Americana / Soul / Video

ALBUM REVIEW: Davey Craddock – City West

Posted on February 25, 2016 by Doubtful Sounds • Leave a comment

It’s been a long time coming but West Australian Davey Craddock has finally released his debut album and it’s as equally as impressive as the string of singles he’s released over the last few years. Sitting in the realm of soulful Americana music, City West is a beautifully recorded collection of songs that evoke emotional … Continue reading →

Americana / Blues / New Music / Soul / Video

NEW MUSIC: Eagle & The Wolf – Mama, Son & The Holy Ghost

Posted on February 18, 2016 by Doubtful Sounds • Leave a comment

Eagle & The Wolf is the new collaborative project between blues musician Kris Morris and singer/songwriter Sarah Humphreys. We’ve heard the new album and reckon it’s the best thing either of the pair have put their creative talents to. Blues, country, folk and a streak of gospel run through the album and indeed this first … Continue reading →